Meows, Magic & Manslaughter (Lake Forest Witches Book 2)

by Madison Johns

  “Might have?” Petunia huffed. “You know perfectly well they’re responsible.”

  “I can’t say one way or the other. What I do know is that you need to make a good impression on them and that includes whipping up a potion that actually works.”

  Petunia smiled sweetly. It was important for her aunt to know that she planned to do exactly what she had asked. Not! “I’ll have to work on that, but I was banned from whipping up potions here, remember?”

  “That never stopped you before.”

  “That was before I was threatened with a five-thousand dollar fine!”

  “Don’t be so melodramatic, Petunia, and close those curtains, would you. How else do you think Cora finds out what you’re doing over here?”

  “I was thinking from the pungent aroma that drifts over to her side of the fence.”

  “Fine. You can whip a potion up at my house, but you’ll have to do it solo. Me and the girls are planning to head off to the casino in Mt. Pleasant today.”

  “While Estelle is here in town? Aren’t you a little worried about them being here while you’re gone?”

  “Nope,” Aunt Maxine said, handing Petunia her keys. “Just remember to lock up—and it might be a good idea if that boyfriend of yours wasn’t there. I can’t think he’d understand all the potion books I have, since he’s decided to approach witchcraft from a logical standpoint.”

  “Whatever you say. I had better get over to Noah’s and check on his new houseguest. I’m still shocked that Cora has moved in on him. I never took her as one who would fancy the company of a man.”

  “She’s not that old,” Aunt Maxine said. “She’s only seventy.”

  “I see. Well, how come you don’t find yourself a man, Aunt Maxine? Your life is far from over.”

  Instead of responding, Aunt Maxine walked to the door with a sad shake of her head, her witchy friends in tow.

  Petunia never understood why her aunt had never married, even though she had given her child up for adoption all those years ago. Even at eighty, it wasn’t like Aunt Maxine had nothing to offer a man. She was quite witty and owned her own business. What else did a woman need to attract a man?

  Petunia sat on the couch next to Pansy, stroking his fur, trying to communicate with him. “I promise I’ll undo whatever that Maria did to you. It’s bad enough that you’re a cat instead of the man that you were born to be.”

  Pansy put his head down and didn’t respond to her words in any way, which further made Petunia mad. How dare those witches show up in town and put a spell on Pansy? It would take everything in her not to hunt down Maria.

  Chapter Eight

  Petunia hesitantly knocked on Noah’s door. She half hoped that the door wouldn’t be answered. Her grandfather’s sudden appearance in Lake Forest certainly would hinder her investigation. She just had no idea if he had his wits about him, but since meeting Joellen, his story certainly sounded legit. She was still on the fence about whether her grandfather was truly still part of the investigation. She only knew that if he were to keep his identity a secret, he’d need to disguise himself. At the very least, Aunt Maxine certainly would recognize him. They had never gotten along and she knew that her grandfather didn’t care all that much for witchcraft. Therefore, Petunia would certainly have to downplay her part in that, too, since she didn’t want him to be cross with her.

  Suddenly the door flew open and her grandfather stood there, looking quite wide-eyed. He took a hold of Petunia’s arm and pulled her inside.

  “You need to be careful, Petunia. Your life might be in danger.”

  “Whatever are you talking about? I thought you wanted me to investigate Florence’s murder.”

  “Oh, yes, of course. I was just thinking that you should be careful. What if someone saw us speaking earlier and they want to put a stop to your meddling?”

  “Like who?”

  “Whoever killed Florence, for one.”

  “Did you clear it with the CIA for me to help you with the case, or….”

  “They cleared you, but only because I assured them that you’d be following my orders, and those include staying away from that aunt of yours.”

  Petunia tapped her foot just as Noah came into the room, with coffee cup in hand.

  “What’s wrong with Petunia speaking with her aunt?”

  “That’s none of your concern, Noah. It’s too complicated to address, but I suppose I should get over to Cora’s house. She promised me a premium blend of tea she had shipped from India.”

