by Rose Pressey
“I can’t find it. The thing just isn’t here.” I’d now spent fifteen minutes in the confined space.
“The man wants the trash now,” Grandma Imelda said.
I crawled out from the container, brushing a piece of lettuce off my shirt. “It’s just not there.”
“That can’t be,” Grandma Imelda said.
“I am traumatized now after digging around in that thing. I promise you it’s not there. And don’t even think about trying to get in there and look for yourself,” I warned.
I motioned for everyone to follow me. We stepped to the café’s back door and watched as the driver hoisted the Dumpster up and emptied the contents into the back of the truck.
“Well if it was there, it’s gone now,” Grandma Imelda said.
“It wasn’t there,” I repeated.
“What will Tom say?” Mary Jane asked.
I didn’t want to find out.
Chapter 17
Grandma Imelda had the key and was unlocking the door when I felt a presence behind me. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I was frozen on the spot and I didn’t want to turn around. The heaviest sense of magic I’d ever felt came from behind me. It felt as if the person was so close that I felt their breath on the back of my neck.
Grandma Imelda opened the door and Mary Jane followed her in. I was still frozen there on the sidewalk. When Mary Jane and Grandma Imelda turned around their eyes widened.
I knew I had to turn around and see who was standing behind me. I slowly turned around. Tom was standing right behind me with that sexy look on his face. It was almost as if he found my actions humorous. Now that he was here in front of me I knew he would expect some kind of explanation. I would just act casual.
“Hi,” I said sweetly.
“Hello, ladies. Having a good afternoon?”
“Would you like some iced tea?” Grandma Imelda asked in her sweet Southern voice.
“I’d love that, Imelda.” Tom motioned for me to enter first.
He was plotting something, I just knew it.
Grandma Imelda poured Tom a glass of tea. Mary Jane and I took a glass too. We sipped the tea and stared at each other. I couldn’t handle much more of this. He needed to say something soon. When would he ask about the scarf? Did he know what we’d done with the cupcakes?
Finally, I said, “Okay, will you just ask me why I was in Meredith’s house? And no, I didn’t get the scarf back.”
He stared at me. The room was silent. What if he hadn’t known that I was there and I just ratted on myself?
He set the glass on the counter. “Elly, why were you all in Meredith’s house?”
I tossed my hands up. “How does she even know we were there? We could have been looking at the pretty roses at the side of her house.”
Mary Jane shook her head as if to tell me to shut up.
“She had video inside her house. It recorded the whole scene. And I might add it was very entertaining. She sent the video to me on my phone. Would you like to see?” Tom pulled out his phone.
I frowned. “No, thank you. I will probably feel much better if I don’t watch it.”
“I hate being on video. It always adds ten pounds,” Mary Jane said.
Now was the time for me to shake my head at Mary Jane. “Okay, I will tell you why we were there.”
Tom took a seat. “This I have got to hear.”
“We went there because I saw a book that looked just like the one you found here. I think Meredith and Reagan are connected.”
“As far as I can tell Meredith and Reagan have no connection to magic or the Organization,” Tom said.
“That is exactly why that makes this even more mysterious. What are they up to? I know you think that I have lost it, but Meredith somehow left the books here in the café,” I said.
Tom studied my face and then looked to Grandma Imelda and Mary Jane. “Did you use magic?” he asked me.
“No,” I said with a smile.
I hadn’t lied to him.
He looked to Grandma Imelda. Of course he knew what we’d done. “Did you give Meredith cupcakes with magic in them?”
“Is there something wrong with that?” Grandma Imelda asked. She gave Tom a look that let him know he wasn’t going to intimidate her.
He ran his hand through his hair. “No, I suppose there’s nothing wrong with that.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “I saw the books there. The books that she claims she doesn’t possess. They were on shelves on a room. I saw it on my way out. Mary Jane saw them too.”
Tom looked to Mary Jane and she nodded. He sighed. “Okay, I will look into it.”
