Happier Days in Time

by Jenna St James

  But who?

  At the end of the stairs, I had to decide whether to turn right and go to the kitchen, or turn left and move into the family room. Since I’d left everyone in the kitchen, I decided to start there.

  I could hear movement inside the sunny room, and let out a sigh of relief when I saw Peggy Sue at the stove. “Hey. What’re you doing?”

  Peggy Sue turned and gave me a bright smile. “I thought I’d whip us up some tea before we go to the library.”

  I didn’t think my bladder could handle more liquid, but I didn’t want to be rude.

  “Okay.” I scanned the room looking for Rex. “Where’s Maggie? Is she not finished with her phone call yet?”

  The teapot let out a high-pitched scream, causing me to flinch. Peggy Sue lifted the kettle and poured the water into a smaller decorative teapot on a tray with three other china cups.

  “She said she had a headache, so I told her to go lie down on the couch, and I’d bring her some chamomile tea. You go on and join her. I’ll bring in the tray.”

  I didn’t see where I had a choice. Either Peggy Sue was more than she seemed, or I’d seriously misjudged Maggie. As I crossed the foyer and headed to the other side of the house, I racked my brain for missed clues. And came up empty.

  On the night of Sissy’s murder, both women were eating dinner with Jack. There’s no way either could be in two places at once. As I was about to enter the family room, I stopped dead in my tracks. Could I have seriously been so wrong? I just took Maggie at her word when she said she came home and found Sissy dead. Could she have arrived home, hit Sissy over the head, and then forced Sissy to take the pills and drink the booze? No. There wasn’t enough time. She said she called Jack almost immediately when she found Sissy, and Jack and Peggy Sue had just arrived home.

  I knew my scattered thoughts were because I didn’t have Rex to bounce ideas off of. And that terrified me too. I was pretty sure the pull I felt in my stomach was because more than being my partner…Rex was my familiar. We had a special bond. If he was hurt, I’d know it. And I was pretty sure he was hurt.

  “Rex? Where are you? Don’t worry, I’m coming for you.”

  When I entered the family room, Maggie was slumped over on the sofa, her head at an odd angle. “Maggie? Are you okay?”

  Slowly, Maggie opened her eyes and tried to focus on me. I could see a trickle of blood running down her temple. “Alexa? What’s going on?”

  “I’ll tell you what’s going on,” Peggy Sue said chipperly as she pushed the tray into my back, forcing me to move farther into the room. “We’re about to have a tea party.”

  Anger flooded me, and my hands started to tingle and shake. My magic was itching to come out and play. One good zap with a bolt of electricity would have Peggy Sue singing a different tune that wasn’t quite so chipper.

  “Where’s Rex?” I demanded. “Tell me now, or I swear you’ll regret walking into this house this morning.”

  Peggy Sue set the tray down on the coffee table. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She clapped her hands together. “Isn’t this swell? Just the three of us for tea.”

  I raised my hands, letting her see the energy swelling. I knew this meant the Agency was going to have to come and erase Maggie’s memory of the magic, but I was okay with that. Right now I needed to help Rex.

  “Where’s Rex?” I repeated through gritted teeth. “You have three seconds before I send a bolt of electricity through you that will hurl you across this room.”

  “You hurt my Peggy Sue,” a voice said behind me. “And I’ll crush your rat.”

  Chapter 21

  I whirled around and saw the old witch, Miss Ferndale, standing at the threshold of the family room, Rex grasped firmly in her hand. His eyes were moving a mile a minute, but that was it. Not a single whisker twitched or muscle flexed.

  “What have you done to him?” I demanded.

  “It’s just a little paralytic spell,” she cackled. “It won’t kill him…yet.”

  I lowered my hands. No way was I risking Rex’s life, and definitely not before I had some answers. “So you’re the one who killed Sissy?”

  “Yes,” the witch said. “Peggy Sue told me they would be gone to dinner that night, so I waited until I knew the time was right and walked right into the kitchen.”

  “Why?” I asked. “It makes no sense.”

  And then I heard it…a newborn baby’s cry coming from beside the couch next to Maggie.