  “Do you think that’s wise? I was hoping that you’d disguise yourself. You know, in case the people at Sunnybrook come looking for you.”

  “Cora’s already seen me, so it’s out my hands now, but I’ll certainly do so at the barbecue tomorrow.”

  “Why do you have to be there? I wanted to be the one investigating.”

  “Oh, I know, and I plan on allowing you to do just that. I can cause a good distraction when it suits the situation. Then you’ll be able to find that flash drive for me. It’s of the utmost importance.”

  “What about Florence?”

  “I still want to know who killed her, but that flash drive is a little more important.”

  “I see. Well, I think we should go over to Cora’s house together.”

  “Make that the three of us,” Noah said. “It’s always delightful to sit on furniture that is older than I am.”

  “Watch it, young man. If you keep up that attitude, I won’t allow Petunia to marry you.”

  “Marry him?” Petunia practically shrieked. “We’ve only had a few dates. I’m sure Noah isn’t looking to get married.”

  “Not yet anyway.” He winked.

  Petunia was out the door in record speed, not wishing to be drawn into that conversation. She was still trying to cope with how she really felt about Noah. She loved working with him on cases, but love or marriage? She just knew that wasn’t something she had planned to ever do, not since Henry’s betrayal. Sure, she knew that not all men were like that, but she still had her guard up and just wasn’t so willing to lose her head over a man, not even over her handsome neighbor.

  She rounded the block in record speed, but Noah’s Camaro whizzed past, with her grandfather riding shotgun and looking quite pleased with himself. What was it with men and sports cars, anyway? Why, it had been years since Petunia had even seen her grandfather, and now he seemed perfectly at ease moving in with her neighbor. Apparently, there is something with this male bonding that women just didn’t understand.

  By the time Petunia had made it to Cora’s house, Noah was tapping his watch, waiting for her. “I suppose you find that funny that you got here before me,” she said.

  “No, but it was much faster in my car. You really need to give up those old superstitions.”

  “So you can’t walk around a block? You could have just jumped the fence, you know.”

  “Somehow, I don’t see Cora liking that one. She’s the only one allowed to poke around in other people’s backyards.”

  Cora cleared her throat as she stood in the doorway and Petunia smiled at her neighbor’s frowning face. Cora apparently had heard everything they had said about her, but it was to be expected; this was Cora, after all.

  “Hello, dear lady,” grandfather said. “You invited us for tea, did you not?”

  “I invited you, not half the neighborhood, and certainly not Petunia Patterson.”

  “I’ve known her since she was a child and if she isn’t welcomed here, I’ll just head back to Noah’s house.” Grandfather stepped off the porch until Cora said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by that. Of course you’re all invited.”

  Cora stepped into her house, holding the door open for everyone else. Petunia’s grandfather stepped in, followed by Noah and then Petunia.

  Once they were inside, Petunia couldn’t believe her eyes—Cora had brand new furniture! A white leather sofa and a loveseat and chair. There was also a large, flat screen TV on the wall. T
his certainly didn’t seem like Cora at all.

  “Wow, you’ve really spruced up the place,” Petunia said.

  “Yes and I like it much better, but oh, how I fought the changes.”

  “Did someone recommend you change your furnishings?”

  “I could call the junk man to bring my loose spring couch for you, if you’d like. I had no idea you were that fond of it.”

  Cora had a hint of a smile and Petunia could tell when she was being made fun of.

  “About the tea?” grandfather asked. “It’s about tea time, or it is somewhere.”

  Cora’s face flushed and she actually giggled like a schoolgirl. Perhaps this is what she needed, a man to pay her some attention. Not that Petunia knew if her grandfather wanted to do that or not.

  “Come into the dining room. It won’t take too long for the water to get hot,” Cora said.

  They followed her into the dining room where there was an oval table. Not only was it quite modern looking, but it was also brand new.

