by Jinty James
CHAPTER 3
Beep, beep, beep! The travelling alarm clock that ran on batteries demanded they wake up.
Maddie opened a bleary eye, then promptly shut it. The room was dark. They’d drawn the curtains before they’d gone to bed, but there didn’t seem to be any morning sunlight peeking around the edges.
“Mrrow?” Trixie licked Maddie’s cheek.
A delicate snore came from Suzanne’s side of the room. Maddie hadn’t heard a thing all night; she’d been practically dead to the world.
She patted the Persian and sat up.
“Suzanne,” she called.
Suzanne mumbled something and wriggled in the bed.
Trixie stared at the sleeping girl for a few seconds, then jumped across to the neighboring bed, her body outstretched as she made the leap.
“Mrrow!”
Maddie interpreted that as, “Wake up!”
Trixie nudged Suzanne’s hand, then her cheek.
“Whaaa …?” Suzanne slowly woke up.
“Time to get up.” Maddie clambered out of bed. “The alarm’s gone off.”
“Why is it so dark?” Suzanne mumbled, absently patting Trixie.
Maddie walked over to the drapes and pulled them apart.
“This is why.” She gestured to the dark storm clouds. Unfortunately, it looked like the storm hadn’t cleared up, despite the fact it was no longer raining. The back lawn and shrubs looked waterlogged and some tree branches were tossed on the ground. At least there wasn’t any thunder or lightning for the moment, anyway.
“Is the electricity back on?” Suzanne asked hopefully as she stumbled out of bed.
Maddie flicked the light switch but the room remained dim. “No.”
“Pooh.” Suzanne flopped on the bed. “All the food is in the fridge. I didn’t even think about that last night.”
“We were pretty tired,” Maddie replied. “Everything should be okay even with the power off, shouldn’t it? It’s mostly fruit and vegetables.”
“True.” Suzanne sounded brighter. “I guess we should get dressed and join in for yoga.”
“Mrrow!” Trixie jumped off Suzanne’s bed and trotted to the door.
“We have to get dressed first, Trix.” Maddie smiled at her familiar.
Trixie sat down and waited for them to pull their clothes on, looking at them impatiently a couple of times.
“Wouldn’t it be great if you could cast a spell that would dress you instantly?” Suzanne mused as she ran a brush through her hair and then pulled it up in her usual ponytail.
“Mrrow,” Trixie said encouragingly.
“That might mean there’s one in Wytchcraft for the Chosen,” Suzanne said enthusiastically. “We should check the book tonight.”
“Good idea.” Maddie tied the laces on her sneakers, then joined Trixie at the door, this time making sure she had her phone with her.
Was it too soon to call Luke and let him know she was okay? Could she even get a signal? She turned on her cell, waiting for it to wake up.
“Let’s go.” Suzanne grabbed her phone and joined Maddie and Trixie.
Maddie pulled the door open, startled to see Jenna on the other side, her hand raised as if to knock. The soccer mom looked worried.
“Thank goodness you’re awake. I didn’t know what to do. Autumn didn’t respond when I knocked on her door.”
“What’s wrong?” Maddie asked.
“It’s Hailey. I can’t get an answer from her. I’ve knocked and knocked. I even tried to go into her room, but I couldn’t get the door open.” Jenna bit her lip.
“Let’s see if we can.” Suzanne cast a concerned look at Maddie.
Trixie followed them as Jenna led the way to her friend’s room. It was closer to the stairs than most of the other rooms.
“Let me.” Suzanne knocked on the door – loudly.
They waited for a few seconds, Maddie straining her ears, but she couldn’t detect any sound from within the room.
“See?” Jenna told them.
“Maybe we should try the door.” Maddie twisted the knob and pushed. To her surprise, the door swung open and she nearly stumbled inside the bedroom.
“I don’t believe it!” Jenna sounded relieved. “Maybe I didn’t try hard enough. I was so worried about Hailey that my hands were shaking when I attempted to open the door.”