  “I read Sissy’s journal,” Peggy Sue said. “When I read in January that Cliff’s secretary, Janie, was gone, it didn’t take a genius to figure out why. Everyone but Nancy knows about Cliff. And I think deep down she knows, she just doesn’t want to admit it.” She shrugged. “Everyone also knows what happens to unwed mothers. I just had no idea how to track her down. Until I discovered Sissy’s journal downstairs one day when I was over for tea. It said Janie was at Mother Mary’s House.”

  “And I assumed she was staying with her mother who was named Mary,” I said.

  “Mother Mary’s House is a place that houses unwed mothers,” Peggy Sue said.

  “That would have been a good clue to know,” I muttered.

  “So why not just go through the channels to adopt the baby?”

  “It was too late!” Peggy Sue cried. “I drove up to Philadelphia to pay Janie a visit, and she said she’d already picked out a nice family for the baby to go to. Plus, she didn’t want the baby to go to a family she knew. A family that knew Cliff.” Peggy Sue’s face turned red. “But that was my baby!”

  “Hush now, Peggy Sue,” Ferndale soothed. “We got you your baby. Everything worked out just fine.”

  Peggy Sue smiled adoringly at her governess. “That’s right, we do.” She turned back to me. “Sissy confronted me on Thursday night, the night before she died, and said she knew everything, and if I didn’t tell Jack what I’d done, she would. I tried to tell her I didn’t know what she meant, but then she said she took Maggie’s car on Sunday and followed me to Miss Ferndale’s place. And even though I know Miss Ferndale keeps a ward around her house so no one can see in, so there was no way she could truly know about the baby and Janie inside, I admit I panicked. After Jack fell asleep that Thursday night—with a little help of a sleeping herb—I drove out to see Miss Ferndale and the baby.”

  I shifted my body so I had Ferndale and Peggy Sue both in my line of vision. “Somehow Sissy figured out you were the person who came and got Janie from Mother Mary’s House.”

  Ferndale smiled. “Yes. I have to say, she was a clever girl that Sissy Ivanova. I won’t say your sister, because you and I both know she wasn’t your sister.” She frowned and narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m just not exactly sure who you are or where you’re from.”

  “And it will stay that way,” I said before turning back to Peggy Sue. “What happened on that Sunday night Sissy followed you out to Miss Ferndale’s cottage?”

  “Janie went into labor,” Peggy Sue said.

  “And?” I prompted.

  “And after Peggy Sue left to go home,” Ferndale said, “I made sure Janie Alderman would no longer be a problem for us.”

  “You killed her and dumped her body in the river,” I said matter-of-factly.

  Ferndale snorted. “I had no idea her body wouldn’t sink and instead drift down into this county. I figured if she ever washed up, it would still be in Putnam County, and so the police down here would never know about it. Plus, I was distracted with the newborn and wasn’t thinking. I didn’t put up a shield, so I’m sure Sissy saw me dump the body.”

  “So when Sissy confronted me on that Thursday night,” Peggy Sue said, “I panicked. I drove out to Miss Ferndale’s place and asked what to do. She said she’d take care of it Friday night when we were out for dinner. This way no one would ever suspect me or put it together when I finally was able to bring little Jack Junior home.”

  Ferndale strolled over to Peggy Sue and ran a soothing hand
down her hair. “And I could never say no to my kitten. Which is why I had to get rid of her mother years ago when she begged.”

  I had to admit…that little confession shocked me to my core. I hadn’t pegged Peggy Sue as a ten-year-old killer.

  Peggy Sue stomped her foot, her short curls bouncing in the air. “I wanted a pony of my own! And she said no, that I wasn’t old enough. I had to wait until I was thirteen and take lessons and learn about the horses beforehand. But I wanted one immediately. I didn’t want to wait!”

  “So I hid along the trail I knew she rode along,” Witch Ferndale supplied, “and when she rode my way, I shot out a bolt of electricity to startle the horse. He reared, she fell off and broke her neck.”

  “And a couple weeks later,” Peggy Sue said proudly, “Daddy bought me a pony so I wouldn’t be sad anymore.”

