Meows, Magic, & Mayhem (Lake Forest Witches Book 4)

by Madison Johns

  “I suppose, but there's no way of knowing if someone tried to make off with Pansy. It's not like cats can talk.”

  “I suppose you're right,” is all Petunia could say.

  Petunia swooped up Pansy and just as they were about to walk inside, a loud voice yelled, “Stop it right there, you two!”

  Petunia didn't have to turn to know it was Cora. She had expected her to show up eventually. And since Cora had never much cared for Petunia’s cats, Petunia let Pansy inside.

  “I was just about ready to go over to your house,” Petunia said. “We had a little mishap in your backyard.”

  “Little mishap?” Cora said in a sassy voice. “You destroyed my tree and believe me, you're going to pay for it.”

  “It's only one limb and a small one at that, but unfortunately it was unavoidable. My cats got stuck in your tree and there was no other way we could get them down. You don't have a ladder tall enough.”

  “I don't have a ladder tall enough? You mean you used my ladder? Why didn't you use yours?”

  “Because I only have a step stool, for one, and I didn't think you’d be too happy if you got home and my cats were still stuck in your tree.”

  “Why didn't you just leave them there and wait it out? It would be better if I didn’t come home to a branch laying in my yard.”

  “I had to take them to the cat show today, don't forget.”

  “I planned on taking care of your branch,” Noah said. “I just had no idea we would get tied up at the cat show.”

  “I thought your sister was entering her cat?” Petunia asked.

  “She wasn’t able to make it to Lake Forest, I'm afraid.”

  “Well, that might be a good thing since there was a problem at the cat show today. Someone poisoned the champagne.”

  Cora’s eyes protruded slightly. “They serve champagne at a cat show?”

  “I was surprised about that part myself.”

  “I bet not. Did you really want one of your cats to win so badly that you'd poison half of the town?”

  “You can't put the blame on me. I never even touched a bottle of champagne or a glass when it was offered.”

  “Well, it's not like you witches have to touch anything. All you have to do is wave that magic wand of yours and poof, everyone’s dead.”

  “That's a bit harsh, don't you think?” Noah asked.

  “There's no sense in trying to reason with Cora, and by the way, I don't have a magic wand. I only—”

  “Make potions—blah, blah, blah,” Cora shouted. “I should call the sheriff on you for stinking up the neighborhood with whatever you're cooking in your cauldron.”

  “Don’t worry, I'll have the tree branch cleaned up tomorrow morning,” Noah said.

  “You better and I'll send over a bill for the damages.”

  “You have to be kidding,” Petunia said. “Certainly you can’t expect us to pay for cutting down one measly limb. Why, a storm could do that, and from what I recall, I didn't say a word last winter when one of your branches fell on my fence.”

  Cora pursed her lips and marched back down the sidewalk, presumably to go back home.

  “I'm sorry, Noah, for all the trouble.”

  “Don't worry about it. I'm sure Cora will calm down ... eventually.”

  “It's too bad her sister didn't show up. I, for one, would like to know if she's anything like Cora.”

  “That's one bullet I hope we both can dodge. I'll see you tomorrow, Petunia. I hate to admit that my stomach can't tolerate that smile … I mean smell,” Noah said.

  “I can't say I blame you and I really wished my aunt would be making the antidote at her house.”

  Noah leaned in and gave Petunia a soft kiss and moved quickly to his house. Petunia smiled widely as she walked in the door. She didn’t know why Noah suddenly kissed her like that, but she rather enjoyed it. Perhaps this dating thing wasn't so bad, not that she’d call a cat show a date. And most of their dates thus far hadn’t included poisonings.

  “What took you so long?” Pansy asked.

  “We searched everywhere for you at the cat show, I swear.”

  “Not that, what did Cora want?”

  “Oh, you know she was upset we cut down her branch.”

  “That's the least of your worries right now. So did someone actually poison the champagne?”

  “That's what it’s looking like so far. Noah and I will be going back and investigating tomorrow. And before you ask, Aunt Maxine is making an antidote for the poison. What she had left worked quite well today. She used the last of it for Noah’s dad, Victor.”

  “So how many people have been poisoned?”