Would he really or was he just telling me this to humor me?
“You won’t give Meredith any more magic? Especially in light of what has happened with the spells recently?”
I crossed my heart with my index finger. “I won’t give any more magic to Meredith.”
He looked at Grandma Imelda, but she didn’t make any promises and he didn’t push for any. I wondered when he would go look for the books. Meredith was probably already in the process of moving them just like last time. If he didn’t hurry they would be gone.
“What happened to this magical scarf?” Tom asked.
I blew the hair out of my eyes. I bet I smelled terrible after being in the trash container. “It wasn’t there. I think Meredith came and got it.”
He quirked an eyebrow.
I gestured with my arms. “I know this sounds crazy, but I can’t help it. She’s playing games with me.”
“Have you talked with Rory?” Tom asked.
I figured it was about time that he asked about him. I had to explain what had led me to Meredith’s house in the first place.
“So Rory disappeared?”
I nodded. “His truck was there and then poof, it was gone.”
Tom looked at me with wide eyes as if that was hard to believe.
“I’m telling the truth,” I said.
“I believe you, I’m just trying to figure out what is going on around here.”
“So you believe me that something isn’t right.”
He nodded. “Yes, I agree something is definitely wrong. You don’t know where Rory is?”
Sadness fell over me. I had to admit that I hadn’t talked to Rory. It looked more and more as if he was involved in this weird scenario. Just then my phone dinged and I pulled it form my pocket.
“It’s Rory,” I said.
“What does he say?” Tom asked.
“He wants me to meet him at the park tonight.”
Tom met my gaze. “Are you going to meet him?”
I pushed the hair out of my eyes. “I suppose I need to so he can tell me what’s going on.”
Chapter 18
I’d gone home to shower and change into something prettier than pants with ketchup and grease stains. There was still time before meeting Rory though, so Mary Jane was coming over for a bit. Grandma Imelda had left me her little white cottage house when she’d retired. Roses, peonies, and azaleas lined the path leading to the front door. The interior of the home was bathed in warm colors named after foods, like buttercream yellow on the kitchen walls. The place oozed comfort and charm, exactly how I’d describe Grandma Imelda.
When I answered the door, Mary Jane was standing in front of me. She wore her blue and white gingham shirt that I loved with white shorts. She looked like she should be on the pages of a Lands’ End catalog.
“I brought chocolate chip cookies.” She held up the clear dish and I spotted the baked goodies inside.
“Thank you.” I took the dish from her hand. “Come on in and I’ll get the milk.”
“Where’s Imelda?” Mary Jane asked.
I pulled a couple glasses from the cabinet. “She went to pick up a few things from the grocery.”
Mary Jane placed a handful of cookies onto the plate. “This is just like high school.”
I laughed. “Cookies and milk after school
and before homework.”
“Did you find your yearbook?” she asked.
I handed her a glass of milk, and then grabbed the plate. “Yes, I did. It’s in my bedroom. Come on and we can look at it.”
“Are you sure you won’t get in trouble for eating in your room?” She laughed.
I rolled my eyes. We headed into my bedroom and I placed the plate and glass on my desk. I picked up the yearbook. Mystic Hollow High, Class of 2000.
“I am not looking forward to seeing my picture again,” Mary Jane said as she took a bite of a cookie.
I put the book down on my comforter and we lay across the bed. I flipped open the cover and to the section with our class. Of course we had to look at our pictures first. Might as well get the humiliation over with. No sense in prolonging it. I turned to Mary Jane’s page first.
“Of course we have to look at my picture first,” she said.
“Of course.” I snorted.
“I had that whole goth thing going on, didn’t I?”
I turned to my page. “It’s better than me.” I tapped the page. “I was wearing glitter eye shadow.”
“Don’t forget the gazillion butterfly clips in your hair.”
“Yeah, thanks for the reminder.”
