Meows, Magic & Missing (Lake Forest Witches Book 3) Read online

  Meows, Magic & Missing

  Lake Forest Witches

  Madison Johns

  Copyright © 2015 Madison Johns

  Meows, Magic & Missing Madison Johns

  All rights reserved.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Meows, Magic & Murder

  Life has been pretty sweet for witch Petunia Patterson. She’s investigating crimes with her handsome neighbor Noah, her potions are working better than ever, and even Pansy has grown accustomed to being a cat. That is until Aunt Maxine can’t be found anywhere. Is she missing, or did she go on a vacation?

  Aunt Maxine’s witchy friends Hazel and Wanda, who are also searching for her, act on the only clue available, an invitation to the annual witches convention in Witchataw.

  Petunia, Noah and Pansy leave for the convention with Hazel and Wanda directing them, hoping to find Aunt Maxine. When they discover Aunt Maxine is indeed there, but accused of murdering the Grand Witch, it’s time to go into investigation mode.

  What the sleuths don’t realize is that Witchataw is off the grid, and they’re about to discover more about witches than they ever expected, including some great perks when investigating crimes there.

  Chapter One

  Petunia rolled over and twitched her nose at a pungent odor. She opened one eye and then the next. Two things were apparent: Pansy was on her bed and so was a dead mouse!

  She shrieked, “What on earth, Pansy!”

  Pansy simply batted Petunia with a swish of his tail. “I have no idea of what you speak,” he said.

  Petunia had it with this blasted cat, or Jeremy, who was once human before Petunia turned him into a cat by way of magic potion. Of course, she never referred to Pansy as Jeremy, who was a nasty excuse for a human being -- not that he deserved to be changed into a cat. Nobody does. But Petunia must admit he’s a much better cat than he was a human. They communicate telepathically, which sometimes puts her into a tight spot when unintentionally blurting out something that she meant to say only in her head for Pansy’s benefit.

  Petunia clapped a hand over her mouth and said, “Get rid of that mouse before I gag.”

  “Do it yourself, Red. If you ever plan to get up, that is. It’s well past noon.”

  There was no way Petunia could have slept that late, or so she thought, but sure enough it was half past noon. She pinched her nose, picking up the tail of the mouse with a tissue over her hand and tossed it out the window. Unfortunately her aim was off, and the mouse landed at the feet of Noah Becker who was mowing his lawn. He merely cocked an eyebrow at Petunia, and she disappeared behind the curtains. Petunia knew she looked a fright. If there was anyone she didn’t want to look a mess in front of it was Noah. She’d been casually dating him between investigations. Petunia really liked him, but she just wasn’t sure whether he was okay with the witch thing since she only recently told him. It wasn’t a total surprise because it was hard not to know that the potions she made sometimes worked marvelously for some and not so well for others. At least she clarified for him that she hadn’t given Noah a love potion. She had learned the hard way from Pansy what could happen.

  She wrinkled her nose and Petunia felt a sneeze coming on. She hadn’t sneezed bubbles in days and she had hoped that the liquid bubbles that dropped into her tea, causing her condition, was gone for good. She never knew when and if it would happen. She wrinkled her nose and out the sneeze came, followed by a cloud of bubbles, which Pansy swatted at enthusiastically. Yup, he’s acting more like a real cat all the time.

  After Petunia scoured her hands, she hopped in the shower, not thinking about why she had slept so long. Okay, so she did give it some thought. She routinely never slept through an entire night without fitfully waking up a few times. Strange indeed.

  Petunia walked into her bedroom and yanked on a blue sundress and slip-on sandals. Normally she was a jeans and T-shirt girl, but lately she loved the comfort sundresses afforded her. They also worked well because she had been known to pack on the pounds on occasion.

  She trotted down the stairs and into the kitchen, where she was surrounded with her cats Merlin, Sassy and Gem. Pansy was also there, pacing and bellowing a meow so loud that it had to have been heard in Detroit, many miles to the south.

  “Hold on to your horses. I’m set to feed you now if you move out of my way.”

  The cats parted, and she was able to fill each of their dishes with food and water. Individual bowls were a necessity. Petunia’s cats just weren’t sharers. Petunia had barely backed away before the cats bolted to their dishes. She began to brush her hair just as there was a knock at the door.

  Petunia opened it to Bonnie Hopkins, the wife of Lake Forest’s mayor.

  “Oh, thankfully you’re home. I wanted to buy more ointment for my knee, but your aunt’s store is still closed.”

  “Closed?” Petunia echoed. “That’s strange. Unfortunately I don’t have any here. I’ll see if I can find Aunt Maxine and tell her what you’re looking for. I’m sure she’ll bring it straight over to you.”

  “I certainly hope so. I just know it’s going to rain tonight. My knees ache worse when it’s about to rain.”

  Petunia nodded sympathetically. “I understand. I promise I’ll call you either way. Okay?”

  Bonnie bobbed her head, trying to look past Petunia. “Are you sure you don’t have any inside?”