  “I'm sure Pinkerton will tell us tomorrow, but I'm more worried about the grand marshal, Mr. Calhoun, tonight. I only hope that Aunt Maxine will finish the antidote soon. He had to be revived.”

  “So if Mr. Calhoun is in the hospital, how exactly will your aunt be able to give him the antidote?”

  “I really can't say but I'll certainly ask her.”

  Petunia walked into the kitchen where Aunt Maxine was filling vials with the ever-present Hazel and Wanda lingering close by. “Are you finished with the antidote?” Petunia asked.

  “Yes, but I don't know how you’re going to be able to sneak into the hospital and give it to the victims. You know the hospital won't allow that.”

  “Besides Mr. Calhoun, I’m not aware of anymore victims except for Estelle and Maria, since you already gave Noah’s dad the last of your antidote.”

  “Estelle and Maria were poisoned, too?” Wanda asked, her eyes round as saucers.

  “They refused to go to the hospital, though. They told me to bring the antidote to them when you made it.”

  “I'll have to evaluate Estelle and Maria's condition myself to ensure that they’re not trying to pull a fast one on me,” Aunt Maxine said.

  “They truly looked sick to me,” Petunia said.

  “They're also known for stealing potions,” Wanda explained.

  “I hardly think giving them a small swig will harm anything. I believe they drank the champagne.”

  “We should probably head over and take a look,” Aunt Maxine said.

  “I hope you're not trying to use them as a guinea pig,” Petunia said. “I mean, you certainly made the antidote quickly?”

  “I've done this longer than you've been alive, Petunia, and I assure you I have never harmed anyone with one of my potions.”

  “Or haven’t caused anything that was truly detrimental to anyone, right, Maxine?” Wanda laughed.

  Aunt Maxine shook her head. “Come along now, ladies. I'd like to get home before midnight.”

  They arrived at the small stone cottage covered with Ivy where Estelle and Maria were staying.

  Aunt Maxine knocked on the door. Wanda and Hazel opted to wait in the car.

  “It’s about time,” Estelle wheezed, as she was doubled over. “I’ve never felt this sick in my entire life.”

  When they walked inside, the entire house smelled foul.

  Aunt Maxine handed over a vial. “Here, drink this, Estelle.” Estelle then took ahold of it and greedily drank. “That’s more than enough. Don’t forget your daughter needs a swig, too.”

  Maria was breathing heavily when Petunia handed her the antidote and had to be helped to tip the bottle. Petunia had never seen her look like this before. Why, her skin was practically gray!

  Estelle eased back on her chair. “Now that’s a relief. I almost wished we had listened to Petunia when she told us to go to the hospital, but I knew you’d bring the antidote after you made it.”

  Maria sighed, color returning to her cheeks. “Thank you for your kindness. I know it must’ve been hard for you to bring us over the antidote.”

  “It wasn’t hard at all,” Aunt Maxine said. “I told your mother we witches need to stick together.”

  “I’m still shocked about the events of today,” Petunia said. “I only hope we get to the hospital in time to give
the antidote to Mr. Calhoun. If the paramedics hadn’t revived him, he might be dead now, or he could be soon if we don’t get there in time.”

  “Go ahead,” Estelle said. “And good luck.”

  When they arrived at the hospital, Wanda said, “Hazel and I will wait in the car for you.”

  Aunt Maxine nodded. “I’m certain we won’t be long.”

  Petunia approached the desk and asked, “What room is my Uncle Calhoun in?”

  “He was taken from the cat show via ambulance,” Aunt Maxine explained.

  The woman glanced down at a computer and then back up. “Are you related?”

  “Of course we are,” Petunia said. “I’m his niece.”

  “Could you give me his full name?” the woman said.

  Aunt Maxine moved to the side of the counter, fidgeting with a plant, glancing over the counter while the woman was focused on Petunia. “You know it’s the strangest thing,” Aunt Maxine began. “Ever since Jay has been a master of ceremonies for cat shows across the country, he’s insisted we all call him Mr. Calhoun.”

  “He wouldn’t even let me call him Uncle Jay,” Petunia quickly added.

  “You’ll find err … Mr. Calhoun in the intensive care unit. It’s on the sixth floor.”

  Aunt Maxine snickered as they made way into the elevator.

