by Adele Abbott
“So it was him?”
“Like I said, I can’t be sure yet, so don’t say anything to anyone.”
“I won’t. I have a photo on my phone from the last time we played the Blue Flags.”
“Can you send it to me?”
“Sure, I’ll do it now.”
Moments later, my phone beeped to confirm the text had been received. I pulled up the attached photo which was of Teddy Barr and Eddie Wonder shaking hands—presumably taken before the game kicked off.
“Thanks, Alan.”
“Is there anything I can do, Jill?”
“No, just keep all of this to yourself. If I’m wrong, I’d rather not tarnish an innocent man’s reputation, and if I’m right, I’d rather not risk tipping him off.”
“I understand, but keep me posted.”
“Will do.”
***
Just then, I received a phone call from Pearl.
“Jill, I got a message that you wanted us to call you.”
“Are you in Cuppy C, now?”
“Yeah.”
“Stay put. I need to talk to you both.”
“Okay. We’ll be in the tea room.”
I hurried over to Cuppy C. The twins were enjoying milkshakes and cupcakes.
“Have you two been upstairs yet?”
“No, we’ve only just got in. We’re shattered. Shopping is a tiring business.”
“You need to take a look upstairs. Those two witches you let the rooms to, are a nightmare.”
“I thought you liked them.” Amber had a milk moustache.
“So did I until I saw what they’d done. They’ve completely ransacked their own rooms, and when I was here earlier, they were in my room, drinking and smoking.”
“Are you sure, Jill?” Pearl looked doubtful. “They both said they were non-smokers.”
“And they don’t seem the sort to ransack their rooms,” Amber said.
“I saw it with my own eyes. I warned them that I’d tell you, but they said they didn’t care.”
“We’d better see what’s going on.” Amber led the way.
I followed them. All three doors were closed, and no one answered when Pearl knocked.
“Look inside,” I prompted.
“I’m not sure.” Pearl hesitated. “We have to respect their privacy.”
“Stuff their privacy.” I pushed open the door to Flora’s room. “See!”
“There’s nothing to see,” Amber said.
“What?” I pushed past her. The room was as tidy as I’d ever seen it. I hurried next door; it was the same. There was no sign of the carnage I’d seen earlier.
“I think you’re being a bit too fussy, Jill,” Amber said. “These rooms look fine to me.”
“But—I—err—they—”
Just then, there were footsteps on the stairs. Moments later, Laura and Flora appeared.
“Hi, there,” Laura said—all sweetness and light. “Is there a problem?”
“No.” Pearl smiled. “Everything is fine.”
“Are you sure?” Flora stepped forward. “We’d rather you said if there’s a problem. We wouldn’t want to upset anyone.”
I glared at them. The two-faced little minxes.
“Everything is okay,” Amber said.
The twins started down the stairs. When they were half way down, Laura and Flora both turned to me, and grinned.
***
I was still spitting feathers when I got back to Washbridge.
Mrs V came through to my office. “Are you okay, Jill? You’re very red in the cheeks.”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“You really should cut back on the caffeine. I don’t think it suits you.”
“I said I’m fine. Was there something you wanted?”
“Pardon me for caring.” She huffed. “There’s a woman in the outer office who’d like to see you. Her name is Lacey Ball. She doesn’t have an appointment.”
“Okay, send her through. And, I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
Lacey Ball had short, unkempt brown hair, and looked like she’d got dressed in the dark.
“Hi, how can I help you, Mrs Ball?”
“Call me Lacey, please.”
“Okay, Lacey, have a seat. What is it I can do for you, exactly?”
“I didn’t know where to turn. I’ve tried the police, but they don’t seem very interested. They won’t take it seriously at all.”
“Won’t take what seriously?”
“I had a phone call two days ago.” She hesitated.
“Yes?”
“It was from my sister; we’re identical twins.”
“Okay.”
“She warned me to be careful.”
“Careful about what?”
“She didn’t say. She just said, ‘Lacey, be careful’, and then the line went dead.”
“Did you try to call her back?”
“The number was withheld.”
“Don’t you have her number, anyway? Couldn’t you have gone around to her house?”
“My sister died in a car crash three years ago.”
“Sorry. I thought for a moment there that you said the call was from your sister who died three years ago.”
“That is what I said.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I. It came totally out of the blue.”
“Are you sure it was your sister’s voice?”
“Of course I’m sure. I know my own sister’s voice; I’d know it anywhere.”
“I don’t want to appear rude, but have you been under a lot of stress lately?”
“I’m not crazy if that’s what you mean.”
“What did the police say?”
“They said they couldn’t help me because their records showed that my sister had died three years ago. That’s why I’m here today.”
“You say she died in a car crash?”
“Yes, it was a terrible accident. The car went off the road, hit a tree, and caught fire. I don’t like to think about it.”
“I’m sorry to have brought it up.”
“That’s okay. I just need someone to help me. Will you?”
