Muffins, Magic, and Murder

by Jessica Lancaster

  “What other secrets then?” Allegra asked. “We’re supposed to be a collective, not a divided coven.”

  “She mentioned her things dying and something stealing the energy from her crystals.”

  “Stealing?” a collective question was posed.

  “It was a something?” I continued.

  Tana straightened out her blouse and wriggled her shoulder. “Yes. I didn’t feel it, but it’s how she said it, I think she was working on a way to find out what it was, but I thought it was all in her head.”

  Marissa did tend to exaggerate, it made some of the things she said to be a little unbelievable. Of course, it was probably one of the reasons why she wouldn’t have mentioned anything if she had been receiving notes filled with hate and evil. It knotted my stomach to think she couldn’t say anything.

  Throughout the afternoon it was all I could think about. If we’d been told about it, perhaps things would’ve been different. We were hardly perfect, hardly wasn’t even the type of word to describe it.

  I placed all my emotions in beating cake mixtures into fine consistencies. I was sure I was making too much, most of it would eventually have to be thrown away and that would only make the growing squabble of seagulls larger outside.

  Once all the cakes were baked and placed on their cooling racks, I took my place in the café, presenting a large smile on my face. It wasn’t all too busy, but I busied myself anyway, bussing tables and cleaning anything that had been used.

  “I need to leave an hour early,” Abi said.

  “That’s fine, hon. Doing anything nice?” I replied. “I don’t mean to keep you every day. I’ll need to hire someone else.”

  “Yes, you do,” she chuckled. “I’m going out with Ben, he’s taking me to a restaurant in Belsy, then the cinema, I think.”

  Since my son had left for university Abi was picking up the slack, she only had a part-time job here, but so far she was working full-time hours. I didn’t mind that, but the girl wanted her own time and space.

  “Any more coffee cake?” Ethel asked, tapping her spoon against the side of her cup.

  Ethel sat alone again. Margery didn’t quite like to venture out once the rain started, which meant of course, there was plenty of time I’d see Ethel sat in space, staring off into the bottom of her cup or reading a newspaper. Today she had a book beside her.

  “Coming right up,” I said, although I shouldn’t. I wasn’t sure how much coffee she’d had today. I presented the slice of cake on a plate and sat across from her on the table.

  “Where have you been hiding all day?” she asked, digging a fork in.

  I hummed. Time had inevitably passed quickly. “Baking up a storm.” I smiled.

  “Hopefully more cake like this,” she said, shoving the forkful in her mouth. “And the cheesecake.”

  I glanced to the glass window casing. It was mostly empty, a few remained, but only slices. “If you remind me, I’ll grab a slice of the strawberry for you before you leave.”

  The only other people beside Ethel in the café were two older men from the docks, they didn’t strike me as familiar, but then again, not many people who worked on the boats did. They both stared tiredly into their coffees.

  “Need anything else?” I asked, approaching their table. I wiped my hands on the apron and pulled out my orders notebook.

  “Two coffees to go,” a bald man with a thick beard and moustache responded. He held two fingers up as he spoke, almost like I didn’t catch him saying two.

  “Of course.”

  “And you wouldn’t happen to know of any bed and breakfasts in the area,” the other asked. “We were supposed to be going back out to sea but our boat hasn’t come in yet.”

  I tapped the tip of my pen against the ring binding. “There’s only one in the village,” I said. “And with rain like this, I’m not sure if it’s all booked up. But it’s just off the main street, it’s called Fisherman’s Inn.” It was an appropriate name for what it was, a bed and breakfast whose main clientele were fishermen who travelled to the village.

  “Thanks,” the bald man said. “You know of any pubs as well?”

  “Yeah, you have Queen’s Square, it’s one of the oldest buildings in Cowan Bay.” It was another haunt for the fishermen who came by, and clearly showing that they weren’t regulars to these parts.

  CHAPTER 18

  As I finally cleared away the last table, Caroline walked in through the door, wrapped in a bright blue raincoat and carrying a large plastic bag. She shuddered, shaking off the rain on the mopped floor.

