“What scheme, exactly?” Petunia asked.
“She didn’t say, but I was worried when she didn’t come to visit me today. Of course then the sheriff showed up to give me the news.”
“Certainly you must wonder who did this to Florence?”
“I suppose, but we’ve never had a good relationship. We were been estranged for years until she showed up one day and claimed she was ready to reconnect. I should have known there’d be some problems with the way she treated me, but I guess I was just lonely and loved the company. She even suggested I come to Sunnybrook so that I’d get all the help I needed since I had fallen once and was worried I could fall again. I wasn’t sure I had enough much money in the bank, but Florence assured me that she’d look after my finances. It wasn’t until later I learned that she cleaned out my accounts and my house was foreclosed on.”
That made Petunia mad. “That’s horrible. So basically, you’re stuck here, now?”
“Yes. I don’t have anything to go back to.”
“Then why did you still continue to see Florence when she visited?”
Clara rang her hands. “Oh, I don’t know. I guess I’m just that lonely. All of my friends are gone now, and I believed her when she said that she’d make it right. She promised that when she married the mayor, I could come live with them. He has an awfully large mansion in Lake Forest, you know.”
“Was that before or after their affair ended?”
“She said he ended it to ease things between him and his wife, but he had plans to get rid of the wife soon.”
“Get rid of her how?”
“Florence never said. I imagine he meant a divorce. They have a prenuptial agreement, though, and they can’t divorce for infidelity or he doesn’t get a dime.”
“So Florence thought if they weren’t together, he’d wait it out and ask for a divorce later?”
“Yes, but the last time I saw her, she did tell me that her scheme would speed things up.”
“And it looks like it might have just caused her death,” Petunia pointed out.
“I’m not sure, but please, tell your grandfather to come back. I’ve really missed him. He was the only one around here who could make me smile.”
“Oh, your grandfather, the one who used to be a CIA agent?” Cora said, with a suspicious look like a light bulb went off. “What does this Alfred look like?”
“About six foot, with silver hair. He’s a dashing little devil, that one and he has quite the way of distracting you when you look into his honey eyes.”
“You don’t say,” Cora said, giving Petunia quite the look. Cora patted her purse where the supposed love potion was, which surprised Petunia. How mad could Cora be when she found out Simon was her grandfather if she was planning to give him the love potion?
Petunia thanked Clara and promised to tell her grandfather to come back soon. “I can’t promise you that he’ll listen, though,” Petunia admitted.
“I understand that, but if he doesn’t come back and soon, I’m going to break out of this place.”
“Please don’t do that, Clara. I’d hate for you to get into any trouble.”
“This is a nursing care facility, not a prison, you know, although it certainly feels like one at times. My Alfred made it so much more livable.”
“Your Alfred? We’ll see about that,” Cora said, as she stomped out of the room.
Noah cocked a brow and trailed after Cora, while Petunia gave Clara a hug, promising to come back to visit her again real soon. From the way Clara’s face lit up, Petunia could see how Florence was able to take advantage of her mother. If Petunia were less of a person, she’d have thought that Florence deserved what had happened to her, but nobody deserved to be murdered or die even. That wasn’t for any of them to decide.
The car ride back home was a silent one. From the way Cora’s hands gripped the steering wheel, it was apparent that she was quite upset. Petunia wished her grandfather hadn’t led Cora on, but now who knew what would happen for any of them. Would Cora confront him or give him that fake love potion?
When Cora skidded to a stop finally in front of Noah’s house, Noah and Petunia got out. Petunia asked Cora, “Are you coming in?”
“No. I’m going home. It’s been a long day.”
“Are you sure, Cora? Why don’t you come in for a cup of tea?”
“Not this time, but thanks, Petunia, and I’m really sorry.”
Petunia closed the car door and thought, sorry for what?
She didn’t have time for that to be more than a passing thought, since she wanted to light into her grandfather. Of all the nerve, putting her into this position. She had finally become friendly with Cora and now, who knows. Cora was certainly a good person to have on her good side and although she wasn’t even a witch, in many ways she was more powerful than one.
“Now, Petunia, take it easy on your grandfather. He was just trying to help,” Noah said, as they walked inside.
Petunia would have to wait for that conversation, since her grandfather was quite knocked out and snoring away on the couch. He had the remote in one hand, and an empty wine glass in his other.
“I suppose I should head home. I’ll speak with him tomorrow.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow for the barbecue. We’re still going together, right?”
“Wh-what, I mean, yes. I’m just worried about Cora. If she gets mad enough, there’s no telling what she’ll do.”
“I wouldn’t jump to conclusions. Certainly she can’t blame you for your grandfather’s lie about who he really is.”
Petunia wasn’t so sure. “You’re right. Now is not the time to overreact. I’m just hoping that we find out something of use tomorrow at the Hopkins’ party.”
She walked home and was bombarded with cats racing toward her and some of them weren’t even hers. “What on earth?” Petunia said aloud.
Maria Hookwink strode toward her. “Well, look what the cat dragged in. We’ve been looking for you. You need to whip us up one of your magical potions for your magic test.”
“Now?”
