by Adele Abbott
“What happened in the carriage?”
“Gena saw me as soon as they got on the train. She shot me such a look, but she didn’t say anything to Gary. The poor guy had pulled out all the stops. He’d bought champagne, chocolates and flowers. He had no idea what she was about to do. When I caught her eye, I shook my head—I was trying to tell her not to go through with it, but she took no notice. She should have left it for another time. I could tell when she’d broken the news to him because he started screaming at her. Everyone in the carriage was staring at them. Gena dashed to the toilet, and Gary went after her. I should have followed straightaway, but I waited. I figured they’d be having a slanging match in the corridor. When they didn’t come back, I went to see what was happening. That’s when I found her.”
“Was she still alive?”
“I don’t think so. There was so much blood.”
“What about the knife?”
“I never saw it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. It wasn’t there.”
“And Gary?”
“He’d gone too. The door was still swinging open.”
Just then, there was a commotion out in the shop.
“Don Porter!” A female voice shouted. It was Sue Shay.
“That’s the police,” I said. “You’d better come with me.” I led the way back into the shop.
Sushi was flanked by two uniformed police officers. When she saw me, her face flushed red. “What are you doing here, Gooder?”
“I was thinking of upgrading my phone.”
She looked as though she wanted to kill me, but turned her attention to Preston. “Don Preston, I’d like you to accompany me to the station.”
“Why? I haven’t done anything.”
“We have a few questions that we need you to answer.”
“I want a lawyer.”
“Of course. We can sort that out once we’re at the station.”
While Sushi was distracted with Preston, I slid quietly away.
Chapter 9
It was Saturday, and we were on our way to visit Jack’s parents. We’d taken his car, and although I’d offered to share the driving, he’d said he was happy to do it all. Naturally, Jack was looking forward to seeing his mum and dad, and so was I, but I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation that I needed to have with Yvonne. According to Grandma’s sources, the new chief witchfinder was determined to make his mark by destroying me. He’d apparently put two or three of his top witchfinders on the job. I was hoping that Yvonne would know something about it, and that she might be able to help me to identify my adversaries. There was, of course, no guarantee that the trip would yield the result I hoped for. Yvonne had retired, so she might no longer be in the loop. Even if she did know about the change at the top, she might not know the identity of the witchfinders who had been set on my trail. There was one other possibility—one that I didn’t like to think about, but was forced to consider: She might have the information I needed, but be unwilling to share it with me. The witchfinders were her people, so passing that information to me would be a betrayal. Although Jack was the most important thing in her life, there might still be lines she was not prepared to cross.
We’d been driving for just under an hour when Jack pushed a CD into the player.
“What’s that awful noise?” I complained.
“This isn’t noise. It’s a big band compilation.”
“Can’t we listen to some soul?”
“I need to get into the mood in preparation for the big competition next Saturday. You haven’t forgotten about it, have you?”
“I’ve tried to, believe me. I hate this music. It’s just a lot of men blowing trumpets.”
“You really don’t have a musical gene in your body, do you?”
“Says you. Anyway, you’d better make sure Mrs V and Armi win.”
“You’re surely not suggesting I show them any favouritism?”
“I’m not suggesting it; I’m outright saying it. Mrs V would love it if they won.”
“No one wants to win by cheating.”
Hmm?
By the time we arrived at his parents’ house, I’d had enough of Jack’s big band music to last me a lifetime. There’s only so much saxophone a person can take.
“Hi, Mum.” Jack gave her a kiss.
His dad gave me a welcoming hug.
“It’s lovely to see you both again so soon.” Yvonne led the way inside.
“Like I mentioned on the phone,” Jack said. “It was Jill’s idea that we should visit.”
“We’re delighted to have you both. Are you sure you can only stay the one night? You’re welcome to stay for as long as you like.”
“We both have work on Monday, Mum.”
“Of course.” Yvonne smiled. “I forget that people have to go to work. I’ve put you in the back room, Jack. Jill, you’re in the front next to us.”
Jack and I exchanged a glance.
“Just kidding.” Yvonne laughed. “You’re both in the back bedroom. Why don’t you unpack, splash your faces, and then join us in the lounge? Roy has bought a bottle of bubbly for us to celebrate your visit.”
“You shouldn’t have gone to all that expense,” I said.
“Nonsense. Besides, it’s only the cheap stuff.”
After we’d unpacked, which didn’t take more than a few minutes, we both freshened up, and then went downstairs where Yvonne and Roy were waiting in the lounge.
“To health and happiness!” Roy proposed the toast.
“Health and happiness!” We all echoed.
We made small talk for the next hour, but then Yvonne excused herself to go and prepare dinner. I offered to help, but she wouldn’t hear of it. I wasn’t sure if she didn’t want to impose, or if Jack had told her about my culinary skills—or the lack thereof.
Roy showed us around the garden, which was truly magnificent, and thankfully devoid of gnomes.
“We’ve just had a sandpit put in,” Jack said.
