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

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Meows, Magic & Manslaughter (Lake Forest Witches Book 2) Page 10

by Madison Johns


  “He was, but Noah is out of steaks.”

  Noah’s brow shot up, but he didn’t comment.

  Petunia sighed when she got up and waltzed over to the door, letting Cora inside much to Pansy’s irritation from the way he jumped on top of the refrigerator.

  “Good, we wanted to go out to Look Out Point and look for a necklace I lost up there—I mean, my friend lost my necklace up there,” Petunia quickly clarified.

  “See, Noah, you really have to watch this one. She’s a real heartbreaker. Why, that Henry is still sore about losing her.”

  “Could it be that he’s just upset that his wife is in prison now?”

  “And do you know she won’t even sign the divorce papers? It’s just dreadful,” Cora said.

  “Surely you have something better to do, unless you can take us up there to take a look around, Cora.”

  “What happened to handsome’s hotrod?”

  “There was a little accident, but if you can’t give us a ride, I suppose I won’t be able to tell you all about it on the way.”

  “I’ll be right back in a jiffy,” Cora said.

  “No way am I riding in the battle axe’s car!” Pansy wailed from his upward position.

  “I don’t expect that you would want to, but I’ll go all the same. Looks like you’ll have to stay behind.”

  Petunia took Pansy off the refrigerator and she barely had time to get a drink of water before a loud horn blasting outside told them that Cora was waiting for them.

  “That was fast,” Petunia said.

  “So, how many boyfriends have you had?” Noah asked with a wink.

  “How should I know, but I guess Cora can tell you all about it. Although I’m just not sure her recollection would be right.”

  Noah followed Petunia outside and the sight of Cora’s black car greeted them.

  “Wow, a nineteen thirty Packard,” Noah exclaimed.

  Grandfather waved them over and Noah opened the door for Petunia, who climbed inside. As she waited for Noah to join her, she said, “Where have you hiding this car, Cora?”

  “In my garage. I don’t take it out all that much on account of my father’s insistence that I keep it undercover.”

  Petunia laughed. “Who was your father, Jimmy Hoffa?”

  Cora’s once smiling face via the rear view mirror quickly faded. “That smart mouth of yours won’t get you anywhere with me, young lady.”

  “I imagine not, since you really don’t like me to begin with.”

  “How about you not asking me anymore stupid questions and I’ll think about being nicer to you.”

  “I was just going to say that this car looks like a mobster used to own it, or … er—I meant mobsters owned cars that look like this.”

  “I hardly think owning a Packard would constitute someone as being part of organized crime,” Noah said.

  Petunia slumped down, wiggling her nose as she felt a sneeze coming on. “Oh, drat. I forgot something.” She hopped out of the car long enough to sneeze and fan away the bubbles that appeared. If she kept this up, everyone would start to call her the bubble witch.

  When she hopped back in, Cora and her grandfather gave her disapproving looks.

  “What were you doing out there, blowing bubbles?” grandfather asked her with a raised brow.

  “No, whatever are you talking about?”

  “I saw bubbles cascading out there is why. I hope you aren’t dabbling in witchcraft with that sister of mine … I mean, your Aunt Maxine.”

  “Sister?” Cora asked. “Don’t tell me you’re related to Petunia.”

  Her grandfather clammed up now and instead of grilling him another time, Cora slammed her foot on the pedal and they were racing down Main Street until the sound of a siren split the air and the sheriff’s car was pulling them over.

  Petunia had to stifle a giggle now. Serves Cora right for driving like a mad woman in town. Why, she could have mowed someone down.

  Sheriff Pinkerton strolled over to the driver’s side, narrowing his eyes when he spotted Petunia in the back seat. Of course she made sure she waved at him, although she pretty much figured he’d not wave back.

  “What’s going on here, Cora? Has Petunia Patterson taken you hostage?”

  “Humph,” Petunia said. “Do you see a weapon in my hands?”

  “No, but I thought Cora here wouldn’t be caught dead with you.”

