Meows, Magic & Manslaughter (Lake Forest Witches Book 2) Page 8

  Hazel laughed, quickly shutting up when Estelle gave her a look.

  Estelle stood there for a few minutes and finally said, “Petunia is right about one thing, it’s against the rules to interfere with the spells of another witch.”

  “But she’s not even an official witch yet,” Maria pointed out.

  “Maria, you are to undo that spell, now. I imagine that you have the antidote in your purse somewhere.” When Maria didn’t move, Estelle added, “I mean NOW.”

  Maria threw up her hands and stomped over to her purse, removing a vial that she used to load an eyedropper. She then walked over to where Petunia was holding Pansy, trying to get him to open his mouth, earning her a swipe of his bared claw.

  “I bet this cat was a particularly nasty human; here, you do it,” Maria said.

  “You did it, Maria, and you’re the one who has to undo it,” Estelle said.

  Petunia tried to hold Pansy still, but he was squirming so badly by the time Maria gave him the antidote that Maria received several scratches deep enough to cause them to bleed.

  Petunia set Pansy down and he paced the room like an enraged lion. “That’s what you get, you b—”

  “Oh, Pansy,” Petunia said telepathically. “I’ve really missed hearing your voice in my head. I’m so glad that I didn’t listen to Aunt Maxine and that I asked Maria to take off that spell.”

  Pansy almost appeared to be smiling, now. “I missed you hearing me, too, Red. Now I can tell you how dreadful those shoes look. Just because you’re a witch doesn’t mean that you have to wear pointed-toe shoes.”

  Pansy certainly had a point, but now it was time to deal with what else they had been talking about when she had arrived. “I’m not changing Pansy back into a human since I’m not willing to risk changing him into something worse than a cat. So if that’s the only way I’ll get into your club, or whatever you’re calling it, you can forget it right now. Actually, neither of you have left a very good impression with me so I won’t be joining you. If that means my aunt won’t speak to me, so be it.”

  Petunia went for the door and the hell hound blocked her path with bared teeth. She tried moving around the dog, but the heel of one pointy-toed shoe got caught on the carpet and she fell, shaking in fear as the dog moved in her direction. Pansy came to the rescue, hissing and dancing with his back arched. That hell hound stopped dead in its tracks and with a whine, raced away, whimpering.

  Aunt Maxine helped Petunia up, whispering, “I’ll talk to you later.”

  Petunia didn’t say a word, only headed out the door with Pansy prancing behind her. Petunia felt so empowered for sticking up for herself. She was elated that she had her Pansy back, since his snarky comments were the highlight of her day, even though she’d never tell him so. Pansy had his head up as he rode in the basket of the bike on they way home, silent for the moment, which gave her plenty of time to think.

  It was mid afternoon when they arrived back at home and she found Noah parked on her porch. He stood with a smile to greet her. “I was hoping you hadn’t gone far. It’s not too late yet. I’m sure there must be someone to question in regards to Florence’s death, don’t you think?”

  “Sure there is. Let’s get Pansy inside, first. I’m long overdue to feed my cats,” she said, even though they had just fed them not long ago.

  Noah followed her inside and Petunia set Pansy down. She received several swipes from her apparently starved cats on the way to the kitchen. But they were fed more than once a day and had no reason to be angry about when they would get their next meal. She only gave them a smaller portion at each feeding so they could be fed throughout the day. Especially since they demanded that she feed them every time she came home.

  “Do you want to come along?” Petunia asked Pansy, as she opened canned food and served it in the appropriate dishes.

  “Not for the moment. I’ll guard the house just in case that Maria comes over here while you’re out, but don’t even think about going to that barbecue without me tomorrow.”

  “Agreed, but I don’t see Maria coming over here, do you?”

  “Well, the way I see it, they expect you to apply for the witch license and if you don’t, your own aunt won’t be able to speak to you?”