  Petunia did, but wasn’t about to make that common knowledge. She had convinced people in town that she now made her potions elsewhere so they wouldn’t break in looking for them. Once the word gets out about magical potions, it’s all over. Half of the town hated her for it, the other half were regular customers, and it all had started when she gave Lucy Winters a salve for her arthritis. Ever since, Lucy’s sprier than a twenty-something, even though she’s eighty plus, just like Aunt Maxine.

  Bonnie continued staring at Petunia, who smiled and said, “I’ll let you know, as I said.”

  “Of course you will. I’d hate to hurry you, but I’m no good when my knees go to aching like this. I’m supposed to be leaving with my husband on vacation. We’re going on a cruise.”

  “How great. So your marriage is better these days?”

  “Yes, better than ever. I know people in town think it’s odd that I stayed with the mayor after the way he cheated on me, but I’m willing to give him another chance.”

  Petunia thought that was great. She also found it odd that Bonnie referred to her husband as “the mayor” as everyone else in town called him. She had no idea what his first name was, and it would be rude to let on that she didn’t know after all this time.

  “I wouldn’t worry about what people say. Look at my aunt and me. Everyone calls us witches when all we really do is concoct potions.”

  “Whatever you want to say, Petunia. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”

  When
the door closed, Pansy looked up at Petunia. “It sounds like we’ll be going to Mystical Remedies because it’s the scene of the crime.”

  “What? Crime??”

  “You know your Aunt Maxine didn’t just disappear.”

  Now Petunia was worried. “Fine, we’ll head there to check things out and get the salve for Bonnie, but for all I know Aunt Maxine simply slept in today.”

  “If that’s what you think, why do you look so worried?”

  “I’m worried because I’ve never known her to not call if something was amiss or to not open the shop on time.”

  Petunia grabbed her purse and headed out the door, tugging along Pansy’s leash. When they passed Noah’s house, Pansy hissed at Melvin, Noah’s pit bull. Instead of bristling, Melvin came over and gave Pansy a good licking.

  “Get me outta here!”

  Petunia gave the leash a tug, but Melvin wouldn’t stop with the slobbering. “I’m trying.”

  Noah strolled out the door and laughed at Petunia’s predicament. “It looks like you have your hands full over there.”

  “Don’t just stand there. Help me. Please!”

  “Where are you headed today?” he asked, not lifting a hand to help.

  “Mystical Remedies, Aunt Maxine is missing.”

  Noah’s eyes widened. “Missing?”

  “I have no idea why you have any interest in this lunkhead,” Pansy sneered. “Isn’t missing self-explanatory?”

  Petunia pushed a hand against Melvin’s snout and drew it back covered with dog slime. “Ugh. I mean I think she’s missing. Bonnie told me Mystical Remedies is still closed. I’m going to check it out.”

  “Would you mind if I tagged along?”

  “I’d rather not bother you. I’m sure you’re busy today. Didn’t you say that you planned to become a private eye?”

  “I don’t have an official license, but if your aunt is really missing you might need a hand.”

  “If you call Melvin off I suppose you could tag along.”

  Noah whistled and Melvin ran into the open door. Petunia couldn’t believe her eyes. “How did you do that? All I’ve ever seen that dog do is run off and make a nuisance of himself in town.”

  “I’ve been working with him, and I had steak for breakfast. I’m positive by now he’s scrounging for scraps.”

  Noah locked up and Petunia tried hard not to stare at him like a schoolgirl, but it was hard not to when his muscles bulged beneath his Detroit Tigers baseball T-shirt. His jeans also were form fitting.

  He ran a hand through his dark hair and asked, “Are we going now, or …?”

  “I-I, I mean sure we are.”

  Petunia gave the leash a small tug and Pansy was soon trotting alongside of her. “Finally! I was wondering whether you were going to let that dog drown me in drool.”

  “I hardly think that’s possible.”

  “What’s not possible?” Noah asked.

  “Sorry, I was thinking out loud. I don’t think it’s possible that Aunt Maxine is actually missing.”

  Noah caught up with her and walked alongside Petunia. “I’m sure there are plenty of reasons she might not have opened yet.”

  “You don’t know my aunt. She’s never opened later than nine in the last forty years.”

  “And you know that how? Time machine?”

  “She’s told me. It’s important to be dependable and prompt, she’s always told me.”

  “Words to live by, but I still don’t understand your concern. Perhaps she’s taking a day off. Or a vacation. I think she’s earned one if she has always opened her business at nine for the last forty years.” He winked.

  Petunia quickened her pace. Having Noah along was always so nerve-racking. She was very attracted to him, but they were always so busy with cases they hardly had time to really get to know each other as she would have liked. She only hoped that her aunt wasn’t really missing and wouldn’t be their next case.

  Chapter Two

  Petunia waved as she passed Lucy’s house, but Lucy wasn’t having any of that and flagged them down.

  Lucy Winters was looking quite good for a woman of eighty. That had nothing to do with the salve she used for her arthritis or why the wrinkles on her face were less noticeable. She smoothed the fabric of her blue shirt and said, “So I see you and Noah are out for another stroll. I don’t know about you, but I hear wedding bells.”

