by Jinty James
“Fancy seeing you here,” Suzanne said brightly. “We were just talking about you with Jill, weren’t we, Maddie?”
“Trixie had a playdate with Boyd.” Maddie felt a little guilty at the half-truth. If they hadn’t updated Jill on the investigation Trixie wouldn’t have spent time with Boyd today.
“That sounds cute.” Genevieve smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Jill told us about your client who wouldn’t pay up,” Suzanne charged on. “That wouldn’t have been Vanessa would it?”
Maddie nudged Suzanne in the ribs, knowing she was too late.
Genevieve frowned, as if debating whether to be truthful, then her shoulders sagged.
“Yes,” she admitted.
“Why did you tell us you didn’t know her?” Suzanne asked, her tone a little softer. Perhaps Maddie’s rib nudge had worked.
“Because … because I was embarrassed,” Genevieve confessed. She tapped a garden fork against the toe of her boots. “I didn’t want you girls to think I had anything to do with Vanessa’s death.”
“What happened?” Maddie asked gently.
“Mrrow?” Trixie tilted her head to the side as she stared up at Genevieve.
“You’re a cutie, do you know that?” Genevieve smiled down at Trixie. She seemed to gather herself. “I got the biggest shock of my life when I saw Vanessa at the party. I couldn’t believe Bob had invited her – but then I told myself Bob didn’t know about the problem I was having with her.”
“Go on,” Maddie encouraged.
“I wondered what Vanessa would say when she saw me, or when I took her order for coffee, but she acted like she didn’t even recognize me.” She laughed bitterly. “And you know, I don’t think she did! I wasn’t wearing my gardening clothes—” she gestured to her overalls “—and I didn’t have my equipment with me, so I don’t think she placed me in the context of being a guest at a party. That really irked me.”
“I’ll bet,” Suzanne commented.
“That doesn’t mean I killed her,” Genevieve protested. “I thought, two can play at this game, and I pretended I didn’t recognize her, either.”
“Why wouldn’t she pay you for your landscaping services?” Maddie asked.
“I wish I knew.” Genevieve shook her head as if she was mystified. “I designed her a beautiful garden, front and back, did the gardening work myself, and when it was finished, she said she didn’t like it and she wasn’t going to pay me.”
“Wow,” Maddie said softly.
“Here.” Genevieve dug out a phone from her back pocket. “I take photos of all the garden work I do, before and after shots, just in case something like this happens. But I certainly didn’t expect her to stiff me like that.”
Genevieve held out her phone to them. The before photo show a patchy front lawn with plenty of weeds. The after photo showed a manicured green lawn with drifts of pastel colored flowers edging it, and an elegant rosebush sporting old-fashioned pink blooms.
“That’s gorgeous,” Suzanne murmured.
“Mrrow.” Trixie stood on her hind legs so she could see. Genevieve obliged by bending down and showing Trixie the screen.
“And here’s the backyard.” Genevieve touched the screen and held it out to them. The before photo showed more patchy lawn and some half-dead bushes. The after photo showed a lush green lawn scattered with different types and colors of azaleas in full bloom.
“I can’t believe she wouldn’t pay you.” Maddie shook her head.
“I know.” Genevieve regretfully looked at the photos before putting the phone away. “I was mad about it, that’s for sure. I didn’t think another woman would betray me. Us girls have to stick together, you know?”
Maddie and Suzanne nodded.
“Jill said you were thinking of taking Vanessa to court,” Suzanne remarked.
“That’s right. I even got the papers I had to fill in from the courthouse and I meant to do it but I kept putting it off. An urgent job would crop up or I’d be too tired at the end of the day to even think about paperwork. But I was determined to fill in the forms before the time to file my claim ran out. But now …” Genevieve shook her head.
“Maybe you could make a claim against her estate,” Suzanne suggested.
“That’s an idea.” Genevieve looked more cheerful. “I’ll go down to the courthouse today and see if I can find out any information about that – it will save paying a lawyer to make the same inquiries. If I do need a lawyer to make a claim, I’ll definitely hire one then.”
