She approached Estelle and handed over antidote. “I’ll have to check this out right away.” Estelle moved to the audition area and motioned Maria over. “It’s time for us to check out the potion Petunia whipped up for us.”
“And this had better work,” Maria spat, “or I’ll shave your head!” Petunia tried to focus all her energy on the potion. Estelle and Maria removed their wigs amid gasps. They smeared the antidote on their heads, rubbing it into their scalps. “Just as I thought,” Maria said, “It’s useless!”
“Wait,” one of the candidates said. “I see the hair growing.”
And the hair did grow, and continued to grow and grow until their hair touched the ground. The candidates clapped and Maria laughed. “I guess I was wrong. I think we’ll need a haircut after the auditions!”
Next up was the flying audition. Belinda was able to fly her broom with ease after a bumpy start. Petunia glanced to where Daria was again speaking to Gwendolyn. She couldn’t help but wonder if they knew one another. She had her answer when Maria glared in that direction.
“What’s the matter? Isn’t Gwendolyn supposed to be here?” Petunia asked.
“I suppose so. She’s running for Grand Witch because my mother isn’t allowed on the ballot.”
“Has she tried before?”
“She tried, but Marta won the nomination to the ballot instead. She wasn’t happy when Marta won, either.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that earlier, or mention it when we spoke to the board last night?”
“Last night we were on the defensive. So you hardly should have expected that I’d share any information with you. Besides, I don’t like you -- you made us bald.”
Petunia couldn’t blame her for that, but her attention was now focused on Gwendolyn and Daria, who disappeared into the merchant area.
“Is Daria done now?”
“Yes, and there’s no reason for her to linger here. Besides, I’m certain that she’d rather spend some time with her mother.”
Petunia felt ill. “Who is her mother?”
“Gwendolyn. I thought you knew. Certainly Daria must have mentioned it. You’ve been hanging out with her.”
Petunia trembled. “No, I didn’t know. Thanks, Maria,” Petunia said, giving Maria an unwelcomed hug before sprinting toward the vendor area.
“Where are we going?” Pansy asked.
“I think I know who killed Marta.”
The vendor area was packed with multicolored witch’s dresses hanging at some of the stations while ingredients for potions filled shelves at others. Still more featured riding brooms or wands. Petunia scanned the area but couldn’t see Gwendolyn or Daria. She bumped into Wanda. “Are you done already?” she asked.
“Yes. Did you see Gwendolyn come through here with Daria?”
“Your friend Daria?”
“She’s Gwendolyn’s daughter.”
“That’s certainly a new development.”
“Have you seen them pass through here?”
“Yes, but they went in through the dining room.”
Petunia thanked Wanda and headed for the dining room. The large room was empty.
“Where could they have gone?”
“I don’t know, Red, but we had better start looking for them.”
Petunia poked her head in the parlor, where Pricilla sat with her niece. “Sorry, Pricilla. Why didn’t Nellie compete with the other candidates?”
“I thought it would be better for everyone involved. And after the way Daria’s mother spoke to me, I knew it wasn’t worth the risk.”
“Do you mean Gwendolyn?”
“Yes. She’s never treated me like that before. And to think that I cried on her shoulder last night after I came back from the board.”
“Did you happen to tell her that I was taking the poison that Danny gave to me to Doctor Baldwin?”
“Yes, but why would that matter?”
“I have the feeling that she is involved in Marta’s murder.”
Petunia went to the elevator, but there was a long line so she opted for the stairs instead. Because there was no cell service here she couldn’t call Noah to accompany her to Doctor Baldwin’s office.
“Pansy, you need to find Noah and tell him I’m heading to the doctor’s office. I think Gwendolyn might be going there to alter the tests of that poison.”
“I’m on it, Red,” Pansy said, darting up the stairs.
When Petunia glanced through the window in the door that separated her from Doctor Baldwin’s office, she saw Gwendolyn and Daria. She crept into the lab, where a technician stared through a microscope. She heard Gwendolyn ask, “Any luck finding out whether those poisons match?”
“What poisons?”
“The one Danny used to kill Marta.” Gwendolyn clutched the technician’s lab coat. “Your report needs to state that the poisons match.”
“I can’t do that. It’s not true.”
Daria reached into her pocket, but instead of coming out with her wand, she held a dart in her hand.
Petunia had to act before they killed the technician.
“Hello, Daria,” Petunia said in a friendly way. “I didn’t know you knew Gwendolyn. I was so surprised to learn that she’s your mother.”
The technician’s face paled. “Are you here to help me or are you with them?”
“I’m here to make sure the report is written correctly. That its says the poisons don’t match, although I suspect the poison that killed Marta will match what’s in that dart Daria is holding.”
Daria turned on her. “Why did you follow me? I thought you were my friend.”
“I thought so too, but then I didn’t know you murdered Marta. Now I know how the poison was delivered. What I don’t understand is why your mother would have you murder Marta.” She sighed. “Unless your mother thought she’d be able to find her way onto the ballot for the next election. You should have known they’d at least conduct an autopsy to determine how Marta died.”
