“Excuse me, Betty.”
Betty squatted and put the bar back on the holder, then proceeded to take a towel to dab at the sweat that beaded on her brow. “Hello Petunia. Thanks for that protein shake you whipped up for me. I’ve felt quite energized ever since.”
“You gave her one of your, err … potions?”
“Yes, but I had no idea it would do that well for you, Betty.”
“It sure has. I’ve been pumping way more than before. With any luck I can start to compete soon. Wouldn’t that be a shock to the residents of Lake Forest? They won’t be looking down on me then, will they?”
“I can’t say for sure, but I wouldn’t worry about what people think of you. I’ve also been ridiculed in town.”
“That’s because people are afraid that you really are a witch and they worry about what you might do to them if they make you mad.” Betty winked.
“Not a chance I’d do that, even if I was, err … a witch.”
Noah just shook his head.
“Who is this clown?” Betty asked.
“This is my neighbor, Noah. We’re looking into the death of Florence McHenry.”
“What death?”
“She was found in the pool over at the Hopkins’ mansion. I’m surprised you didn’t hear about it, especially since you were there today with a delivery.”
Betty wiped her face with the towel and sighed. “I hope they don’t suspect me of any wrongdoing. I don’t need that kind of trouble. All I did was drop off a package to that lemon-faced maid Connie and I left. She wouldn’t even let me in the door.”
“Not even in the door?”
“Nope, they never do. I think people are intimidated by my size, but I’d never hurt a fly, I assure you.”
“You’re not a suspect,” Petunia said. “We only want to know what you might have observed when you were over at the mansion making your delivery.”
“Like I said, the package was handed over at the door to the maid.”
“Does the maid usually take the deliveries from you?”
“Not always, but apparently Bonnie wasn’t home. Her car was missing from the driveway where she usually parks it during the day. I heard the garage was packed with items for their upcoming fundraiser.”
“And what about the gate?” Noah asked. “Did you have to hit the buzzer to get in?”
“No, it was wide open, but I suppose they were expecting deliveries today.”
“I suppose they were, but what about Florence’s car? Did you notice it parked out front?”
“I’m not sure I know what that woman drives. It’s not like we were acquainted with one another.”
“Thanks,” Noah said. “Hey, since you make deliveries all over town, have you noticed if the mayor and Florence were tooling around town in his car?”
“I can’t say I have.”
“Thanks again, Betty, and good luck with the competing.”
“I’d love to get more of that protein shake mix.”
“You know, I think I’m all out at the moment and the mayor is on my case about making potions in my home.”
“You can whip one up at my place, if you don’t mind being in the home of a hulking female bodybuilder.”
“That’s hardly cause to stop me from doing just that, but I’m so busy with this case at the moment. I’ll let you know, but before you bulk up any more than you already are, you might want to check the rules for female bodybuilders. There might be a mass limit.”
Noah led the way outside and sighed. “Why are you giving that woman protein shakes that would cause her to bulk up like that?”
“She already been bulky, for one, and I didn’t think it was potent enough to change how much she could pump.”
“I’d be more careful in the future, if I were you. What if you give someone something that actually harms them?”
“And that’s exactly why I’m not whipping up another batch for her at the moment until I can figure out how to lessen the results.” Petunia led the way up the sidewalk. She might as well let Noah see that his car is missing. Was it too much to hope that it was parked back where it had been in the church parking lot?
“What do you think about what Steven had said about seeing the mayor with Florence only yesterday?” Petunia asked.
“It’s an interesting detail, but perhaps we should ask him again if he was certain it was really the mayor and Florence together.”
By the time they went around the corner and back into the bakery, there was no Steven in sight.
“Where is Steven?” Petunia asked Chastity.
“He just left in a hurry. I think he had too long of a lunch as it was and then you two showed up, asking questions.”
“I hope that’s not a complaint, since you now have a date with the man.”
“Not complaining about that at all, you know that.”
“Thanks, anyway. I suppose there’s no use asking him the same questions we already did.”
When they were back outside, Noah’s eyes panned across the street to where his Camaro was once parked, but the space was empty.
“Lake Forest is safe, is it?” he said, while pulling out his cell phone.
“Who are you calling, Noah?”
“The police—to report my car stolen.”
Petunia yanked the phone out of his hands. “Please don’t do that. I’m sure whoever took it will bring it back.”
“And what makes you think that?”
“Oh, just a guess.” She shrugged.
“Hand over that phone, Miss Patterson.”
“Oh, so now we’re being all formal, are we?”
“You know I love that car and I’m going to ring the neck of whoever stole it. I should never have parked it over there in the first place.”
“Perhaps it was simply towed.”
Noah’s face tightened. “If it was, you’re paying to get it out of impound, since it was your bright idea to park over there to begin with.”
“Fine, check impound, then, but I’m going to Look Out Point to look for clues.”
“We haven’t established that the mayor was really with Florence, and even if he was, what do you think you’ll find way out there? We don’t have a car now, remember?”
Petunia sighed. “I know that, but I have to do something. The Schwan man, Chris, won’t be back to Lake Forest until seven tonight. I could always call and ask Aunt Maxine to take us.”