“Don’t let her get away with it,” Suzanne advised. “Or her estate.”
“If you girls are investigating her death, then I want you to know I didn’t do it.” Genevieve looked at them squarely. “I know it looks like I’ve got a motive, but I couldn’t kill another living being – I don’t even kill spiders.”
They chatted for a couple of more minutes about what type of flowers would be good for next spring – Genevieve recommended daffodils and gerberas. Then they waved goodbye to Genevieve and hopped back in the truck.
“Wow.” Suzanne buckled her seatbelt. “We were right! Vanessa was her client who wouldn’t pay up.”
“I feel sorry for Genevieve,” Maddie said, as she started the engine. “She put a lot of work into that garden and it seems it was unappreciated.”
“I bet Vanessa did appreciate it,” Suzanne replied. “She just didn’t want to pay for it. I wish Genevieve had taken her to court and got her money.”
“Definitely.” Maddie nodded. “Let’s make a pact that if someone tries to rip us off, we’ll do something about it right away, not put it off.”
“Or we could try to solve the problem with magic,” Suzanne suggested mischievously.
“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.
“Oh, you two.” Maddie smiled, shaking her head.
“I’m starving,” Suzanne announced, looking at her watch as they drove into Estherville. “It’s noon now. Lucky we brought our lunch from home today.”
“If we don’t take too long eating, we can still catch most of our lunch customers.” Maddie parked the truck in their usual spot in the town square.
“Mrrow?” Trixie looked hopefully at Maddie.
“I brought some food for you, too, Trix.” Maddie pulled out two paper sacks from the fridge in the back of the truck and then reached into a small cupboard for a bag of dry cat food and two bowls. “And some water.”
“Mrrow.” Trixie started crunching, the noise audible in the confines of the truck.
As soon as Maddie and Suzanne finished their sandwiches, Suzanne opened the serving hatch. A couple of people in the square saw the motion and hurried over to the truck, placing an order for coffee – and health balls.
“Oh no.” Suzanne looked dismayed. “I haven’t made any more health balls, Mads.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Maddie replied, pouring an espresso shot. “We’ve been so busy with … you know.” She kept her voice down so their customers wouldn’t hear. She didn’t want to broadcast to the town that that they’d been busy sleuthing.
“I’ll make some this afternoon.” Suzanne brightened. “Two batches!”
As soon as the lunch rush was over, they both flopped on their stools. Trixie was already on hers, grooming herself.
“Investigating, and operating a coffee truck, sure makes a busy day.” Suzanne toed off her shoe.
“Tell me about it,” Maddie agreed.
“What should we do next, after I make those health balls?” Suzanne got out her phone.
“Go home?” Maddie suggested wryly.
“Good idea. We can go to your place and update our suspect list,” Suzanne said, typing out a shopping list for the treats she wanted to make.
“Did I hear you girls say suspect list?” Detective Edgewater appeared at the serving hatch.
Maddie and Suzanne looked at each with wide eyes.
“Did you?” Suzanne countered.
“I hope not,” he admonish
ed. “Leave the investigating to me – and the sheriff’s department.”
“How’s it going?” Maddie asked.
“It’s going,” he replied. “You know I can’t tell you any more than that.”
“Mrrow?” Trixie asked, pricking up her ears.
“I can’t even tell you, Trixie.” Detective Edgewater smiled.
“Would you like your usual, Detective?” Maddie asked.
“That would be nice, Maddie. Thank you.”
As Maddie made his vanilla cappuccino, Suzanne pointed sadly at the empty platter on the counter.
“I’m afraid we don’t have any health balls right now.”
“Never mind.” Detective Edgewater looked disappointed for a second. “It will help my wallet.” He patted the thin leather folder he’d pulled out of his pocket.
“Are you sure you can’t tell us any more, Detective Edgewater?” Suzanne asked as she took his money.
“No. Except personally, I don’t think you did it, Suzanne.” He looked around to see if there was anyone standing nearby but he was their only customer at the moment. “But don’t tell anyone I said that.”
