“Most of the witches whose opinions differed from hers were smart enough to not say so too loudly,” Iris said. “You might say I purposely went out of my way to tell her what I thought. I know now that wasn’t the wisest thing to do, but I never expected to be railroaded for murder. It’s taken me a few years to finally accept my fate. Besides, I get more special treats that way.”
That angered Petunia. “Why didn’t you leave Witchataw before you went to trial?”
“Where would I go? I have no friends or family. And I’m positive Witches Affairs would have found me and dragged me back here.”
“There are plenty of places you could have gone, perhaps even among other witches.”
“I can tell you’re a good witch, but some things are better left alone.” Iris frowned. “And as to your earlier question, whenever a Grand Witch is in office, she casts a spell on her office door whenever she leaves, so not even a very good witch could access it.”
“Just like my Aunt Maxine does at home.”
“I received quite the jolt when I touched her bookcase,” Noah admitted.
“If you came here to ask me about who I thought might want Marta dead, you wasted a trip.”
“I don’t think I did, but what would happen if that book surfaced?”
“I’d say that it should never be found because a curse is associated with it.”
“So the accidental deaths of the other Grand Witches were due to a curse?”
“Aren’t you listening?”
“Yes, but I’m having difficulty understanding how a book can cause accidents and deaths to occur.”
“You have a lot to learn, witch, but fortunately you have time with your aunt as your mentor.”
“I can’t even clear her name.”
“Pricilla, help them with what they need.”
“I will. Thank you, Iris. It’s always such a pleasure to see that you’re fed well.”
Iris smiled and Petunia thanked her for the information, and vowed to help her somehow.
Pricilla led them from the room and back to the car. Petunia waited until it was on the move before she said, “We need to help Iris.” She frowned. “But we’d have to have a peek at the court documents, and I can’t see the board handing them over easily.”
“I can get them, but it will involve a little breaking and entering while the party is going on tonight,” Pricilla said. “They go all out with fireworks, and roast hot dogs and marshmallows. All the witches will be present, including the board members.”
“But won’t the board’s building be locked or a spell cast on the doors?”
“It’s cleaned at night, and the cleaning lady always forgets and leaves the back door unlocked.”
“They can’t have documents like that easily accessible,” Noah said.
“They’re kept in the record’s room under sealed files, but I have Estelle’s card key, so it won’t be too hard.”
“But won’t they think Estelle was in the building after hours?”
“Yes, but I didn’t think you’d worry about that knowing what you do about her now.”
Petunia frowned. While she thought Estelle seemed the likely suspect for Marta’s murder, she hardly wanted Estelle to look bad to the board. “Was the trip to the prison tonight your way of having us taking a look at Iris’s files?”
“I must admit it was, but I’ll also help you get those files about the detective’s findings. I really admire Iris and the way she never tolerated Estelle’s behavior.”
“Why didn’t you try to stop the trial?” Noah asked.
“I tried, but Estelle out ruled me. She even had me barred from the courtroom.”
“One of the board members had to have been involved too. I can’t see Estelle doing this all on her own.”
“You’d be surprised how easy it was for her to convince the board who really wanted a resolution to the cases. Nobody wanted to believe there could be a curse from a spell book that’s centuries old.”
Petunia bit her lip and glanced into the distance as the car entered the end of the line. After it came to a jerky stop, they exited, and Pricilla said, “You certainly clammed up when we were talking about that spell book. Is there a reason?”
“Let’s just say I might know something about that book, but I can’t believe it could possibly have been where we found it for an extended period.”
“Found it? You mean you have it?”
“Yes, in my purse,” Petunia admitted.
Pricilla backed up. “I see. Well, in that case it’s a good thing we’re going to the government building. We’ll safely hide it there.”
“But Iris said it’s cursed!”
“There are ways to keep a curse contained in a spell book. You haven’t opened it have you?”
Petunia’s eyes widened. “No.”
“Good. You should be okay then, but we had better get moving. You’ll have to put on your witch dress. That way when we cross the courtyard, nobody will be aware that anything is amiss. But you’ll have to lose the boyfriend.”
“Consider me lost,” Noah said as they walked up the stairs.
“Good, because where we’re going, no mortal dare follow.”
“Can I take my cat? I’d feel safer with him along.”
“Of course. That will make it even easier to blend in.”
Chapter fifteen
Petunia and Noah walked into their room. Aunt Maxine, Wanda, and Hazel were strangely absent. Petunia went to change into her purple witch outfit, which was spread on the bed, with a note from her aunt that read, “No witch can go without her own witchy dress.”
She nearly jumped out of her skin when she spied Pansy yawning, perched next to Princess, who was fast asleep.
“Where are you going dressed like that?” Pansy asked.
“On a covert operation. Would you like to come with me?”
Pansy dropped to the floor, “Would I ever!”
“Should we wake Princess?”
Pansy lazily looked over at Princess. “I think not. Besides, I’m your cat, she’s not.”
* * *
In the main room, Noah had his suitcase open and fiddled with a small box with wires leading from it.
“What are you doing?”
“Wiring you.”
“You most certainly will not! What exactly did you mean by that?”