  “So they say. Aunt Maxine told me that she’d speak to me at the barbecue tomorrow so I’ll see. I only hope that won’t be the case. I love my aunt dearly, but I’m not about to conform to the whims of anyone else. How can they simply expect me to change you back into human form just to get licensed? I’m not about to risk harming you, Pansy.”

  “Which I appreciated, believe me, but you better run along now. That boyfriend is giving you the oddest look right now.”

  Sure enough, Noah was standing in the doorway of the kitchen and Petunia passed him and moved into the living room. She went to her desk and picked up a piece of paper with the names of the people she wanted to question. “I have a list here, but I’ll have to speak to Bonnie and her maid Connie tomorrow at the barbecue, providing it’s still on. That leaves us with the Mayor, Steven the UPS Delivery driver, Betty the Fed Ex driver, and Chris the Schwan delivery man.”

  “And you know for sure those are the right names of the people who were at the mansion before the body was found?”

  “Yes, Steven, Rhonda, and Chris routinely deliver to the mansion and it’s well within their service area. They shouldn’t be too hard to find. Steven should be at Nelson’s bakery about now. I think he’s sweet on Chastity Bennet, who works the counter.”

  “Great, let’s get going. I hope they have some glazed donuts left.”

  “I doubt it. Nelson’s Bakery really packs them in. I never can get any donuts I like unless I order them in advance.”

  “Nelson’s Bakery, here we come.”

  Before Petunia left, she checked her mailbox and found that the invitation to the barbeque had been delivered earlier that day. She placed it into her purse, then closed the door, hopping into Noah’s Camaro. She wasn’t about to complain about riding in a car, not when they had so many people to question in so little time. Was it too much to hope that they’d find some useful information?

  Noah got in behind the driver’s seat and they soon were off down the two blocks to Nelson’s. It was a waste of gas from Petunia’s standpoint, but there was no telling where this questioning would go, so she didn’t complain.

  “Where is my grandfather?”

  “He told me he needed to Skype the man who was taking over for him at Sunnybrook. No need to worry about what I might have told him about you, including that nonsense about you being a witch, or about making potions that people seem to believe work for them.”

  “Seem to believe? Oh, you must be talking about Lucy, who won the recent marathon even though she was crippled with arthritis just days before.”

  “I believe in the power of positive suggestions. You gave her a salve that you claimed works and she believed that it did. No sense in making more of it than that. Besides, do you really want to create an all-out war between your aunt and your grandfather? He told me that he hasn’t spoken to her in years.”

  “I suppose not, since he’s been working for the CIA. I’m not sure if I’m buying the fact that he might still be working with them, though, other than that he knew who Florence was, or that he came up with a believable story about her gathering evidence involving corruption in Lake Forest.”

  “He seems to be on the up and up to me.”

  “He’s good at convincing people that he is who he says he is.”

  “Did he work for the CIA?”

  “Yes, but I never met anyone in his line of work.”

  “I can’t imagine that you would. They do their best to stay out of the limelight, even family members often don’t know what they really do for a living.”

  “I didn’t tell you yet, but Bonnie called me to meet her at the beach, but it wasn’t her at all. It was a woman who told me she worked for the CIA, Joellen Harbor. She was also quite interes
ted in checking out the Hopkins’ mansion, but she never mentioned why, exactly. I wonder if it’s to find the same flash drive that my grandfather was interested in. She just never mentioned his name. I’m wondering if they’re working together.”

  “That’s interesting. What did she want you to do, exactly?”

  “She told me I’d make a good distraction.”

  “I’d have to agree with that. You’re a very lovely distraction, actually.”

  Petunia smiled, but that’s all it would be as they came up on Nelson’s Bakery.

  Chapter Nine

  Nelson’s Bakery was on a corner, with no real parking lot and only two spots where you could legally park on the street without getting a ticket. Of course there was always space available at the St. Lorenz Church that was just across the street.

  “Park over there, Noah,” Petunia said.

  “Are you sure it’s okay to park over there? It’s awful far from the bakery.”