  Petunia had to bite her lower lip to stop herself from retorting. She wouldn’t give either of them the dignity of a response. No, she wouldn’t. Even if her lip was bleeding.

  “I know, but Petunia wanted to go up to Look Out Point.”

  Pinkerton laughed, nearly falling into the window. “Aren’t you a little too old to go parking, Cora?” He chuckled. “Who is your gentleman friend? I can’t say I’ve ever seen you with one before, although he looks somewhat familiar.”

  “That’s none of your concern, Sheriff. It’s not like I want everyone to know my business. You know how some people can be.”

  Cora must be talking about herself, now.

  “Oh, I know all about that, but I can check that man’s identification if I want to, you know.”

  “Don’t you have a murder case to investigate?”

  “Oh, and whose murder would this be?”

  “Florence McHenry. She was found in the pool at the Hopkins’ mansion earlier today.”

  Pinkerton shot a look at Petunia and she finally found her voice, as she said, “Don’t blame me. You should know you can’t keep a secret like that under wraps for too long.”

  “And you didn’t have something to do with that?”

  “Not at all, but I am looking into the matter. Cora is helping me, too, which is why I’m with her. She volunteered to help.”

  “I am?” Cora said. “Oh, yes, that’s right. I suppose that’s why we’re heading out to the Look Out Point, but I had hoped I’d find a few kisses there. I’d hate to go all the way out there without some kind of incentive.”

  Grandfather cleared his throat and Petunia burst out laughing. The sheriff seemed like he was having quite the time trying not to join in. “I suppose I should leave you to it, but slow down, Cora. You know the speed limit is twenty-five in the city limits.”

  “Thanks for reminded me, Pinkerton,” she said. “I think I got the gas pedal and brake messed up that time. I promise I’ll be more careful from here on out.”

  As soon as the sheriff waddled back to his squad car, Cora slammed her foot back on the gas pedal and off they went. She slowed down as she passed Mystical Remedies and remarked as grandfather ducked down in his seat, “It’s okay, Simon. I won’t let those witches harm you. If they try, I have a revolver in my purse that will stop them, dead.”

  “Revolver?” Petunia asked. “I don’t much care for the sounds of that.”

  “You don’t think I’d get into a car with the likes of you, Petunia, without some protection, did you?”

  “I suppose not, but why are you so insistent about taking us out to the point?”

  “Well, it seems like you were in a bind and Simon here mentioned how he works with the CIA and I think that’s so exciting. It’s my duty to help out any way that I can. Why, this is just like one of those spy movies. I hope no commies are gonna come after us.”

  “Commies, no, but I’d rather not run into Maxine Patterson, if you don’t mind. Still, I’d rather you not shoot the woman. She might be a witch, but she’s a good one, as far as I’ve heard. You’d do well not to anger that one, lest you want to while away your days on a lily pad,” grandfather said.

  “We can stop with all the talk of witches any time now,” Petunia said. “Witches can’t turn people into an animal, or amphibian.” Unless they’re given a supposed love potion, that is.

  “Fine, I’ll quit talking about them if you tell me why you’re really going out to the point.”

  “I told you, a missing necklace.”

  Cora pulled the car over and shut off the engine
. “I’m not moving until you tell me.”

  Petunia sighed heavily. “But you won’t believe me.”

  “Try me. You might be pleasantly surprised.”

  “Fine, we’re just trying to follow up on a tip that the mayor might have been in the company of Florence yesterday.”

  “The day before she died?”

  “Exactly, or at least I think that’s when she died. Without the coroner’s report, I suppose we might not ever know if she died of natural causes or not.”

  “Nothing normal about drowning in the pool of your ex-lover, if you ask me.”

  “Now, that’s something we both can agree on, Cora.”

  Petunia took to glancing out the window until they made it to the point and Cora guided the car between tightly packed pine trees, where the entrance was hidden. When Petunia was a teenager and had come out here with her friends, it had much more visible from the road. Obviously in Cora’s day, it was the happening place from the way she beamed when she found out they were headed out here. Did she really have designs on grandfather? He certainly hadn’t seemed all that bothered with Cora’s kiss reference when the sheriff had pulled them over.

