Enchantments and Espresso

by Jinty James

  Perhaps not. Maybe it was best that Genevieve didn’t know they were on a fact-finding mission.

  “Where were you, Genevieve?” Suzanne asked. “I didn’t see you around when I was taking the espresso to Vanessa.”

  “I was in the kitchen.” Genevieve replied. “Checking whether there were any more brownies – and those sweet things you made – health balls, I think Jill called them.”

  “That’s right.” Suzanne nodded.

  “One of the guests was asking if we had any more goodies like that. So I went into the kitchen to find out. I didn’t see Jill, otherwise I would have asked her.”

  Maddie and Suzanne exchanged a look.

  Hadn’t Jill told them she’d gone outside to check on Trixie and Boyd at that stage? That must have been why Genevieve hadn’t seen Jill – if Jill – or Genevieve – had told them the truth.

  Genevieve checked her watch – an old plastic thing with specks of dirt on it. “If you girls don’t mind, I better go and call Jill. I haven’t spoken to her since last night, and I think she’ll need my support.”

  “Of course.” Maddie nodded.

  Trixie stopped sniffing the grass and sat down, her plush, plumy tail wrapped neatly around her paws.

  “Do you think Jill and Bob will still go ahead with their business plans?” Genevieve asked. “Even though I don’t approve, I don’t want Jill to be disappointed if it doesn’t work out with Bob.”

  “I guess that’s something you’ll have to ask Jill,” Suzanne said, as they fell into step beside Genevieve, Trixie trotting along next to Maddie.

  “Yeah.” Genevieve sighed.

  They stopped when they reached the house.

  “Come by any time, girls, as long as you bring Trixie with you.” Genevieve bent down to say goodbye to the feline.

  “Thank you for letting Trixie explore your garden,” Maddie said as they waved goodbye to the older woman.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie sounded as if she was saying thank you, too.

  “Wow!” Once they were back in the truck, Suzanne let out a low whistle. “I don’t think she wants Jill to have a business partner.”

  “Not if it’s Bob.” Maddie started up the truck.

  “Did you believe her when she said she was in the kitchen around the time of the murder?” Suzanne asked as Maddie drove down the road.

  “I want to,” Maddie said slowly. “She seems to be good friends with Jill. Why would she want to sabotage her? And besides, she seemed to like Trixie.”

  “Unless it was all for show.” Suzanne twisted around in her seat to look at Trixie. “What do you think, Trix?”

  But Trixie had nestled in the back, and seemed to have fallen asleep.

  CHAPTER 7

  Once Maddie and Suzanne returned to Estherville, they stopped by Maddie’s house, where they settled Trixie inside, giving her some jellied beef for lunch, before returning to the town square – and their customers.

  Suzanne’s stomach growled loudly as Maddie parked in their regular spot. “I’m starving!”

  “So am I,” Maddie said ruefully. “Do you think we’ve got time to eat our sandwiches?”

  “We’ll make time,” Suzanne declared. She rummaged in the small fridge and brought out two wrapped packets. “Here you go.” She fished out her phone and stared at the screen as she ate. “I can’t see anyone who looks like Vanessa on the popular social media sites – ooh, here!”

  Maddie peered over her friend’s shoulder. Vanessa smiled smugly into the camera. She wore a floaty blue dress, but didn’t appear to have a last name.

  “It just says Vanessa,” Suzanne said. “And I can’t see anyone connected to her profile who looks like he might be her ex – or current – boyfriend.”

  “That’s a shame.” Maddie munched her ham sandwich.

  “I know.” Suzanne looked disappointed. “I thought it was such a good idea, too.”

  “It was,” Maddie replied, once she’d swallowed her mouthful.

  “Maybe we’ll think of something else later.” Suzanne put her phone away.

  Maddie nodded, finishing her sandwich. Her thoughts turned to Trixie. What was her familiar doing right now?

  In a few seconds, she’d check the live camera feed on her phone. It had been a busy morning for her familiar, and Maddie wondered if Trixie had settled on the sofa in the living room, curling up next to Wytchcraft for the Chosen.