“It’s okay. Sometimes old wooden doors stick.” Maddie entered the room.
She stilled as she took in the scene. The curtains were partially closed, allowing a little dim light into the room. Hailey lay on her back in the double bed, an elegant black mask covering her eyes. The bedcovers were down to her waist and she wore a slinky black nightgown. And a pillow over her face.
“No!” Jenna ran to her friend, pulling off the offending item. “No!”
Maddie and Suzanne stared at each other wide-eyed, then sprang into action.
“You shouldn’t touch anything.” Suzanne reached Jenna and pulled her back.
“But what if she’s still alive?” Tears clogged Jenna’s voice. “We’ve got to check if she’s breathing!”
“I’ll do it,” Maddie heard herself say. She reached Hailey, the pillow now partially off her face. With the edge of her long t-shirt sleeve, she managed to flip the pillow off the woman’s face, holding her breath the whole time.
She looked at Hailey, the woman’s tongue sticking out of her mouth, and then to her chest, partially spilling out of the black nightgown. No rise and fall, however slight.
Maddie sadly shook her head.
“I know! A mirror!” Suzanne raced out of the room, returning seconds later with her compact mirror. She held it to Hailey’s nose.
“I’m sorry, Jenna.” Suzanne looked downcast.
“But why?” Jenna wailed. “She was fine last night when I asked to borrow one of her pillows.”
“When was that?” Maddie asked, noticing that Trixie hovered in the doorway. She wondered why her familiar hadn’t entered the room. Did she find the dead woman’s energy disturbing, or was it that she didn’t want to contaminate the crime scene? Unless it was suicide.
But how could you smother yourself like this with a pillow?
“After everyone went to bed,” Jenna replied, staring at her friend with wide eyes. “I like having two pillows to sleep on, and I couldn’t get comfy with only one. My bed’s a single. So I knocked on Hailey’s door and asked if I could borrow one of hers. She’d told me earlier that she’d found an extra pillow in her closet. She said sure.”
“In the dark?” Suzanne queried.
“Yes.” Jenna nodded. “It was a bit scary, leaving my room in the dark, but I knew if I couldn’t find an extra pillow, I’d have a lousy night’s sleep. And I know Hailey only uses – used – one pillow.”
“There are two in the room,” Suzanne said slowly. “One underneath her head and one …” she let the thought trail off.
“Hailey gave me the extra pillow from her closet,” Jenna told them.
“I think we should find Autumn,” Maddie said. “And make sure no one else enters the room.”
“I don’t know if she’s here,” Jenna told them. “Like I said, I knocked and knocked on her door, but there was no answer. Then I came to your room, hoping you’d be awake.”
“Maybe you should go and sit down,” Maddie said, not liking Jenna’s pallor.
“Wait for us in the great room,” Suzanne added. “We’ll find Autumn and call the sheriff.”
“Would you?” Jenna’s face crumpled. “I don’t think I’d make any sense on the phone right now.”
Once Jenna descended the stairs, Suzanne turned to Maddie. “That’s if we can get a signal.”
Maddie grimaced. “We’d better try now.” She retreated to the doorway and dug her phone out of her jeans pocket.
“Mrrow?” Trixie looked up at her.
“We’re going to call for help,” Maddie told her.
“Mrrow!” Trixie seemed to approve. She cast a glanc
e toward the staircase, and then back to Maddie.
To Maddie’s relief, bars appeared on her phone. After dialing the emergency number and stating that it looked like a woman had been murdered and giving the address, they were told not to let anyone enter the room until law enforcement arrived.
“Maybe Autumn has a key and we could lock the door.” Suzanne gestured to the old-fashioned key hole in the bedroom door. She pulled the door behind them, then made a face. “Fingerprints.”
“I hope we’re not going to be considered suspects,” Maddie said, knowing it was a forlorn wish.
“Especially after last time,” Suzanne added with feeling. They’d catered their friends’ going into business party, which had ended abruptly when one of the guests had been murdered.
Maddie touched her friend’s arm. “We’d better find Autumn and tell her what’s happened.”