  Chapter Eleven

  When Cora parked in the lot, it was completely empty. Apparently, couples could find other places to make out these days.

  Petunia hopped out of the car and Noah followed her. She gazed up at the pine trees that were only tree saplings when she was a teenager. Her sixth-grade class had planted them during Earth Day. It had been a pet project of her science teacher. Why she had brought them clear out here to plant, though, was a mystery, but Petunia hadn’t minded the trip since school sure hadn’t been her forte. Not with they way her classmates had liked to tease her about being a witch, even though she had she never dreamed it could be true back then. If she had, her school years would have been filled with mischief.

  “Earth to Petunia,” Noah said, waving a hand in front of her face until she frowned at him.

  “Would you stop doing that, please? I was just thinking how the trees sure had grown since the last time I saw them.”

  “Oh, have you spent that much time at Look Out Point?”

  “Not like you might think. I did help our science teacher plant trees out here.”

  “That sure is a strange science project.”

  “I suppose.”

  Petunia wandered around, not sure what she was even looking for.

  “I’m not sure how much weight we should be paying to Steven’s assertion that the mayor and Florence were seen together. I’m sure if they were still going at it, they’d find a better place to meet up than out here.”

  “Nice way to put it, Petunia, but I’d have to agree with you. Of course if the point gets fewer people out here, it might just be the right spot.”

  After ten minutes of looking around, Noah said, “This is a waste of time. I don’t even see a tire mark in the dirt or gravel.”

  Petunia sighed. “I’m at a loss, then. That party tomorrow is sounding like the only place to investigate.”

  “This might not even be a case we should be on at all. An apparent drowning is all this seems to be turning out to be.”

  “Let’s wait a little longer to make a decision about that. If I’m not able to find something of use at the barbecue, and if the sheriff admits that was indeed the cause of death, then I’ll go along with it.”

  “You mean, we?”

  “Fine, we, then. Whatever makes you feel better.”

  “That would be the day.” He smiled.

  When they finally turned back in the direction of the car, the windows were very fogged up. “Oh, my. Say it isn’t so.”

  “You mean you’re having a problem with Cora and your grandfather smooching?”

  “Yes, of course I do. Sh-she’s so mean to me.”

  “And since she’s had her sights on your grandfather, or Simon, she’s certainly changed her tune.”

  “You’re right about that, but it won’t last. Not when they find out he’s snuck out of Sunnybrook and is hauled back there.”

  “Why is he there, anyway? He seems to get around pretty well for a man his age.”

  “It was his doing. He claimed that he’s running some sort of CIA investigation from right inside that nursing home.”

  “So, you think that he’s lost his marbles?”

  “I can’t help it, but yes. Of course he’s not the only one claiming to be CIA and saying that Florence was working for them.”

  “I can’t wait to see how this all plays out,” Noah said.

  They jumped back when the Schwan truck came barreling into the lot, stones scattering as the driver slammed on the brakes.

  “I guess we figured out why the Schwan man doesn’t get back to Lake Forest until after seven,” Noah remarked.

  Petunia frowned as she made her way to the truck, only to have the passenger’s side door open and Susan Jacobs appear, looking quite red-faced. “Wh-what are you doing here, Petunia?”

  “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

  Susan worked at the Hobby Shack and Petunia hadn’t seen her in quite a while, not since she had given up her fixation of buying an excess of knitting needles.

  Chris opened the other door and fell to the ground with a thump. He then climbed to his feet and waved his hands frantically. “This isn’t what it looks like.”

  Noah cocked a brow. “No?”

  “I was just giving Susan a ride home and I made a wrong turn.”

  “You know, those wrong turns never worked out for anyone in those movies, but since you’re here, I’d like to ask you a few questions,” Petunia said. “I’m sure your wife won’t mind you getting home a little late tonight.”