  They all sat down as Cora hustled into the other room, returning within a few minutes, her lips bright red. Why, she had just put on lipstick. Petunia really wondered if Estelle’s trip to Lake Forest had more of an effect on the residents. Cora was acting more cordial than normal, or had been since they came inside, at least. It was no wonder that she didn’t want anyone but Petunia’s grandfather inside, though. Cora clearly had a crush on him. The only thing was that Petunia had never known Cora to be interested in men, or the other way around, for men to be interested in her. But when Petunia thought about it, she just felt relieved. At least the conversation wouldn’t revolve around Cora accusing Petunia of being a witch, or so she hoped. She just prayed that her aunt hadn’t given the woman a potion. No, that couldn’t be it since Cora had started to make one remark. Could it be that she was so smitten with Petunia’s grandfather that she was willing to let some of her beliefs go, at least for the moment?

  The whistle from Cora’s tea kettle went off and Cora jumped to her feet, hustling into the kitchen.

  “Cora certainly is acting strange,” Petunia pointed out. “Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I just hope she’s not setting us up for a fall.”

  Noah cocked a brow when Cora glided into the room with a tray holding teacups, tea bags, and a sugar bowl. She set it down and frowned, whirling away and bringing back a small container of cream.

  After the teacups were handed out and filled with water, Petunia took one of the tea bags, inhaling its fragrance before she dunked it into her cup. She would much rather have added cream to her tea, but she didn’t trust Cora, although she had no specific reason to feel that way. Ever since Pansy had quit talking when those other witches had shown up in town, strange things had begun to happen. Kind of like having tea with Cora at her house. Petunia was still miffed about the way Cora had turned her into the Mayor for making potions and it was hard to sit still there.

  “So, Simon,” Cora began. “Are you single?” She giggled, sounding quite strange for a woman of seventy. Why, it certainly sounded like she was flirting with Petunia’s grandfather, but how would he handle it?

  “Quite single.” He winked. “How delightful to meet a woman of such refinement. I believe this is the best tea I’ve ever had. Did you say it was from India, directly?”

  “Why, yes. My son travels extensively and he brought it home with him.”

  “Son?” Petunia asked. “I never knew you had a son.”

  Cora smiled sweetly. “He’s not your type, Petunia, if that’s what you’re hinting at.”

  Petunia about swallowed her tongue. “Th-that’s not what I meant.”

  “I’m sure she was only curious,” grandfather said. “Petunia here is dating Noah.”

  “Not until recently, and from what I’ve heard, he’s not that into her.”

  “I’m not?” Noah asked, his cup halfway to his lips. “I’m not sure where you heard that, but we’re actively dating. Just taking it slow.”

  Cora sighed. “Of course you are, but have you ever thought about why you’re dating her?”

  “Because I find her to be interesting and she’s cute as a button?”

  Cora settled herself in a chair while Petunia tried not to glower at the woman. “No, what I meant is that perhaps she cast a spell on you.”

  “What?” grandfather bellowed.

  “I don’t cast spells. I only make herbal remedies,” Petunia said. “You really shouldn’t be spreading rumors like that.”

  “See,” Cora shouted. “She’s admitting that she gave you a love potion, Noah!”

  Petunia climbed to her feet. “I most certainly am not and I knew your nice act was that, just an act. You can stay if you want, Simon, but I’m outta here.”

  She stomped to the door and would have slammed it on the way out if Noah hadn’t caught it with his hand. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m leaving. I thought that was quite apparent.”

  “Fine, but you’re only feeding into Cora if you do.”

  “I don’t care. It’s pointless that I even came here today.”

  “Not totally pointless,” grandfather said, as he joined them. “We need to talk, privately.”

  Petunia led the way outside, passing Cora, her eyes wide and shooting fire like it was Petunia’s fault that Cora had opened the can of worms.

  “Get into the car,” grandfather said.

  “No, I want to be alone right now,” Petunia responded.

  “Not happening, and if you don’t get into that car, Petunia, I’m going over to pay your aunt a visit.”

  “Why, so she can turn you into Sunnybrook? I can’t take you to the barbecue tomorrow. So you had better play nice with Cora so you can find a way to crash, since I can’t imagine that Cora would ever be allowed at one of Bonnie’s parties. Nobody in town wants Cora to know their business.”

