by Adele Abbott
“What’s that you’re wearing?” Kathy pulled a face.
“It’s an authentic witch costume.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t look anything like a witch. Where’s the one you got from the shop?”
“I’m not wearing that thing. It was cheap and tacky.”
“That’s the idea. Anyway, it wasn’t cheap and tacky; it was sexy.”
“Witches aren’t supposed to be sexy. Being a witch is a very serious business.”
Kathy looked at me nonplussed. “You do know that witches aren’t real, don’t you?”
“Yeah, of course I do.”
“I suppose we’ll just have to make the best of it.” Kathy sighed. “What do you think of my outfit?”
“Tell me again what you’re meant to be.”
“Cheek! I’m a vampire, obviously.”
She opened her mouth to show me her fangs, which looked plastic and quite ridiculous.
“Very scary. Don’t bite my neck, will you?”
“What do you think to Pete’s outfit?”
Peter looked very uncomfortable in the werewolf costume, and about as excited about the party as I did.
“You look very scary, Mr Werewolf.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Come on then,” Kathy said. “Let’s go in. And try to remember, Jill, you’re here to have fun. F-U-N.”
Inside, it was packed with people dressed as every kind of supernatural creature you could imagine. There were dozens of witches, vampires and werewolves. But there were also ghosts and goblins, and some that I simply didn’t recognise at all. Of course, none of them looked like real sups. But then, how could humans know what a sup really looked like?
Mercifully, there was a bar, so I sneaked over there on the pretence of going to the toilet. While I was at the bar enjoying a small vodka, I noticed a familiar face: a young woman dressed as a vampire. Where did I know her from? When she got a little closer, I sensed she really was a vampire. Then it clicked; it was the young woman who had served us in the fancy dress shop. She had a strange expression on her face. What was it? Then I realised—it was a look of hunger. And, if I wasn’t mistaken, she was looking for a meal of human blood.
This was not good. I had to do something, so I grabbed my phone, and made a quick call to Daze.
“Jill? Where are you? It’s very noisy there. I can hardly hear you.”
“I’m in Washbridge at the community hall. At a fancy dress party.”
“Oh right.”
“The theme is ‘things that go bump in the night’.”
“What’s your costume?”
“I was dreading you asking me that. I came as a witch.”
“Oh dear, how ironic,” she said.
“I rang because I think we may have a problem. I’ve just spotted a real vampire, and I’m absolutely sure she’s on the hunt for human blood. I wondered if you could pop over because I have a horrible feeling something bad is about to happen.”
“Okay. I was just about to wash my hair, but that can wait. I’ll be with you shortly.”
True to her word, a few minutes later, Daze tapped me on the shoulder.
“That was quick.”
“Yeah, well it’s not like I was busy. Where’s this vampire?” She looked around the room.
“I don’t know. She disappeared while I was calling you. I’m worried she might have already found a victim. Come on. We have to find her.”
We pushed our way through the crowd, and it was Daze who eventually spotted her.
“There! Is that her?”
I nodded.
The vampire was walking hand in hand with a young man. They were headed towards the back exit. The look on the young man’s face told me that he thought he’d got lucky. How wrong could he be?
Daze and I set off in pursuit. The door opened onto a dark alleyway, but there was just enough light to see that the young man was pinned against the wall with a look of terror on his face. The vampire had her mouth open, and her fangs extended. She was just about to sink them into his neck when Daze took out her net, and threw it over her. The vampire disappeared in a puff of smoke; the young man looked stunned.
“I’ll see to him,” I said, as I cast the ‘forget’ spell. The man shook his head as he no doubt tried to figure out why he was outside.
“I’d go back inside if I were you, young man,” Daze said. “It’s rather cold out here.”
“Err, yeah, I guess I will.” He scuttled off.
“Thanks for that, Daze.”
“No problem. I’ll pop over to Candlefield to book this one in, and then get back to washing my hair. See you around, Jill.”
When I went back inside, Kathy was waiting for me by the door. “What were you doing outside with that young man, Jill?”
“I wasn’t with him. I was just getting some fresh air.”
“Says you. Looks like you were after a toy boy to me.”
Chapter 12
Tony Bow was in custody, and likely to stand trial for the murder of Carly Baxter. So, why couldn’t I shake the idea that I’d missed something? There was one aspect of the case in particular which simply didn’t make sense: Why would he take Carly Baxter’s necklace after he’d killed her? He must have realised that if it was found in his possession, it would incriminate him.
I went back to see Tony Bow’s wife.
“Oh, it’s you.” She was obviously delighted to see me. “You got Tony arrested.”
“That was down to the necklace.”
“I would never have given it to you if I’d known you were going to use it to frame him for murder.”
“You don’t think he did it?”
“Tony? Kill someone? He doesn’t have it in him. He might be a cheating scumbag, but he isn’t a murderer. Why are you here anyway?”