  “I suspect not, since Joan threw me out last week and she moved in another man,” Chris said, wiping at the back of his nose with his shirt sleeve.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry, Chris.” Petunia really felt bad now. It’s no wonder he was here with Susan. Chris had quite the beer belly, some might say, but he never drank a drop. He just had a healthy appetite. He reminded Petunia of the actor, Chris Elliot, pasty skin and all.

  “We’re just friends,” Susan added quickly. “Chris needs a friend right now.”

  “I’m sure, but Chris, did you make a stop by the Hopkins’ mansion earlier today?”

  Chris paled slightly. “Yes, and I already told the sheriff that I saw Florence’s car there for the last week. I was a little surprised about that, but for all I knew the mayor took her car back after they went their separate ways. Word has it that the car was in his name.”

  That was a new development that Petunia sure would ask the mayor about when she got him alone. “I see. Well, if that car wasn’t hers and it was there that long, it makes me wonder why it wasn’t towed. Sounds like the mayor was breaking his own ordinances.” It was also suspect that Bonnie hadn’t mentioned that Florence’s car was taken back by the mayor. “All cars parked on the street must be moved at least once a day,” she explained to Noah.

  “That makes sense, but how does he police that?”

  “The meter patrol marks the back tires with chalk. That way when they come back around, they’ll know if the car was moved from the day before,” Petunia added.

  “That sounds like a lame ordinance to me.”

  “Yup, just like the one about me running a business from home.”

  “Who was home when you went there today?” Noah asked.

  “The maid. Usually Bonnie is the one who sees me. She likes to mix up her order, but today she bought only ice cream. She usually orders peanut butter cup ice cream bars. Bonnie has a real weakness for them.”

  “That sounds great. Do you have any of those left?” Noah asked.

  Chris hemmed and hawed. “I-I, you know, I’m not sure, but I suppose I could check.”

  Chris sure seemed to be acting peculiar, now. Petunia couldn’t help but wonder why.

  They followed Chris back to his truck and he opened the door,
returning with the bars and handing them to Noah as Petunia moved a little closer to the door.

  “Are there any more questions, because I have to get back to check in after I run along Mill Street one more time,” Chris said.

  “Isn’t that a little out of your way? That’s on the outskirts of town.”

  “I know, but sometimes I sell more to the men after they get home from work,” Chris said.

  She nodded as Chris and Susan hopped back in the truck and spun out of the parking lot, leaving a bewildered Petunia behind. She was surprised that Susan and Chris would come out here to meet up.

  When Petunia walked over to Cora’s car, she was reluctant just to hop in the back seat. What if they were, eww? Petunia had to stop herself from thinking about Cora and her grandfather locked in an embrace. It’s not that people his age never did such a thing; it’s just that he was her grandfather and therefore, the thought bothered her.

  The passenger’s window was rolled down and grandfather said, “Are you going to stand out there all day?”]=

  “No, I just wasn’t so sure it was safe to get in the car,” Petunia said.

  “Don’t be silly. It’s humid in here and it doesn’t take much to fog up the windows.”

  Petunia nodded, preceding Noah into the backseat. She noted how flushed Cora’s face was and that her grandfather had lipstick on his upper lip! Of course the best-case scenario now was that Cora would stay off Petunia’s case.

  “Where to next?” Cora asked.

  “Home sounds good to me,” Petunia said. “I want to be rested for the barbecue tomorrow. So far we haven’t run across one solid clue.”

  “No, but everyone agrees with one thing, Bonnie wasn’t home at the time all of those deliveries happened,” Noah pointed out.

  “No, but she was at Norm’s Meat Market.”

  “For how long, Petunia? She couldn’t be there all day long.”

  “You’re new in town so you don’t know. It gets so packed at times. Once, I waited over an hour to get waited on.”

  “You really need to speak to Bonnie about her whereabouts earlier today,” Noah said.

  “I won’t believe that Bonnie had somehow lured Florence to her house and then offed her. What possible good would it do to have the woman floating in Bonnie’s pool, of all places? Bonnie would have had to deal with it eventually when the body was found, unless someone planted it.”

 

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