The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7

by Olivia Swift

  “It will be sold as a commercial property,” Sam added. “If Declan and I go as building partners to see what they say, would you all be happy with that? We already have a working partnership and the facility to make changes to the building. We would have to make sure that the city rules and regulations would let us make a change of use.”

  “You are both used to planning rules and stuff. That would make sense,” Mikey added.

  “As the publicity person, we have Bart,” Rula said. “That’s very useful.”

  “Talking of which,” the publicity man said, “I have a story.” He flicked his cell phone on and sent a message to all of them. There was a period of silence while everyone looked at screens and read the reports that he had found in the archives. Magda looked up.

  “It’s quite sad.”

  “Poor souls. They must never have found out what happened,” Rula added.

  “The Hoffstander family must have known your great grandparents, Magda. They were in the house at around the same time,” Sam remarked. “They were obviously an important family in the town.”

  “Then the father just went out one day and never came back,” Katie looked up from her tablet. “I suppose they thought he had met with an accident or somebody had attacked him.”

  “If you read the later reports, the family had to sell the house and find somewhere smaller. That was when it stopped being a home and became a bank.”

  “So, it has been a bank for a very long time,” Declan observed.

  Magda wondered if there were still descendants of the family in the area and if they had ever found out what happened to him. Sam smiled at her.

  “I feel some research in the future.”

  “So, Sam and Declan try to find out what the price is, Katie and Declan are management, Bart is publicity and the rest of us are the workers,” Magda grinned. She lifted a coffee mug. “To our next venture.” The others toasted the new prospect as well and they agreed to try and find out how much they could raise between them.

  “That might take some time, but I think Declan and I should go and make sure they know we are interested. If it all falls through, there is nothing lost but we might get in at the beginning,” Sam told them.

  “We can call them in the morning,” Declan added, “and take an hour off from the work to go and talk to them.”

  They closed up the café and looked at the outside of the bank on the way out. The windows had iron bars. They were decorative but iron bars just the same.

  “Need an angle grinder to clear the windows,” Declan observed. “Don’t want visitors to think they are being locked in.” They all stood back and looked at the front of the building. It went sideways quite extensively and there was a first floor and above that an attic with dormer windows. All of the windows were on the front of the building and nothing on the wall in the courtyard or the alleyway.

  “It’s wide, rather than deep,” Katie observed. “There must have been another door somewhere. The servants would not use the front entrance.”

  “And is there a cellar?” Sam added. “The bank had a vault somewhere. Maybe the other entrance led into the cellar originally.”

  “Sometime, we will get in to have a proper look,” Magda said as she opened her car door. They waved to each other and roared away in different directions.

  When Magda arrived home, she noticed that Crystal had the magazine on the floor and opened at the same page about family ancestry that she had done before.

  “Little minx,” Magda said and picked it up again. Sam followed her in with pizza he had picked up on the way home.

  3

  When she put her tablet to one side, she found Sam was scrolling through figures on his. He had brought up the bank account he used for business and was finding out how much he could contribute. Magda took her cue from him and did the same. They sat back, satisfied that they could offer a reasonable amount.

  “I would like to know before we go to the real estate people if it’s actually possible. Declan and I have a lot of work, so we are a good risk.”

  There was a bang and they both jumped up. Crystal was in the kitchen and had jumped onto the curio cabinet and knocked a picture frame onto the floor.

  “She’s done it again,” Magda said as she picked it up. “It’s a family photo.”

  “Of course, we are going to Ireland to convert the family cottage,” Sam reasoned. “Could be just that and nothing more.”

  “Mmm,” Magda replied and picked up Crystal. “Let’s find some treats.”

  “If we get to know before we go to Ireland whether or not we can buy the place, we can make proper plans.”

  “Hoffstander,” Magda mused and flicked on the tablet.

  Sam decided that he would watch some sports on the television, stretched out his long legs on the sofa and left her to the research. It was a good half an hour later when she looked up from the screen and rubbed her eyes.

  “Find anything?” Sam asked.

  “Well, the next report after the one Bart gave us was following up on the disappearance. The man was supposed to be visiting a friend at the other end of Main Street but the friend, Mr. Jetson, was the one who raised the alarm because he arrived at the house to see where Mr. Hoffstander was. Somewhere between one end of the main street and the other, the man disappeared.”

  “I suppose they suspected foul play,” Sam said.

  “But nothing was discovered. They had lots of townsfolk scouring the area in case he had an accident. The man just disappeared. There was a lot of sympathy for his wife and daughter, but nothing ever came to light.”

  “Does it say when they left the house?” Sam queried.

  “I am just about to look at the next census. The newspapers made no mention of it.” She went back to the screen and Sam closed his eyes and let her get on with it. The two Birman cats came and sat on his chest, curled up and made themselves comfortable. Pushkin, the black and white male kitten pushed his way onto Magda’s knee as she read through the information on the screen. Magda absentmindedly stroked him with her free hand as he purred loudly. Suddenly, he moved and her hand jerked on the screen.