  “Are you certain we’re really witches, Aunt Maxine? We never do anything all that magical to find out information,” Petunia said.

  “We’re potion witches, Petunia, and as you’ve witnessed today, potion witches are very important. I daresay what might have happened if I didn’t have a poison antidote handy, or knew how to make one in a jiffy.”

  “I’m sorry, I suppose I didn’t think about it that way.”

  “That’s what I’m here for, dear, to help guide you on your journey as a witch of Lake Forest.”

  “I’m not surprised that Mr. Calhoun is in the ICU. I’m shocked that the paramedics were able to revive him.”

  “We better hurry, then.”

  Two nurses were behind a desk with a computer screen detailing the heart rates of the patients. Petunia cleared her throat to get their attention.

  “We’re here to see Jay Calhoun,” Aunt Maxine said to a dark-haired nurse.

  The nurse brought Petunia and Aunt Maxine into Mr. Calhoun’s room. “They just called us from downstairs and mentioned that you were coming. I hope it doesn’t upset you to see your uncle like this,” the nurse said.

  Petunia bit a fist as she glanced at the monitor that displayed Mr. Calhoun’s blood pressure, pulse, and respiration, all of which were not good.

  “I-Is he going to make it?” Petunia asked the nurse.

  “We’re doing the best we can for him.” She squeezed Petunia’s arm. “I’ll give you some privacy with him.”

  Aunt Maxine waited until the nurse left before she took the antidote and dripped it into Mr. Calhoun’s mouth just as an alarm went off on the monitor. Her aunt quickly put the bottle away as nurses ran into the room.

  They hurried into the hall to give the nurses space to work on Mr. Calhoun, and Petunia cried, “We got here too late. We should have come first instead of going to Estelle’s house.”

  “Now calm yourself, dear. I’ll admit that we should have come here first, but don’t fret just yet. Give the potion a few minutes to work.”

  “Work? You heard those alarms! He might be dead by then!”

  “We could leave if this is that upsetting to you, Petunia,” Aunt Maxine said.

  Petunia crossed her arms. “I’m not going anywhere until I find out whether Mr. Calhoun is going to make it or not.”

  “You can’t be serious. I gave him the antidote,” Aunt Maxine said. “You saw for yourself how it worked on Estelle and Maria.”

  “I know but Mr. Calhoun was in bad shape, much worse than either Estelle and Maria, or even Noah’s dad. What if we got here too late?”

  Aunt Maxine squeezed Petunia’s hand. “You need to have faith and believe in the magic.”

  Petunia watched as the minute hand clicked away on the clock. It seemed like forever until the nurses reappeared from Mr. Calhoun’s room. And they were actually smiling!

  “I’m not sure how it happened,” one nurse said, “but Mr. Calhoun’s vitals have improved.”

  “He’s stable,” the other nurse said.

  “But an alarm went off,” Petunia said.

  “I know, that’s the strange part. One minute his blood pressure and pulse rate were dropping and then the next moment his vitals stabilized.” She took ahold of a cross on her necklace. “Its a miracle,” she whispered.

  Petunia sighed in relief. “I’m sure his wife will be happy to hear that.”

  “Wife? Mr. Calhoun isn’t married,” the nurse said.

  Petunia’s eyes widened. “Now that I did not know.”

  The nurse shot her a strange look. “I thought you were related?”

  “There’s quite a backstory,” Aunt Maxine began. “You see the thing is, we've been quite estranged for sometime now.”

  “Of course when we heard he was in the hospital, well, we had to come right away,” Petunia quickly added.

  “Mr. Calhoun, you mean?”

  “Why, yes, yes.”

  Aunt Maxine shrugged. “I still can't believe I let pride stand in my way. You see my son … err I mean my nephew or … grandson—”

  “Out the both of you, before I call security. It's quite obvious to me that neither of you is related to Mr. Calhoun. You’re going to get me fired for allowing you to see him.”

  “We’ll leave but I had to come. Without Mr. Calhoun directing the cat show, I just don't know what we will do,” Petunia said. “The Lake Forest Cat Show, as you must know, is the most exciting thing to happen here in Lake Forest in years.”

