“I wasn’t aware of that,” Petunia said. “I didn’t mean to make you both bald. It was a slip of hand.”
“Slip of hand?” Maria asked, whipping off her wig. “And it won’t even grow back!”
“I’ll work on an antidote if I have the time, but right now this investigation is all I’m concerned about.”
“Who is he?”
“That’s Noah, my investigating partner, and a mortal just in case you are wondering.”
“I’d like you to clear the room so the detective can check out the scene,” Estelle insisted.
“Gladly. We are wrapped up for now.”
Her eyes widened. “For now?”
“Yes. We don’t have a cause of death yet.”
“I see. Well, it would be good if you would consider joining Witches Affairs. There will be an informational meeting at six.” She gave Maria a look. “Keep further comments to yourself for now, Maria.”
Noah and Petunia left, thanking Barbara on the way out. She only winked in response as the door flew open. “Don’t forget you cat,” Maria said. “He bit me!”
Petunia scrambled to pick up Pansy. “I hope she didn’t hurt you.”
“If she had tried, she’d have felt my claws across her face.”
“You shouldn’t go near her. She could put a spell on you.”
“Don’t worry about me, Red, I have this one handled.”
They returned to the room on the tenth floor, where they found Aunt Maxine watching a show about how to make the perfect potion for skincare.
Petunia eased into a chair next to her. “I have a feeling this is going to be a tough case.” When her aunt turned to her, she added, “I ran into Estelle and Maria. I’m certainly not their best friend.”
“Not since you made them bald.” Aunt Maxine laughed.
“They weren’t happy that we were in the Grand Witch’s office. Do you know why we were able to examine the scene before Detective Winslow arrived?”
“I’m not surprised. I don’t believe any detectives live in Witchataw.”
“That’s another thing. Where are we? I mean, where is Witchataw exactly?”
“It’s an island of sorts that was created by the elders long ago and is only accessible by the Witches Affairs’ boats.”
“So that explains the fog.”
“Yes. The island is always concealed in the fog so as not to be discovered.”
“When you went to see the Grand Witch, Aunt Maxine, why did you force your way into the room?”
Aunt Maxine took a drink. “Well, she wasn’t exactly expecting me.”
“So you had to force your way inside?”
“I had to, Petunia, they demanded I appear, and there’s no way they’d allow me out of Witches Affairs unless I had an audience with the Grand Witch.”
“I’m sorry for not going along with joining.”
“That’s your choice, dear, but I’m not about to distance myself from you. I have never had such a hard time following the bylaws before. I don’t agree that a witch in the organization shouldn’t be allowed to speak with one who doesn’t join.”
“So you planned to speak with the Grand Witch about that?”
“Yes. I think change is at hand, but now it’s too late to speak with Marta about it. And now I look good for her murder.”
“What was her condition when you entered the office?” Noah asked.
Aunt Maxine took another sip. “Besides her being dead, you mean?”
“How was her body positioned?”
Aunt Maxine eased back. “She was on her back on the floor. When I checked her pulse, there was none. She wasn’t breathing.”
“Could you tell how she died?” Petunia added.
“No, I’m not clairvoyant.”
“Were there bloodstains on her clothing?”
“No, not at all.”
“Anything protruding from her chest?”
“No, I’m certain about that.”
“We found a pen that belongs to you there.” Petunia handed it to her. “But it’s not bloodstained.”
“You think I stabbed Marta with this pen?”
“No, but the doctor seems to think that she was stabbed with an object that impaled her heart,” Noah said. “But we know differently. The only mark I saw on her chest wasn’t big enough for that.”
“So where does that leave us?”
“We need to find out whether the doctor is willing to lie in his final report, and if he does, why.”
“We also found something else interesting in the Grand Witch’s office,” Petunia said, “a handgun in a book where the pages had been cut to fit it.”
“I can’t believe that.”
“I can’t help but wonder why Marta would feel the need to protect herself,” Noah added. “Perhaps she wasn’t liked as well as you might think.”
“She hasn’t been in office that long, only about six months, but she’s always been kind when I’ve spoken to her on the phone.”
“So why did you have to force your way into her office?”
“Estelle refused to allow me to see her before my appointment at Witches Affairs.”
“Right before?”
“Yes, why?”
“That makes her look guilty. We’ll have to check into that,” Petunia said.
“It seem like my life is in capable hands.”
“Life? Tell me it’s not true they might hang you if they find you guilty.”
“I can’t imagine that would be the punishment, but how about we not talk about that right now.”
Hazel and Wanda walked into the room and yawned sleepily. “That was quick,” Hazel said.
“Not really. You must have been taking a nap,” Petunia said. “I could use one myself, at least a catnap.”
“How about you take this leash off me already. I don’t need to wear one here.”
“Sorry.”
She unhooked Pansy’s leash and went to her bedroom. She lay on the bed, and Pansy stretched and curled up next to her.
“Relax, Red, I know you only have eyes for that ape Noah.”
She opened one eye. “Since when do you care?”
“I don’t really, but let’s just say you’ve grown on me. Besides, you’re the only person I can communicate with. Please allow me to investigate alongside you. I’m sure I can be of some help.”