“I had that fixed until you frightened the doctor by telling him you had planned to tell the board he falsified documents,” Gwendolyn sneered. “Or I should say Daria did.”
“So it was Daria and not Pricilla like he claimed!” Petunia shook her head. “But it appears you’re making the real cause of her death work out for you, now. Although I’m not sure why you’d do that to Pricilla.”
“It’s one less witch to compete with me for the next Grand Witch election. With Pricilla on the hot seat, I imagine her name won’t be on the ballot.” Gwendolyn smiled evilly now.
“It’s a shame you’re here, Petunia. I really didn’t plan to kill anyone,” Daria said. “But it’s not fair that my mother’s name wasn’t put on that ballot, and now that Estelle can’t be put on it, she’ll be a shoo-in.”
“You should turn yourself in now before someone else gets hurt.”
“Petunia is right,” Noah said as he walked next to Petunia.
“How much did you hear?” Gwendolyn asked.
“Enough.”
“You know it’s over. You can’t kill all of us,” Petunia said. “How would you explain our bodies?”
“You’ll never be found,” Gwendolyn said. “I know plenty of places between here and the prison where one can hide a body.”
Petunia knew that was true and her heart fell to her stomach when she heard Gwendolyn order, “Kill them, Daria!”
Daria threw a dart at the technician, but Noah pulled her out of the way and it landed harmlessly on the floor. Gwendolyn opened her bag and threw her tarantula at Noah and they fell to the floor together, Noah immobilized by his fear.
Daria reloaded with darts, and Petunia pleaded with Daria to not comply with her mother’s request. “You know this is wrong. Please don’t do this!”
Noah struggled to sit up and brush the spider off him as Daria hurled another dart.
Chapter Eighteen
A spark shot from behind them, striking the dart in mid-air and propelling it into a w
all. Pricilla walked into the room, wand in hand. “It’s over, Gwendolyn. Tell your daughter to put those darts down or I’ll drop her where she stands.”
Petunia kicked the tarantula off Noah and helped him to his feet. He had to lean against Petunia while he caught his breath.
Security guards raced onto the scene. “Cuff Gwendolyn and Daria. They killed the Grand Witch,” Petunia said.
“You know I didn’t do that. I came in on the boat with you,” Gwendolyn howled.
“I know, but you conspired to kill Marta. What I can’t believe is that you’d put your daughter in the middle of this.”
“It wasn’t that much of a push,” Nellie said as she joined them. “She broke my wand today so I couldn’t audition.”
“Take them to the government building,” Pricilla said, “the board will make sure these two never see the light of day again.”
“Should we look for that tarantula?” Petunia asked.
“No, I’ll find him. I’ve always wanted one for my familiar,” Nellie said.
“I hope you’ll also like her rat and boa. The tarantula’s name is Herman.”
“Oh, great!”
“I don’t care as long as that spider stays away from me,” Noah shuddered.
“Are you okay?” Petunia asked the technician.
“Yes, and thanks to you I’ll live to see another day.
“Go ahead and get back upstairs,” Pricilla said. “I’ll take care of speaking to the board. I guess I shouldn’t have spilled my guts to Gwendolyn last night.”
“Don’t blame yourself. If you hadn’t, we might never have figured out who murdered Marta.”
* * *
Petunia stood in line at the voting booth two days later. After voting, she made her way to Noah. “So who did you vote for?” he asked.
“I’m not saying.” She didn’t want to tell anyone she hadn’t voted for Aunt Maxine, who had been added to the ballot by default. Aunt Maxine was currently stopping all would-be voters before they came in to tell them she didn’t want to be elected because she had no plans to stay in Witchataw. Pricilla was also on the ballot. Petunia voted for her. She had shown the board that she could be trusted and Petunia thought that she’d make a good Grand Witch.
Petunia met up with Aunt Maxine and convinced her to leave the voters alone and stay at a picnic table with Hazel and Wanda.
“I hope when we get back to Lake Forest that you figure out a way to whip up an antidote for Lucy’s green skin,” Petunia said. “Although I must say it certainly made her wrinkles nearly non-existent.”
Aunt Maxine’s face lighted up. “Really?”
“Yes, but I don’t think you should work on perfecting it. I don’t think the world is ready for ageless-looking women of eighty. I know I’ll embrace whatever age I am.”
“That’s because you’re young, Petunia. You’ll change your mind.”
“So will we be sticking around for the results of the election?” Noah asked.
“Are you kidding? Our bags are already packed and on the ferry.”
They waved to Pricilla, who positively beamed, but bypassed Estelle and Maria, who were having their hair cut again. It would not stop growing. They had refused to allow Petunia another go at the antidote, but she left a jar in their room anyway. At least they weren’t angry any longer about Estelle not being on the ballot. Estelle seemed happy enough being president of Witches Affairs. Petunia was also now a member, though she still didn’t understand the benefits.
The pilot honked the boat’s horn and they ran to get on board before it pulled away from the dock. On board and heading out of the fog, Noah said, “I hate to say this, but I’m glad to be leaving Witchataw. I’m more comfortable investigating when I’m not given all the information I need.”
“So you prefer to wrangle it out of them?” Petunia asked.