  Maddie wadded up her sandwich wrappers and placed them in the small trash bin inside the truck. Then she grabbed her phone from her purse and pressed a few buttons.

  “Look.” She showed Suzanne, who was eating her last bite of turkey on white, hoping the camera feed would cheer up her friend.

  “Ohhh.”

  Just as Maddie had suspected, Trixie was curled up on the sofa, one paw on the cover of Wytchcraft for the Chosen.

  “She loves guarding that book,” Suzanne observed.

  “I know.” Maddie put her phone back in her purse. “I guess we better open up – if we have any customers, that is.”

  Suzanne opened the serving hatch. The movement seemed to attract a couple of women sitting on one of the park benches, who strolled over to order a latte each.

  It was just after lunchtime.

  However, there were no more customers for a while.

  Until …

  “Hello, Maddie and Suzanne.” Detective Edgewater appeared in front of the serving hatch.

  “Hi, Detective Edgewater,” Suzanne said brightly, jumping up from her stool.

  “Hi, Detective Edgewater,” Maddie greeted him.

  “What can we get you?” Suzanne looked poised to ring up his order on the register.

  “I was hoping you’d have a couple of health balls.” The portly man scanned the counter and looked disappointed.

  “I’m sorry. I haven’t had time to make any.” Suzanne’s face fell.

  “It’s understandable.” The detective pulled out his wallet. “I’ll just have a small vanilla cappuccino.”

  “Coming right up.” Maddie started the espresso machine, the sound of burring and grinding filling the air.

  “The real reason I stopped by,” Detective Edgewater said, “was to let you know that the other party guests have been cleared.”

  “They have?” Suzanne’s mouth parted.

  “Only the people who’d already left the party,” he added. “We’ve checked, and none of them could have come back to kill Vanessa. So that means it was someone who was still at the party.”

  “Like us.” Suzanne bit her lip, looking worried.

  The detective cleared his throat. “Try not to worry too much, Suzanne. You too, Maddie.”

  Maddie nodded, sliding his drink over to him. She watched Suzanne take his money as if she were thinking of something else. Something very troubling.

  When Suzanne stayed silent, Maddie said, “So are you saying that we’re still suspects, along with Jill, Bob, Grandma Pat, Genevieve, and Kevin?”

  “Something like that.” Detective Edgewater lifted the cappuccino cup to his mouth, looking uncomfortable. “But the department is doing everything we can to find the killer. I think it’s best if you two stay here, operating your coffee truck. Don’t go investigating – leave it to me.”

  Maddie nodded, taking note of the serious tone of his voice.

  “Oh, by the way, the weapon was one of the café’s knives,” the detective said as he took another sip of his coffee.

  Suzanne’s eyes widened.

  “Where’s Trixie?” Detective Edgewater peered through the serving hatch. “She’s not helping today?”

  “She’s at home,” Maddie replied. “She had a busy morning.”

  “As long as she wasn’t out asking questions with you two.” Detective Edgewater looked serious. “Leave this to the professionals.”

  Maddie nodded.

  Suzanne just stared after the detective as he walked away.

  “Suzanne, are you okay?” Maddie gently touched her friend’s arm.


  Suzanne shook her head. “I’m not okay. And I won’t be until we discover who the killer is.”

  CHAPTER 8

  Before Maddie had a chance to talk to Suzanne, her nemesis, Claudine Claxton, walked over to the truck. A stout, forty-something woman with jet-black hair cropped short, she’d been Maddie’s boss from hell. Until Maddie had quit and opened Brewed from the Bean with Suzanne – and Trixie.

  “Guess all your customers visited my café for lunch.” She smirked.

  “We were busy,” Maddie said coolly, when Suzanne didn’t reply.

  “Did you close your truck again?” Claudine tsked. The whining nasal sound of her voice went straight through Maddie’s ears. “You’ll never keep your customers if you keep playing hooky.”

  “Was there something you wanted, Claudine?” Maddie tried to keep her voice polite.

  “Just wanted to let you know that some of your customers are mine, now.” Her eyes lit up with satisfaction.

  “I don’t think so, Claudine.” Suzanne finally spoke. “When our customers realize we’re open for lunch tomorrow, they won’t give you a second thought – or a second chance.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Claudine hmphed, and turned on her heel, stalking back to her café across the town square.