He smiled. “I’ve brought along a listening device that I’ll attach to you. That way I can hear everything being said. So that way … .”
“If I get into trouble, you can save the day,” she finished for him.
“You two are answering each other sentences already. Talk about scary,” Pansy muttered.
“Stop it Pansy. You know I still love you.”
Pansy’s face puckered. “I hope you don’t expect me to return your sentiment. I haven’t completely forgotten our shaky beginnings. You know, like when I was human.”
“I thought we were past that.”
“We are, but don’t push me, Red, with those sappy comments.”
Petunia tried to not flinch when Noah reached under the top of her dress and stuck the wire deep in her bra. She jumped with a giggle when his fingers brushed against her skin.
“What’s so funny,” he asked with shake of his head.
“I’m ticklish.”
“You had better get moving. That wire is hidden well enough. I’ll be listening the entire time, I promise.” He snapped shut a case that looked just like an iPhone. “This way nobody would think anything out of the ordinary if I have ear buds in.”
“Will you be staying in the room?”
“No, I think it would be better if I mingled outside. That way when -- I mean if -- you’re in trouble it won’t take me long to get there.”
Petunia liked the sound of that, but she didn’t anticipate having any problems unless the board returned to the government building while she was there with Pricilla. She certainly didn’t want to be caught or go to prison for breaking i
nto the building.
“Meet up with Pricilla and I’ll come down once I’m sure that you’re outside.”
Petunia sighed. “I hope things go as planned. We need to get this out of the way before we’ll be able to get the files the detective compiled.”
“Make sure you remind Pricilla that you need them.”
“I will.” Before Petunia left she gave Noah a hug. “For luck,” she muttered.
Petunia was quite nervous when she left with Pansy, who pranced along next to her with more spring in his step than normal.
“Relax, Red,” Pansy said. “Pricilla will be on guard if she sees you rattled like this.”
“I know, but I can’t help it. I would hate to be caught and sent to that awful prison.”
“Where have you been tonight?” Petunia then told Pansy where they had been and where they were going now. “I wish I hadn’t missed that, but I’m glad you’re bringing me along now.”
“The truth is that I thought I’d be less nervous with you along.”
“And everyone knows moral support is a good thing.”
Petunia walked outside and Pricilla jumped out at them. “There you are. I was hoping you’d show up. Don’t you need to find a lab to make that antidote you were telling me about?”
“Is this part of the scheme?” Pansy asked.
“I hope not. I’m not mentally prepared for that.” Petunia smiled though and responded to Pricilla by saying, “Why yes.”
Petunia walked with Pricilla, and they waved at Daria and Belinda, who were standing next to Gwendolyn and Yelda from the ferry ride.
Pricilla and Petunia disappeared in the crowd that packed the courtyard. It was completely dark now, with not even a star in the sky, but Petunia figured that had to do with the fact that Witchataw was always surrounded by fog.
Only as they approached the steps of the government building did Petunia notice that there was a light on inside.
“Is someone here?”
“I hope not,” Pricilla said. “They always leave a light on inside.”
That helped Petunia relax -- a little. They followed a lighted sidewalk around the back, and Pricilla opened the door, which was unlocked
They walked a few feet in, turned to the right and went through a door and down a set of stone steps. Petunia’s heart rapped against her chest as the mustiness hit her nostrils.
Petunia glanced the basement. This section looked like a real Michigan basement, where a crawlspace had been further excavated. But as she followed Pricilla up a step and through another door, they entered a finished room. Bookshelves lined one wall, and one contained glass cases.
Pricilla opened an empty case and said, “Put the spell book in here, and we’ll lock it. Nobody will ever know it’s here.”
Petunia was uncertain, but placed the spell book inside the glass case and closed it. Pricilla put a small lock on it, but instead of placing it on the shelf with the other ones, she pulled a loose brick from the wall behind the bookcase, shoved the case inside and replaced the brick.
“How will anyone find it?”
“Hopefully nobody ever finds it,” Pricilla said. It’s best that book never surfaces, just like all the other antique spell books. Today’s witches wouldn’t know how to handle a book like that. Now the curse will be lifted.”
“But Marta’s death had nothing to do with the curse.”
“I know that, but it never hurts to be safe. Now we can find the files for Iris’s court case.”
“Is she for real?” Pansy asked.
“Actually, I think so, but I’m not so certain whether a cursed spell book actually exists.”
Petunia followed Pricilla back up the stairs. They carefully closed the door and made way into the records room, Pricilla pressed a code on a keypad to open the door.
“You have access to be in here?”
“Yes, but I kind of borrowed Estelle’s code. I’m sure she’ll have an alibi because she’s in charge of the auditions tonight.”
Petunia didn’t like the sound of that. Yes, Estelle was a nuisance and possibly responsible for Iris’s incarceration, but she wasn’t certain about that yet.
She followed Pricilla into an office containing rows of file cabinets. Pricilla jimmied the lock of one and yanked open the drawer. She pulled a small flashlight from her pocket, using it to identify a file that she then handed to Petunia. Petunia carried the file back into the entrance, where she was startled by a flood of light, blinding her. She squinted in the light to find she faced the board of directors.