“Of course now, dear,” Aunt Maxine said, walking into the room. “Otherwise, they’ll never leave town.”
That’s all it took to inspire Petunia to move into the kitchen and assemble her pans, tossing in ingredients. Soon the water was boiling and the fragrance of spices filled the air.
Estelle took notes on a pad of paper. “And what kind of potion are you making for us?”
“It’s a hair tonic that will cause your hair to grow faster.”
“How exciting. I certainly could use one like that,” Estelle said. “My hair is quite thin.”
“Should you really be making that hair tonic?” Aunt Maxine said. “You know what happened the last time you made one.”
“What happened?” Maria snapped.
“Oh, she just ran out of the stock so quick and she didn’t make enough to keep up with the orders.”
Wanda and Hazel now came into the room and Petunia gave them a dirty look until the smiles vanished from their faces. That’s all she needed, for them to think she meant to make both of these women quite bald, but she was sure that wouldn’t happen. She was certain that she had perfected that recipe.
After twenty minutes, Petunia poured the mixture through a strainer, separating the herbs and leaves from the remainder of the usable potion, which she mixed with aloe and other softening agents. When she presented the bottle to them, Petunia said, “This is meant to be used as a conditioner.”
Estelle snatched up the bottle. “Good. I’ll try it later.”
“Let’s go outside,” Maria suggested. “The fire is probably taking off now.”
“What fire?”
“We thought it would be nice to have a real witch’s brew. The one I’m whipping up will knock your socks off.”
Petunia didn’t like the idea of them whipping up a batch of anything in her backyard. It was hard enough that people already didn’t like the idea of a witch
living near them, without the added large pot with brew boiling in it over an open fire. But she reluctantly went outside.
She didn’t walk far before spotting Cora gripping the edge of her fence, staring over at them. Petunia ignored her, though, and walked over to the smoldering pot. The pungent aroma was almost too hard to take as she stood there.
Wanda and Hazel had smiles plastered on their faces, which apparently meant that they didn’t want to do anything to anger Estelle or Maria.
“I’m not drinking anything they give me,” Petunia said. “Who knows what they have in it.”
“Then you better find a way to get out of it. I always pour mine on the ground,” Aunt Maxine said.
Aunt Maxine certainly had a good idea there.
When Petunia turned to look at Cora’s backyard, Cora was nowhere to be seen. She would have been relieved, if it wasn’t for the sound of sirens a moment later. For some reason, it didn’t sound like such a bad thing, since hopefully she could get out of having to drink that vile brew.
Sure enough tires screeched and fire fighters raced into the backyard.
“Can I help you?” Petunia said. “Whoever called the fire department must not be able to see that this fire is quite harmless.”
Two men searched their faces and then one said, “Shut it down, Patterson.”
Petunia’s hands went to her hips. “Shut what down, exactly?”
“All witch-like activities are banned in your neighborhood. Didn’t you read the letter the mayor sent out?” another fire fighter said.
“No, he only said that I couldn’t run a business from home and this isn’t being made to sell.”
“Still, you’re making your neighbors uncomfortable.”
“Please, Petunia,” the sheriff said, as he walked into the back yard. “Dump it out.”
“Not a chance!” The truth was that she too afraid what would happen if she did that.
“Stand back,” a brawny fire fighter said, as he knocked over the pot with his ax.
All of the liquid from the pot was quickly absorbed into the soil, then suddenly the backyard was full of bullfrogs!
The men raced to the front of the house. “See, I told you they were witches,” Petunia heard one of them say.
“I hope you’re happy now, Pinkerton. How do you expect me to get rid of all of these frogs?”
“Perhaps you should have thought about that before you whipped up a potion here in your backyard when you know it’s not allowed. I’ll have to inform the mayor.”
“Don’t be so hasty. Besides, it wasn’t me. It was them,” Petunia pointed to Estelle and Maria, who were now backing away. “Seems like they wanted to change us into a frog,” she proclaimed. “And I don’t want no part of joining any kind of witch group or club, or whatever you’re calling it.”
“I wasn’t trying to turn anyone into a frog, I swear.” Estelle said. “Maria must have mixed up an ingredient.”
“That will be quite enough of this disagreement,” Aunt Maxine said. “I want the both of you out of here, and don’t come back.”
“Meaning out of Lake Forest,” Petunia added.
I’m forfeiting my membership with Witches Affairs, too,” Aunt Maxine said. “My niece Petunia means more to me than being apart of any group the two of you are a part of.”
“And the same goes for us,” Wanda and Hazel chimed.
Instead of acting angry, Maria was all smiles, leading the way out of the backyard with her mother and they left with a roar of their car’s engine.
“Look what a mess you got me into, now,” Pansy said.
Instead of responding to what Pansy had to say, the sheriff excused himself, claiming that he wasn’t about to put this on a report.
When everyone finally left, Petunia frantically searched for Pansy. “Where are you?”
“I’m right over here.”
Petunia searched and searched, but all she could see were frogs. It was then that panic began to set in. Had Maria turned Pansy into a frog?
“Whatever is the matter, dear?” Aunt Maxine asked.
“I-It’s Pansy. I think he was changed into a frog.”