  “I’m sorry for our customers.” Suzanne shuddered.

  “I still can’t believe some people drink her coffee.” Maddie winced. “It’s truly horrible stuff.”

  “And even your awesome barista skills couldn’t save it.” Suzanne shook her head. “I honestly think that woman is deluded.”

  “Let’s not even talk about her.”

  They had a few more customers that afternoon, but just after three o’clock they considered closing up a little early.

  “I can make some health balls now so we’ll have plenty for tomorrow.” Suzanne grabbed her phone. “I’ll just write a list for the grocery store.” She checked her watch. “And we’ll even be finished by four.”

  “Hello, Maddie and Suzanne.” An attractive male voice with a faint Spanish accent.

  “Ramon,” Maddie and Suzanne murmured to each other.

  “Hi Ramon.” Suzanne bounced to the counter, her ponytail swishing.

  “Hello, Suzanne.” Ramon’s eyes crinkled at the corners. He was in his early forties, and had charcoal hair and liquid brown eyes.

  “Hi, Ramon.” Maddie hopped off her stool.

  “How was your first catering job?” he asked, an interested expression on his handsome face.

  “You haven’t heard?” Suzanne suddenly looked troubled.

  “No.” He looked at her in inquiry. “Tell me, Suzanne. What is wrong?”

  Ramon was a talented masseuse, with his own salon in the corner of the town square. Suzanne raved about his massages, and the two of them were flirtatious with each other at times, but now, he looked concerned.

  When Suzanne just shook her head, Maddie quietly told Ramon everything that had happened so far.

  “I didn’t do it, Ramon.” Suzanne looked like she was about to cry. She hardly ever cried.

  “Of course you did not,” he told her. “No one who met you could ever think you are a killer.”

  “Really?” Suzanne asked hopefully.

  “Really,” he confirmed, giving her a smile that in other circumstances Maddie suspected would make her friend swoon. It nearly made her swoon, and she was madly crushing on Luke!

  “Detective Edgewater is investigating the case,” Maddie told Ramon.

  “That is good. He seems to be a fair man.”

  “Yes.”

  “And we’re going to get to the bottom of this, aren’t we, Mads?” Suzanne turned to her, her gloom seeming to have disappeared.

  “I do not think that is a good idea, Suzanne,” Ramon warned. “You should listen to Detective Edgewater. I am sure he did not say you and Maddie should go and investigate. Did he?”

  “Well … ” Suzanne looked like she didn’t want to lie to Ramon.

  “I do not want anything to happen to you. Or to you, Maddie.” Ramon looked around. “Where is Trixie? I do not see her.”

  “She’s at home,” Maddie replied.

  “And I do not want anything to happen to Trixie, either. You girls must be careful. Perhaps you should not see your friend Jill until the killer is caught.”

  Ramon ordered an espresso, and after urging them again not to investigate, walked across the square back to his salon.

  “Well, pooh.” Suzanne flumped down on her stool. “Doesn’t Ramon know we’ve helped catch three murderers in the past year?”

  “I guess he’s only thinking of our safety,” Maddie pointed out.

  “I just don’t want him to think I had anything to do with it.” Suzanne’s shoulders sagged.

  “He said he didn’t think you did. And you believed him, didn’t you?” Maddie asked.

  “Y-e-s,” Suzanne said slowly. “But Mads, what if we don’t investigate and the killer gets away with it? What if people will think I’m still a suspect?”

  “Anyone who knows you won’t think that,” Maddie said stoutly. “I know you had nothing to do with it.”

  “But not everyone’s like you, Mads.” Suzanne sighed. “We’ve been BFFs since middle school. But I’m not best friends with the whole town. Mud sticks.”

  “Then we better start sleuthing,” Maddie said, attempting to cheer her up. “We can visit another suspect on our list tomorrow morning.”

  Suzanne’s face lit up. “And tonight I’ll come over to your house and we’ll see what the full moon reveals to us.”

  ***

  Before Suzanne arrived that evening, Maddie’s phone rang. It was Luke.