“Exactly, and I’m not ready to live among so many witches. I’ve had a witch overload, actually. I’m just happy that you don’t fly around on a broom or zap things with a wand.”
“Of course if it wasn’t for a wand neither of us would be here now.”
They laughed as the boat cleared the fog and the Michigan coastline came into view.
* * *
When they entered Petunia’s house much later that day, Lucy sat on the couch watching “Family Feud,” her face a shade of green that Petunia didn’t know existed. Noah took hold of Melvin, who nearly knocked him over with joy.
Aunt Maxine disappeared into the kitchen, presumably to mix an antidote for Lucy’s condition, or so Petunia hoped.
“Melvin is certainly happy to see you,” Petunia said.
“Yes, he doesn’t care for your cats. That’s my cue to leave,” Noah said with a grin.
“I’m so sorry for this, Lucy,” Petunia said.
“Don’t blame yourself. It was all your aunt’s doing. Teach me to play test dummy.”
“I’ve got it,” Aunt Maxine said. “All you have to do is drink this tea.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes, but you’d better hurry because someone is about to knock on the door.”
Lucy signed and gulped the tea as someone indeed knocked on the door. They ignored the knock until Lucy’s face returned to its normal color, wrinkles included.
Petunia opened the door and Cora barged in. “Look, sheriff, there’s the green-faced monster!” She inhaled sharply. “It must be hiding.”
“What must be hiding?” Petunia asked.
“Cora insisted that she saw something or someone at your house with green skin,” the sheriff said from the porch. “I hope you weren’t mixing any more of your potions here.”
“Of course not! In fact, I just returned home from a trip out of town.” She motioned to the suitcases.
“I’m sorry to have bothered you,” the sheriff said. “Come along, Cora, there’s nothing to see here, but there is such a thing as filing a false police report.”
“But I was certain,” Cora mumbled as she left and Petunia closed the door.
Aunt Maxine’s phone chimed, indicating a text, and she shouted, “Yes! Pricilla was elected Grand Witch.”
“I thought they couldn’t get cell service at Witchataw.”
“It was from someone who left after us.”
Petunia was happy. She liked Pricilla, even though many claimed she was a bad witch. She had gotten to know her in a much different way.
Gem and Sassy mauled Pansy, while Merlin stared angrily at Petunia, who knew just what to do. She made her way into the kitchen and shook the food box. Within seconds the cats surrounded her. She fed them and sat down in enjoyment to the sounds of their chomping. Princess even made an appearance in the kitchen for a bowl. It was good to get away from Lake Forest, but she had to admit that her cats completed her life. She didn’t realize how much she really missed them until she returned home.
Later that evening, Petunia was back in the living room, laying on the couch with her cats snuggled up to her. Could life get any better?
About the Author
Madison's writing journey began at the age of 44 and it wasn't until four years later that she wrote the book that she thought had the most potential, one that readers would really enjoy. A series that takes place in the real town of Tawas, Michigan, one of Madison's favorite vacation spot as a child.
Although sleep-deprived from working third shift, she knew if she used what she had learned while caring for senior citizens to good use, it would result in something quite unique. The Agnes Barton Senior Sleuths Mystery Series has forever changed Madison's life, and propelled her onto the USA Today Bestsellers list.
She now works full time as a writer from home where she lives with her two teenagers and three dogs.
Visit her on the web at: http://www.madisonJohns.com. Sign up for Madison's mystery newsletter list http://eepurl.com/4kFsH.
Other Books By Madison Johns
An Agnes Barton Senior Sleuth Mystery Series
Armed and Outrag
eous
Grannies, Guns & Ghosts
Senior Snoops
Trouble in Tawas
Treasure in Tawas
Bigfoot in Tawas
High Seas Honeymoon
Outrageous Vegas Vacation
Birds of a Feather
Agnes Barton Paranormal Mystery
Haunted Hijinks
Ghostly Hijinks
Spooky Hijinks
Hair-Raising Hijinks
Kimberly Steele Romance Novella (Sweet Romance)
Pretty and Pregnant
An Agnes Barton/Kimberly Steele Cozy Mystery
Pretty, Hip & Dead
A Cajun Cooking Mystery
Target of Death
Lake Forest Witches
Meows, Magic & Murder
Meows, Magic & Manslaughter
Kelly Gray (Stand alone) Sweet Romance
Redneck Romance
Paranormal Romance
Clan of the Werebear
Hidden, Clan of the Werebear (Part One)
Discovered, Clan of the Werebear (Part Two)
Betrayed, Clan of the Werebear (Part Three)
Shadow Creek Shifters
Katlyn: Shadow Creek Shifters-Book One
Taken: Shadow Creek Shifters-Book Two
Tessa, Shadow Creek Shifters-Book Three
Western Historical Sweet Romances
Writing as Clara Kincaid
Nevada Brides Series
McKenna
Cadence
Kayla
Abigail
Johanna, Bride of Michigan, is 26th in the unprecedented 50-book, American Mail-Order Brides series
Johanna: Bride of Michigan
Meows, Magic & Missing (Lake Forest Witches Book 3) Page 15