“Yes, but I have to tell you this is one of the strangest cases I’ve come across.”
I seemed to be attracting them at the moment.
Chapter 14
I’d popped out of the office to go to the local supermarket to get myself a ginger beer and an Eccles cake. I was just in the mood for a dead fly cake, as we used to call them as kids. It was ages since I’d had one.
As I was walking back to the office, I spotted a familiar figure: a cat. It was Bella. She was racing along the pavement, but wasn’t headed towards her apartment block. She was going in the opposite direction. What was she up to? I was curious, so I followed her.
She walked down the side of the building, and began to meow loudly. After two or three minutes, a door opened and I heard someone say, “Bella, come on in.”
I rushed down the alleyway, and managed to grab the door before it closed. Inside, an old lady, followed by Bella, was walking down the corridor. She took a key from her pocket, and unlocked the door to one of the apartments. Bella followed her inside.
I gave it a couple of minutes, and then knocked on her door. The old lady answered.
“Hello, yes?”
“I’m sorry to trouble you, but I’ve just seen Bella go into your apartment.”
“She comes here every day, dear. Always around this time. She meows to let me know she’s here.”
“Do you feed her?”
“Of course. Only the best for Bella, though. She’s very picky. I give her salmon occasionally, but she won’t touch pink.”
I knew the feeling. “How long does she stay here?”
“Usually only for half an hour or so—sometimes an hour. Although she does occasionally stay overnight, but that’s very rare.”
“Do you actually know where Bella lives?”
“No idea, dea
r. I assume it must be somewhere close by. She uses me as a feeding station.” The old lady bent down and stroked Bella. “But I don’t mind. She’s a beautiful cat.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” I said.
“Mrs Shuman. Not shoe as in a shoe that you put on your foot. Shu as in S-H-U, Shuman.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs Shuman. My name is Jill Gooder. I work in the office building across the road.”
“The one with the new sign?”
“That’s the one.”
“Is it a tanning salon?”
“Not exactly. Look, Mrs Shuman, I know Bella’s owners. They’re a couple called Bonnie and Clive.”
“Didn’t they used to rob banks and shoot people?”
“No. It’s Clive, not Clyde.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, Clive hasn’t been well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“They’re going to have to move, but they can’t take Bella with them.”
“Oh dear. What will happen to her?”
“That’s what I’d like to talk to you about.”
***
“Winky!”
“What’s up? Couldn’t you see I was asleep?”
“I have good news for you, about Bella. She won’t be leaving.”
“Have you found somewhere for her?”
“I have.”
“You’re a superstar. I’ve always said so.”
Words almost failed me.
“An old lady named Mrs Shuman, in the next apartment block down the road, is going to take her in. I’ve let Bonnie and Clive know. They’re thrilled with the arrangement. Bonnie is going to go around to see Mrs Shuman, so they can sort out the details.”
“Which floor will she be on?”
“The ground floor.”
“Will I be able to see her window from here?”
“I think so.”
“That’s brilliant. I always knew you’d do it.”
“You owe me one, Winky.”
“Of course. Your wish is my command.”
Hmm? I’d have to remember that.
***
I planned to show the photo of Teddy Barr to Richard Bow, the delivery driver. If he confirmed that the man he’d given the blood to was indeed Teddy Barr, then I’d have enough to take it to Maxine Jewell.
When I rang Richard, he told me that he had a very old-fashioned phone.
“It’s one of those you can only make calls on. I can’t receive photos or anything like that. I’m sorry.”
“Not to worry. Could I meet up with you somewhere, so I can show you the photo face to face?”
“Sure. How about outside the north gate of Candlefield Park?”
“Yeah, that would be fine.”
Thirty minutes later, when his van pulled up outside the park gates, I was waiting for him. The van had the name: ‘SynBlood’ on the side. I knocked on the window.
“Richard?”
“Are you Jill?”
“That’s me. Thanks for coming.”
“No problem. How can I help? You said something about a photograph?”
I took out my phone and brought up the photo. “Take a look at this. Is that the man who took the blood delivery from you at David Warren’s house?”
“Yes, that’s him.” He touched the screen with his finger.
***
Ever since I’d bumped into Eddie Wonder coming out of the launderette, something had been bugging me about him. He’d seemed so nervous on that day, and yet when I’d first met him, he’d come across as super confident—almost arrogant. With Teddy Barr in the frame for the poisonings, I’d more or less dismissed my concerns about Eddie. But, after my meeting with Richard Bow, I now had good reason to take a closer look at Captain Wonderful.
Something Alan had said came back to me. He’d told me that Eddie had been due to get married; he and his fiancée had even set a date. Then out of the blue, she’d called it off and dumped him. Alan had no idea why.
I’d managed to get her name and phone number from Alan.
“Hello?” A timid voice answered.
“Hi. Is that Amelia Jett?”
“Yes. Speaking.”
