Rhonda came back and escorted them to the table and took their drink orders.
“You don’t have to go out with me again if you don’t want to, Petunia,” Noah said.
Petunia was staring at her menu like it was a life preserver. She wasn’t sure how to answer that. She finally looked up at Noah and said, “I didn’t mean that back there. I just don’t think it’s everyone’s business to know everything I do, or over blow it.”
“I can agree with that, but I really enjoyed the two dates we went on.”
“Me, too, but I’d rather focus on the case at hand for now. If that’s okay with you?”
“Of course,” Noah said stiffly. “I was just kidding about that cat lady thing. I don’t mind dating a cat lady, actually.”
Petunia smiled, but it faded when Henry walked up to their table. “Hello, Petunia,” he said. “I was hoping that you weren’t avoiding me. I’ve tried calling you a few times, but every time I did, an old lady answered.”
“Oh? Yes, I gave my old cell phone to Lucy Winters.”
“Could I get your new number?”
Noah’s brow shot up. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re a little busy here. Perhaps you should ask her that when I’m not with her.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were here together like that. I’m sorry for bothering you.”
Henry slowly walked away. Petunia would have almost felt bad for him if he hadn’t cheated on her when she was with him.
“Are you thinking about getting involved with him, again?”
“No, of course not. I almost feel sorry for him, but that ship has sailed. I just didn’t want to hurt his feelings.”
“And what about mine?”
“Please, I’m so not ready to be having that conversation.”
“I agree.” He laughed.
Rhonda returned with their diet colas and took their order just as two men sat down at a nearby table. Petunia knew them well, they worked at the Grease Monkey mechanics shop, but they operated the wrecker, spending most of their time either towing cars or hanging out at the bistro.
When Rhonda strutted off, Petunia watched as Chastity Bennet approached the men. She worked at Nelson’s Bakery and now looked like she had slapped on makeup today.
“Is it true, Gus?” she asked. “I seen you hauling away Florence McHenry’s car from in front of Mayor Hopkins’ house.”
“I can’t talk about that. Sheriff Pinkerton will have me fired if I tell you that a body was found in the pool and that it was Florence,” Gus said, shaking his head sadly. “Horrible thing.”
“Would you shut up your mouth?” Gary said. “If the sheriff finds out, we’re going to be in heap of trouble back at the Grease Monkey.”
Petunia took a sip of her cola, her hand shaking, but ears wide open.
“Do you think she done it, actually killed her husband’s mistress?” Chastity asked.
“That’s what I don’t understand. Why would Florence go over there to begin with?” Gus said.
“Maybe she caught them in the act.”
“If that happened, they’d have found two bodies in the pool.”
“Two bodies in what pool?” the bartender asked, moving over toward them.
“I can’t say,” Gus quickly said.
“It was Florence McHenry,” Chastity informed the customers, loud enough for them all to hear. “I’m shocked it took this long for Bonnie to finally get fed up. I’d have killed my husband myself … well, if I had a husband and he cheated.”
“If everyone murdered their spouses for cheating, there’d be a bigger murder rate,” Petunia turned around and said. “Certainly no one can condone a murder if that was the case. I, for one, don’t see Bonnie doing anything that drastic. She was the one with the purse strings.”
“Still,” June said walking over. “There is just so much a woman can tolerate.”
“I don’t believe she’d do that,” Petunia insisted. “I don’t know what happened, but it could have been accidental.”
“Fat chance,” June retorted. “I hope she gets off if it’s her, though. I like Bonnie, but it certainly didn’t look like those two women saw eye to eye on anything. Bonnie and Florence got into a heated discussion at the Hobby Shack not even a week ago. I was being checked out at the register that day, but I heard Bonnie say that she’d take care of Florence. If that wasn’t a threat, I don’t know what else would be.”
“Now, June,” Chastity said. “If you really feel that way, perhaps you should quit yapping your jaws. You’ll have Bonnie convicted before the sheriff is able to even investigate.”