“First I’m calling impound and then the police to report my car stolen,” Noah said.
Petunia walked up the street with Noah’s phone still in her hand, noticing a very familiar looking car wrapped around a telephone pole in front of the drug store. Oh rats, what has her grandfather done now? She hoped he was okay … Then she sprinted toward the wreck, where a crowd was forming. Next a tow truck pulled up with the name Grease Monkey painted on the side and of course a deputy’s car joined the foray of angry residents who were fussing since the power lines were now down across the street, preventing anyone from leaving. She didn’t know what to do now. It was no use, she’d have to tell them that her grandfather had escaped from Sunnybrook and had commandeered Noah’s Camaro.
The owner of Lake Forest Drugs was outside now. Nelly was dressed in an all-white coat since she was also a pharmacist, one of the reasons she decided to open up the drug store that made home deliveries.
“Who is the driver?” Nelly asked.
“There wasn’t a driver when I ran out here,” said Jimmy, the boy who handled the stock.
“How can someone manage to wrap a car around a telephone pole and not still be here quite injured?” Petunia asked.
“Are you sure nobody saw anyone escaping from the car after the crash?” Noah asked.
People in the crowd shook their heads and Deputy Natalie Cartwright approached. “What do you know about the accident, Petunia?”
“Nothing. I just came on the scene myself.”
“And you have no idea whose car this is?”
“It’s my car,” Noah admitted. “I was just about to call the police to report my car stolen.”
“I see, and where was it stolen from?”
“I had it parked in the St. Lorenz parking lot. At first I believed it had only been towed, but now I realize it was indeed stolen.”
Deputy Cartwright checked out the interior of the car and said, “It certainly doesn’t look hot wired. Are you sure you didn’t lend the car to someone?”
“He’d never do that,” Petunia said. “That car is his baby.”
Noah gave her a sharp look and she merely shrugged. She desperately wanted to head for home and check on her grandfather, but at the moment Noah was looking rather distraught, too upset for her to tell him that her grandfather was really the one who stole his car.
Petunia bought two pops from the drug store and waited for Noah to finish the last of his statement. It wasn’t fair that he had to deal with the loss of his car and she was torn wondering if it was in both of their best interests to tell the truth. She just couldn’t bring herself to rat on her grandfather.
When the deputy finally dismissed them, Petunia had to ask, “Have they found out how Florence McHenry died?”
Natalie sighed. “Actually, it was an apparent drowning, if you need to know, but keep that information to yourself since the sheriff is still trying to finish up the details. It will be a week or so before the toxicology report comes back,” she whispered. “But don’t you dare tell the sheriff I told you.”
When Petunia finally was back at Noah’s side, he asked, “What’s the matter?”
“I’ll tell you when we get back home, but it’s not good.”
“Is it worse than what happened to my car?”
“No, but it’s a revelation that I hadn’t expected.”
That was saying plenty, since they had been investigating a crime when there wasn’t one. Of course that didn’t explain why Florence was at the Hopkins’ mansion to begin with, or whether what her grandfather had implied about her working for the CIA was true. She certainly had questions for her grandfather, though, providing he was safe and sound now.
Chapter Ten
When Petunia and Noah finally made it back home, grandfather was on the porch with an apologetic Cora, who professed how sorry she was for what had happened earlier at her house. “I told Simon how wrong I was about saying that you were a witch, or suggesting that Petunia had put a spell on Noah so that he’d date her. I don’t know why I do the things I do, but I can’t seem to stop myself from believing every rumor I hear, especially since that Jeremy Walters went missing all those months ago. Of course I know now that he was spotted elsewhere. Anyway, please forgive me and I promise I’ll try not to give you such a hard time in the future.”
Petunia was quite confused, since her grandfather didn’t look harmed at all. Surely if he had driven Noah’s car into a pole, he’d be injured somehow.
“Have you two been together the entire time since Noah and I left?”
“Yes, well, Cora came over when I came back here.”
Petunia had to shake her head and was beyond perplexed. That wasn’t possible and she had to fess up to Noah now, but privately.
“Well, Noah and I should leave you two kids alone. Noah, can you come over and change a lightbulb for me? I can’t seem to reach it even with a ladder,” Petunia said.
“I’d be happy to help out,” grandfather said.
“Oh, no. I’d rather just have Noah do it. You and Cora should go have a bite to eat. Didn’t you say you were a great cook?”
“There are some steaks in the refrigerator,” Noah suggested.
“Sounds like a plan,” grandfather said, getting up and disappearing into Noah’s house with Cora.
“What was that about, Petunia?”
“I’ll tell you once we’re inside.”
She led the way into her house and Pansy merely lifted his head, laying it back down. All of the cats were piled on the couch together and it was sort of cute. Pansy really seemed to enjoy being a cat now.
They went into the kitchen and sat opposite each other.
“So, what gives?” Noah asked. “What was so important that you had to drag me all the way here? A kiss, perhaps?”