“We won’t,” Maddie promised as she placed his drink on the counter.
“Thanks, Detective.” Suzanne smiled at him.
“Mrrow,” Trixie chirped.
After saying goodbye, Detective Edgewater walked across the square in the direction of the sheriff’s department.
“Well, pooh.” Suzanne turned to Maddie. “It was nice of him to believe in my innocence, but I don’t agree with him when he told us to stay out of it.”
“I understand how you feel,” Maddie said. “But maybe—”
“We can’t stop investigating now! We promised Jill we’d give her another update. You know how worried she’s been about this whole thing, Mads.”
“I know,” Maddie replied, her common-sense warring with her desire to help her friends – Suzanne and Jill. “But we haven’t really come up with anything, have we? Apart from—”
“Genevieve,” they chorused.
“Mrrow.”
Maddie wasn’t sure if Trixie thought Genevieve was the killer or if she was just agreeing with them. At times her familiar was very easy to read and at other times, she was very obscure.
The afternoon passed quickly, and before she knew it, she watched Suzanne put the second batch of apricot health balls in the fridge.
“We can sell these tomorrow during the morning rush,” Suzanne said. “And I’ve put some aside for us.” She winked at Maddie.
Maddie smiled as she started the ignition and drove slowly out of the town square. A couple of minutes later, they reached her house, Suzanne jumping out of the truck as soon as it was parked.
“Have you got the suspect list?” she asked Maddie.
“I think it’s in a kitchen drawer,” Maddie replied as she unlocked the front door.
“Mrrow,” Trixie said importantly, her silver plumy tail waving in the air as she led the way to the kitchen.
Trixie stood on her hind legs and patted one of the drawers.
“Thanks, Trix.” Maddie smiled as she opened the drawer and found the piece of paper.
“Mrrow?” Trixie now stood in front of the fridge, her tail vibrating.
“Want some chicken liver?” Maddie pulled out a bowl of freshly chopped offal and spooned some into Trixie’s bowl. “There you go.”
“Mrrow.” Trixie rubbed Maddie’s leg before sniffing the food and then starting to eat it.
“I’m dying of thirst.” Suzanne got out two glasses and filled them with water.
“Are you dying of hunger too?” Maddie teased. “I’ve got some cookies.”
“Now I am.” Suzanne grinned, helping herself to two chocolate chips. “Thanks.”
“Now that we’ve all got something to eat and drink, we can get started,” Maddie suggested, taking a bite of her cookie.
“Yes, boss.” Suzanne giggled.
“Here’s the suspect list.” Maddie handed it to her friend.
Trixie had finished eating and was now sitting on “her” chair at the table, watching both of them with interest.
“It can’t be Jill and Bob – can it?” Suzanne mumbled around a mouthful of cookie.
“I really don’t think it’s Jill,” Maddie said.
“Even though she still seems a bit upset about Vanessa having the hots for Bob?”
“Even though,” Maddie said with a nod.
“Mrrow.” Trixie sounded as if she agreed with Maddie.
“I know she’s Boyd’s mom, Trix,” Suzanne said to the cat. “And she’s our friend. But we do have to look at everyone carefully.”
“Broomf!” Trixie looked like she was pouting.
“Trixie doesn’t seem to think Jill did it,” Maddie said, petting her familiar.
“Okay.” Suzanne crossed out Jill’s name. “What about Bob? Ooh, I know, we haven’t spoken to Grandma Pat again, have we?”
“Maybe we should concentrate on one person at a time,” Maddie pointed out.
“Okay – Bob. He didn’t seem to realize Vanessa was making a play for him.” Suzanne tsked. “Honestly. Some men are hopeless!”
Maddie nodded, thinking at least her situation with Luke didn’t seem hopeless now – not after their kiss. She exchanged a glance with Trixie, whose turquoise eyes seemed to twinkle, as if she were thinking the very same thing.
“What motive would he have to kill her?” Maddie asked. “It sounds as if he’s got a good thing going with Jill – business wise and romantically. He would lose both if he was arrested for murder.”