“And how will the sheriff even know?”
“Because Petunia will tell him, is why.”
“I will not,” Petunia said, irritated at the assumption. “I like Bonnie and if anything, I want to prove she didn’t do it.”
“You could always whip up one of your potions and make Bonnie invisible so the sheriff couldn’t arrest her until you have it figured out,” June said. “That arthritis one sure worked like a charm.”
“Oh, and since when are you in the habit of buying potions from Mystical Remedies?” Chastity asked. “I thought ol’ Cora had you convinced that place was a den for the devil.”
“Oh, well … I just act like I’m listening to her. She’s quite nuts, as you know. She even thinks I agree with her.”
“You better not let her hear you say that, she just walked in,” Rhonda said.
The crowd quickly dispersed and Petunia turned back to Noah just as a food runner brought their sandwiches. She picked up her Ruben and ate, trying to ignore Noah’s raised brow and Cora’s suspicious look from her position at the bar as she was handed her take out order.
Petunia took a huge bite of her sandwich, hoping that Cora would venture in the opposite direction. Even with the low hum of the background music, you could hear a pin drop. It was like everyone was waiting on pins and needles to see what Cora would do or say, especially the saying part, as a matter of fact, since that woman never seemed to be at a loss for words.
With paper from the bag that contained her take out order crumpled tightly in her fist, Cora marched over to June’s table. “Hello there, June. I had hoped to see you at church yesterday, but it seems like the devil’s own influence has taken over Lake Forest. Not for too long, though, if it’s up to me.”
When June didn’t respond, Cora stomped her way out the door. Only then did the customers go back to chatting and eating. Petunia had to say that Cora’s presence there hadn’t been good for anyone’s digestion.
“I don’t see why you let that woman get under your skin, Petunia,” Noah said. “Why do you care what she thinks?”
“Easy for you to say. It’s not your life she’s trying to ruin.”
“Ruin? That’s a little harsh, don’t you think?”
“Not really. She told the Mayor that I’m making potions in my house and now I’ll be fined if I don’t stop. That’s my livelihood.”
“Can’t your aunt let you make them at the shop or at her house?”
“I asked her about that, but I almost wonder if she doesn’t trust me, like she thinks I’d blow something up.”
Noah laughed. “I wonder that sometimes, too, from some of the putrid odors that drift out your windows.”
“I can’t help it if I misfire every once in a while. It’s not like I use combustibles in my portions.”
“Herbal remedies, I thought it was.”
“Whatever. Now, with Florence’s body turning up, I’ll never be able to speak with Bonnie about the ordinance. I was hoping she could influence her husband to at least take a look at re-zoning the neighborhood.”
“I see. So, that’s why you went over there?”
“Yes, but now it looks like the Mayor has more important things to worry about than the clean-up project at Lake Forest to get it ready for the summer tourist season.”
“Is it possible that the mayor had a hand in Florence’s body winding up
in his pool?”
“I don’t see how. He was at the government building when I was there this morning. I guess we’ll have to wait to find out how long she’s been dead and if it was an accidental drowning.”
“Is it possible that Florence had a set of keys and let herself in while Bonnie was away?”
“She has a maid, though. I can’t see Florence getting past her.”
“Unless she was occupied elsewhere. It’s quite possible that she could have been running the vacuum when Florence slipped in.”
“But why would she go there in the first place? She knows Bonnie would skin her alive if she caught her there, or found her with her husband again. Bonnie even made sure her husband let Florence go at work.”
“What if she went there to speak with Bonnie about that? You know, to convince her to allow her to have her job back,” Noah said.
Petunia shook her head. “I just don’t see that happening, but I’ll certainly ask Bonnie a few more questions when I see her at her barbecue.”
“And you still think the barbecue will go on after finding the body in the pool?”
“I’m certain of it. There’s no stopping Bonnie when it comes to big parties or fundraising. I believe the party is a little of both.”
