Petunia wanted to say that she hadn’t done anything to get on the bad side of anyone—not intentionally, anyway. She strolled over to the sheriff and asked sweetly, “What have I done now?”
“I received a complaint that there was a disturbance here. Why are you here when you didn’t even know Helen, from what you told me? Or was that an incorrect statement?”
“No, it wasn’t, but I did find the woman’s body, you know, and she was my neighbor. It’s very unnerving to know a killer might live amongst us here in Lake Forest. I wanted to show my respects.”
“Since you’re suspect numero uno, I think it’s in poor form for to have shown up here.” He frowned.
“For your information, Helen is not who you think she was. Her mother claimed she was in town to possibly con my Aunt Maxine out of money, claiming she was related to us.”
“And you never heard about this before today?”
“No,” Petunia said.
“Which still makes you look suspect. One might presume to think that you found out about Helen’s plot and killed Helen to protect your aunt.”
Petunia gasped now. No matter what she said, the sheriff was at the ready to twist it out of proportion, but before she had the chance to say anything, Noah said, “You’re forgetting one thing, Sheriff.”
“And what’s that, Noah?”
“You need to base your case on facts, not presumptions, hearsay, or even rumors. The facts of the case haven’t been determined quite yet. Petunia was at home the night Helen was murdered.”
Petunia gave Noah a look that meant, “How on earth do you know that?”’
“I watched you go outside at about eight o’clock, looking for one of your cats. I didn’t know at the time that it had gotten into my house until the next day.”
“I was so worried, too. If Pansy went over to Helen’s house, she might call animal control, again.”
“So what problems didn’t you have with your neighbors, Petunia?” Sheriff Pinkerton asked, taking out his notebook and jotting down a few notes. “And did you window-peep on Petunia for the entire night?” Pinkerton asked with raised brow.
“No, I suppose not, but you could use that for a timeline, when the coroner is able to determine the time of death.”
“I will, but are you trying to cover for the lady?”
“No, I just moved here and before I went to Petunia’s house that day, I’d never even met her.”
“Oh, yes, the cat. I’ll certainly check out your claims, but I hope you’re not planning to put your freedom on the line for a pretty face.”
Noah shook his head. “Is that all, or is there something else you’d like to ask?”
“Not for now, but stay away from Helen’s funeral, Petunia. I’m sure that you’ve already made quite the nuisance of yourself already.”
“That’s a matter of opinion, sheriff,” Petunia said as she whirled away, outdistancing Noah back to the car.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“It’s hopeless,” Petunia said as Noah drove.
“Don’t let it bother you.”
“Easy for you to say. Nobody’s calling you a murderer.” Petunia frowned. “And were you actually spying on me?”
“No, of course not. What do you take me for, some kind of weirdo?”
No, Noah certainly wasn’t a weirdo. He’d proved thus far that he was in her corner in so many ways. In blind faith, he was investigating Helen’s death alongside her, and that meant everything to Petunia. Especially since very few individuals believed her innocent, or at least that’s what she thought.
“Can we drop over at Lucy Winters’s place. I’ve been worried about how she’s been getting on lately.”
“That senior citizen that went from barely able to move to signing up for a marathon run in town?”
Petunia gulped. “Actually, yes.” She vowed not to say anything further. However would Petunia explain about her healing salve and how it was the only thing she had ever whipped up that didn’t fail?
She was thinking about Aunt Maxine and she needed to speak to her more than ever now, when she was away from her merry band of witch-like friends, Wanda and Hazel. Was Aunt Maxine really a witch, and how did Petunia fit into the scheme of things since she seemed to be the only one who people ever called a witch? No, Petunia just didn’t believe that she was a witch. All she had ever done was whip up potions, and yet, one did turn a man into a cat and the other changed a woman crippled by arthritis into an able-bodied senior citizen. Petunia needed answers, and quick, before someone killed again by way of knitting needles, further implicating Petunia. Thus far, all of the victims had a direct link to her.
Noah pulled up to Lucy’s house and she was visible through the big picture window, doing jumping jacks. Petunia sighed. It was apparent that the salve hadn’t worn off quite yet and Petunia did worry about what would happen when it did. She’d hate for Lucy to be in such crippling pain again, but if she kept on, who knew what would happen?
Noah and Petunia exited the car and made way for the door, knocking. When she didn’t answer, Petunia cupped her hands on the window, glancing in, waving at Lucy when she looked her way.
Lucy opened the door, a hand pressed to her chest. “You about gave me a heart attack, girl.”
“Sorry. I wanted to come over and see how you’re doing.”
Indicating Noah, Lucy asked, “Who’s this handsome man? New boyfriend, I hope.”
“N-No,” Petunia said.
“She has such horrible luck with men, you know.”
“So I’ve heard. I just hope I don’t end up on the missing list next,” Noah said with a wink.
Petunia gave him a look. “That’s not funny, Noah.”
“Can we come in?” Noah asked. “It’s hot out here today.”
“It sure is. Come on inside, youngsters.”
Petunia was quite sure that Lucy would view them as youngsters since she was over the age of eighty and many people that age thought of anyone under the age of forty that way.