  I looked at Rex still clutched in Ferndale’s left hand. I had the feeling the paralytic spell was wearing off, because not only were his eyes moving wildly about, but his whiskers were now starting to twitch. I needed to stall until he could move enough to give her a good bite and cause a distraction.

  “Yesterday when you went to see Miss Ferndale,” I said, “were you really bringing evaporated milk and Karo Syrup?”

  “Yes,” Peggy Sue said. “It’s a recipe for baby formula.”

  That was a new one on me. But then again, I’d never had reason to research and study old-fashioned baby formula recipes. Once again, a huge clue I overlooked.

  “It didn’t have to be like this,” Peggy Sue said. “I gave Maggie a chance this morning to save her life. All she had to do was keep her mouth shut to Jack. But she couldn’t do it.”

  “You didn’t go to the restroom, did you?”

  “No,” Peggy Sue said. “I rang Miss Ferndale and asked for her help.”

  “I have one more question,” I said.

  “Make it fast,” Peggy Sue snapped. “I have a baby to take care of. Jack Junior is coming home with me today. Jack is going to be so surprised when he comes home from work!”

  “What’re you gonna tell him?” I asked. “That you picked the baby up at the grocery store?”

  I felt the sting on my cheek but never saw her move. Peggy Sue had some quick hands when she needed them. “Don’t you talk to me like that!”

  I tried to ignore the pain in my cheek and turned back to Ferndale. “Why didn’t you get the journal the night you killed Sissy?”

  “As I’ve said before, I haven’t been myself lately. I’m not as young as I once was, and the baby has taken a lot out of me. I came here that night, and my plan was to say I was an old friend of Maggie’s traveling with my grandson, brew a tea that would make her sleepy, kill her so it looked like a suicide, then snag the journal Peggy Sue told me about.”

  “You brought a baby to a murder scene!” I exclaimed.

  “Don’t judge me, little witch,” Ferndale snapped. “Anyway, when Sissy saw me in the kitchen, she recognized me and ran. She was halfway up the stairs before I hit her with a bolt of electricity in the back. She seized and fell backward, hitting her head on the way down. Unfortunately, I’m not as young as I used to be, and by the time I did a levitation spell to get her upstairs and in bed so I could ply her with booze and pills, the baby was getting restless and starting to cry. I didn’t have time to do a location spell to see where she’d hidden the journal plus shut all the windows down so the neighbors didn’t hear a baby crying and come investigate. So I gathered up the baby and walked back to where I’d parked the car one street over.”

  “When Miss Ferndale told me she couldn’t find the journal, and Maggie never mentioned it, I thought I was in the clear. I didn’t know what all Sissy wrote in the journal about me and Janie and the baby and Miss Ferndale, but it didn’t matter. If no one found the journal, no one would ever know.” She scowled. “And then you showed up and started looking for the notebook.”

  I caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye, and was about to turn toward it when Ferndale held up her left hand with a now twitching Rex. “Let’s get this over with. We’ve wasted enough time.”

  “Yeah!” a little voice cried. “Let’s get this over with!”

  We all turned and stared in amazement as Rosie Ann Belmont stood in the doorway of the family room, panting, feet apart, knees shaking, her face set in a fierce scowl…and something round and black in her hand.

  “Get her!” Ferndale exclaimed.

  “Now, Rosie! Now, Lexi!” Rex cried, his voice echoing in my head.

  Nothing had ever sounded so good.

  Rosie Ann Belmont drew back and let the object sail from her hand…hitting the Witch Ferndale smack dab in the forehead. As her eyes rolled in the back of her head and she swayed dangerously on her feet, Rex leaned over and chomped down on her hand, causing her to drop him onto the floor…right before she crashed to the floor.

  I didn’t waste any time.

  Waving my hand in the air, the teapot rose off the tray and smashed into the side of Peggy Sue’s face. Screaming, she fell to the floor cursing and raging.

  “Her mommy needs to wash her mouth out with soap,” Rosie said. “Those are not nice words.”

  Chapter 22

  In the end, I had to call in my handler, Ambrose Thatcher, to not only take care of the Witch Ferndale, but to also figure out what to do about Rosie Belmont. I can’t say Ambrose was all that surprised about Rosie. In fact, he seemed more awe struck and giddy than anything.