“Really? Why?”
“Jill thought it would be nice for the kids.”
Roy turned to me. “Are you—?”
“Goodness, no. Jack’s talking about my niece and nephew. Well, just my niece, really. Mikey is too old for sandpits, apparently.”
“I guess it’ll still be there when you two decide the time is right for kids.” Roy grinned.
“Moving on,” Jack jumped in. “How are the tomatoes this year?”
Yvonne was an excellent cook. She’d made roast duck with plum sauce; it looked and tasted delicious. Having been brought up eating meals like this one, it must have been something of a culture shock for Jack when he tasted my feeble offerings.
“More pudding, Jill?” Yvonne offered.
“I’d love to. It’s delicious. But if I eat another mouthful, I’ll explode.”
“In that case, it’s time for the men to do the washing up while you and I wash this down with another glass of wine.”
“No, you must let Jack and me do the washing up,” I insisted.
What? Of course I didn’t mean it; I knew full well she wouldn’t take me up on the offer. Snigger!
“I won’t hear of it. Roy and Jack can talk their boring men-talk while we have an intelligent conversation.”
Yvonne took my hand, led me out of the dining room, and through to the lounge. Once inside, she closed the door behind her.
“I know why you’re here,” she said, in a hushed voice.
“You do?”
“I assume it’s about Rex Wrathbringer.”
I nodded.
“I think I can help, but we can’t get into it now in case we’re overheard. Let’s meet down here tonight—say two am?”
“Okay, thanks.”
The evening was spent playing board games (I won, naturally) and chatting. Much to my delight, Yvonne managed to thoroughly embarrass Jack when she brought out photographs of him as a baby.
“You were really chubby,” I
teased him.
“I was not chubby.”
“Look at this one of you in the bath.”
“I think we’ve seen more than enough of these.” He snatched the album from me. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m tuckered out. I’m going up to bed.”
“Me too.” I stifled a yawn.
We said our goodnights, and I followed Jack upstairs.
“Your mum and dad are great,” I said, once we were tucked up in bed.
“They love you too. Or at least they did until they saw you turn into board game psycho.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The games are just meant to be fun.”
“I know that.”
“Then why did you shout, ‘You’re bankrupt, loser!’ to my dad when he couldn’t pay the fee for landing on your hotel?”
“Were those my exact words? I don’t think so. I seem to remember saying something along the lines of: jolly hard luck.”
Jack was soon fast asleep, but I daren’t allow myself to doze off in case I slept straight through to morning. At just before two, I slipped out of bed, and crept downstairs to find Yvonne waiting for me in the lounge.
“Close the door behind you, Jill. Roy is a light sleeper.”
I did as she said, and joined her on the sofa.
“How much do you already know?” she asked.
“Only what Grandma has told me.”
“Your grandmother? How has she heard about any of this?”
“There isn’t much Grandma doesn’t know. For example, she knows you’re a witchfinder.”
“What?” Yvonne looked shocked. “How?”
“She said that she sensed it as soon as you two met.”
“Oh dear. What exactly did she tell you about Rex Wrathbringer?”
“That he’d recently been appointed head of the witchfinders, and that he wanted to make his mark by destroying some high-profile witches.”
“It’s much more specific than that. He has his sights firmly set on you, and you alone. He knows that if he succeeds in destroying you, it will be a big feather in his cap.”
“Do you know him?”
“Rex? Oh, yes. I knew him when he was a Radish.” She grinned. “He’s a horrible little man who should never have risen to such a high office, but then he always did know how to play politics. The good news is that I have information which may help you.”
“That’s good to hear. I wasn’t sure if you would—what with being retired.”
“I still have a few contacts at head office.”
“If you help me, won’t that get back to your contacts?”
“It’s possible, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. I hate the idea of betraying colleagues I’ve known for decades, but my first loyalty always has been, and always will be to my family. And I now consider you to be part of my family.”
“Thank you.” I gave her a hug, and somehow managed to hold back the tears.
“I don’t know how useful the information I have will be, but it’s all I’ve been able to obtain to-date.”
“Anything you can tell me will help.”
“Rex has tasked three of the most experienced, successful witchfinders with finding and destroying you. Two of them work together—they’re actually twin brother and sister. Their names are Vinnie and Minnie Dreadmore. They’re only in their twenties, but both have grey hair.”
“They don’t sound scary.” I shuddered. “At all.”
“They’re young, but very experienced. And completely ruthless. The third one, I know very little about. He or she goes by the name of The Rose. I can’t find anyone who knows anything about them, but their record speaks for itself. Over one hundred witches destroyed.”
“A hundred?”
“At the last count. Almost twice as many as the next in the ‘kill’ league.”
“That would be impressive if it wasn’t so terrifying.”
“You’ll need to be extra vigilant, Jill. I’ll try and find more information about The Rose, and if I do, I’ll get a message to you somehow.”
