Witch Is When Life Got Complicated (7 page)

“It doesn’t make any sense.”

“How’s Milly?”

“Relieved to be off the hook, but still very upset about everything that’s happened.”

I waved goodbye to Kathy, Lizzie and my beloved beanies. It was the end of an era. The end of my childhood.

Chapter 10

I was about to call it a night when I spotted a tentacle peeping out from under the sofa. I grabbed the beanie and clutched it tight to my chest. My very first and still my favourite beanie—the squid. Lizzie must have dropped it when she was playing with them. I could call by Kathy’s on the way into the office the next day to give it to Lizzie. Or—I could hold on to what was left of my precious collection. Kathy need never know.

I thought about putting it on the shelf in the walk-in wardrobe, but if Kathy saw it, she’d claim it for Lizzie. Unless—. I cast the ‘hide’ spell and the squid disappeared. I was about to walk out of the wardrobe when I realised I could see the squid’s reflection in the mirror. The ‘hide’ spell worked in a different way from the ‘invisible’ spell. When an object was hidden by the ‘hide’ spell, its reflection could still be seen in a mirror. I couldn’t risk Kathy seeing it.

“Sorry, little fellow.” I reversed the spell, lifted him off the shelf, and put him in the overhead cupboard. I might not be able to have him on display, but at least I could bring him out whenever I felt the urge for a little squid-love.

The next morning, Jack Maxwell’s picture adorned the front page of the Bugle. It would have been so much easier to hate the guy if he hadn’t had movie star looks. The accompanying article was predictable enough. Milly Brown had been released, Harrison Scott had committed suicide. No one else was being sought for the murder of Bruce Digby. How very neat and tidy.

“Jill!” Christine Best, one of the few neighbours I had any time for, shouted to me as I was on my way to the car. “Has Ivers collared you?”

“About the newsletter?”

“Yeah.”

“He’s tried.”

“I couldn’t get away.” She sighed.

“Don’t tell me you signed up?” I laughed.

“What choice did I have? I’d still be with him now if I hadn’t. How did you manage to get away with it?”

“I cast a spell on him and sent him to sleep.”

“What? Oh, right.” She laughed. “I never thought of doing that.”

The last time I’d seen Mrs V, she’d been dancing around the office as happy as a lark. What a difference a day made.

“What’s wrong?”

Her head was buried in her hands.

“Look!” She pointed to the filing cabinet.

“What?”

“It’s gone!”

“The trophy? Where is it?”

“If I knew that, it wouldn’t be gone, would it?”

I checked the outer door; there was no sign of damage. “How did they get in? Did you lock the door on your way out yesterday?”

“Of course I did! It was still locked when I got here this morning. It must have been a cat burglar.”

“I doubt it. More likely a common thief.”

“I’m telling you it was a cat burglar. They stole Blinky too.”

“What?” Who in their right mind would want a one-eyed cat? Present company excepted.

“What am I going to tell the committee? That cup has been in the competition for decades. I’ll never live it down.”

“Take a deep breath. It’ll be okay.”

“How?”

“Have you forgotten what I do?”

“Collect one-eyed cats?”

“Apart from that. I’m a P.I. If anyone can find your trophy, I can.”

Mrs V buried her head in her hands again. Another resounding vote of confidence.

“Who cares?” Winky rolled onto his back, and then back onto his stomach.

“I care. Mrs V cares.”

“About a stupid trophy and a psycho cat? Good riddance if you ask me.”

“I
didn’t
ask you. You must have heard something in the night.”

“Nah. I was asleep. I had this fantastic dream about this hot little Persian. She was—”

“Enough! I don’t want the sordid details.”

I spent the next hour re-reading everything I had on the Digby case. It amounted to a big fat nothing. Harrison Scott had confessed, and Milly Brown was off the hook, so why couldn’t I simply let it be?

“Do you think I should call that nice Detective Maxwell?” Mrs V had popped her head around my door.

“Why would you call that clown?”

“To report a serious crime.”

“Do you honestly think that Maxwell will be interested in some stupid trophy and a one-eyed cat?”

Oh no! What had I just said? This was all Winky’s fault.