“I’m not convinced your husband killed Carly. Would you mind showing me where you found the necklace?”
“What good will that do? The police have already been over the car with a fine toothcomb.”
“Even so. If you wouldn’t mind?”
She sighed, but went to collect the car keys.
“How come he didn’t take the car when he went to his brother’s house?”
“Tony hardly ever drives it. He mostly uses the van.” She unlocked the doors. “He spends more time polishing it than he does driving it. He thinks more about that car than he does about me.”
I opened the back door, and scrambled inside.
“I’ll leave you to it,” she said. “Let me have the keys back when you’re finished.”
What did I hope to find that the police hadn’t already uncovered? I wasn’t sure, but I had to give it a go. When Belle had gone back into the house, I shrunk myself so I could search even the smallest nook and cranny.
After an hour, I’d found precisely nothing, so I reversed the ‘shrink’ spell, and was about to lock the car when I spotted the air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror.
Then everything made sense.
***
Alison Shine looked surprised to see me.
“Hello, Alison. Could you spare me a few minutes, please?”
“Of course. I wanted to thank you for helping to find Carly’s murderer. I feel bad now for pointing the finger at Gerry.”
“Do you? Really?”
“Of course I do. He may not have been a good husband to Carly, but I shouldn’t have accused him of her murder. How long will Bow get? They ought to throw away the key.”
“That’s up to the courts. If it gets that far.”
“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t it?”
“You tell me.”
“You’re talking in riddles.”
“Are you still working at the car wash?”
“Yes.” She looked puzzled. “Why do you ask?”
“It’s ages since I used a car wash. They never seem to get my car as clean as I can. And what’s with those air fresheners they insist on giving you? They smell awful,
don’t they? Do you hand those out?”
“Yes. Look, what’s this all about?”
“Does Tony Bow have his car valeted at your place?”
Her face flushed red. “Maybe. I don’t know. What’s that got to do with anything?”
“I bet if I checked the records, I’d find he had it valeted once a week—regular as clockwork. He’s that kind of man. You know the type—they prefer to polish their car rather than actually drive it. Don’t you hate people like that?”
“Look. I have to get on. I’m meant to be meeting someone shortly.”
“That’s why you had to wait, isn’t it?”
“Wait for what?”
“Wait until Tony Bow brought his car in for a valet. You had to keep Carly alive until then, didn’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’ll bet the records show that Tony Bow brought his car in for a valet on the same day as Carly was murdered. Would you care for a small wager?”
Her legs seemed to buckle, and she had to put her hand on the wall to steady herself.
“That’s when you planted the necklace, isn’t it?”
She began to sob.
“Why did you kill her, Alison?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
“She ruined my life. Not that I’ve ever had a life. She saw to that. I was the one who had to stay at home to look after Dad while she went off and did her own thing—found herself a man, got married, started her own business. Everything was just dandy for Carly. She never once offered to help me; she just didn’t care. But I was prepared to put up with it because I thought Dad would show his appreciation when the time came. But, then he told me was going to make a Will, and split everything fifty/fifty between us. Why should she have half? She’s never looked after Dad. She’s never done anything to help. And it’s not like she needs the money. I do. I’ve got nothing. It isn’t fair.”
“So you decided to kill her?”
“No. It wasn’t like that. But when she told me about that stupid stunt of hers I was so angry. She said they would make a fortune from the publicity. Like she didn’t have enough money already. I saw red.”
“How did you get her to come to your place?”
“Gerry had said she should hide out in Black Woods, but she didn’t want to have to deal with the cold—she was always nesh. I said she could stay at my place until the newspapers had run the article, and then she could contact Gerry.”
“How did you persuade her to stay? Surely Gerry must have tried to get in touch with her?”
“Carly always did like a drink. I just added a few pills to the mix.”
“Then you came to see me.”
“Yes, after I’d called the police. I had you fooled, didn’t I?” Her tears had been replaced by a manic grin. “I had them all fooled.”
“I think we should go inside now, Alison.” I took her arm, and led her into the living room, and then took out my phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“The police.”
“But who will look after Dad?”
***
I was feeling ultra-guilty about Barry. It was ages since I’d taken him for a walk. He was at Aunt Lucy’s, so I decided to pop over, have a quick cup of tea with her, and then take him for a walk in the park.
“Do you know much about the Levels AGM, Aunt Lucy?”
“I’ve been there a few times, but only as an assistant to your grandmother.”
“You usually go with her?”
“Yes. I’m expecting her to ask me any day now. She always leaves it until the last minute.”
“Oh?”
“What’s wrong, dear?”
“She’s asked me to be her assistant.”
“Really?”
“I don’t want to do it. I’m quite happy for you to be her assistant. I’ll tell Grandma I’d rather not go with her.”
“Don’t do that. I have absolutely no desire to go to that stupid event. I’m just a little surprised, that’s all. I’ve never seen any witch there who was below level five.”