  “Caroline?” I was expecting her much earlier.

  “Had a busy day,” she said, handing me the plastic bag. “I’ve been baking, it’s been a huge stress reliever.”

  “Aw, that’s lovely to hear.” Inside the bag was a see-through container with biscuits. “Those look delicious.”

  She smiled. “Been experimenting.”

  I pursed my lips together in a thin smile. “I told you to come over, but I couldn’t find anything. I’m not sure what Marissa was using, but there’s no mention of it anywhere.” And then it hit me, perhaps the reason I don’t recall seeing it is because it made up the pages that were stolen. My throat clenched shut.

  “At least you tried,” she said.

  “But the crystal she used, you still have that?” I nodded. I was going to recommend Tana to her, but after the skin crawling realisation hit, there was little I wanted to help her with until I could verify my assumptions. “I’m sorry.”

  “Yes, I have that, it’s a beautiful polished light blue thing,” she said in a sigh. “Maybe someone else could help.”

  “Recheck with the doctor, or if you knew what Marissa was using, then definitely come back and tell me.”

  She nodded, the rain water still dripping from her coat. “I think I might have to.” There was a deflated tone to her voice, but as she was covered head to toe in plastic, the chances of getting a good read on her from touch was a shot in the dark.

  I placed the bag on the counter. “Thanks for those, I’ll have them with a cup of tea for my supper,” I said.

  “Don’t mention it,” she said. “I’m grateful you were trying to look out for me and bump.” She wrapped her arms beneath the bump.

  Until closing, I sat behind the counter with the notepad and pen, going over all the notes that had been written so far, but the more I went through it, the more annoyed I got that none of the dots were connecting.

  I sat in my car after locking up, double checking I had everything before setting off home. I hated driving in the rain, even more so because the roads tested the traction of my wheels. In the passenger seat I set my book of shadows and biscuits. I did a run through of my bag; keys, notebook, scarf, phone, amethyst crystal.

  My phone lit up as I grabbed it, revealing messages. I barely checked the thing, it was more of a nuisance than anything. I grabbed my glasses from the interior pouch of the bag and placed them on my nose before reading the messages.

  Checking in to make sure you’re not doing anything crazy now that you’re alone. It was from Jack. I’m gonna send some pics of the cakes we baked today, I told them you own a bakery so obviously mine was the best.

  It put a smile on my face, but it was wiped instantly by the all caps of the next message that appeared on my phone from Allegra. POISON WAS NOT BELLADONNA. IT WAS MOST LIKELY HEMLOCK. She would always text in all capital letters, almost like she was shouting. I held the phone far from my face like it was blasting loudly.

  There was another text, earlier than Allegra’s message from Eva. Doctor has no record of Marissa. What if they are trying to make it look like Marissa wasn’t even a real person? Or the files are at the police station. I much preferred the latter theory, given that Allegra already texted with results. Eva liked a conspiracy theory, and she would always make me panic before giving me a reasonable explanation.

  I drove home slowly, making my way past both the doctor’s house and Marissa’s
old house, both lights were off and no sign of life at either place. As I parked my car and the headlights beamed ahead, I noticed a note stuck to the front door. It was folded.

  I bundled my things in my arms and rushed out, chasing the rain to the front door. I peeled away the note while fiddling with my keys and jamming them into the lock. It wouldn’t move fast enough and the rain was soaking through my hair and clothes.

  August and Laurie waited for me on the other side of the door, almost like this was entertainment for them. They watched, their cat smiles beaming on their faces, either they were watching or waiting for food.

  “What are you lot staring at?” I asked, flicking the light switch.

  “You,” August said.

  I made my way to the kitchen, dropping my belongings off on the counter before finally getting to the note in hand. The paper was wet but hadn’t yet turned into a mesh mixed with ink.

  YOU’RE NEXT the words jumped off the page in bold black marker. The paper floated to the ground from my hands.

