by Adele Abbott
“Please! Help us! Is anyone there?”
It didn’t take a genius to work out that the lift was stuck, but I couldn’t risk calling for help because then I’d have to explain how I’d gained access to the building. Before I went to their aid, I needed to disguise myself, so I used the ‘doppelganger’ spell to make myself look like Peter, complete with the overalls he normally wore. Then I cast the ‘power’ spell and forced open the lift doors.
“Thank goodness!” The woman screamed when she saw me. “Help us!”
The lift was stuck just below the floor I was on, so I could only see her from the shoulders upwards.
“Give me your hand.”
I tried to pull her up, but she didn’t seem to be helping much. Eventually, I managed it, and she popped out through the gap. It was only when she was out that I realised she was wearing a vegetable costume, which was peeled down to her waist. The bottom half of the costume still covered her legs, with just her feet poking out—no wonder it had been such a struggle for her to climb out of the lift.
“Broad bean?” I asked.
“Runner bean, actually.”
“Never mind what kind of bean she is,” Tony shouted. “Get me out of here.”
It proved to be just as difficult to extract him because his legs were inside his carrot costume.
“I’d better call my wife,” he said when he was out of the lift. “There was no signal in there.”
“There’s no need. She’s the one who alerted us that you were missing. She’s waiting outside for you.”
On hearing that, and without saying a word, the woman pulled up her costume so that the top half of her body and head was covered, leaving just a small slot through which to see. It seemed a strange thing to do, but I didn’t comment.
I still daren’t open the exit doors in case the alarm went off, so I grabbed Tony and the woman by the hand, and before they could ask what I was doing, I magicked the three of us back outside. Fortunately, there was no one in the side street, so I quickly reversed the ‘doppelganger’ spell, and then cast the ‘forget’ spell on both of them.
“Jill?” Tony looked understandably confused. “What are you doing here?”
“Clare asked me to give her a lift.”
“What happened to the man who rescued us?” the bean said. “I remember getting out of the lift, but everything after that is a blank.”
“He brought you outside, and then he went back into the building.”
Just then, Clare came running around the corner, but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the three of us.
“Tony, where have you been? I was worried to death.”
“We—err—I got stuck in the lift.”
“How did you get out?”
Before Tony had the chance to reply, I jumped in, “I’ll explain everything later. Let’s get back to the car.” I turned to the bean. “Can we give you a lift somewhere?”
“It’s okay. I live just down the road.”
“Wendy?” Clare glared at the bean.
The runner bean peeled back the top of her costume. “Hello, Clare.”
“You two were stuck in the lift together?” Clare glanced between the carrot and the bean.
“I should go.” The bean scurried away as fast as her costume would allow.
“What’s going on, Tony?” Clare demanded.
“I can explain.”
Before he had the chance, I interrupted, “We really should get back to the car.”
I climbed into the driver’s seat; Clare and the carrot got into the back. As we drove home, my neighbours continued their ‘discussion’.
“How could you?” Clare screamed at him.
“I didn’t know Wendy would be at the con.”
“You’re lying. That’s why you suggested I go to AquaCon, isn’t it?”
“That’s nonsense. Wendy and I split up years ago.”
“You’ve never got over her, though, have you?”
“I had no idea she’d be here. I barely spoke two words to her all day.”
“Why were you in a lift with her, then?”
“We were on our way out.”
“In the service lift?”
“The others were busy.”
“I’m not stupid, Tony. I know what you two were up to. And to think that I’ve made myself sick with worry.”
“I tried to call you, but there was no signal in the lift, and the alarm button didn’t work. It’s a good thing that Jill managed to alert someone, or we might have been there until Monday morning.”
“I bet you’d have liked that, wouldn’t you? The chance to spend another night with that cow, Wendy Rathbone.”
“Now you’re just being silly. I was dressed as a carrot and she was dressed as a runner bean. What could we possibly get up to?”
The two of them were still at each other’s throats when I dropped them home. I was exhausted, and no longer had the energy or inclination to investigate the balaclava twins. I’d had enough weirdness for one day.
***
When Jack got home, I was stretched out on the sofa in front of the TV, with a box of chocolates.
“I can see you’ve had a busy day.” He grinned. “Any of those chocolates left?”
“Of course. Help yourself.”
“Is that it? Turkish delight and hazelnut whirl?”
“I saved you some, didn’t I?”
“Only because you don’t like those two.”
“Some people are never grateful.”
“Have you been on that sofa all day?”
“I’ll have you know I had to rescue a carrot and a runner bean who were stuck in a lift.”
“It sounds like you’ve been at the wine too.”
“I’m telling you the truth. Clare came around here in a panic because Tony hadn’t come home from VegCon.”
“Vegcon? What’s that when it’s at home?”
“It’s exactly what it sounds like. Anyway, it turned out that Tony the carrot was trapped in a lift with a runner bean.”