“What is going on here?” Ruby demanded with a raised penciled-in brow.
“I-I … .” Petunia then exhaled sharply. “I went to see Iris at the prison today, and I was curious about her case.”
“And you thought you’d help yourself to the files?” Senna asked.
Petunia laughed nervously. “All I had planned to do was look them over and see how she was convicted for the deaths of three Grand Witches when their deaths were accidents.”
“Who put you up to that?” Claudia asked.
“Nobody. I just told you, I visited Iris in prison.”
“Still, I can’t imagine you found your way inside and into a locked file room here unless you had help.”
“Tell them Pricilla brought you in here,” Pansy suggested.
“No! I refuse to rat her out.”
“Then you’ll be the next one in prison.”
The board spoke in hushed tones and then faced Petunia again, but instead of saying anything, Maeve walked over to the records room and called out, “Show yourself, Pricilla. We know Petunia didn’t find her way into this room without the necessary codes.”
Claudia walked to the keypad and pressed a series of keys until a four-digit code flashed. “She used Estelle’s code again.”
Pricilla reluctantly showed her face at the door and said, “What did you expect me to do? Iris is my sister, and I know she’s not guilty.”
Petunia’s eyes widened, her sister? Now it all made sense. Pricilla didn’t want to help her; she had her own agenda.
“You’re fooling yourself, Pricilla,” Ruby said. “Come along into the board room.”
Petunia and Pricilla sat at the defendant’s table. Ruby took the files from Petunia and thumbed through them, pulling out several papers and a memory card.
She set them down so Petunia and Pricilla were able to see them.
“As you can see, there is a list of witnesses who overheard Iris threatening the Grand Witches to give up their positions so that her sister, Pricilla, could be elected.”
“And within twenty-four hours, each of them supposedly died accidentally,” Senna added. “The photos at the scene show a radio was thrown into the bathwater.”
“Didn’t one fall down the stairs?” Petunia asked.
“Yes, but we’ll get to that in a moment,” Ruby said. “We’ll discuss the extension cord that was wrapped around Anna’s neck first. The photos at that scene also show something odd. We first suspected suicide, but the ladder wasn’t close enough to where she was found hanging. And her fingernails were broken.”
“Which would indicate she fought for her life,” Petunia added.
“Yes, and Iris had scratches on her arms and face.”
“Was there DNA evidence under Anna’s nails?”
“Yes. Which brings us to the surveillance recordings.” Ruby put the memory card into a computer and video rolled on the large wall screen. It showed Iris walking the hallways and into the rooms of two of the victims. Another scene clearly displayed Iris chasing Mary along the hallway and shoving her down the stairs.
Pricilla hung her head now. “I swear I had no idea that Iris did any of those things. If only I had been in the courtroom instead of barred.”
“We had to bar you, Pricilla,” Senna said. “You caused a disruption every time you were in court.”
“I’m afraid Iris certainly had me convinced she was innocent, too,” Petunia admitted. “No won
der she seemed so content to serve her sentence now.”
“But didn’t Iris know you didn’t want to run for Grand Witch, Pricilla?” Petunia asked.
“I told her that, but she never believed me and kept adding my name to the ballots. It’s a shame that I didn’t actively compete for the election the way I should have. I almost wish I had another chance because it’s what Iris has always wanted for me.”
“It should be about you, Pricilla, and what you want to do,” Petunia said. “But there’s one thing I have to know ... did you kill Marta?”
Pricilla’s eyes widened. “I most certainly did not. How could you even think that?”
“Why wouldn’t you think that?” Pansy said.
“I suppose it’s because you went to great lengths to try to get Iris out of prison. Perhaps you thought Marta’s death would clear your sister by pointing to another suspect.”
“But I wasn’t here in Witchataw at the time of Marta’s death. Besides, I’m no murderer, even if my sister did what they claim.”
Petunia sighed and rubbed her brow. “So even with all this evidence, you still don’t believe she’s guilty?”
“She’s my sister, and as far as I’m concerned she’ll never be guilty. I’m sure it’s hard for you to believe that.”
“Actually it’s not,” Petunia said. “I’m beginning to think that I’ll never be able to clear my aunt’s name, not with Estelle denying me a copy of the detective’s report.”
“What detective?” Ruby asked.
“Detective Winslow. He was here the day we arrived when we were investigating the crime scene.”
“So Estelle’s son was here playing detective?” Maeve said. “I thought he was barred from Witchataw.”
“He is, but apparently Estelle has forgotten what we told her,” Ruby said.
“So if he’s her son, that must mean there is no report or evidence collected?”
“We’ll call her right away and settle this matter.”
“But isn’t she involved with the auditions tonight?”
“What auditions?” Maeve said. “There are no auditions tonight.”
Petunia’s headache was beginning to intensify the longer they spoke. “What will you do about Estelle’s behavior? It should be a crime to frame my aunt for murder. She never murdered Marta and would have no reason to, even if she was summonsed to Witchataw to talk about her withdrawal from Witches Affairs.”
Meows, Magic & Missing (Lake Forest Witches Book 3) Page 13