“So what brings you by?”
Petunia’s eyes now grew wide. “Noah, could you wait outside for me. I’d like to speak to Lucy, privately.”
Noah gave her quite the stare now as he asked, “Why?”
Lucy nodded. “We wouldn’t want to bore you and this is women’s business.”
Noah didn’t respond for a moment, just kept looking from Petunia to Lucy and back again. With a sigh and a suspicious look, he said, “Fine, but get a move on. We have a few more places I’d like to go today, unless you’d rather wait until the sheriff actually arrests you?”
“Of course not. I meant to come here before I was hauled down to the sheriff’s department this morning and you wouldn’t even have been with me then.”
“Very well,” Noah said, going out the front door.
Petunia watched Noah from the window until he was back in his car. Only then did Petunia say, “Thanks, Lucy.”
“I could tell by the look in your eyes that you didn’t want the man to know that you gave me a healing salve.”
“Thanks, but you’re really not helping my cause here, Lucy. You need to tone it down a little. What if people figure out I gave you a salve that has restored you medically?”
“Oh, I know. That snoopy Cora was over this morning asking me all kinds of questions. It seems like she thinks you were behind my miraculous recovery. Even my doctor asked me what happened, but I didn’t tell him, either. I don’t think he’d have believed me anyway. It seems that salve didn’t only help me with my arthritis, but my ticker. ” Lucy dabbed at her eyes with her shirt, and said, “Thank you, Petunia. You have no idea how much pain I was in. It was all I could do to even make it through the day. You are right, though, about something. I should tone it down. It’s bringing me attention that I just don’t want. The girls at bingo keep asking me what happened and when I told them it was just an herbal tea, they asked me where I bought it and I didn’t know what to say. If I told them that you were th
e one who gave it to me, everyone in town would be bugging you to make them up a batch. I personally feel that I’m the only magically enhanced senior citizen that Lake Forest can handle.”
“I’d agree with that. So where did you tell them you got this tea?”
“That I bought herbal tea from your aunt’s shop, Mystical Remedies. I told them that this morning, so your aunt is going to be mighty busy today.”
“I’m curious, what did you tell Cora?”
“I wasn’t sure what to say, just that I was on new medication. I know how much of a pain in the ass that woman can be at times, especially you since she’s started a petition to have you evicted from the neighborhood.”
“What? She can’t do that. I own my house and Lake Forest isn’t like that.”
“I know that and you know that, but crazy ole Cora is off her rocker, you know. She’s gotten quite the list of signatures, though.”
Petunia just shook her head sadly. “There are that many people who don’t like me here in the neighborhood?”
“Well, most of them think that you’re a witch and people in town can be mighty judgmental at times, like believing those rumors about you being a murderer.” Lucy gave Petunia a hug, and whispered, “I don’t care if you’re a witch. You’re the nicest witch that I ever met.”
Petunia pulled away and said, “But I’m not a-a witch. Why won’t anyone believe me?”
“It’s in your blood, dear. It has to be, otherwise how would you explain that magical salve?”
“How should I know? All I did was modify a recipe that I found in my aunt’s po- er, cookbook.” Gee, Petunia almost said potion book and that would not be good. Then they’d think she really was a witch.”
“I can’t explain what happened, but thank you for not saying anything to anyone about the salve. I’m worried about it wearing off, though.”
“Well, if it does, you’ll simply have to whip up another batch for me.”
“I already told you that I don’t think that I can.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, dear. Now run along with your handsome future boyfriend.”
“He’s not my boyfriend. He’s only helping to clear my name.”
“And how many men just help out a woman they barely know?”
“How do you know I don’t know him that well?”
“I know he just moved in next door to you. This is a small town, remember. I daresay that hardly anything happens in town that people don’t know about. It can be a problem, at times, but this is the safest town in northern Michigan.”
“Was before the Knitting Needle Killer started a rampage, you mean.”
“True, but you’d better clear your name before it’s too late and you’re railroaded for the crimes.”
Petunia made way for the door and as she opened it, she said. “And you promise me that you won’t take part in the marathon in town?”
“But, Petunia—”
“You said you’d be low key.”
Lucy looked down now and shook her head sadly. When she glanced back up, she said, “Fine, Petunia. I promise.”
Petunia left, but she could have sworn that Lucy had her fingers crossed when she’d promised, but she had more important things to attend to, now.
When she got into the car and glanced over at Noah, he asked with concern, “What happened?”
“It seems that Cora is really on a tirade and we’re heading over there. I’d like to ask her a few questions.”
“Good, I’d like to ask her a few questions, too. Like why she told you a car matching the description of mine was seen over at Helen’s the day before she was murdered.”
Noah drove thru the drive-thru at A&W and ordered two Coney dogs and root beers. As they sat in the parking lot and gobbled their food down, Petunia thought about how long it would truly be before she was indeed under arrest. No, she simply couldn’t think about that.
Noah hopped out to get rid of the trash just as Aunt Maxine called.
“Petunia, I need you to get over to Mystical Remedies, right away.”
Noah was back in the car and Petunia held up a finger to signal to him that she had an important call. “I need to speak to you when you’re alone.”