Wanda walked behind a shrub and came back with a very naughty Pansy in her arms.
When the cat dropped to the ground on all fours, he said, “Sorry, but you should have seen the look on your face. It was priceless.”
“Well, I fail to see the humor in that. I’d hate to see you changed into a bullfrog, is all. You should be happy that I feel that way.”
“I should, I suppose, but for some reason, it’s hard to believe. I think it’s the whole thing about you changing me into a cat. Sure, I’ve adjusted to it, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever totally forgive you for it. You’ll just have to listen to what I have to say and take it like a woman.”
Petunia’s only response was to head back inside and march up the stairs, sinking into her bed. Today had been a long day, too long, if you asked her and almost instantly, she fell asleep. The last thought she had was that hopefully the conditioner she whipped up for Estelle and Maria would make them both bald!
Chapter Thirteen
Petunia woke up at dawn and no amount of tossing and turning could help her get back to sleep. Today was going to be a stressful day. She still wanted to question both Bonnie and the mayor. She had to find out if there was anyone who would have an interest in framing the mayor for murder. While either of the Hopkinses might be the target, she just couldn’t think why anyone would try to do that. Bonnie was well-liked in Lake Forest and many people felt bad about how her husband treated her. Did she decide to get even by framing him for murder? Would she have plotted this whole thing so that her husband would go to prison, forever preventing more scandal in Lake Forest?
The more she thought about it, though, the more adamant Petunia was that Bonnie just wouldn’t—or couldn’t—do this. She was incapable of drowning Florence and carting her body back to the mansion. Bonnie had also looked genuinely surprised that Florence’s body was in her pool. Speaking about a scandal, having a husband sent to prison for murder would set the tongues waging like never before.
Petunia got up and stepped into the shower, donning white cropped pants with an aqua shirt that buttoned in the front. Slipping on her sandals, she made her way downstairs and fed her cats. Fortunately, Pansy didn’t have something to say until there was a knock on the door.
Uh, oh. “You have trouble, Red.”
Petunia sighed as she opened the door. A young man stood there with a clipboard in hand.
“Are you Petunia Patterson?”
“I certainly am, but who are you?”
“I just need your signature.”
Petunia didn’t give it much thought and scrawled her signature. She was then handed a registered letter and her heart sank as he walked away. She didn’t have to guess what this was; she knew it came from the mayor, as the return address was the government building. She ripped the envelope open and sure enough, she stared at a bill for the five-thousand dollar fine for breaking the ordinance of running a business in her home. But how wrong could they be? She hadn’t done anything for business, really, since the mayor had warned her. Unless Cora had told on her for making her that love potion, or herbal concoction.
There was no sense getting angry about it, although it did seem that Cora was taking it out on Petunia for her grandfather’s deception. She’d just be sure to tell Bonnie what had happened and hope that she could be of some help. But she wondered if she should even ask her, when there was so much going on …
* * *
Noah didn’t know what to think about Petunia now. She had a large pot cooking in her backyard last night, for one thing. Was it really possible that witchcraft was running amuck in Lake Forest—and what did that say about Petunia? Should he still date her, and how would he know for sure that she hadn’t given him a love potion? No, that wasn’t possible. While Noah really did like Petunia, he knew it wasn’t love. At least, not yet, but he like
d her well enough to want to see where the relationship would go. Of course that would only work if they weren’t investigating a case. Hopefully when they solved this case, he’d be able to pin her down for another date.
He waltzed into the kitchen, looking down at Melvin, and asked, “What do you think, Melvin? Should I keep dating Petunia?” In response, Melvin shook his tail like he knew exactly what she was saying. “Of course you don’t exactly like that cat of hers, Pansy.” This time Melvin actually whimpered and Noah shook his head. “I swear, if I didn’t know better, I’d think that you actually know what I’m saying and are responding accordingly. I’m really letting all this witchcraft affect my thinking.”
Noah had a strong conviction of what was and wasn’t real. He wasn’t one to believe in the paranormal, or the existence of ghosts. When it came to witchcraft, he really thought it was just a story or rumor in town, something to snicker about behind closed doors. He had always believed that there wasn’t anything that would support the thought that witchcraft even existed in this town, until now. Right there in Petunia’s back yard was an actual caldron heating over an open fire. It was hard not to also notice that a good number of frogs had appeared in her backyard after the sheriff showed up and that kettle was dumped over. In the cover of darkness, nobody even saw him peering over the fence. He saw more than he wanted to know. How would he be able to stop himself from grilling Petunia about what he saw—or should he even ask? What would he do if she admitted that she was a witch? Sure, he knew that she had made herbal salves in the past, but is that what they really were? He knew one thing for sure; no herbal salve should have changed the arthritis-ridden Lucy to a woman that went on to win a marathon.
But he’d have to save his conversation about witchcraft with Petunia for another day. Today, they needed to investigate who might have killed Florence and what possible connection there was to the mayor.
Noah waited until two thirty before he went next door to see if Petunia was ready to leave.
* * *
“Where are you going, again?” Pansy asked.
Meows, Magic & Manslaughter (Lake Forest Witches Book 2) Page 12