Now we needed to look for Meredith’s picture. Why, I wasn’t sure, but I was just curious about this woman who had moved back to Mystic Hollow. Why had she come back? I knew why I had come back, but this seemed different for her. She wasn’t taking over the family business. I just couldn’t remember a lot about her from school. I knew that she had been quiet, but other that I didn’t remember even talking to her. It wasn’t that I hadn’t wanted to, but she’d kept to herself.
“Wait, isn’t that Meredith?” Mary Jane stopped me from turning the page.
“Where?” I asked.
She pointed to the picture at the top of the page. It was of several students hanging out in front of the school.
I examined the photo. “It is her. Look. Doesn’t that woman next to her look familiar?”
Mary Jane leaned closer. “She does look familiar.”
“I know I’ve seen her somewhere other than the photo.”
“Maybe she’s come to the café recently. What is the name?”
I looked at the text below the photo. “Janice Webber.”
“That name doesn’t ring a bell,” Mary Jane said.
I studied the photo again. That was when it hit me. “Wait. I’ve seen her at the café.”
“See, I told you it was at the café.”
“Yes, but she wasn’t a customer. She was there with Tom as a member of the Organization. Only he didn’t introduce her as Janice Webber.”
Mary Jane frowned. “Maybe she uses a married name?”
I shook my head. “No, she didn’t go by Janice either.”
“Hmm. That is odd.”
I picked up my phone. “I should call Tom and see what he says.”
“Good idea,” Mary Jane said.
After a couple rings, Tom picked up.
“I’ve discovered something,” I said.
“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” He had a teasing tone in his voice.
“This is serious. I was looking through my old yearbook and found a photo of Meredith. Well, in the picture she is also with Carol from the Organization. The one you brought to the café. Only in the photo her name is Janice.”
“That can’t be her,” Tom said. “Carol isn’t from Mystic Hollow.”
“Are you sure?” I asked as I looked at the photo again.
“I’m positive, but good detective work anyway.”
Yeah. He probably didn’t mean that at all.
“I’ll call you soon. Okay?” Tom asked.
“Yeah, sure, talk to you soon,” I said and then hung up.
“What did he say?” Mary Jane asked.
“He said that it couldn’t possibly be her because she isn’t even from Mystic Hollow.”
“Hmm. It must be her doppelgänger,” Mary Jane said.
I looked at the book again. “I guess. But I’ve never seen anyone have a person look that much like them.”
“She hasn’t even changed that much since high school.”
“Well, her secret twin hasn’t changed,” I said. “I wonder what she would say if she saw the picture.”
“You should show it to her,” Mary Jane said.
“Maybe I will.” I couldn’t stop looking at the photo. There was just something about it that had me feeling uneasy. I pointed at the photo. “See that person in the back?”
Mary Jane leaned down again for a better look. “That guy?”
I nodded. “Yes. He was also at the café and is with the Organization.”
Mary Jane’s mouth dropped open. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “I’m positive.”
Now I knew this couldn’t be her twin. Something else was going on. I did want the Organization members to see this photo though.
“What do you think it means?” Mary Jane asked.
I stood and grabbed a cookie from the plate. “I don’t know, but why would these people lie about their names? Why wouldn’t they tell Tom who they were?”
“Are you going to tell him about the man in the picture?” Mary Jane asked.
I took a bite of the cookie and chewed. Since I hated talking with a mouth full of food, I finished and then said, “I guess I have to tell him, but I hope he takes it a little bit more seriously. The more important question is, if they are lying, then how well do they know Meredith?”
Mary Jane stood from the bed. “Okay, I’d better go so you can go meet Rory. Call me as soon as you can.”
“I’ll call when I can,” I said.
Chapter 19
I’d selected a fuchsia and white dress with my favorite black strappy heels. Rory hadn’t said anything about this being a date, but the park was always romantic, so I wanted to look nice. I checked the mirror one last time and spritzed on a little Chanel. I waved to Grandma Imelda and climbed in my car. I thought over what I would say to Rory in my mind as I drove. I was sure it wouldn’t sound as good when I said it.