“Stupid trophy?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean that. I’m really sorry. It isn’t stupid. It’s very handsome, and prestigious, and top of my to-do list.”

I knew people, who knew people, who knew other people you probably wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley. I made a few phone calls, and put the word out about the trophy. If someone tried to fence it, in or around the Washbridge area, I was confident that I’d hear about it. All I could do now was wait and be patient. Unfortunately, Mrs V didn’t do patient.

When Grandma had said I had to pass her tests
or else
, she’d been kidding—hadn’t she? This was worse than school, and I’d hated that with a passion. I’d never been good at exams, and it wasn’t because I hadn’t revised. Well okay, that might have had something to do with it. I shouldn’t have been expected to revise
and
keep my catalogue of beanies up to-date. I always used to freeze— exams terrified me.

I had to be at Grandma’s at ten o’clock on the dot, so I didn’t have much time to spare.

“Aunt Lucy?” I called through the open door. I’d noticed that it was common for people in Candlefield to leave their front doors unlocked and even ajar.

“Jill? Is that you? Come on in.”

We hugged. “You’ve caught me in the middle of cleaning.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll leave you to it.”

“Don’t be daft. Any excuse for a break is fine by me. It’s your first test today isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I’m terrified.”

“Don’t worry. Grandma’s bark is worse than her bite.”

“Really?”

“No, not really.” Aunt Lucy laughed. “But, you’ll be fine. Your mother may be a hussy, but she was a fantastic witch. Second only to Grandma, I’d say. You’ve inherited her abilities.”

“I wish that was true.”

“Just you wait and see.”

“Are the twins at Cuppy C?”

“Don’t talk to me about those girls.” Her face was like thunder. What had they done this time? Had Aunt Lucy found out about Amber’s engagement? I waited for more but she didn’t elaborate.

A cup of tea did nothing to calm my nerves.

“Barry misses you,” Aunt Lucy said.

“I’ll try to make it up to him while I’m here.”

“It’s a pity you can’t take him to Washbridge.”

“The lease on the flat doesn’t allow pets.”

Amber walked in.

“Your hair!” I said.

“Now you see why I’m angry,” Aunt Lucy said.

“I like it,” I said to Amber. Blonde suited her.

“I was fed up of everyone getting me and Pearl mixed up,” Amber said.

“That’s a good idea.”

“Not as it turned out.” Amber frowned.

Pearl walked in.

“Oh?” I had to stifle a laugh. “I see what you mean. Blonde suits you too, Pearl.”

“See, Jill.” Aunt Lucy stepped forward so she was standing in-between her daughters. “This is what I have to put up with.”

“I had mine done first,” Amber insisted.

“How was I meant to know you’d had it done?” Pearl said.

“Let me get this straight.” I couldn’t help a snigger. “You both decided to change the colour of your hair so people could tell you apart, and you both ended up with the same colour?”

The twins nodded. Aunt Lucy sighed. I laughed.

“Who’s looking after Cuppy C?” I asked.

“We’ve only popped out for a short break. It’s pretty quiet today so the new staff can cope.”

The twins grabbed a custard cream each and settled down on the sofa. A cup of tea might have failed to take my mind off the test, but seeing the twins’ hair had done the trick. At least it had until I realised that it was only a minute until the test.

“It’s TEST time!” Pearl said.

“Grandma’s tests are really tough.” Amber looked at her sister and they both laughed.

“Thanks, you two. That really helps.”

“You’ll be okay,” Pearl said. “Provided you don’t get anything wrong.”

They laughed even harder.

“Stop it girls!” Aunt Lucy said. “Don’t be so unkind to your cousin,”

“We’re only kidding,” Amber said. “Grandma’s tests are really simple. There’s nothing to them.”

“I’m pleased to hear you say that.” As usual, Grandma had appeared from nowhere. “Because you two are going to be taking the test too.”

The twins’ faces were a picture—a mixture of horror and disbelief.

“But Grandma, we finished our studies years ago.”

“Call this a refresher then.”

“Grandma, please! We have to get back to the shop.”

“I’ll see all three of you at my house in two minutes. Don’t be late.”

The twins looked at me. Now it was my turn to laugh. “That’s what you call Karma.”