  “Oh, no, Pushkin. I’ve lost my place now.” She started to scroll back and then stopped short. “Wait a second. Don’t say that you are turning into another Crystal,” she exclaimed.

  Sam opened one eye.

  “Pushkin pushed my arm and I spotted the name on the census. Bella Hoffstander must have married. She was the daughter and she and her husband were still at the bank address. That was a year afterward.”

  “What was her married name?” Sam asked.

  “Bella Makerstone. He was Jonah Makerstone,” she drew in a breath. “No mention of the mother. I’ll ask Bart to bring up the archives for the date leading up to the census.”

  “Give it up for the night and come and move these cats.”

  Magda laughed and slid onto the sofa alongside her husband. The cats grudgingly moved to one side and Sam rubbed his chest. “Those little paws are surprisingly strong.”

  Magda snuggled against him and remarked that they were empire building again.

  “Strange how these things pop up. I only ever wanted my chocolate café.”

  “And me,” Sam added. She kissed his cheek.

  “You would never have believed that once upon a time,” she answered. “And I know you haven’t forgotten that I turned you down when I was fifteen.”

  He grinned. “Worth the wait.”

  “Anyway, the café was possible through Auntie leaving me the stable.” She kissed his nose. “And my wonderful builder. Then we extended the café and your aunt offered us the chance to have the cottage in Ireland. Now there is the possibility to be in partnership in another venture.”

  “One day, we might be rich,” Sam answered. He laughed. “But in the meantime, it will have to be business loans and hard work.” He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “Tomorrow, I might know more from the real estate people.”

  T
hey found the bedtime treats for the cats and turned out the lights.

  The morning was one of those when they both wanted to find out about the chances of buying the bank. Everyone else must have felt the same because they were in the café early and bustling about with an air of expectancy.

  Merle and Branston arrived for an early coffee and to find out any news. Merle had peered through the bank windows on the way in and was quite excited to hear the latest bits of story that Magda had unearthed. Then Bart slid onto his normal stool and looked like a cat with the cream.

  “Well?” Magda asked as she handed over a coffee.

  “It took a little while for Mrs. Hoffstander to find out that there was no money in the bank at all. The daughter was married.”

  “Very stressful,” Rula observed.

  “Poor soul,” Katie added as she worked at the chocolate vat.

  “I guess people maybe thought he had taken his own life if the money was gone,” Bart suggested, “but the daughter and her husband sold the house to make a new start.”

  “But there was never a body found,” Magda added. “It would be good to see inside. I was inside once or twice when we agreed to the use of the alleyway. I never really noticed the building.”

  When Declan and Sam came in for lunch, they were smartly dressed, had smiles on their faces and kept everyone waiting to hear what was said.

  “Sandwiches?” Sam asked. Magda put her hands on her hips.

  “Not a chance.”

  He gave in and said the real estate man would meet them outside at the end of the afternoon.

  “They were very positive,” Declan added. “They liked the ideas for the change of use and thought the planners would pass that.”

  “Still a long way to go but if we can get it agreed in general before we go to Ireland, it would feel about right. What about price?” Magda asked and he named a figure that was high.

  “It’s a commercial property in a prime spot,” Declan added when they asked if that was too much to pay. Rula said she would go and get Mikey and when the two of them came back, they talked about the price.

  “It has to be even,” Declan said, “so that we are all equal shareholders.”

  “I think we could do it at that price,” Sam calculated. He named what that would cost them each plus the real estate fees. “And they might come down if we make a slightly lower offer.”

  “Dad guessed the price at about that,” Katie said. “He would be happy to help me with funds. He is used to working with you guys.”

  “The man who is allergic to cats,” Magda laughed. “Remember when we first saw the ghost cat and he couldn’t see it.”

  “Haven’t seen the ghostly Pushkin for some time,” Rula added. “He might appear if we do a séance in the bank. I guess the building was here when this place was the stables.”

  “Do you think it would be too many people if Merle and Branston came to look at it as well?” Magda asked.

  “Nine people … but it is a big place,” Sam said. “I texted Bart and he’ll be here later.”

  “Oooh, exciting!” Magda did a little happy dance.

  “Sandwiches?” Declan asked and Rula went to make them.

  By the end of the afternoon the group had gathered at the wrought iron entrance gate as the real estate agent parked his car and came to shake hands. He drew out a huge bunch of keys.

  “We don’t typically have this many keys for a building, but as it was a bank. I suppose it was normal for them.”

  “You know,” Declan remarked. “Those double doors would renovate to match the ones in the café.” They stepped inside. The counters were still in place, the booths for writing at the side and the electronic machines to indicate the next customer. There were desks and chairs where customers could talk to staff and as the agent threw open the doors, it led to smaller rooms for private discussions.