“Brilliant. You couldn’t make this stuff up.”
“You haven’t heard the best of it yet. It seems that the runner bean was one of Tony’s old flames.”
“Oh dear.”
“You should have heard the ear-bashing Clare gave him on the drive back home. The next con they go to will probably be DivorceCon.”
“Thank goodness we’re not like those two.” He bent down and gave me a peck on the cheek. “Have you changed your shampoo?”
“No. Why?”
“Your hair smells really—err—weird.”
Chapter 12
The next morning, Jack and I were eating breakfast when my phone rang; it was Kathy. I’d tried to contact her a few times over the weekend to find out how Grandma had reacted to her resignation, but I hadn’t been able to get hold of her.
“Jill. I thought I ought to ring because I’ve got a million missed calls from you.”
“I was beginning to think you’d been abducted by aliens.”
“Pete decided we should have a weekend away to celebrate my leaving Ever. We went down to London.”
“I didn’t realise they don’t have network coverage down there.”
“Sorry. Pete thought it would be a good idea to switch off our phones, so there’d be no distractions.”
“What about the kids?”
“We took them with us. We all went to see Aladdin—they loved it.”
“It’s alright for some. I spent most of yesterday rescuing vegetables.”
“Doing what?”
“I’ll explain another time. What happened with Grandma? How many shades of red did she turn when you told her you were leaving?”
“She didn’t. She said she’d be sorry to lose me, and wished me well.”
“No, seriously. What did she really say?”
“Honestly, that was it. She couldn’t have been any nicer about it.”
“Did she ask what you were going to be doing?”
&
nbsp; “Yeah. She seemed genuinely interested in my plans for the shop.”
“You’re sure it was Grandma you spoke to?”
“She was really sweet, Jill. Maybe you and I have misjudged her.”
Somehow, I doubted that.
“I wonder how the vegetables are doing next door,” Jack said when I’d finished on the call. “I haven’t heard any shouting.”
“Maybe Clare has killed him. I’d definitely kill you if you were cheating on me with a runner bean.”
“What if I cheated with a courgette?”
“That’d be okay, but I’ll have no truck with beans.”
“By the way, how are the wedding plans coming along?”
“What?” I almost choked on my cornflakes.
“Mrs V’s wedding plans? Have there been any more developments?”
I shrugged. “I’m trying not to get too involved.”
“Why not? I love weddings.”
“Is that the time? I’d better be making tracks.”
Before I could, my phone rang again; this time it was Aunt Lucy.
“I’m sorry to call you so early, Jill.”
“That’s okay. Is everything alright?”
“Yes. At least I think so, but the strangest thing just happened.”
Jack gestured to me that he was leaving, and blew me a kiss.
Aunt Lucy continued, “I’ve just told your grandmother that we’re going to be moving to a new house.”
“Oh dear. How did that go, as if I didn’t know?”
“That’s just it. She said she was pleased for us.”
“No way.”
“Yes, and what’s more, she sounded like she meant it. I kept waiting for the snide remark, but she couldn’t have been any nicer.”
“She must be ill.”
“That’s a little uncharitable.”
“Something’s definitely not right. Kathy handed her notice in at Ever on Friday, and Grandma said she was sorry to lose her, and wished her well. You’re not telling me that this is normal behaviour for Grandma. She’s definitely up to something.”
“Maybe, but for now, I’m prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt. I’m going to Cuppy C later. Do you fancy joining me?”
“Why not? We can try to figure out who’s taken over Grandma’s body. Give me a call when you’re there.”
***
Jules was at her desk, knitting.
“Morning, Jules. I haven’t seen you knitting for a while.”
“I said I’d make Dexter a jumper.”
“I take it you two are okay now, then?”
“Yeah. He still keeps apologising for leaving me stranded, even though I’ve told him it’s okay. I visited his grandma in hospital; she’s a darling.”
“How is she doing?”
“She seems to have bounced back remarkably well; she’s already back home. I told Dexter I’d like to go and see her again.”
Oh bum!
“Maybe it would be best to give her some time to recover.”
“That’s what Dexter said. He’s got himself really worked up over all of this. He even got his own grandmother’s name mixed up.”
Winky was on my desk, on my computer.
“Excuse me,” I said. “Just whose office do you think this is?”
“Mine, of course, but you’re welcome to use it from time to time.”
I looked over his shoulder, and saw a screen full of figures. “What’s that you’re looking at?”
“It’s my investment portfolio.”
“You’re always telling me that you don’t have any money.”
“I don’t have any liquid funds. It’s all tied up in these investments.”
“How much do you have altogether?”
“Never you mind.” He put his paws over the screen so I couldn’t see. “What about you? How much do you have invested?”
“Me? I—err—”
“You do have savings, I assume?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Which do you favour? Long-term, high yield bonds or the more speculative funds?”
“I—err—why do you want to know?”