“Thanks, Yvonne, I really—”
“So, that’s where you are.” Jack appeared in the doorway. “I woke up and you’d gone. What are you two plotting down here?”
“I’ve just asked your mother to get me a huge print of your baby-in-the-bath photo so I can get it framed, and hang it in the lounge.”
The next morning, Yvonne and Roy took us to their favourite country park. The weather was beautiful, and we spent over two hours just walking around, admiring the scenery. After a delicious pub lunch, it was time for Jack and me to head back to Washbridge.
“You’ll have to drive.” Jack handed me the car keys. “I’ve had a drink.”
“Okay.” I’d only had soda water and lime.
“Don’t be strangers.” Yvonne gave first me, and then Jack a big hug. Roy did likewise.
“What were you and Mum really talking about in the middle of the night?”
“None of your business.”
“Were you talking about me?”
“No. Nothing so boring.”
“You aren’t going to tell me, are you?”
“If you must know, we were discussing witches.”
“I only asked. No need to be so sarky.” He reached for the CD player.
“You’re not playing that awful big band noise again.”
“I have to. It will help me to get into the right frame of mind for Saturday.”
Rather than argue, I cast the ‘sleep’ spell, and then slid the Best of Soul CD into the slot.
Now that’s what I call music.
Chapter 10
I had that Monday morning feeling. Why couldn’t the weekend last longer? Was three days too much to ask for?
“You and mum really seemed to hit it off this weekend,” Jack said, over breakfast.
“I really like Yvonne. I like your dad too, but your mum and I seem to have some kind of connection.”
“That’s exactly what Dad said.”
“He did?”
“Yeah. He and I were talking while we were doing the washing up. He said that Mum had always felt like a bit of an outsider. I must admit it had never occurred to me. He said you were the first person that he ever felt ‘got’ Mum.”
“That was nice of him to say.”
“You and Mum seemed to have a lot of whispered conversations. What were they about?”
“You, of course. We were discussing your many faults.” I kissed him. “Only kidding.”
“We really should take those cakes to the new neighbours before they go stale.”
“Now? They’ll probably still be in bed.”
“It’s just turned eight; they should be up by now. You grab one and I’ll take the other.”
We started at what had previously been Blake and Jen’s house. As soon as Jack pressed the doorbell, I could hear movement inside.
“I told you they’d be up,” Jack said.
Moments later, a frail old lady, dressed in a housecoat and crumpled tights, answered the door.
“Hello?” She was shouting, which made me think she must be hard of hearing.
“Hello, there.” Jack smiled. “We’re from across the road.”
“Pardon?”
“We’re your neighbours from across the road,” I shouted. “I’m Jill, and this is Jack.”
“Like the nursery rhyme?”
“Err—yeah.”
“Nice to meet you both. I’m Doris, but everyone calls me Blossom.”
“We’ve brought you a cake, Blossom.” I held out the box. “It’s a welcome to the neighbourhood.”
“How very kind. Won’t you come in for a cup of tea?”
“We have to get to work.”
“Just for a few minutes. It’s the least I can do after you’ve brought me a cake.”
“Okay, then, but just a quick drink.”
Blake and Jen had left the majority of their furniture behind, so the hou
se looked pretty much the same as the last time we’d been there. Jack and I sat in the lounge while Blossom made the tea.
“I’m afraid I don’t have any biscuits. I haven’t had chance to go to the shops yet.” Blossom handed us our cups; her hands were shaking a little, but not enough to spill the tea.
“That’s okay,” Jack said. “There’s a handy shop just down the road; on the corner.”
“They have a particularly fine range of buckets,” I added.
“Will you be living here alone, Blossom?” Jack said, and then took a sip of tea.
“Yes. It’s just me now. Bobby and I were together for fifty-two years. He died three months ago.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I tried the tea, but it was way too sweet. She’d obviously misheard or misunderstood my sugar requirements. “Won’t this house be rather big for you all alone?”
“Much too big, but I moved up here to be close to my daughter. They don’t have room for me at her house—what with the children, the dogs and the parakeet. I’m only renting this until I find somewhere more suitable. A small bungalow would be ideal.”
We made polite, if very loud, conversation for another ten minutes, and then I stood up.
“We’d better get going. We have another cake to deliver next door.”
“Didn’t you like the tea, dearie?”
“It was lovely, but I have a long drive ahead of me.”
“Weak bladder, eh? Comes to us all, dearie.”
“What are you smirking at?” I asked Jack, as we made our way next door.
“How’s that weak bladder of yours?”
“Shut it, or you’ll have a weak bladder, after I’ve kicked you where it hurts.”
The doorbell at Mr Kilbride’s old house wasn’t working, so Jack knocked on the door.
“I can hear someone,” he said.
No one answered, so he knocked louder.
Once again, there was the sound of movement inside, but still no one came to the door.
“Maybe they’re not dressed yet,” Jack said. “Come on, we can try again after work.”
Just then, the door opened a crack, and a man peered around it. For reasons known only to him, he was wearing a balaclava.