  The room was large. Declan remarked that if you took the smaller rooms away and the booths, the space would be sizeable. Just for his own curiosity, he whipped out a metal tape measure and worked out the dimensions.

  They followed the man into the second of the ground floor rooms which was also large. The manager’s office was off of this room and there was a staircase going down. At the other side of the room was a staircase going upwards.

  They went downstairs first and encountered a large storage area with shelving around the walls and an enormous walk-in vault that was standing wide open and empty. The safety deposit boxes were all standing open and empty as well.

  “Was there ever a doorway from this area? I guess there were servants when it was a house,” Magda asked.

  The man walked around the vault and pointed. There was the definite outline of a doorway that had been built up and secured but the outline was still there.

  “That must come out into the courtyard, but I have never seen an outline in the brickwork on the outside,” Rula said.

  “For security reasons, it was apparently all refaced by the bank a long time ago. It would be below ground level and the steps down would be filled in.” Merle went over and placed her hand on the wall where the door had been. Magda raised an eyebrow and received a nod and a smile in return.

  Upstairs had been used as storage for many years although you could see that it once must have been bedrooms. There were four rooms and a small staircase up to what would have been servant’s quarters. There was the addition of a modern set of toilets and washing facilities which must have been installed for staff.

  “So, the plumbing and electrics must all be up to date. It was a running business,” Sam observed.

  “Those bedrooms could be hired out as private meeting rooms,” Branston suggested. The others said it was a good idea and the man let them wander about and explore the place.

  The builders tapped on walls and Sam looked at the beams in the attic rooms.

  “Maybe originals,” he said. They thanked the agent and he said if they had any questions just to give him a call. They watched him drive away and without a word to each other all moved back to the alleyway. Magda opened up and they hurried to the courtyard to see where the doorway would have been. Merle headed straight for the far end of the courtyard and put her hand on the wall.

  “Steps and entrance would have been down here. I suppose it was probably the kitchen, but the old stoves would have been taken out when the vault was installed.”

  Sam looked at Declan.

  “Mini digger along that alleyway?” His friend and partner still had the tape measure in hand, ran it across the alleyway and nodded.

  “The work is straightforward on the extension. I could fancy digging this out,” Declan grinned like a schoolboy and Sam high fived him.

  “Wow,” Magda said. “With what you dig out, can it be artistically arranged as a set of hills for the railway to trundle past?”

  4

  “What did you feel, Merle,” Katie asked.

  “There is definitely something to investigate there. I think probably a man but not sure at just a short connection.”

  “We could do a séance in the courtyard,” Magda suggested and looked around. They all nodded and grinned like a crowd of schoolchildren sneaking out of lessons. It was an excuse to do what they enjoyed.

  “The man seemed to think it could be used as another business but there is a lot of work in there,” Mikey observed.

  “The plumbing and electrics will be up to date. That is always a relief,” Sam answered.

  “The small rooms would be easy to remove,” Declan added and Katie asked if the doorway through to the second large room could be a big archway even if the wall had to stay. They all looked at her.

  “I just thought about things like fashion shows or people doing demonstrations. They could use the second room as preparation and come through a sort of curtain or something.”

  “If there were folding doors, it could be used for two things at once,” Magda added.

  “We could brainstorm all of those ideas and
see what else you could come up with,” Branston told them.

  “Sounds good,” Magda said.

  “And a séance tomorrow evening,” Merle joined in. “It’s still chilly outside but we can wrap up.”

  “And retire to the café for hot chocolate afterward,” Mikey said. “In a few weeks, we might own the whole block.”

  They went their separate ways and Sam said that he would detour to the yard and see if the digger started. Magda followed him and waited as he fiddled with it in the big shed. After a few false starts, it rumbled into life and he jerked about in it in the shed. Then closed it down.

  “Good to go whenever we need it,” he said.

  They went home to find Crystal waiting beside the food bowl swishing her tail.

  “When she’s after her dinner at least she isn’t making any predictions,” Magda said and found their favorite pouches of food. The four cats all came to eat and went through their usual funny routine. Magda could not help but watch as the four of them ate from one bowl and then all moved on to the second, third and fourth.

  In the meantime, Sam had gone into their home addition and called out to Magda. He pointed to a broken vase on the floor.

  “Oh, dear. She must have been really angry that her dinner was late.” Magda went for a brush and dustpan and Sam picked up one of the pieces of broken china. It had a word on it. He held it out to Magda.

  “Digging.” Magda took the piece from him and looked at it. “It said ‘when you are in a hole, stop digging’.”

  “How does she do it?” Sam queried. They had both asked that question a hundred times. There was no answer as usual, but Magda did suggest that there definitely was something to find out about the bank building. She texted Merle to let her know what the cat had done.

  The cats settled after their food was gone. Magda flicked on the tablet.

  “I wonder if there are any of the family still in the area?” There were still families with that name in town but whether they were related or not she could not discern.