“How about you quit talking so I can get some sleep?” She smiled.
Chapter Seven
“Time to get up, Petunia,” Hazel said. “Noah is having a fit that you’re not up yet.”
Petunia eased out of bed. Pansy was nowhere to be seen. She used the bathroom mirror to guide her hand in wiping the smeared mascara from beneath her eyes. Only then did she join Noah in the parlor.
“Where is everyone?” she asked Noah.
“Your aunt and her witchy friends went downstairs to get a bite to eat. I heard that they have a great buffet.”
“So that’s why you were in such a hurry to wake me up?”
“Yes. I sent Hazel because I didn’t want to upset you by going into your room. I don’t need to answer any more questions from your aunt about my intentions toward you.”
“She’s only kidding, but we do have adjoining rooms.”
“All you have to do is lock the door,” Noah suggested with a wink.
She glanced around and asked, “Where is Pansy?”
“He wanted out twenty minutes ago, and your aunt told me to let him leave. She suggested he might make some friends, or at the very least find her cat.”
“I still can’t believe she allowed Princess to roam around by herself.”
“Can we leave now or ... .”
Petunia offered Noah her arm and he interlaced his with hers as they left the room and made for the elevator.
There was quite a lengthy line for the buffet. “Sorry, it looks like we’re in the back of the line,” Petunia exclaimed.
“Why don’t you call your aunt and see if she saved a
place for us.”
Petunia did just that, but Wanda walked up to them. “Come along you two. We were wondering if you’d ever show up. We have a great table right next to the seafood bar.”
The other witches looked none too happy when they moved to the front of the line and then proceeded to a table where Aunt Maxine sat with Hazel. They joined her just as a server stepped up to take their drink orders.
Petunia stared at their pink drinks with tiny umbrellas that were brought back by the server, and asked her aunt, “Isn’t it a little too early for alcohol?”
Aunt Maxine’s face was quite pink as she smiled, “Nope. I’m a suspect in a murder, remember?”
“Makes perfect sense to me,” Noah said. “But I suppose Petunia and I might want to stay clear of that. Besides, Petunia plans to attend an information meeting about joining Witches Affairs.”
“Really?” Wanda asked in shock.
“Providing I can clear Aunt Maxine.”
“That doesn’t sound very positive. If you don’t clear Maxine, you’ll never see her again,” Wanda insisted.
Petunia wondered why her aunt hid what her punishment might be if she was found guilty. Life without Aunt Maxine was unthinkable. She’d make sure that if the pendulum swung in that direction she’d find a way to get her aunt out of here.
“Why such a sour face, Petunia?” Aunt Maxine asked.
“This entire thing is so unbelievable. I simply can’t understand who would think you capable of murder.”
“I know Cora back home thinks I’m capable of such things. She’s accused me of being responsible in every missing person case near Lake Forest, and all because I’m a witch.”
“If only you hadn’t forced your way into Marta’s office, things might be far different,” Petunia said.
“I believe it was my fate, but I have yet to figure out who might be the real culprit. If only I had met Marta in person before or knew more about her.”
“That’s our job,” Noah said as he stood up and headed for the buffet.
“Don’t worry so, Petunia, it will be fine.”
She lingered at the table while Aunt Maxine, Wanda and Hazel headed to the buffet. She nursed the drink and stared across the room at Detective Winslow, who appeared to be studying her.
Petunia wasn’t about to allow the opportunity to question him pass her by, and she quickly crossed the room with drink in hand.
Winslow sat alone at a small table, looking over pages in his notebook. “Hello there, Miss. I couldn’t help but notice how worried you look.”
Petunia sat down. “Wouldn’t you be?”
“Yes, I would. Estelle sure gave me a tongue lashing.” He smiled. “Like I should have known to be here before the Grand Witch was murdered.”
“What do you know about her, besides the fact that she was elected six months ago?”
“You’re not part of Witches Affairs, they say.”
“No. I had a disagreement with Estelle and Maria.”
His face lit up. “Did you really cause them to go bald?”
“I wouldn’t have if they hadn’t showed up at my door demanding I make them a potion. For the record, they had planned to give me a potion that would turn me into a frog, but I didn’t find that out until later.”
“I’m glad that didn’t happen. You’re far too pretty to be a frog.”
Petunia didn’t know why Winslow was being so nice, but she certainly wanted to find out. “Do you only investigate cases here at Witchataw?”
“I’d have starved long ago if that was the case. I work as a private eye back in Greenville.”
“That’s certainly an out-of-the-way town.”
“I know, but I like the small-town feel. And Grand Rapids isn’t far from there. That’s where the majority of my clients are from.”
“That makes sense. So who called you in on this case?”
“Estelle did. She was most concerned that I might not arrive before the guilty witch left Witchataw.”
“If only my aunt hadn’t forced her way into that office. I almost wonder what might have happened if she hadn’t gone there.”
“They wouldn’t have a suspect. I think we can agree that we both look forward to seeing the coroner’s report.”
“I’m only hoping for an accurate one.”
“Accurate what?” Noah asked from behind Petunia.