  “It’s just across the street. What are you worried about, that someone will steal your car? Lake Forest is quite safe, I assure you.”

  “Yup, safe enough for a body to be found in a pool at the mayor’s mansion.”

  “That might just be quite accidental.”

  “I’ll believe that when a statement is made to the press. Until then, we have to believe that this was a case of foul play,” Noah said.

  “You’re right. It’s just that I can’t imagine how or why Bonnie would be responsible for Florence’s death.”

  “Give it time, I’m sure we’ll know for sure very soon.”

  “To be honest, I can’t imagine Florence working with the CIA.”

  “And if she was working with them, it would seem that her involvement with the mayor wouldn’t be allowed. I can’t imagine that Mayor Hopkins would be deemed worthy of a CIA investigation,” Noah pointed out. “But we’ll dig to find the truth.”

  Noah whipped into the parking lot of the church, picking the space closest to the street, presumably so that he could observe his car from the bakery. Then they crossed the street and stepped into the bakery. As they entered, a bell over the door rang, alerting Chastity, who worked the counter, as they walked in. There were seats situated along a long counter next to the large glass display case. Sitting in one of the chairs was a man wearing the classic brown UPS uniform.

  “Why, if it isn’t Petunia and her handsome new boyfriend,” Chastity greeted them.

  Instead of saying that they were merely dating, Petunia said, “We’re here on official business.”

  “Oh, do you have one of those potions of yours hidden in that bag? I really could use whatever you gave Lucy. She’s in the best shape of her life and she’s eighty.”

  Petunia smiled at the reminder of how her healing salve transformed Lucy into someone overly active for her age. “I hardly think you need that. You jog every day.”

  “Of course I might need a love potion. It might be the only way Steven over here will ask me out.”

  Steven’s cheeks reddened. “You mean you’d actually go out with me?”

  “Not sure. You’d have to ask first.” She winked.

  “How about dinner at the Lake Forest Country Club? My uncle has a membership there. Friday night is seafood night.”

  Chastity’s face lit up. “That’s a date, then. I had no idea you’d go all out like that.”

  “Why not? I’ve been coming here for over a year trying to get up the nerve to ask you out.”

  Petunia had to break this up now. “That’s great, but we’d like to speak to Steven for a few minutes, if you please.”

  “Is it about what happened over at the Hopkins’ mansion?” Chastity asked with interest.

  “Actually, yes, but I think we should question Steven privately.”

  “I don’t mind her being here since we’re dating now.”

  Noah cocked a brow and even Petunia thought that was a little forward of Steven to think that one date, which they haven’t even gone on yet, constituted dating.

  “Okay, then,” Petunia said. “Were you at the Hopkins’ house today?”

  “Yes, they’re having a fundraiser barbecue tomorrow,” Steven said. “I imagine you’re just dying to get in there tomorrow.”

  “I haven’t heard officially as of yet if it’s still on.”

  “Oh, it’s on,” Chastity said. “Bonnie confirmed her pastry order ten minutes before you showed up.”

  “And what did she have to say about a body being found in her pool?” Noah asked.

  “Nothing much.”

  “Did you ask her about it?” Petunia asked.

  “I-I—”

  “Oh, come now. Small town, body found,” Noah began. “I’m sure you must have asked her something.”

  “I told her I was shocked that the barbecue was still on after what happened today, but she told me it was merely a tiny bump in the road. She actually seemed quite upbeat. Do you think she murdered Florence?”

  “I’m not sure, only time will tell,” Noah said. “That’s why we’re investigating, to find out.”

  “Anything else you’d care to say about your conversation with Bonnie?” Petunia asked.

  “No, that’s all of it, but I do wonder if Bonnie didn’t kill Florence, who else would?”

  “It hasn’t been established yet if it was murder at all,” Noah insisted. “It might even be quite accidental.”

  “Yeah, right. Bonnie’s husband’s lover drowns in their pool? That seems kind of strange to me, especially since Bonnie was home the last week, making preparations.”