“That doesn’t sound good. Is it even allowed?”
“I’m pretty sure there’s no rule that specifies who can and can’t attend, but it does seem common practice that the assistants are level five witches.”
“Will you have a word with Grandma for me, and say that you’ll go instead.”
“Sorry, Jill, but if she’s decided she wants to take you, nothing I or anyone else, says is going to change her mind. I’m afraid you’re stuck with this one.”
“Great.”
As soon as we reached the park, and before Barry could run off like he usually did, another Labradoodle came charging towards us.
“Hi,” the dog said. “I’m Barbara, but everybody calls me Babs.”
“I’m Barry. Everyone calls me Barry. I like to walk.”
“Me too. I love to walk.”
“I like to come to the park.”
“Me too.”
“I like to eat.”
“Me too!” Babs said. “We have so much in common.”
As Barry and Babs continued their fascinating conversation, I noticed a young female vampire walking towards us. Judging by her obvious exhaustion, I assumed she’d been chasing after Babs. I knew that feeling only too well.
“Hi,” she said, a little out of breath. “I thought I’d never catch her. Thank goodness she stopped to talk to your dog.”
“Hi. Barry’s just the same. If Babs hadn’t come over to talk to him, he’d be long gone by now.”
I was always a little cautious when I met new people in the park. I still had flashbacks to my run-in with Alicia when she’d tried to poison me ahead of the Levels competition. If it hadn’t been for Grandma’s quick action on that occasion, I would have been dead.
“I’m Dorothy,” she said. “Do you live around here?”
“I live over Cuppy C; the cake shop and tea room.”
“Oh yeah. I know it. The one run by the twins?”
“Yeah, they’re my cousins.”
“Ah! You must be Jill Gooder. You’re a private investigator, aren’t you?”
“That’s me. I live in Washbridge most of the time. That’s where my P.I. business is based. Over here, I just help out at Cuppy C occasionally to pay the rent.”
“I’ve been thinking of moving to the human world,” Dorothy said. “But, I’m beginning to have doubts.”
“Why’s that?”
“A few reasons, actually. I’d have to find a job, and of course somewhere to live. I don’t know how easy that will be. I’ve worked in shops before, but only in Candlefield, so I’m not sure whether my skillset will be any good in the human world. And, I have no clue where to start looking for a flat. I don’t suppose you could give me any pointers?”
“It’s funny you should ask. I might be able to help.”
“Really? That would be great.”
“In fact, I might know someone who can help you with both the job and a flat.”
“That would be absolutely fantastic. Who is it? Can I get in touch with them?”
“Before I give you their names, I need to speak to them first. Can you give me your contact details?”
She couldn’t get her phone out quickly enough.
“I’ll talk to them first, and if there is a job and or a flat going, I’ll give you a call. In fact, I’ll give you a call either way.”
“That’s great, Jill. Thanks very much. There is one other thing I’m a bit worried about.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve never lived among humans. I’m just worried—” She hesitated.
“Go on. Spit it out.”
“I’m just worried that the temptation to feed off them might be too great.”
“That’s something you’re definitely going to have to work on. The only reason there may be a flat and a job going is that the vampire you’d be replacing was br
ought back by the Rogue Retrievers for trying to do just that.”
“Oh dear. Unlucky for them, but lucky for me, maybe. Anyway, if you would check and let me know, I’d be extremely grateful.”
Chapter 13
Jack Maxwell caught up with me at the office a couple of days later.
“Just thought you’d want to know that we’ve charged Alison Shine with her sister’s murder.”
“And Tony Bow?”
“He’s been released. Mind you, he said he’d rather stay locked up than have to face his wife.” He grinned. “What put you onto Alison?”
“She’s a bitter woman, but then you could hardly blame her—she has every right to be. She was the one who had to stay behind and look after their ailing father while Carly left home, got married, and started her own business. And, if Alison is to be believed, Carly never even asked how Alison was coping, and certainly never offered to help.
Alison became more and more resentful as the years went by, but what finally brought it to a head was when her dad told her that he intended to split their inheritance equally between the two sisters. You could argue that any parent would have done the same thing, but that would completely fail to acknowledge the sacrifice that Alison had made for him. Carly had a much better life—with money, and a business of her own. She didn’t need help in the same way that Alison did.
The tipping point was when Carly told Alison about the publicity stunt that she and Gerry planned, and all the money they expected to make off the back of it. That caused something to snap inside of Alison. In her eyes, Carly already had far more money than she needed, and yet that still wasn’t enough. Her sister’s greed was too much for Alison to bear.
When Carly told Alison she didn’t like the idea of hanging around in Black Woods, Alison saw her opportunity and said that she could hide out at her house. Carly didn’t bother telling Gerry because she knew he’d object. While Carly was at her sister’s, Alison gave her a drink laced with tranquilisers.