  “Rosie Belmont,” he murmured more to himself than me. “So this is how it all started. Unbelievable.”

  “How what started?” I asked.

  His face turned dark and he scowled. “Lexi Catherine Sanders, you know better than to ask about that which you cannot know. You are not cleared for that knowledge.”

  I rolled my eyes. I’d heard it a thousand times during our twice-a-year debriefings I had to do with the other four time traveling witches, but it still didn’t get any easier. I had a natural curiosity, and no matter how many times I’d been told I can never inquire about what happens after I leave an assignment, it was still difficult. I was definitely going to file this little tidbit away to share with Vee and the girls at our next debriefing.

  “I want to make sure I have the story straight for my superiors,” Ambrose said gleefully once his men had secured and taken Ferndale to be dealt with by the Agency. “You’re telling me that the six-year-old little girl sitting over there on the chair, feet dangling over the edge, playing with Rex, just took down a highly powerful witch…with a Magic 8 Ball?”

  “Yes.” I gently rocked a sleeping Jack Junior in my arms. “Hit her square in the forehead. Ferndale didn’t even have a chance to react.”

  A wistful smile played over Ambrose’s lips as he quietly studied Rosie another second before crossing over to where she sat, oblivious to the amazing feat she had just accomplished. Maggie was still knocked out on the sofa, and would remain so until Ambrose lifted the time elapse spell.

  Following after Ambrose, I was curious what Rosie was going to say to his questions.

  “So you heard Rex in your head?” Ambrose asked.

  Rosie nodded. “I have for a couple days now.”

  Ambrose looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded my head. “Rex and I noticed my first night here that she could hear him.”

  “What made you come over here today?” Ambrose asked.

  “I could hear Rex screaming,” she said matter-of-factly. “I mean, I didn’t know it was Rex, I just knew the voice that I’d been hearing the last few days was screaming in my head. He was asking for someone to help him, and saying when he got free he was going to kick some rat butt.” She giggled. “Rat butt. That’s funny.”

  I caught Ambrose’s eyes, and he motioned with his head for me to follow him. Settling Jack Junior over my shoulder, we moved toward the bar. “How is it she heard Rex begging for help, and I couldn’t?”

  “All I will tell you is the Agency is aware of Mi
ss Belmont. Now, congratulations, Agent Sanders. Not only did you solve your cold case, but you exposed the real killer of Janie Alderman.”

  “Thank you.” It sounded hollow, but I couldn’t help it. This was going to devastate so many wonderful people that I’d come to know and like.

  Ambrose laid a hand on my arm. “Do not worry. Things will work out for all involved.”

  I knew better than to ask what that meant. So I simply nodded and walked over to sit next to Maggie while Ambrose finished with Rosie then sent her across the street with her Magic 8 Ball—not exactly the toy I knew it to be in my time. It seems when the Magic 8 Ball first came on the market, it was more of a novelty item, and adults used it for a paperweight. No wonder it had taken the witch down with one hit.

  The broken teapot had been cleaned up, while a glamour spell hid the damage the ceramic shards and hot water had done to the side of Peggy Sue’s face. A pain amulet had been placed around her neck to disguise her discomfort until I could get a confession from her.

  “I will set things back in order now,” Ambrose said. “Finish with your killer and travel back safely to your time.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  With a wave of his hand, Ambrose released the time spell as he disappeared. Peggy Sue stood in the middle of Maggie’s family room, while I now stood behind the chair. Maggie was moaning and beginning to come around. I knew what I had to do next.

  “Why did you have Miss Ferndale kill Janie Alderman?” I demanded of Peggy Sue.

  “What?” Peggy Sue asked, momentarily confused.

  “Why did you have Miss Ferndale kill Janie Alderman?” I repeated.

  “Because I wanted her baby,” Peggy Sue said. “She didn’t want him, but I did. She said no, so I had to kill her in order to get Jack Junior.”

  “What’s going on?” Maggie asked, sitting up and touching her bleeding temple. “Peggy Sue, what’re you saying? What’s going on?”