  “August, who came by the house?” I asked, my hands finding the kitchen counter to stabilise myself.

  “Nobody,” he said.

  Laurie yawned into a meow. “Didn’t see a soul all day.”

  Both cats gathered around the note, sniffing at the ink and paper.

  Unlike Tana, I had to make a real effort to feel energy from objects. It must’ve been a similar note to the one she’d received, and it was clearly no coincidence I’d seen the phrase appear briefly on the magazine.

  “Anything?” I asked.

  “Nothing.”

  I knelt to pick the note. “What’s the use in having a cat if he’s not going to be on alert?” I asked in a chuckle as I ran my fingers across the back of his neck.

  “Are you going to feed us now?” Laurie asked.

  August chuckled. “She’s been like this all day.”

  “Marissa fed me three times a day.”

  I clicked my tongue. “I think you’ll be going to live with Noelia soon anyway.”

  Laurie sauntered around the kitchen and pawed at the metal food dish. “Uh, great, just put me down already.”

  Standing with the note in hand, I became dizzy on my feet and regained my hold on the kitchen counter. I wasn’t sure if it was the note or the fact I’d barely touched a crumb of food all day, of course I’d eaten, but sugary confections and coffee probably weren’t giving me a whole lot of sustenance.

  August climbed onto the counter as I rooted through my bag and pulled out the plastic container of biscuits.

  “I’ll just make a tea and have a few biscuits, then I’ll make dinner,” I said, peeling back the plastic lid.

  A hiss broke from the back of August’s throat as he swiped the box away from me, pushing them to the ground with an almighty thud.

  “August!”

  “They’re poison,” he said, peering over the counter.

  Laurie hacked at the back of her throat. “Smells like hemlock.”

  “Hemlock?” My skin scrawled. “Did you say hemlock?” Realisation settled in over me. “Are you sure?” I asked.

  August pounced into position beside Laurie as they both sniffed at the biscuits scattered on the tiled flooring.

  “Certain,” he said, bashing a paw against one.

  “Today, we found out Marissa was poisoned,” I said. “Hemlock could do that. But surely you would’ve known, we can’t smell it, but you can.”

  Laurie sighed. “Not in the house, but I don’t know where she went. She would feed me and leave.”

  “Did she mention anything about Caroline?” I asked, picking up the biscuits and putting them back into the plastic container.

  “The pregnant lady?” Laurie said. “She was a handful, so needy.”

  “That’s who baked these,” I said.

  I needed to tell the others.

  I spoke to each of them individually over the phone, telling them about the biscuits and the note I received. We had to play it safe, we couldn’t go into Caroline’s house and kick up a fuss, we didn’t have all the necessary evidence.

  In the notepad, I added more beneath Caroline’s name. She served me biscuits with poisonous hemlock, and connected that with an extra note about how Marissa had died due to poisoning.

  We had a plan to invite Caroline into the café with the promise we could help her. It seemed morally corrupt, but so was murder, and she appeared guilty.

  CHAPTER 19

  The following morning, sleep evaded, I concealed the bags under my eyes and applied make-up to give the appearance I wasn’t a nervous wreck. I sat at the dresser in my bedroom, stroking my hand across earrings until I grabbed some with amethyst stones embedded into them.

  The plan was for all the coven witches to be in the café before 8 A.M. including Rosie. She was my best friend and she knew Caroline more than anyone else, given that they worked together at the doctor’s office.

  I made sure I was well prepared, or at least as prepared as anyone could be when confronting a suspected murderer. I’d arrived at the café earlier to make coffee, and a tea for Tana, there was nothing that put her on edge quite like coffee, and it wasn’t the day for that.

  Everyone arrived on cue, walking in quietly through to the backroom, almost like we were sneaking around in the darkened café.

  “Feel like I’m one of the gang,” Rosie said in an excitable murmur as she shimmied her way into the small circle.

  “It’s a coven,” Eva said, she glanced at me beneath her hooded eyes. I sensed her thought of why is she invited, even though she’d been eager enough to ask Rosie for her help at the time.