“Won’t happen anytime soon. I’m swamped here. There was a line around the block waiting to get in. It seems that Lucy told everyone who’d listen at bingo this morning that her improved health was due to an herbal tea that she bought at my shop.”
Petunia put a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh and then said, “Oh, Lucy did mention that. How are you handling it?”
“We’re throwing together every combination of tea imaginable just to appease them, but I’m worried what will happen when they discover the tea won’t help them.”
“I guess that’s a problem for another day, but it’s not like you’ve been deceptive. Or have you?”
“No, I tried to tell everyone that herbal tea only works some of the time, but they won’t listen. I just didn’t know what else to say. When things slow down, we’re going to have a little talk, Petunia. So are you coming down here to help or what?”
“I wish I could, but Noah and I need to check out a few leads.”
“Very well, but this is your doing, young lady, and you really need to tell me what potion you made for Lucy so we can hide it somewhere nobody will ever find it again. You just can’t play God with people’s lives.”
Her aunt hung up and Petunia smiled. “She’s busy at the shop, but I explained to her that we needed—”
“I heard that part, but—”
“She’s just very busy is all.”
“And that’s it, then?”
“Yes, that’s about the size of it.”
Noah drove off in the direction of Cora’s house and Petunia, for one, was happy that Noah let this one drop, for now. In no way would he not grill her later. What was it about this man? It was like he could see right through her, but she really hoped that he couldn’t. She didn’t want him to know she actually made potions that sometimes actually worked. Sure, he already knew that many people in town believe she was a witch, but at this point, Petunia hoped that he just thought those stories had no merit. It’s not like the regular, run-of-the-mill person actually believed that witches were real.
Cora happened to be outside when they pulled up and got out. She was carrying paper grocery bags since Cora insisted upon them at Norm’s Meat Market.
Petunia smiled kindly, one of the worst faked smiles of her life. “Hello there, Cora. I was hoping we could chat about Helen’s death.”
She eyed Noah suspiciously, and said, “I had no idea you and your new neighbor were that close. Are you dating?”
“No. I’ve asked, but Petunia said no.”
Petunia fumed. “You’ve dropped a rock on your head, mister,” Petunia whispered.
“Come in, then,” Cora said. “If you keep standing out here, people will see you over at my place. I can’t have people spreading rumors.”
Oh, no. That was Cora’s job.
Petunia and Noah waited just inside the door as Cora went into the kitchen, presumably to put her groceries away. As she glanced around, the interior was ‘70s green with an ugly, wood-framed sofa that she must have had for years. There was also yellow shag carpet that was oh-so-dated. What was it with older people who never updated their homes, anyway? Not all of them, but many of them.
Cora came back into the room and motioned us toward the sofa. “Sit won’t you. I hate to look up at people.”
Petunia would much rather have remained standing, but she decided to follow Noah to the sofa. When Petunia sat, her eyes widened as she sank in the sofa considerably and she felt a spring where the sun don’t shine.
Noah laughed as he sat as low as she did.
“I was wondering about the black car you saw over at Helen’s the day before she died? You know, the one that looks an awful like Noah’s outside.”
“And I certainly have never even been ov
er to Helen’s house,” Noah said with raised brow.
“Oh, right. I think I was mistaken about that.” She smiled. “I just wanted to know what you knew about Helen’s murder. I’m her neighbor and deserve to know.”
“That’s up for some dispute, since it’s really none of your business.”
“Yes, it is. It’s a concern in this neighborhood about what happened. I don’t feel safe now.” She shuddered.
“I suppose, but you knew I was the one who found the body—with Noah, that is. This is an ongoing investigation into the matter and I can hardly tell you exactly what the sheriff asked me.”
“I know, dear. Especially since you’re the suspect.”
“How would you know who the suspects might be? The sheriff hasn’t even had a press conference or released the news to the press, that I’ve heard.”
“I’ve heard from more than a few people that the sheriff hauled you off to the sheriff’s department. Did you bail yourself out?”
“No, I didn’t,” Petunia said, standing as she rubbed her backside. “And what is it about starting a petition to oust me from Lake Forest?”
“Not Lake Forest, just the neighborhood,” she said. “I bet that Lucy told you, since she wouldn’t sign my petition.”
“Good, at least someone has good judgment.” Petunia’s hands went to her hips and she tapped her foot now. “What have I ever done to you?”
“Nothing, yet, but you’re a witch and we don’t need your kind living amongst us. Move in with your aunt to that house on the hill. That’s where you should live,” Cora said with a curt nod.
“You’re just nuts.” Petunia stomped her way to the door.
“Do you know who killed Helen?” Noah asked Cora.
She pointed a boney finger straight at Petunia. “It was her. I can’t prove it, but I know it. She knew all of the victims. I bet she didn’t tell you that, now did she?”
Noah opened the door for Petunia, but she insisted he exit first and once he did, Petunia choked out, “I’m not a witch, y-you—”
Petunia put a finger under her nose as she felt a sneeze coming on, and this so wasn’t the time. “Ah-choo,” Just like in the past, bubbles floated into the air as Petunia sneezed and she made a hasty retreat.
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