Noah paid the bill and Petunia told him that she’d catch up with him later. “I have to stop by my aunt’s shop.”
“We can go together.”
“Oh, no,” Petunia said. “I’d rather do it alone. I have some family matters I need to discuss with her, as well. I wouldn’t want to bother you with any of them.”
“It would be no bother at all. I rather like your family.”
“Yes, but my aunt is a very private person. She’s not one to want everyone in town knowing her business.”
“I see, but I thought we were planning on investigating.”
“Yes, but I can’t see anywhere else we need to go today. We can begin again tomorrow at the barbecue.”
Noah raised a brow, but didn’t say anything for a moment. “You’re not trying to hide something from me, are you?”
“No, why?”
“I’m no fool. I know all about you and your aunt and how you consider yourselves to be witches. I just don’t happen to believe in any of that mumbo jumbo. So if that’s why you’re going to see you aunt, I suppose I should take my leave.”
Petunia wrinkled up her nose then and couldn’t hold back the sneeze that shot bubbles all over Noah.
“Sorry, I guess that’s part of the mumbo jumbo.” She strutted away toward home, leaving Noah in her wake. Unbeliever, is he? She could tell him a few things that he just wouldn’t believe, like her turning a man into a cat. Of course that would be hard to convince him of, though, since he wouldn’t be able to actually hear Pansy talk. She wasn’t one to go around claiming she was anything, least of all a witch. She had only recently acknowledged to herself that she was one. It was the people in town who were the ones saying that she and her aunt were witches.
Chapter Five
Petunia tiptoed into her door, not wishing to wake up her sleeping cats, but Merlin called out the alert and she trudged to the kitchen to feed them. There would be no living with them otherwise.
“Merlin, get out of my dish,” Pansy wailed.
“Do you really think Merlin can understand you?”
“Probably doesn’t matter either way. You need to lock up that cat so the rest of us can eat.”
Petunia picked up Merlin and scolded him. “Now stop. You’ll need to be put on a diet if you keep this up. You’re not the only cat in this house, you know.”
After the cats had eaten their fill, Pansy said, “Where are we going?”
“To Mystical Remedies to inform my aunt about Florence.”
“I’m sure she probably already knows from the gossip mill in this town.”
“Still. She’d have my head if I didn’t tell her myself, since I was there.”
With leash in hand, Petunia left in the direction of Mystical Remedies. Noah was sitting on his porch with his pit bull Melvin, who hung his head as Pansy strode past. Petunia merely shrugged as Noah shook his head at her, following her with his dog.
She turned and narrowed her eyes at Noah. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Anywhere you are. I’m not ready to let the investigation go for the day.”
“Fine, but shouldn’t you take the dog home first?”
“Why? He needs a walk.”
She took the lead and stopped at Lucy’s house. Lucy was lounging on her porch as a young man pushed a mower across her lawn.
“Don’t tap your foot at me, Petunia,” Lucy said. “I rather enjoy having someone mow my lawn. I thought you wanted me to take it easy?”
“I do, but really? He’s young enough to be your great-grandson.”
“Yes, he sure is.” She laughed. “Where are you headed?”
“To see Aunt Maxine.”
“I see. And will you be whipping up one of your legendary potions there?”
“Herbal remedies, you mean,” Noah said with an arched brow.
“No, it’s about time you faced facts young man. Petunia here is—”
“Late getting to my aunt’s shop, is what I am,” Petunia interjected.
“Oh, geez,” Pansy said. “I swear you women are thick in the head. There’s no way a former detective wouldn’t know that you’re a witch.”
“He doesn’t believe in witches, the way he talks.”
“I could tell him a thing or two, but I suppose it’s of no use since you’ll probably turn him into a cat like you did to me. I wouldn’t be surprised if that Merlin was once human, an angry pig of a man the way that cat eats.”
“Stop it, Pansy. You know perfectly well …” Petunia about bit her tongue when she realized that she had said that out loud. “Sorry, thinking out loud again,” she quickly said, giving Pansy’s leash a tug and off she went across the street, nearly at a sprint, now.