  Rosie waved a hand. “Ya, sure.”

  In the centre of the circle was the table, it included my book of shadows and surrounding it were crystals and enchanted items we’d use when we needed strength.

  “I have the biscuits,” I said, presenting them in the closed container.

  Rosie grabbed my arm. “I’m glad you didn’t eat them.”

  “I’m just glad August caught them before you did,” Allegra said.

  Tana’s soft voice spoke up. “And the note?”

  I shook my head. “I didn’t bring the note.” For obvious reasons, the first being the way Tana had reacted when she came into the café after receiving hers, it wasn’t something I needed a second play-by-play of. “We will create a ring of truth once Caroline arrives.” I stepped to the side and nodded to the space I’d cleared on the floor.

  “I can chalk the symbols out,” Eva said. “But how will we get her into the circle?”

  My face pinched at the centre. “Simple, she has no idea. I told her we’d help.” I gestured to the crystals on the table. “We need these around the circle too. It’s to confine her in place and then we can ask about the biscuits.”

  Allegra nodded. “And ask if she gave them to Marissa.”

  “Aren’t you immune to stuff like that?” Rosie asked.

  We each turned to her. Witches weren’t immune to anything, not unless they’d previously casted a spell for it. “No,” I said with a sympathetic smile.

  She nodded. “You should probably work on that then,” she said. “If someone’s trying to kill you, you should protect yourselves.”

  “Rosie, we can’t, we’re only four witches, a coven of witches is five, and any coven witch knows that once one dies, our collective and combined power is dulled, incredibly so.”

  Rosie cocked her hands on her hips. “I wish I could help, and for what it’s worth, I’m not afraid to tackle her if it goes south and she admits to killing Marissa.”

  “Oh, I know,” I said with a smile. “Part of the reason you’re here is as an alibi in case this goes south, at least there won’t be a pitchfork party headed to the café doors.”

  I’d asked Caroline to arrive early, before 9 A.M. ideally. She’d agreed, I think she was glad I was helping, that or she thought I’d be dead before the morning and so she agreed anyway.

  A soft patter a
gainst the glass door of the café pulled me from the preparations.

  “I think that’s her,” I said, propping the door open and glancing through the café. “Yeah it is.” I turned once to the backroom, checking to make sure the crystals were aligned and the symbols were drawn correctly. “I’m going to meet her.”

  “We’ll try not to look suspicious,” Allegra said.

  Rosie groaned. “I always look suspicious.” She tugged at her jumper and glanced at her chest. “Like I’m smuggling a bag of packing peanuts.”

  I wiped my hands down my jeans. Hopefully she thinks the poison hasn’t set in.

  Caroline stood at the door, wrapped in a large coat with the hood up but the messy locks of curls poured out. As I approached, she tapped on the glass once again.

  “Come in,” I said before opening the door for her. “How’re you feeling?”

  “I’m good,” she said. “I was about to ask you the same.”

  I hooked an arm around her shoulder as we walked toward the backroom. “I invited the other witches over,” I said.

  “Great, did you find something from Marissa’s book?” she asked.

  “Sorry?”

  “She kept a book with all the recipes, right?”

  “Right.” I wasn’t sure how she knew such details but Marissa was a fairly open person so I didn’t surprise me that people knew about it, especially not when there were two pages missing that were still unaccounted for. “Did she ever show you it?”

  “God no, I tried once.”

  I paused before we entered the backroom. “Did you try those biscuits you made for me?” I asked.

  She unzipped her coat and rested a hand on her pregnant belly. “I’m trying to cut down on cakes and biscuits, and the carrot cake you gave me was enough to keep me going.”

  I placed my hand over hers on her stomach. They were cold, unsurprisingly, she wasn’t wearing gloves and it was September. “Aw,” I cooed, sensing the unease in her. “Is it going to be a boy or a girl?”

  “I don’t want to know,” she said. “I like the surprise.”

  “Well let’s go in, shall we,” I said.