She turned and smiled. “Coroner’s report.”
“I thought we agreed to not share information, with anyone.”
“I wasn’t sharing anything, but I was curious about Detective Winslow and what led him here.” She smiled at the detective. “Are you a warlock, by chance?”
“I’ll have to plead the fifth there. I think I’ve shared more than enough with you already. I don’t want to come to blows with your boyfriend.”
“Business associate,” Petunia corrected him as she stood.
“Unless were not on an investigation, in which case we’re dating,” Noah added sternly.
Petunia’s cheeks burned. The last thing she was trying to do was make Noah angry or jealous.
Instead of heading to the table, she grabbed a plate and filled it with food at the buffet. When she spotted an octopus under glass on the seafood bar she bit her fist and took a step back.
“Not to worry,” Noah said. “I was informed that glass is unbreakable and he’s only there as a display of sorts.”
“But he’s alive, isn’t he?”
“Yes, but nothing else on this buffet is. You might want to try the chicken and steak bars.”
“You read my mind.”
At the chicken bar she said, “I’m sorry. I was just wondering about that detective’s background. He told me he was really a private investigator from Greenville. If there’s some sort of set-up here, he can’t be involved.”
“He certainly seems nice, but remember, at this point anyone and everyone we meet is a potential suspect.”
“Yes, but Aunt Maxine couldn’t possibly have been set up. Nobody knew that she’d show up at Marta’s office.”
“I’m waiting until we’ve investigated before I form an opinion, but as you know, crime solving is about facts.”
Petunia nodded and went back to the table, where Wanda was trying to crack crab legs with her teeth. “Would you like me to get you a cracker?”
“You mean that tool that looks just like a nut cracker?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I suppose that would work much better,” Wanda said.
Petunia snatched the last cracker and shrugged at the witch that snarled at her. She walked back to the table, losing her footing and falling into a nearby table, knocking over drinks. She glanced back at the witch at the buffet and saw her put away a wand and turn up her nose.
“I’m so sorry,” Petunia exclaimed to the witches at the table who tried to mop up the spilled drinks.
One of the witches went for extra napkins, and a dark-haired witch said, “I’d be more careful if I were you. Pricilla will turn that wand on anyone who crosses her path.”
“I didn’t know witches used wands, or flew on brooms, until today.”
“It depends on what kind of witch you are,” a blond witch said.
Petunia helped to mop up the mess. Hazel came over and took the crab cracker from her, moving back to the table with it.
“I’m Petunia Patterson.”
“I’m Daria,” the dark-haired witch said. “And that’s Belinda.”
When Petunia noted that they were the only two at the table, she asked, “Are you here with someone? I’m here with my Aunt Maxine and her friends.”
“Nobody likes to sit with us,” Daria explained. “We’re considered bad luck because somebody cast a spell on us last year.”
“How awful. But who?”
“You’ll find out that Daria is an alarmist,” Belinda said. “She’s just klutzy ... or we are.” She laughed.
“That doesn’t explain why it didn’t begin until we had a run-in with
Maria.”
“Estelle’s daughter?”
“Not bad for a newcomer,” Daria said. “And to think you only arrived today.”
“We’ve met before, when Maria and her mother insisted that I become a member of Witches Affairs. I declined at the time, but have had a change of heart. I’m going to this evening’s meeting for more information.”
“Please have a seat,” Daria pleaded. “You have me so curious now.”
“Not much to tell really, but I caused problems for my aunt, and now she’s in a real fix.”
“Does this have anything to do with the murder of the Grand Witch?”
“Yes, it does.”
“We all know Marta’s dead, and such a shame too. I believe she’s been my favorite Grand Witch yet,” Belinda said.
“My aunt is taking the rap for now, but not if I have anything to say about it.”
“It won’t be easy to clear her name with Maria in the way,” Daria added.
“So far that hasn’t been an issue.”
“Don’t underestimate her. She’s a viper.”
“Are you in the Witches Affairs?”
“We tried last year, but my wand was found broken and Belinda’s broom was having a case of the hiccups.”
“Well, I made a potion that caused Estelle and Maria to go bald.”
Daria covered her mouth with a hand. “You don’t say? I thought their hair looked strange.”
“So that’s your power; you make magical potions?” Belinda asked with interest.
“Yes, but they’ve been problematic.”
“We’ll be great friends, I just know.” Daria smiled. “We’re going to the meeting tonight, too.”
“I should rejoin my aunt and her friends now,” Petunia said. “I’ll see you later.”
“Wait a minute! Who is that handsome man with you?” Belinda asked.
“He’s my partner, and sometimes we date when we’re not trying to solve cases.”
“He doesn’t give me the warlock feel.”
“He’s not.”
Petunia waved and made way back to her chair. “Did you see what happened? A witch used her wand on me and I tripped.”
Aunt Maxine dabbed at her mouth. “Oh, is that what happened?”
“Yes, do you know who Pricilla is?”
Pricilla?” Wanda said, dropping her cracker with a thump to the table. “You’re lucky that’s all she did. She’s a very bad witch!”
Meows, Magic & Missing (Lake Forest Witches Book 3) Page 6