“I could give you the benefit of my years of experience.”
“I’m okay, thanks. When I need financial advice from a cat, I’ll know I’m in real trouble.”
“Please yourself. Don’t say I didn’t offer.”
Bonds? Funds? I had no clue what he was talking about. The precious little savings I had were in my bank account, or in the piggy bank I kept hidden in the spare bedroom.
What? Of course I needed to hide it. If Jack got his hands on it, he’d probably buy yet another bowling shirt.
***
I didn’t bother to kick Winky off the computer because I’d arranged to meet with Thomas Bradley’s PA, Ruth Foot.
Lucas Broad was behind the reception desk when I arrived at the Nexler Building.
“Hi again. I’m here to see Ruth Foot.”
“She said you were coming. She’s over there, in the meeting room where you and I spoke the other day.”
“Great. Thanks. Did you bring that DVD in?”
“Sorry. I meant to, but I was in such a rush this morning that I forgot all about it. I’ll bring it in tomorrow.”
“Okay. No problem.”
“I hope this is okay.” Ruth had organised tea for us both. “I can get someone to bring coffee if you’d prefer it?”
“Tea’s fine, thanks.”
“I thought it made sense to talk in here, so we don’t get interrupted by the phone.”
“That’s fine. I assume the fact that you’re still at West Star after all this time, means you’ve been happy here?”
“Yes, I have. Because I’ve been here from the very beginning, I feel like I’m a part of the business rather than just an employee.”
“I believe you were the one who found Stephen’s body?”
The question seemed to knock the wind out of her, and it took her a few moments to respond. “I still have nightmares about that day.”
“That’s understandable. I’m sorry to have to put you through this.”
“It’s okay. Back then, I was responsible for everything, including the washing up. Typical men—neither Thomas nor Stephen would ever think to wash their cups. I used to do them first thing every morning before the guys arrived. I didn’t see him at first—not until I went behind the desk to get his cup.” She hesitated again. “The carpet was stained with blood, and I knew straight away he was dead.”
“Were you the one who rang the police?”
“I actually rang Thomas first. I don’t know why; I guess I wasn’t thinking straight. He told me to call the police. The rest of that day is still a blur.”
“What was Stephen like, as a person and as an employer?”
“He was a lovely man, and a great boss. Always very considerate.”
“What time did you leave on the night of the murder?”
“About eight o’clock. I tried never to work later than that.”
“And both Thomas and Stephen were still here then?”
“That’s right.”
“I believe that the cleaner normally came in late at night?”
“Yes, if memory serves, she used to come in at about eleven o’clock.”
“Isn’t that rather late?”
“Yeah, it is. West Star didn’t have much money back then, but we managed to get a cheap deal from a woman who had just set up her own cleaning business. She was still working a full-time job in the daytime, and then she ran the cleaning business in the evenings. I don’t know how she managed it. If she had come in that night, she would have been the one to find Stephen.”
“Why didn’t she come in?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe she was ill. I know the police spoke to her.”
“How was the brothers’ relationship just prior to Stephen’s death?”
“It wasn’t great.”
“Why do you say that? Was it because
of the disagreement about the potential takeover?”
“That didn’t help, but it wasn’t the only issue. Did you know that Thomas was seeing Georgina before Stephen’s death?”
“Yes, she told me.”
“But did you know that Stephen knew about their affair?”
“Are you sure? Georgina and Thomas don’t think he did.”
“I know for certain that he knew about it because he told me.”
“When did he tell you?”
“The day he was murdered. He said he was going to have it out with Thomas.”
“Did he?”
“Not while I was there, but they were both still in the office when I left.”
“Did you tell the police about this?”
She shook her head.
“Why not?”
“If I had, it would have looked bad for Thomas, and I was sure he wasn’t the one who killed Stephen. I hope I was right to do that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Thomas does have a temper.” She hesitated. “But he would never have hurt Stephen.”
What a bombshell!
It turned out that Stephen did know about the affair, and he’d intended confronting his brother that night. Although Ruth Foot had covered for Thomas at the time, she’d admitted he did have a temper. It wasn’t too much of a stretch to believe that things could have escalated and become physical. That would point to Thomas as the murderer, but there was one flaw with that theory: the CCTV evidence that showed Thomas had left before Stephen was murdered.
***
I was on my way back to the office when Aunt Lucy called to say she was just about to go to Cuppy C. I magicked myself over there, and found both Amber and Pearl behind the counter.
“Jill, I want to ask you a favour,” Amber said, before we even had a chance to place our order.
“I should get to ask first,” Pearl objected.
“Too late. I got in first.”
“Girls, enough. What are you both going on about?”
“Will you ask your PA if she’ll knit some baby clothes for Lil or Phil?” Amber said.
“But not until she’s knitted some for Lil or Bill.” Pearl scowled at her sister.
“I thought you two weren’t going to tell each other the names you’d chosen?”