Grandma was a tough taskmaster. The test included a mix of practical and written exercises. She focussed mainly on the spells she’d worked through with me: ‘hide’, ‘sleep’ and ‘rain’, but also included a few questions and tests on spells I’d already taught myself. Having the twins there helped keep me calm. When I saw they were struggling too, I didn’t feel quite so bad. The whole thing took just under an hour.

“Right, that’s it!” Grandma announced.

“Can we go?” Pearl stood up.

“We have to get back to the shop.” Amber joined her.

“Sit down!”

They did as they were told.

“I’m sure you all want to know the results of the test.”

No-one spoke.

“Top marks go to—” She paused for effect. “Jill!”

“Yes!” I yelled, but then put my hand over my mouth. “Sorry.”

“In second place.”

The twins exchanged terrified glances. Neither of them wanted to finish in last place.

“Or should I say, in joint last place,” Grandma continued. “The twins.”

“Well done, Jill,” Grandma said.

“Thank you.”

“No room for complacency though. I expect you to maintain that standard.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“And as for you two—”

“We really should get back—,” Amber began.

Grandma gave her a look. “And as for you two. There will be consequences.”

That didn’t sound good.

“From now on, you’ll both take every test that Jill sits.”

“But Grandma,” Pearl protested. “We learned this stuff years ago.”

“And apparently forgot it just as quickly. You should be ashamed of yourselves for allowing a novice witch to outscore you in every department.”

I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Although I was delighted with my test results, I hadn’t wanted to drop the twins in it.

“Sorry, Grandma,” Pearl said.

“Sorry,” Amber echoed.

Outside, it was my turn to apologise. “I’m really sorry girls. I didn’t mean for any of that to happen.”

“It’s okay.” Amber gave me a hug. “It isn’t your fault.”

Pearl joined in the group hug. “It’s our own fault, Jill. You did really well.”

“Does that mean I’m a fully fledged witch now?” I grinned.

“Not by a long chalk, young lady!” Grandma appeared and then disappeared just as quickly.

“We’d better get back,” Pearl said.

“I can give you a hand if you like?” I offered.

“Don’t you have to get back to Washbridge?”

“No. I’m going to stay for a while. Besides, it’s the least I can do after this morning.”

Chapter 11

I’d noticed Amber still wasn’t wearing her engagement ring.

“Haven’t you had your ring resized yet?” I asked during a lull in the tea room.

“Oh yeah. It fits perfectly now.”

I glanced at her bare finger.

“I’m still working up the nerve to tell Mum. I was all set to tell her, but then your mum got engaged to Alberto.”

I laughed. “I see what you mean. Probably not the best time.”

“You’re not kidding. Mum went ballistic when she found out. I’m going to let things blow over before I say anything.”

The chime on the door announced a new customer.

“Yes, sir,” I greeted the handsome young werewolf. I was getting much better at identifying the different types of sup.

“Hello gorgeous.” He flashed a mouthful of teeth.

Gorgeous huh? I’d still got it after all.

“Hi there handsome,” Amber called from over my shoulder.

I should have realised he wasn’t talking to me.

“Jill, this is William. My fiancé.”

Of course. Now I recognised him. Amber had shown me his photo.

“William, this is my cousin, Jill.”

He offered his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Being a private investigator must be really cool.”

“Not as cool as serving afternoon tea.”

He laughed.

“Can I get you anything?” I offered.

“It’s okay. I’ll see to it,” Amber said. “Grab a window seat, William, and I’ll join you.”

“He’s even better looking in real life,” I whispered once he was at the table.

“He is, isn’t he?” Amber beamed. “Why don’t you join us? You’re due a break.”

The shop was quiet so I took her up on the offer while Jean, one of the part-time assistants watched the counter.

“Grandma is making us do tests again,” Amber complained.

William laughed.

“It isn’t funny.”

“It is kinda.”

“I’m afraid that’s my fault.” I took a bite of strawberry muffin. Hmm delicious.

“It’s not your fault,” Amber said. “It’s Grandma. She’s just plain cruel.”

The door chime rang. Pearl walked in arm in arm with her young man, Alan, who was a vampire.