When Petunia was safely inside Mystical Remedies, she closed the blinds on the door with a snap, then lifted one gingerly to see if Noah was headed over here, but fortunately, he must still have been talking to Lucy, since she didn’t see him.
* * *
“What on earth is wrong with that woman?” Noah asked Lucy.
She shrugged. “Beats me. Perhaps you should ask her sometime, but most cat owners do talk to their cats on occasion. I think it’s part of being a cat lady.”
“A cat lady she’s not, but I can’t help wondering what goes on inside that woman’s head.”
“I thought you liked her?” Lucy asked.
“I do. I mean, she intrigues me, but I feel like she’s hiding something much bigger than she’s willing to tell me.”
“You didn’t fall off a truck, did you, Noah?”
Noah tightened his hold on the leash as Melvin spotted a squirrel darting up a tree. “And by that you mean what?”
“Everyone in town thinks Petunia and her aunt are witches, and I daresay her aunt’s cronies, Hazel and Wanda, are, too, but here you are pretending that there’s nothing to it. I suppose you think the entire town is off its rocker with the way you act.”
Noah gave this some thought before responding. “Sure, I’ve heard the same rumors and I’ve seen a few unusual things, but there has to be a logical explanation. I’m a reasonable man and I just don’t believe in witches or the supernatural. The next thing that you’ll be telling me is that she has a fairy godmother.”
Lucy began to grind her teeth. “If you think it’s so unheard of, why do you even speak to Petunia, or date her?”
Noah laughed. “You know, I’m not sure, but I must admit that there is something about her that has drawn me in. I sure hope she hasn’t given me one of her potions without me knowing it.”
“I can’t think that she’d do that again, I mean, er … you said potions aren’t real, since it would be witchcraft to create one that could actually do that. Looks like you’re safe, not that yo
u are love-potion worthy, necessarily. Why, Petunia barely knows you at this point and if you keep this up, she might just wash her hands of you for good.”
“Is that right, now?”
“Certainly. It’s not like she needs anyone to help her investigate when crime comes to Lake Forest.”
“Oh, do tell? This I have to hear.”
“I’m not telling you anything. If you want to know, perhaps you should ask the lady herself. I don’t feel very comfortable talking about her when she’s not around to defend herself. She’s been good to me with her herbal salves. I just don’t know what I’d do if she hadn’t come up with one that helped with my arthritis.”
Noah felt bad now. The last thing he wanted to do was make it sound like he was talking behind Petunia’s back. He just wished he could understand why he felt so darned drawn to her.
He glanced over at Mystical Remedies. Petunia was sure in a hurry to get into her aunt’s shop without him. He really would love to know what they were talking about right now.
* * *
“What on earth, Petunia?” Aunt Maxine said. “What are you doing? Is a hell hound out there, ready to go on the attack?”
“No, it’s Noah. I made a complete fool of myself when I talked to Pansy out loud on accident.”
Aunt Maxine laughed. “I wish I had been there. I’ve told you plenty of times to be careful when you talk to your cat. Most of the time your lips even move.” She came over to where Pansy was and put him on the counter. “Come away from that door, girl. The last thing you need is for Noah to see you spying on him through the window.”
“How do you do it with your cat, Princess?”
“For one thing, Princess is not a cat exactly, just like Pansy isn’t, and she barely speaks to me and prefers to stay outdoors most of the time, sunning herself.”
As if on cue, Princes pranced into the room, taking her place on the counter next to Pansy, which would have been almost cute if she didn’t paw him until he fell to the floor.
“I told you Princess was crazy,” Pansy complained.
“No, she just likes that spot on the counter is all. See how the light streams through the window. She’s only wanting to sun herself,” Petunia explained. “I thought you two hit it off?”
Meows, Magic & Manslaughter (Lake Forest Witches Book 2) Page 4