  “Unless she was gathering supplies herself,” Petunia pointed out. “She was at Norm’s Meat Market before the body was found.”

  “Really?” Chastity’s lips quirked upward like she had more to say on the subject, or so Petunia hoped, and Chastity didn’t disappoint as she added, “I’ve never known Bonnie to do any of her own shopping, unless she was heading to Detroit to shop for name-brand clothing.”

  “That’s why so many delivery drivers show up at her door so frequently,” Steven said. “I’m there nearly every day.”

  “Did anything happen out of the ordinary when you were there today?” Petunia asked.

  “No, it was just routine, except that Bonnie didn’t sign for the packages. Her maid Connie did, which is out of the ordinary. Bonnie usually talks my ear off when I go there, too, even insists I have a coffee before I leave, but I never do, of course. I have a hard enough time making all of my deliveries before the end of my day.” When Petunia cocked a brow, he quickly added, “I’m on lunch now.”

  “It’s a little late for lunch, isn’t it?”

  “Anything you’d like to add, like, was Florence’s car parked at the curb?” Noah asked.

  “I don’t know what that woman drives. I mean, the last time I saw her, she was with the mayor.”

  “Mayor?” Petunia asked. “When was this?”

  “Yesterday, driving down Lakeside Drive.”

  “Near Look Out Point?”

  “Look Out Point?” Noah asked.

  “It’s a local make-out spot and it overlooks the lake. It’s not far from my aunt’s house.”

  “I see. We might want to check that out,” Noah suggested.

  Petunia’s eyes widened as she looked out the window and saw her grandfather behind the wheel of Noah’s Camaro, screeching the tires as he whipped out of the church parking lot.

  She gulped, but went back to questioning Steven. Noah certainly wouldn’t be happy when he found out his car wasn’t where he had parked it. “Was the gate opened when you arrived?”

  “Yes, but Connie said the gate was being kept open since deliveries were expected all day.”

  Oh, she did? Petunia thought it strange that Connie certainly didn’t say that when Petunia was over at the mansion. “And was Connie acting strange today?”

  “Not any more than normal. She’s not a very friendly woman, but she was cordial enough. I’d swear it would kill her to s
mile with the way she was frowning. I must have interrupted her from her duties in the kitchen.”

  “And why do you think she just came from the kitchen?”

  “Because she had an apron on. Whatever she was cooking sure smelled great.”

  “I see. Well, unless Noah has any questions, that’s all I need. Thanks for your help.”

  “Seems like we’ve covered it all, but who else did you say we needed to speak to, Petunia?” Noah asked.

  “Betty from Fed Ex. Do you have any idea where she might be around now, Steven?”

  He responded by rolling his eyes. “Probably browsing at the Hobby Shack. She’s into crafts, or into the manager who works there, anyway.”

  Petunia wasn’t sure why his tone was so strong, but they might be competitors of sorts. She would be surprised if they’d find Betty at the craft store, though, since she seemed more like a gym type of woman, sporting more muscles than most of the men in town.

  “Thanks, I think.”

  Petunia led the way outside after purchasing two chocolate chip cookies. She handed one to Noah when they got outside. “Lets walk over to the local gym. It’s only right on the other side of the bakery. I almost wonder if people go there directly after they come to the bakery and load up on sweets so they can burn some of the calories off.”

  “Exercise will be good for us after these cookies,” Noah agreed.

  Petunia had a tight hold of Noah’s arm, making darn sure he never had the chance to glance across the street to where he had parked the Camaro earlier.

  They followed the sidewalk that led to the rear of the bakery, which was in what seemed to be a seedy part of Lake Forest. Actually, the area wasn’t bad. It was just that it was always shady from the trees that were overhead in this area. Men were congregated outside the gym, their faces peeled to the large window, staring in disbelief. Once Petunia and Noah made their way through the door, Petunia could see why when Betty was pumping iron. Her muscles bulged with each repetition and Petunia walked right over to her.