“Good point.” Suzanne crossed out Bob’s name. “Plus if he was in jail, who would mow his grandmother’s lawn and change her light bulbs?”
“So now we’re up to Grandma Pat,” Maddie said.
“I think we should go and talk to her again,” Suzanne declared. “She seems a nice old lady, but what if she wants Bob all for herself?”
“Then why would she kill Vanessa?” Maddie queried. “She didn’t know Vanessa was after Bob romantically, did she?”
“We don’t even know if Vanessa was serious about Bob,” Suzanne remarked. “What if it was just a game to her? To see if she could make him interested in her? And then once she’s got him on her hook – BAM! She dumps him.”
“And quite probably ruins Jill’s business and personal relationship with him,” Maddie mused.
“Now that makes Jill look guilty.” Suzanne sighed.
“Who else do we have on our list?” Maddie peered over Suzanne’s shoulder.
“Genevieve.”
“I like Genevieve,” Maddie said.
“I know – me too. And I’m totally going to try her suggestion of daffodils and gerberas next spring,” Suzanne replied. “But she certainly had a motive to kill Vanessa.”
“We don’t even know how much money Vanessa owed her.” Maddie frowned. “Don’t you think it’s a bit odd she didn’t tell us that?”
“And we forgot to ask.” Suzanne groaned. “What if it was thousands? And, what if she actually ran out of time to file a claim to take Vanessa to court? I know that would make me mad.”
“Mad enough to kill?”
Suzanne looked like she was carefully considering her answer.
CHAPTER 11
“No,” Suzanne finally said.
“You had me worried there for a minute,” Maddie joked, knowing deep down that Suzanne could never take another person’s life.
“I think it’s got to be Genevieve – don’t you?” Suzanne asked. “She’s got an obvious motive – Vanessa owed her money. And the way she ordered Genevieve around – like she did to all of us – must have made Genevieve pretty steamed.”
“You’re right,” Maddie said thoughtfully. She didn’t like to think of Genevieve being the murderer, but she wanted the mystery solved so everyone would know that Suzanne was innocent.
“What do you think, Trix?” Maddie turned to her familiar.
Maddie and Suzanne trooped after the Persian. Wytchcraft for the Chosen lay on the sofa.
Trixie jumped up on the couch and patted the cover of the book.
“Okay.” Maddie sat next to the cat, while Suzanne sat on the other side of the book. “What do you want to show me?”
“Mrrow.” Trixie patted the book again and Maddie opened it.
She turned the pages slowly, waiting for another signal from Trixie. When she came to An Enchantment for Seeing Clearly, Trixie placed her paw on Maddie’s hand.
“Mrrow,” she said softly.
“It’s the spell you discovered the night of the full moon.” Suzanne’s voice was hushed.
“Do you want me to try it now, Trix?” Maddie asked.
“Mrrow!” Trixie patted Maddie’s hand again as if in approval.
“Okay.” Maddie read the words on the page. “According to this Enchantment for Seeing Clearly, it will help me see things as they really are. “If you think you know what something is, recite the words below and your belief to see if you’re correct.”
“Genevieve is the murderer!” Suzanne blurted.
“If I say these words, we might find out if she is or isn’t.” Maddie’s gaze locked with Suzanne’s. “Do we really want to find out?”
“Yes!” Suzanne’s ponytail swished violently.
“Okay.” Maddie drew in a deep breath. “Tell me in a thrice if I’m right: Genevieve killed Vanessa.”
There was a purple flash.
The whole room, including Trixie and Suzanne, seemed to still. Then a deep knowing filled Maddie.
“Genevieve isn’t the murderer.” Relief colored her voice.
“She isn’t?” Suzanne looked pleased, then her mouth drooped. “Are you sure?” She peered at Maddie.
“Yes, I’m sure.” When Suzanne continued to look at her intently, she continued, “It’s like the Tell the Truth spell. Somehow, I just know, deep inside. Genevieve didn’t do it.”
“At least I don’t have to feel bad for liking her,” Suzanne said. “But if she didn’t do it, who did?”