Petunia glared at Noah now. “Ah, no. What I wanted to tell you was that I was holding something back before. When we were in the bakery, I saw someone driving off with your car.”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“Because I was positive that my grandfather stole it and I didn’t want to get him into trouble. I’m not sure, but do you think he might be hiding something from us? How is it possible he had wrapped you car around a pole without being hurt?”
“Now, that certainly is a good question,” Noah said. “How good could you have seen him, though, from inside the bakery?”
“Sorry, but I’m positive it was him. His lack of injuries does give me pause, though.” What she wondered was whether he had somehow sampled one of her potions—but how? “There’s something else you didn’t hear at the scene where your car was eventually found. Natalie told me that Florence died of an apparent drowning.”
“So, it wasn’t murder at all?”
“No, but don’t you dare even suggest that we’re off this case, because I want to know why both my grandfather and that Joellen claim that Florence was working for the CIA. What was she really doing for them? Grandfather told me that he needed to find a flash drive she was putting information on, and Joellen wasn’t clear at all what she was looking for. And now both of them will be looking at the mansion during that party tomorrow.”
Noah frowned. “Okay, but why would that deputy tell you that? It seems like privileged information at this point.”
“Perhaps she didn’t want me to keep investigating, or she was just trying to be helpful. We did go to high school together.”
“She might have wanted you not to investigate, but even so, she really went on a limb telling you that. In fact, she could lose her job if the sheriff found out.”
Petunia knew he was right, but she was happy all the same. After all, it wasn’t like she was planning to tell the Sheriff. She was just happy with whatever information she was able to get. Noah used to be a detective and she was perfectly aware that to him, rules needed to be followed. If he ever ran for Sheriff, Petunia wouldn’t want him to judge the deputy harshly.
Pansy took that opportune moment to enter the kitchen, stopping only to yawn. He looked up at her lazily for a moment, but remained silent.
“Has something changed? You don’t seem nearly as upset about your cat now.”
“No, I’m not. I know it seems silly to be so upset about my cat, but Pansy happens to be very important to my life. I’d be lost without him.”
“I always knew you were the crazy cat lady.” Noah laughed. “But for some reason, I don’t mind having a crazy cat lady living next door. In fact, my dog Melvin is much more well behaved since I’ve met you.”
“That’s not because of me, that’s because of Pansy.”
“So, what are our plans now? Do we question the Schwan man, or do you really want to check out Look Out Point? I only hope you’re not planning to steal any kisses while we’re there.”
“Dream on, Noah.”
Pansy swished his tail now, making a face like he was about to toss up a hair ball. “You two are making me sick. Are you going to get married or what?”
Petunia didn’t dignify that with an answer, which seemed to infuriate Pansy by the way he jumped on the table, his face nearly pressed to hers. “Would you get back, you crazy cat. I don’t want to kiss you, too. I mean, I’m not planning to kiss anyone.” She frowned. That certainly didn’t come out the way she planned it to, but what did it matter what Pansy really thought? She made her best effort to keep a blank face since Noah was sitting right across from her with a raised brow.
“You really should watch what you think about,” Pansy said. “You do know I can read your mind, right? I mean, when yo
u’re thinking out loud. You’d think you’d learn by now to watch what you think around me. You really leave your guard down and I could do without your crazy thoughts in my head.”
“Thanks a lot. I’m happy that I can’t read your mind like you can apparently read mine most of the time. I certainly don’t need to hear you thinking about how much food you need to eat, or how Merlin is always harassing you.”
“Easy for you to say, you don’t have that cat all over you when you sleep.”
“You certainly didn’t look bothered when you’re sleeping on the couch with him.”
“Actually, that’s the only time I don’t mind it, provided that I’m asleep. Of course when I wake up, my fur is always quite wet.”
“And you never considered the fact that you cats lick each other’s fur?” Pansy dropped to the floor, obviously done with the conversation. “So, what are your plans for the day, Pansy? Did you happen to know that my grandfather and Cora have been spending time together?”
Pansy made a face like he was indeed quite ill, or at least that’s what she thought from the way his tongue dropped straight out of his mouth. “Whatever you do, keep that cat hater away from me. I don’t want to wind up in the pound, again.”
“I’m sorry about your car, Noah. Should we ask my grandfather if he indeed borrowed it without your permission?”
Noah’s sighed. “Look, I’m not happy about my car, but I’m just not sure grilling the old man will get us any results. So let’s drop it for now. We have more important matters at hand.”
Petunia wasn’t so sure, since Noah certainly had a hurt look in his eye whenever they were talking about what had happened to his car. She felt really bad about it, too, even if it wasn’t her doing.
She changed the subject and said, “Look Out Point it is, but I can’t imagine how we’ll get way out there. It’s too far to bicycle there.”
“Bicycle where?” came a voice from right outside the screen door.
Petunia didn’t even have to guess who that might be, but she was shocked that Cora was standing that close to her door. It didn’t surprise her all that much that she was eavesdropping, though.
“I thought Simon was cooking you something to eat?”
Meows, Magic & Manslaughter (Lake Forest Witches Book 2) Page 9