“I’ll guard the door,” Suzanne said, but did not look happy about it.
Maddie strode down the hall to the bedroom she assumed was the group leader’s.
She knocked loudly and waited for a response.
Nothing.
“Autumn!”
Silence.
Maddie turned her head to look at Suzanne, standing in front of Hailey’s bedroom. It seemed as if they, along with Jenna, were the only people awake.
“Autumn!” Maddie forced herself to shout.
Taking a deep breath, she twisted the doorknob and pushed, just like she had with Hailey’s door. It didn’t open. She rattled the handle but it seemed as if the door was locked.
Frowning, she returned to Suzanne.
“I don’t think she’s here,” Maddie said. “And I think she’s locked her door.”
“Weird.” Suzanne scrunched her nose. “Why would she do that? We haven’t got a key to our room, and Hailey’s door was unlocked.”
“The landlord or the realtor must have given her keys to the place,” Maddie replied. “Maybe Autumn has keys to all the bedrooms.”
“Perhaps she’s got some sensitive information in her room.” Suzanne snapped her fingers. “Or she doesn’t want anyone to go snooping.”
“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.
“Is that what it is, Trix?” Maddie bent down.
“Mrrow.” Trixie added, as if in the affirmative.
“We’ve got to find her,” Maddie said.
Suzanne looked at her. “You don’t think she’s run off, do you? If she killed Hailey?”
“Do you really think Autumn’s a killer?” Maddie stared at her friend.
“No.” Suzanne’s ponytail shook. “I don’t. But it is weird that she’s not here right now when something awful has happened.”
“I agree.” Maddie started as an idea popped into her head. “You haven’t got Autumn’s number on your phone, do you? We could call her and see if she answers.”
“Great idea!” Suzanne fished out her phone from her pants’ pocket and turned it on. Autumn had called her to set up the details for their catering job.
Suzanne held the phone out so Maddie could hear what was happening. They heard ringing – and ringing – and then an automated voice came on asking them to leave a message.
“Pooh.” Suzanne looked disappointed as she ended the call. “What should we do now?”
“We need to look for Autumn,” Maddie said.
“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.
“And we need to make sure nobody enters this room,” Suzanne added. “If we can find a piece of paper and a pen, we could write a note and tape it to the door – Do not disturb or something like that.”
“Genius!” Maddie nodded. “And then I think we should round everyone up and tell them what’s happened – and we should all stay together.”
“Yep. In case someone is curious and wants to see for themselves that Hailey’s …” Suzanne’s voice trailed off.
“And also …” Maddie paused. “If Hailey’s death wasn’t caused by an intruder, that means …”
“One of the people here is a murderer.”
CHAPTER 4
Maddie and Suzanne decided to gather everyone together and tell them the awful news.
Maddie guarded Hailey’s bedroom while Suzanne knocked on everybody’s door, telling them there was an emergency and to assemble in the great room ASAP.
Trixie stayed by Maddie’s side, occasionally glancing up at her, but otherwise keeping her thoughts and feelings to herself.
Finally, Suzanne came over to Maddie, just as she saw Linda troop down the staircase.
“I could stay at the top of the stairs while you tell them,” Maddie suggested. “That way, no one will have access to Hailey’s room.”
“Good idea.” Suzanne nodded. Then she hesitated. “But are you sure you’ll be okay up here?”
“I’ll have Trixie with me.” She looked down at her familiar in confirmation.
“Mrrow!”
“And then we better start looking for Autumn,” Suzanne added.
“And make sure we all stay together while we do,” Maddie said. “It would be very easy for someone to double back and come up here to the crime scene.”
“What if they realize they’ve left some evidence behind?” Suzanne shuddered. “Got your phone?”
“Yes.”
“If anyone leaves the great room, I’ll text you. If they come up the stairs, call me and I’ll come running. And I’ll make sure everyone else does, too.”