I’d make it to the edge of town when my car light flickered on the dash. The next thing I knew, smoke was coming from under the hood. I eased the car over to the side of the road. Luckily I hadn’t encountered a lot of traffic. I pulled out my cell and dialed Rory’s number. He didn’t answer. What was going on with his phone?
There was no sense in me popping the hood and looking under there because I had no clue what could be wrong with the car. I assumed it was overheated, but there was nothing I could do to fix it.
I would have to walk the rest of the way to the park. It wasn’t far and the weather was pleasant. The only problem was I’d decided to wear heels. What was I thinking? I should have worn my tennis shoes. Especially since I’d been on my feet all day. Maybe Grandma Imelda could give me a cupcake with a spell to make my feet feel better.
It was either walk in the heels or walk on the sidewalk in my bare feet. If my feet started to hurt bad enough I’d probably toss the heels but at the moment I decided to keep the shoes on.
By the time the park came into view, I was cussing my shoes. There was no way I was walking back to my car with these shoes on. I knew the grimace on my face was showing my pain.
The lights at the park twinkled in the night sky. I thought back to when I’d been supposed to meet Reagan here. I wondered what had happened to her and why there had been no sign of her since. Was she really involved with Meredith?
I spotted Rory by the gazebo. Our eyes met at the same time. He smiled broadly and looked so handsome.
A pang of hurt shot through me. Rory rushed toward me and I’d never seen that look of desperation on his face. I knew that something was seriously wrong. I rushed toward Rory, but before I reached him a man appeared. Rory stopped and looked over at the man. I recognized the man. He was the one who had been in the café and broken the tables and chairs. What was
he doing here? I knew that this meant trouble.
Apprehension raced through me. The man had a sly smile on his face. He stood right beside Rory. Did they really know each other? That would explain why he’d gotten in the truck with Rory that night.
When I was in front of Rory, he leaned forward and kissed my cheek. He acted as if he wanted to hug me, but stopped himself.
I looked from Rory over to the man. “What’s going on? Why are you with him?”
The man laughed, but didn’t say anything.
“I’ve known Ron for a while now,” Rory gestured.
“Okay, but that still doesn’t explain why you’re with him. He messed up my café.”
“You also gave me bad magic,” Ron said.
I glared at him. “I am not going to argue about this with him. Rory, why did you ask me here?”
Now I was just mad. Rory was acting strange, as if he couldn’t or wouldn’t talk in front of Ron. Rory glanced over at Ron. Was Rory trying to tell me something with his eyes? Was there something he couldn’t say in front of Ron? I was getting a bad vibe about this whole scene.
“I heard what happened with Meredith,” Rory said.
So that was why he’d asked to meet me? To talk about Meredith?
“I have a lot of questions about her, as a matter of fact.” I placed my hands on my hips.
“She’d like to meet with you,” Ron said.
I flashed him a dirty look. I had a feeling I wouldn’t like the way a meeting with Meredith would go, but I also had to find out what she was up to.
“Fine, I can meet her. Just let me know when and where.” I tried to sound tough.
Noise sounded from somewhere behind me and I swore it sounded like someone coughed. I glanced back, but didn’t see anyone. I didn’t trust this Ron guy and I was wondering now if I could even trust Rory.
“You owe me for damages to the café,” I said. “And Rory, why are you with him?”
Rory gave me that same pained look. “We have to go, Elly. I’ll call you soon.”
Rory and Ron turned and walked away.
“Wait, Rory,” I called out.
He glanced back once, but he didn’t stop. Now I was alone in the park, wondering what had just happened. I still didn’t know why Rory had asked me to meet him there. Was it just to tell me he wanted me to meet with Meredith? That didn’t really make sense. I still felt as if someone was watching me. I scanned the area, but didn’t see anyone. The presence was still there, and that wasn’t all I felt.