  “Or cobwebs in her head,” Pansy sneered.

  Petunia plastered a smile on her face because she couldn’t give Pansy’s leash a hard tug. “Now, Lucy, you know I’m not the marrying kind.”

  “No?” Noah asked. “What kind of woman are you then?”

  “The kind who wishes people would quit trying to push me into marrying you when I barely know you.”

  “Barely know him? I daresay I’ve seen the two of you together on many occasions.”

  “During investigations perhaps. By the way, have you seen my Aunt Maxine recently? Word has it that she hasn’t opened her shop yet today.”

  “That is odd. Please let me know how things work out. I don’t think Lake Forest can go on without our resident dame witch.”

  “What makes you think she’s gone and not sleeping in, Lucy?”

  “I better get inside. I hired painters, and you can’t leave them alone for a minute.”

  Petunia narrowed her eyes. “If you know something, you had better spit it out.”

  “I don’t think she’d care for me blabbing her business all over town.”

  “We’re not the entire town, and after everything I’ve done for you, I expect an answer.”

  “So you gave her a healing salve, big deal,” Pansy muttered.

  “Please, Pansy, now is not the time.”

  “I’m sorry, but I just can’t tell you.” Lucy pursed her lips and disappeared into her house.

  Petunia moved in pursuit, but Noah stopped her. “Leave it for now. We’ll check out the store, and if we can’t find your aunt we’ll come back to find out what Lucy is hiding.”

  “That’s not like Lucy. I can’t believe she wouldn’t talk to me.”

  “Let’s get moving, Red,” Pansy said. “We won’t find anything standing here all day.”

  “Oh, and since when do you care about my aunt or investigating?”

  “I care. I just don’t wear my emotions on my shirtsleeve like you do.”

  “Could that be because you don’t wear shirts anymore?”

  “Keep rubbing it in, Red. You have to sleep sometime,” Pansy threatened.

  Petunia continued down the street marveling at the how warm it was. It was blue skies for days. The sidewalk was free of cracks and she crossed the brick street to the side where Mystical Remedies stood. The closed sign still hung in the window and the door was locked.

  She stared up at the red brick building and caught movement on the roof. Petunia threw the leash to Noah and raced to the fire escape, climbing up the clanging and unstable metal stairs. Petunia was halfway up when she remembered that she was afraid of heights, but pushed on. What if Aunt Maxine was stuck on the roof? But she couldn’t think of a reason she’d be on the roof.

  When she reached the top, Petunia mustered all her strength and wobbled onto the roof. The dizziness hit her in waves as she glanced down to Noah and Pansy, who were far below, gazing up at her.

  Petunia turned at the sound of a wood clacking and looked to where Hazel and Wanda stood, trying to wrangle two broomsticks.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, noting their black dresses.

  “What are you doing here?” Hazel asked with a chuckle.

  “You most certainly shouldn’t be here. You’re too new of a witch to attempt something of this magnitude,” Wanda added, adjusting her wide-framed glasses.

  “Where is Aunt Maxine?”

  “So you haven’t seen her either?”

  “No. That’s why I’m here.”

  Hazel came over and handed Petunia a piece of paper. She stared down at it a
nd read out loud, “Your presence is requested at the Witches Convention in Witchataw.” Petunia grabbed Hazel’s broom. “Is that Wichita, Kansas?”

  “No, but it’s easily confused.”

  “Yes,” Wanda began, “Quite a few witches accidentally went to Kansas for the convention. I can’t even imagine what people thought there when they asked about the witches convention.”

  “So is this were my aunt is?”

  Hazel nodded. “Yes, she must have left before us.”

  “Or without us,” Wanda added.

  “Where exactly is this Witchataw?”

  “Not too far when you travel by broomstick,” Hazel exclaimed trying to take the broom back from Petunia.

  “Without Aunt Maxine here I can’t allow you to travel by anything close to a broom. I won’t be responsible for your deaths.”

  “Well, suppose you’re right, but how else will we get to Witchataw?” Hazel asked.

  “You can drive.”

  “I don’t have a license. But it’s so not my fault,” Hazel insisted. “That Sheriff Pinkerton ticketed me four times in the same week for speeding. I think he has it out for me.”

  “How about Wanda?”

  “Sorry, but I failed my eye test.”

  “But you don’t even wear glasses.”

  “I know. That’s probably why I failed it.”

  Petunia kept her hand on the broom and asked, “How did you get up here?”

  “We used the stairs,” Hazel said.

  “I hope they’re better than the ones on the fire escape.”

  “Sure they are, but it’s quite dark. I hope you have your cell phone with you.”

  Petunia turned her cell phone flashlight on and walked down the stairs first, lighting the way. The walls were grimy to the touch and covered with cobwebs. “Apparently my aunt never uses these stairs much.”

  “I suppose not. I had hoped to catch her on the roof before she left,” Wanda said.

  “We were sure she’d be up there,” Hazel added.

  When Petunia reached the bottom of the stairs she opened the door and walked into the shop. She flipped on the lights and then let Noah and Pansy in.