“Okay.” Maddie touched her friend’s arm, grateful for Suzanne’s support. She really didn’t want to face a potential killer alone – even with Trixie by her side. Although she now had five spells under her belt, she’d never expect anything bad to happen during this catering job.
Was she jinxed?
She glanced down at Trixie, who definitely moved her head slightly in the negative.
That was a relief.
Maddie pulled her phone out of her pocket and checked that it was on.
“We’ll be ready and waiting.” She summoned a smile.
Suzanne nodded, then clattered down the staircase.
“Is everyone here?” she heard Suzanne’s voice.
A chorus of ragged yeses sounded in the distance.
Maddie and Trixie walked over to the top of the staircase. She could just see into the great room from here, but couldn’t really make out anyone.
Maddie and Trixie listened as they faintly heard Suzanne tell everyone the sad news about Hailey. There was a short silence, then it sounded as if everyone was speaking at once.
Suzanne cut them short. “And now we need to search for Autumn. Maddie and I can’t find her, and although the sheriff’s department is on their way, Autumn needs to know what’s going on.”
There was a noise coming from the hallway. Maddie watched Suzanne hurry out of the great room and head down the hall.
“Autumn!” she exclaimed.
Maddie and Trixie stared at each other, then ran down the stairs.
The group leader stood in the hallway, her hair askew, her cheeks flushed, and her tie-dyed outfit of green t-shirt and skirt looking the worse for wear.
“What happened?” Maddie’s eyes widened.
“I went out for a walk this morning.” Autumn caught her breath. “The power is still out and I wanted to see if the storm had done any damage outside. And it has.”
“Have you heard about Hailey?” Brenda came up to them. “What are we going to do?”
“What about Hailey?” Autumn frowned.
“Suzanne said she’s dead,” Brenda blurted out.
“What?” Autumn’s shocked gaze swung to Suzanne.
“It’s true,” Maddie said quietly. She glanced behind her. No one was creeping up the stairs. She told Autumn about Jenna’s visit to their bedroom that morning.
“I better see for myself.” Autumn rushed past them.
“No!” Suzanne caught her arm. “The emergency operator told us not to touch anything. Maddie was guarding the room, but she came downstairs when she hea
rd you arrive.”
“Yes. Good.” Autumn stilled, as if collecting her thoughts. “You did the right thing, girls. Obviously we must not contaminate the crime scene – if it is a crime.”
Maddie and Suzanne looked at each other.
“She was smothered,” Maddie said quietly.
“Oh.” Autumn drummed her finger against her lips.
There was silence for a moment. Edith, Jenna, and Linda emerged from the great room.
“You said something about the storm doing damage outside?” Maddie prompted.
“That’s right.” Autumn seemed to come back to them. “There’s a huge oak tree down across the driveway. I’m afraid we won’t be able to leave here yet.”
“What?” Jenna asked. Her face looked red and splotchy, as if she’d been crying.
“We’ll have to wait until the sheriff arrives,” Autumn told the soccer mom. “And see what he suggests.” She looked at all of them. “I suggest we wait in the great room for now.”
Linda and Brenda nodded.
“Obviously, this has been very distressing for all of us,” Autumn said as she followed everyone into the room. She looked over at Jenna. “Especially for Jenna.”
The soccer mom nodded. “We were so close,” she whispered. “We did practically everything together.”
“I’m so sorry.” Linda put her arm around Jenna’s shoulder. “I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling right now.”
Sympathetic murmurs of support ensued.
Autumn turned to Maddie and Suzanne. “I don’t suppose there’s any coffee?” she looked at them hopefully. “Perhaps that will help us all to focus better.”
“Of course.” Maddie nodded. “I’ll get it started right away.”
“I’ll come with you.” Suzanne followed Maddie and Trixie out of the room.
“What are we going to do, Mads?” Suzanne asked when they were alone in the kitchen. “This has turned out to be a mess – just like our first catering job.”
“Trixie says I’m not jinxed.” Maddie tried to cheer up her friend.
“Mrrow!”
Suzanne stared at the two of them. “But maybe I am!”