“If it isn’t banana man,” Alan said when he spotted William.

“Mind if we join you?” Pearl said.

“Yes,” Amber huffed.

“Tough!”

Alan placed his order at the counter and then he and Pearl squeezed in at our table. Judging by the way the two young men were glaring at one another, there was no love lost between them.

“Maybe I should get back to work?” I said.

“No!”

“No!”

The twins were, for once, in agreement.

I hated silence, and for several long moments, you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife.

“Well.” I was the first to crack. “This is nice.” Had I
really
just said that?

“It was until
they
arrived,” Amber said.

“Are you and Alan planning on getting engaged too?” I asked Pearl.

“As soon as we find the right ring.” She looked at her sister. “
We
don’t want to rush into it and end up with something cheap and nasty.”

The claws were well and truly out now.

“I’m sure there are plenty to choose from in the pawn shop,” Amber shot back.

Meow!

Silence descended again, and this time I knew better than to break it.

“Do you think Alan and I could come over to Washbridge some time?” Pearl asked.

“I guess—” I began.

“William and me would like to come over too, if that’s okay,” Amber chipped in.

Over my dead body were those four coming to Washbridge together. But how could I say yes to one couple and not the other?

“My cat’s sick.” What? It was the best I could come up.

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He has a poorly eye. It’s contagious. Very contagious.”

“Poor thing,” Amber said.

“Could we come over when he’s better?” Pearl asked.

“Sure. We’ll sort something out then.”

Another excruciating silence followed.

“Any news on the trophy?” I’d cracked again.

“Ask him!” William pointed an accusing finger at Alan.

“How would I know?” Alan retaliated. “Your people have it.”

“That’s a lie.” William was on his feet.

“You’re the liar!” Alan stood up.

“Stop it!” Amber tugged at William’s arm.

“Alan!” Pearl snapped.

The two men sat down, but continued to glare at one another.

I gleaned from their reactions that the trophy was still AWOL and that both sides, vampires and werewolves, continued to blame one another.

After the longest tea break of my life, the two young men eventually went their separate ways.

“I guess a joint wedding is out of the question?” I said.

The twins laughed.

“I’d better get back to work,” Pearl said. “Will I see you later, Jill?”

“Yeah. I’ll be staying in Candlefield for a while.”

“I’m sorry about all that,” Amber said, after her sister was out of earshot. “That must have been horrible for you.”

“Has there always been so much animosity between your boyfriends?”

“William and Alan used to get along together really well before all of this blew up. They knew one another long before they started dating us. Everything changed after the trophy went missing.”

“Who do you think is responsible?”

“I have to side with William out of loyalty, but the truth is either side could have done it. They’re as bad as one another.” She hesitated for a moment. “Don’t tell William I said that will you?”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

There was a steady stream of customers into the tea room. During a lull, I cleared and wiped down the tables.

“Come and join me,” an old man called to me. He was seated alone at a corner table.

“I’m sorry, I have to work.”

“Your partner can manage for a few minutes.” He gestured towards Jean who nodded to indicate she’d be okay.

“I’m Pop,” he said, through a toothy grin.

“Nice to meet you, Pop. I’m Jill.”

I offered my hand, expecting a handshake, but he put it to his lips and kissed it.

“I understand that you’re the newest witch in Candlefield.”

“Quite possibly.”

“I knew your mother.”

“Really?”

“A lovely lady. She’ll be missed.”

“I’m afraid I didn’t know her all that well.”

“So I understand. You have rather an unusual story.”

“You’re right there.”

“And you’re still living among the humans?”

“I split my time between there and Candlefield.”

“What’s a private investigator doing working in a tea room?”

“I’ve been asking myself the same question.”

“I hear you have a case here in Candlefield.”

“The Candlefield Cup? Yeah, but I haven’t made much headway. The local police have warned me off.”

He smiled. “If you’re anything like your mother, I doubt that will stop you.”

“Someone needs to find that cup. And soon. There seems to be an awful lot of bad feeling around.”

“The vampires and werewolves aren’t the ones who should be complaining.”

“What do you mean?”

“The men you were sitting with earlier are probably too young to remember, but the Candlefield Cup used to be a three-way competition: vampires, werewolves and wizards.”