  “That’s not it. I want to talk to you about what Cora said about you, and I pray that it’s not true. I won’t allow you to dabble in witchcraft, even if it’s only potions. You just don’t realize how dangerous it is.”

  So not true. Petunia knew firsthand that it was quite dangerous when it went bad, like it did with Pansy. It was one of the reasons it so bothered her that those witches had cast a spell on him. She wasn’t about to wait it out, though. She was planning to hunt them down tonight.

  “Goodbye, grandfather,” Petunia said, having no other response. She was all too aware how he felt about witchcraft. Yes, she needed to get out of here and soon. She began walking home and didn’t hear Noah’s car roar to life, so she could only hope that her grandfather and Noah had decided to stay at Cora’s house, although she didn’t much like that idea either, since Cora clearly had found her voice and was spewing venom. She had hoped to speak to Cora about not telling Simon what the rumor mill in town said, but it was too late. The cat was so out of the bag now.

  * * *

  Petunia never went home to stay, but she did pick up Pansy, placing him in the basket of her bicycle, before she pedaled off in the direction of Aunt Maxine’s house on the hill overlooking Lake Forest. She just knew that Estelle and Maria had to be there. Estelle didn’t look the type to be staying at the Lake Forest Country Club.

  She was dreadfully tired by the time she arrived at her aunt’s house. Sure enough, there was a black Lincoln Town Car parked in the drive, but so was her aunt’s car. So much for her aunt and her friends heading to the casino. Petunia had hopped off her bike and was rolling it toward the garage when she heard Wanda say, “I’m not sure if Petunia will go along with that.”

  “Well, she has no choice,” Aunt Maxine said. “It’s the only way she’ll be able to be properly licensed as a witch.”

  “Of course she might not want to be an official witch,” Estelle said. “But if she isn’t, you’ll not be allowed to speak to her, Maxine.”

  “I know the rules, Estelle, but I’m just not sure how Petunia will feel about—”

  “Feel about wh
at?” Petunia asked, as she burst through the door with Pansy in her arms.

  Estelle clutched a hand to her chest and her ever-present daughter hovered close by with narrowed eyes. “Are you trying to give my mother a heart attack?”

  “No, but what is going on in here and why am I the topic of conversation when I’m not even present?”

  Aunt Maxine avoided Petunia’s eyes, as did Wanda and Hazel. What was going on here?

  “Fine, if you won’t tell her, I will,” Maria said. “To be a full-fledged witch, a properly licensed one, you’ll have to change the cat of yours back into a human.”

  Petunia gasped. “You can’t be serious—and what did you do to him? He hasn’t been able to communicate with me ever since you were near him.”

  “I had to do something to wake you up. There are entirely too many cats that were once humans in this town as it is.”

  “What makes you think I haven’t tried and failed before?”

  “Well, have you?” Estelle asked.

  Petunia balled her hands up into fists. “I’m not about to do that when I don’t know what would happen. I’d rather Jeremy stay a cat than be turned into a puddle of muck. There is no antidote for the potion I made.”

  “There is certainly one to keep him quiet,” Maria said with a curt nod.

  Petunia wanted to yank that woman’s hair straight out of her head. “What gives you the right to mess with another witch’s spells, anyway? Isn’t that against some kind of witch rule?”

  “Petunia is right,” Aunt Maxine said. “It’s only fair to undo what you did to Pansy.”

  Estelle frowned, her large lower lip nearly touching her chin now. “Maria was only trying to help. Wanda was quite concerned about Petunia’s predicament.”

  “Wanda!” Aunt Maxine hissed. “Why would you contact them about Pansy?”

  “Petunia seemed quite upset with how her love potion worked out. I thought Maria would be able to help. She’s so good at making potions,” Wanda tried to explain.

  Petunia was heartbroken to hear that Wanda had done that, even if she had thought it was for the best. “It’s my place to fix what I did, not to bring some third wheel into it. Just undo what you did to Pansy and I’ll be out of your hair.”