  “My niece here has been so upset since she found Mr. Calhoun unresponsive. Why, if she hadn't found him when she had, he may have died,” Aunt Maxine said.

  “Of course I don't take credit for reviving Mr. Calhoun, the first responders did that. I just had to come to see if he was okay.”

  The woman’s brow shot up. “Because one of your cats is in the cat show, no doubt.”

  “There is no need to get judgmental now,” Aunt Maxine scolded the nurse. “How would you feel if you found a man you thought might be dead? I imagine that you'd want to find out if he was okay at the very least.”

  “I’d have performed CPR right away,” the nurse said with a curt nod of her head.

  “That's what we did until the first responders got there,” Petunia insisted.

  “Before you chastise someone, maybe you should get all the facts first,” Aunt Maxine said, as she led the way to the elevator.

  Once the elevator doors slammed shut, Petunia said, “I can't believe the audacity of that nurse. If it wasn't for us … I mean you, Aunt Maxine … Mr. Calhoun wouldn't be stable now. I considered him a complete goner when Noah and I found him.”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Mr. Calhoun might not be out of the woods yet.”

  Wanda and Hazel ran up to Aunt Maxine and Petunia as they walked to the car, waving their hands frantically. “Were you able to save Mr. Calhoun?” Wanda asked.

  “I believe so,” Aunt Maxine said. “Of course one never knows.”

  “Maybe we should meet back at your house, Maxine,” Hazel said. “I believe a meeting is in order.”

  “A meeting that doesn’t involve me, I hope,” Petunia said. “I’d like to get home and rest up for tomorrow. I’m certain Noah and I will have a long day of investigating ahead of us.”

  “This concerns all of us,” Hazel insisted.

  Chapter 10

  Hazel and Wanda fidgeted back at Maxine's house. “I'm confused, Maxine,” Wanda began. “I don’t understand who would have poisoned the champagne.”

  “I don’t think I like your tone.” Aunt Maxine said.

  “Don't take it the Wrong Way, Maxine, but we were merely wondering if y
ou had only meant to poison Estelle and that dreadful daughter of hers?” Hazel added.

  “Estelle and Maria were not even in the same room where the champagne was served,” Petunia volunteered.

  “I'm shocked you girls would think that of me,” Aunt Maxine said. “I would never poison another witch. I stand by what I said, us witches need to stick together!”

  “What makes either of you think that the poison was placed in the champagne by a witch?” Petunia asked.

  “Think about it, Petunia,” Wanda began, “How could someone possibly poison all the champagne bottles … or glasses?”

  “Now that you say it, that is perplexing,” Aunt Maxine said.

  “Of course that doesn't mean the glasses weren't poisoned,” Petunia said. “The glasses could've been laced with poison in powder form. I’m convinced that this isn’t the work of a witch.” She sighed. “I mean, it’s simply impossible to just zap the poison into the bottles, isn’t it?”

  “One should hope,” Aunt Maxine replied.

  “Why is it that you happen to have the antidote for the poison on hand, Aunt Maxine?” Petunia asked.

  Aunt Maxine threw her hands up. “I can't believe my own niece is accusing me of poisoning people at the cat show.”

  “I swear that’s not what I’m doing. I suppose I’m thinking too much out loud. Besides, I thought a witch couldn't undo another witches spell,” Petunia said.

  “That’s exactly why this isn't an act of witchcraft,” Aunt Maxine insisted. “Now, my antidote will cure anyone who is affected by the poison. So run along Petunia and find out who’s the guilty party.”

  “I will if someone runs me home. I can tell tomorrow will be a long day.”

  Petunia didn't have much to say on the ride home and neither did Aunt Maxine. She felt bad about insinuating that her aunt had something to do with what happened today. “I’ll have to work on an antidote potion,” Petunia finally said. When Aunt Maxine’s brow shot up, Petunia quickly added, “You know, just in case—”

  “In case I decide to poison someone again?”

  “In case I’m poisoned.”

  Aunt Maxine smiled. “It’s hard to be mad at you, Petunia, which is why I fully intend to see you married to Noah. Every witch needs a man in her life. Of course I’m counting on the two of you to find out who’s responsible for making those people sick. Ta-Ta now,” she said, as Petunia slipped out the door.