I knew the old guy was a wizard, but the revelation about the cup came as a surprise. “Why isn’t it now?”

“That’s a very good question. Just over a decade ago, there was a widespread disease in Candlefield that only affected the wizard population. The wizard team was forced to withdraw from the competition for two years, but then, when the crisis had passed, the other two teams used their vetos to block the wizards’ re-entry into the competition.”

Even in Candlefield, there was no escape from politics and discrimination it seemed. “That must have gone down well!”

“Like a lead balloon.”

“It does seem unfair.”

I talked to Pop for the next twenty minutes before he went on his way. As things were still quiet, Amber said I could leave.

Barry was his usual subdued self.

“Jill! Where have you been? Jill! Can we go for a walk? Can we go to the park? Can we? Can we go now? Can we?”

“Okay, okay. Let me stand up then.”

As soon as I'd walked through the door, he’d hit me with such force that I’d ended up flat on my back. Then he'd jumped on top of me and begun to frantically lick my face.

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

He dragged me to the park—his favourite haunt. Once there, and against my better judgement, I let him off his lead.

“I hoped I might bump into you again.” The voice startled me. I turned around to see Drake Tyson dressed in jeans and a white polo shirt. I approved.

“Where’s your dog?” I asked.

“He had his walk earlier. I just fancied a little fresh air. I haven’t seen you for a few days.”

“Not since the tea room.” Not that I was keeping track or anything.

“Oh yes. It was your first day, wasn’t it? How did you get on?”

“I struggled. Amber and Pearl, my cousins, did most of the work.”

“I didn’t stop to talk to you because I could see you were busy. To be honest, tea rooms aren’t really my thing, but my sister wanted to go.”

“Your sister? Oh, yeah. I think I might have seen her with you.” I was going for nonchalant.

“Looks like you’ve lost your dog.” He glanced around.

I’d been so pleased to discover that the woman with Drake at the tea room was his sister that I’d quite forgotten about my four-legged, best friend.

“I’d better go and look for him.”

“I’ll help, if you like?”

Yeah, baby. “If you don’t have anything else you have to do?” Still playing it cool.

We walked down the hill, and headed towards the boating lake.

“Oh dear.” Drake laughed.

“What?”

“Over there. In the lake.”

Oh dear
was right. Barry was doggy paddling his way across.

“Barry!” I yelled as I approached.

“You really do need to come up with a better name for him.” Drake grinned.

“Wait! Barry!” I yelled. “Don’t do that!”

Too late! He’d jumped out of the water, and shaken himself from head to tail, soaking Drake and me. “Thanks, Barry.” I said, brushing the water off my jeans.

Drake’s white polo shirt was clinging to his chest. Not that I was looking—at all—not even once.

“Do you want to come back to my place to dry off?” he asked.

I was tempted,
so
very tempted, but I couldn’t imagine what kind of carnage would ensue with Barry and Drake’s dog running riot in the house.

“Thanks, but I should be getting back. I’m really sorry about your jeans and tee shirt.” Not all that sorry, if I’m honest. “You’ll have to let me buy you a drink and a cake next time you come into the tea room.”

“I have a better idea,” he said. “It’s been a while since I visited the human world. How about I meet up with you there? We could get a coffee or maybe even dinner?”

Was that a date? It sounded like a date, but then it was so long since I’d been asked out on a date that I wasn’t sure.

“Sounds good. I’ll give you my office address.”

“No need. I’ll find you.”

I watched Drake and his wet polo shirt until he was out of sight.

“Do you like him?” Barry asked.

Although I was slowly getting used to the idea of talking to animals, I drew the line at discussing my love life—or potential love life.

“Drake seems like a nice man. Now, we’d better get you home and get the hair-dryer on you.”

“Jill was with a man!” Barry blurted out, as soon as we walked through the door.

“
Was
she?” Amber giggled.

“Tell us more!” Pearl demanded.

At least the twins seemed to be back on speaking terms.

“There’s nothing to tell. Just someone I bumped into in the park.” I shrugged.

“It was the same man as last time,” Barry said.

“
Really?
” the twins said, in unison.