  Luckily, she was in the living room so she was able to sink down on the sofa, the same one occupied by Trixie and Wytchcraft for the Chosen.

  “Mrrow,” Trixie sang into the phone, before laying her paw back on the cover of the ancient tome.

  “Trixie says hello,” Maddie said, trying to stifle a giggle.

  They chatted for a few minutes, Luke apologizing for not being able to get away from his workshop to visit her that day to check she was okay.

  After reassuring him she was fine, and Suzanne was due to come over, he told her he’d stop by the Brewed from the Bean first thing in the morning.

  Thirty minutes later, Suzanne arrived.

  “The moon is glowing, Mads.” She stood on the doorstep and pointed behind her.

  The heavy full moon was a lustrous gold.

  “Wow,” Maddie whispered. She hadn’t even thought to part the curtains in the living room to take a peek for herself.

  “Is Trixie on the sofa?” Suzanne asked as she followed Maddie down the hall.

  “Yep.” Maddie gestured to the smoky blue sofa in the living room, Trixie and Wytchcraft for the Chosen resplendent on the cushions.

  “Mrrow,” Trixie greeted Suzanne, her paw still on the ancient tome.

  “What spell do you think will be revealed to Maddie tonight, Trixie?” Suzanne asked, sitting next to the Persian.

  “Mrrow,” Trixie said primly, although her turquoise eyes gleamed with intelligence.

  “I think that means we’ll have to wait and see,” Maddie interpreted with a laugh.

  “As long as we don’t have to wait too long.” Suzanne looked excited.

  Maddie was pleased her friend seemed to be back to her old self. Detective Edgewater had warned them not to interfere with the investigation, but she hated seeing Suzanne look so defeated – it just wasn’t her. As long as they were careful, surely they wouldn’t be in danger – would they?

  With three spells under Maddie’s belt, as well as the Coffee Vision spell, and Trixie, surely that would be enough to keep them safe?

  “That reminds me,” Maddie said, sitting on Suzanne’s other side, the book and Trixie between them. “I should cast a Coffee Vision spell tomorrow before we close up the truck and visit the next suspect on our list. See if it can give us any in
sight to what will happen.”

  “Good idea,” Suzanne replied.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie gently patted the cover of Wytchcraft for the Chosen.

  “I think Trixie wants to get started.”

  “Which spell will we find tonight, Trix?” Suzanne asked, her eyes shining.

  Sometimes Maddie thought Suzanne should be the witch instead of her. She was certainly enthusiastic about Maddie’s newly found powers. But Maddie knew if she somehow lost her witchy ability, she would be bereft.

  “Mrrow.” Trixie patted the ancient book again.

  “Open the book, Mads.” Suzanne giggled.

  Maddie did so, smiling at both Trixie and Suzanne. She slowly turned each page, the fly-spotted pages revealing spells she’d seen for the last twenty years but wasn’t able to cast yet, and other spells she couldn’t remember seeing before. Once again, she wondered if some of the spells appeared or disappeared with each full moon – unless she was imagining it – or didn’t remember that she had a bad memory.

  “You know how to do this spell,” Suzanne observed as they reached the Escape Your Enemy spell.

  “Mrrow,” Trixie said importantly, then urged Maddie to turn the page once more.

  “Are any spells jumping out at you? Not literally.” Suzanne giggled.

  “No.” Maddie shook her head. Ever since she turned twenty-seven, on the night of each full moon, one spell in particular would grab her attention and somehow she knew deep inside that she would be able to cast that particular spell.

  But so far tonight, none of the spells she’d studied had felt different.

  Until now.

  Maddie’s hand paused on the next page.

  An Enchantment for Seeing Clearly

  “If you think you know what something is, recite the words below and your belief to see if you’re correct.”

  “This one.” Maddie stroked the page with her finger.

  “Maybe it will help us catch the killer!” Suzanne peered over Trixie’s shoulder, scanning the words.

  “You could be right.” Maddie reached for the notepad and pen she’d put on the coffee table earlier. From experience she knew it helped if she made her own copy of the spell. Besides, if she needed to use this spell in a hurry, she mightn’t have time to rush home and grab Wytchcraft for the Chosen.