“Look, you don’t know me, but my name is Jill Gooder. I’m a friend of Alan, who plays in the same BoundBall team as Eddie Wonder. I believe you and Eddie were engaged to be married?”
“That’s right. Why?”
“Had you heard that a couple of Eagles’ players were rushed to hospital recently?”
“No, but then, I’ve lost touch with the BoundBall scene since Eddie and I broke up.”
“That’s understandable. I’ve been asked to see if I can find out what caused their sudden illness. I wondered if I might ask you a few questions about Eddie?”
“What kind of questions? I haven’t seen him for a while. He’s not ill is he?”
“No, he’s fine. I believe you and he were going to be married?”
“Yes, we were.” I could hear the sorrow in her voice.
“Why did you call the wedding off?”
“I’d rather not discuss that.”
“Was Eddie cheating on you?”
“No, nothing like that. If you must know, it was money problems.”
“What kind of money problems?”
“We’d been saving for the wedding for such a long time. We had such great plans. I’d chosen a dress, and picked the hotel where we were going to have the reception, but then—” She hesitated.
“What happened?”
“The money was gone.”
“Gone? You mean it was stolen?”
“No. Not stolen. Look, I really don’t want to talk about this.”
“Amelia, could I just—”
The line was dead.
What did she mean the money had gone? If it hadn’t been stolen, and she hadn’t taken it, that left only Eddie. Had he squandered the wedding money in some way? Was that why she called off the wedding? It certainly sounded like it.
***
“Hello?” I called. “Anyone in?”
The launderette smelled, and not in a good way.
“What do you want?” A werewolf, wearing a hoody, appeared from the back.
“Any chance of a service wash?” I held up my bag.
“Sling your hook.”
Customer service was alive and well in Candlefield.
“How much does a service wash cost?”
“I told you. Get lost before I do something you’ll regret.”
Just then, another man—a wizard—came from out of the back somewhere.
“See you, Tommy,” he said to the werewolf as he passed by.
“Yeah. See you, Jim.”
I followed Jim out of the shop, and waited until we were out of the market place.
“Excuse me.”
“Yeah?”
“I saw you come out of the launderette.”
“What about it?”
“Did you get what you wanted?”
“Course I didn’t. I never do. I don’t know why I keep going back.”
“I was thinking of trying it myself.”
“Don’t! Take it from me. Betting is a mugs game, and once you start, you’ll never be able to stop.”
“Okay. Thanks for the advice.”
***
I was still feeling a little paranoid about my room at Cuppy C. Had those two little witches wrecked it again? Were they in there right now, smoking or drinking? I couldn’t rest; I needed to check.
I magicked myself over there, only to find the twins were out again.
“Where are they today?” I asked one of the assistants.
“They’ve gone to see their accountant.”
I couldn’t help but wonder if that was true, or if it was code for another shopping expedition. Upstairs, there was no sign of Flora or Laura. My room looked okay, and I couldn’t smell alcohol or cigarettes. I didn’t look in the other girls’ rooms, but I was fairly sure neither o
f them were in. Satisfied, I made my way back downstairs, and ordered a cupcake and a latte.
From my seat at the window table, I glanced across the road. Sitting by the window in Best Cakes, were two familiar faces. It was Laura and Flora, and they were with Miles and Mindy. Even from this distance, I could see them laughing and joking together. What were they up to? I’d need to keep an eye on those two.
***
Thankfully, the queue of traffic on the approach to the toll bridge was only a few cars long.
“Hello, Jill.” It was Mr Ivers. “I have something for you.”
And I had a horrible feeling I knew what it was.
“Look! Your back issues—all twenty-four of them.”
“That’s very kind of you, but you really shouldn’t have bothered.”
“It’s no trouble. I knew you’d be disappointed to miss out.”
Crushed.
“That’s seventy-two pounds.”
“How much?”
“I realise that’s a lot to pay at once, so I’ve decided to give you a special, one-off discount.”
“Thanks.”
“We’ll call it seventy pounds.”
“Seventy? That’s still a lot.”
“Okay, I’ll throw in the price of the toll for that.” He passed me the pile of newsletters.
“I don’t suppose I could pay in instalments, could I?”
“Sorry, Jill, I really do need the money. As you’ve probably already gathered, I lost my previous job. I’ve been out of work for quite some time.”
“Seventy pounds?”
“Yes, please, but like I said, that does include the toll.”
A car horn beeped. There was now a queue of vehicles behind me.
“Can I pay by card?”
“Sorry, it’s cash only.”
“Okay.” I emptied my purse onto the passenger seat. I had a grand total of seventy-two pounds and fifty-three pence.
“There you go then, Mr Ivers—seventy pounds.”
“Thanks, Jill. They should keep you going for a while. There are some really good reviews in there, even if I do say so myself. Would you like me to talk you through the best ones?”
“Not now, thanks. There’s quite a queue building up behind me.”
“They can wait. If you’d like me to—”
