by Adele Abbott
He really did like them. He scoffed the last five in the blink of an eye.
Plain greedy, if you ask me.
After I’d settled Furball back in the spare bedroom, I quickly adjusted the timing on the ‘schedule’ spell to avoid any further mishaps, and then I set off for work.
The outer office looked superb. The walls were now sky blue, and there were no streaks or splashes. Mrs V and Jules were both at their desks.
“What do you think of the office now?” I said.
“It looks great.” Jules nodded her approval.
“I have to admit that I wasn’t very confident when I saw who you’d brought in the second time,” Mrs V said. “But he certainly knew his onions. It’s just a pity about the low-flying nails.”
“I guess I ought to take a look at my office.”
“Before you do, Jill,” Mrs V said. “Would it be okay to have some plants in here? They would finish the room off nicely.”
“I’m not sure I can afford them.”
“Don’t worry about the cost. I have an old friend who owns a garden centre. He’s always telling me that I’m welcome to help myself to a plant or two.”
“A gentleman friend, eh?” I grinned. “Does Armi know about him?”
“There’s nothing to know. Rodney Greenfinger is just a good friend. So, would it be okay?”
“I don’t see why not.”
Nails had made an excellent job of my office too. That certificate of his had obviously been well deserved.
Winky was sitting on the sofa, looking very sorry for himself.
“What’s up with you, Winky?”
He touched his throat with one paw, and mouthed some words, but I couldn’t make out what he was trying to say.
“Sorry? What did you say?”
He jumped off the sofa, and walked across the room to me. “Sore throat,” he whispered.
“Oh dear. I’m sorry to hear that.” Tee-hee.
“It’s a disaster. It’s the choir competition tomorrow.”
“It will probably be better by then.”
“Probably? I can’t rely on probably,” he croaked. “Don’t you realise what’s at stake here? I need you to go and get me some syrup.”
“I’m busy.”
“Please! This is a matter of life and death. If I let down the rest of the choir, they’ll disown me.”
“What kind of syrup?”
“Feline throat syrup.”
“Where would I find that?”
“At the pharmacy. Where do you think? The fishmonger?”
“I’d cut out the cheek if you want me to get it for you.”
“Sorry. I’m just stressed out.”
“I have to go out soon anyway. I’ll bring some back with me.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you had any feedback from your gang about Leo Riley?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary to report so far.” His voice was breaking up.
“Okay, tell them to keep on him. And then you should go and lie down to give your voice a rest.”
***
So far, I only had the word of Christine Bold that her daughter had gone crazy. What if she’d somehow managed to get a perfectly sane woman locked up? It was very unlikely, but until I saw Jasmine for myself, I couldn’t rule it out.
There was no way that Jasmine’s mother would have given her blessing for me to pay her daughter a visit. But that wasn’t a problem—I had my methods.
“I’m here to see my daughter.” I was in the reception area of Washbridge Regent’s Hospital.
“What’s her name?”
“Jasmine Bold.”
“Just a moment, please.” The receptionist brought up the details on her computer screen.
A little research beforehand had revealed that their security system was based upon photographs. Next of kin, and any other authorised visitors, were required to have their photographs taken. These were checked at every visit.
The receptionist looked from her screen to me, and then back again. I wasn’t concerned because I’d cast the ‘doppelganger’ spell, so when she looked at me, she was actually seeing Christine Bold.
“I have a note here to say that you’re to see Dr Smythe, Mrs Bold.”
“But I want to see my daughter. I want to see Jasmine.”
“I’ll just get hold of Dr Smythe.” She picked up the phone. “He’ll explain everything to you.”
It was pointless arguing because she was already speaking to the doctor. After she’d hung up, she instructed me to take a seat.
Dr Smythe, a ruddy-faced man in his sixties, appeared a few minutes later.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Mrs Bold.”
“I want to see my daughter.”
“Please come to my office.” He led the way down a long corridor. I had no option but to follow.
“What’s this all about?” I demanded, once we were in his office. “Is Jasmine alright?”
“She’s taken a turn for the worse, I’m afraid.”
“She isn’t dead, is she?”
“No, nothing like that. Her behaviour has become much more manic. She’s far too dangerous for you to see her.”
“Can’t you sedate her?”
“We have. We’ve given her as much as we dare.”
“I want to see her.”
“Just a second.” He sat at his desk, and brought up a split-screen display that appeared to be some sort of CCTV output. When he clicked on one of the small squares, it expanded to fill the screen.
What I saw horrified me. A young woman, wearing a white robe, was pacing back and forth in what appeared to be a padded room. There was no sound, but it was obvious that she was screaming. Every now and then, she would throw herself onto the ground, and begin to flail her arms and legs around.
“She can’t hurt herself in there,” the doctor said, but his words were hardly reassuring. “You can see now why it isn’t safe for you to go inside.”
I most definitely could.
“Do you have any similar cases?”
“I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”
In that case, my dear doctor, it’s time for your nap.
I cast the ‘sleep’ spell, and quickly used the mouse to go back to the main screen. From there, I checked the images from the other cells. I soon found two other young women who were acting just like Jasmine Bold.
While the doctor was still asleep, I checked Jasmine’s screen again. She was still acting like she was possessed. This time, though, I noticed a small ‘I’ symbol in the top righthand corner of the screen. When I clicked on it, it brought up her details: name, age and address. I quickly located the same information for the other two women, and made a note of it in my phone. After reversing the ‘sleep’ spell, I cast the ‘forget’ spell on the doctor, and then made my exit.
What I’d seen had been truly shocking, but it also eliminated the possibility that this was the work of either her boyfriend or her mother. Whatever had affected her so badly, had also affected the other two women. I had to find out what connected them, and what had caused them to fall into that dreadful state.
***
What I’d seen at the hospital had been very upsetting. If Christine Bold had seen her daughter in that state, she would have been traumatised.
I needed something to take my mind off those horrors, and I knew just the thing to do it. Blueberries, especially when covered in muffin, are a little known natural remedy.
What? Of course it’s true.
Now that the threat of the giant triangle had been lifted, it was safe to return to Coffee Triangle. Or at least, it would have been if I’d been able to get down the high street. Blocking my way was a huge crowd; they were watching the parade, which was marching up and down the road. There was all manner of circus acts, including: clowns (yuk!), jugglers and stilt-walkers. Leading the parade was a marching band, dressed in matching uniforms, which were a similar colour to my outer office. Several huge banners were being h
eld aloft, all of which read:
The Grand Re-Opening of EVER – The Destination!
It took a while, but I eventually managed to fight my way through the crowd to Grandma’s shop, which was no longer boarded up. The first thing I noticed was the new sign which now read simply: EVER
When I eventually managed to get inside, I barely recognised the place. All of the yarn had gone. So too had the old sales counter. What had once been the shop floor was now part of the extended tea room; it was heaving with customers.
“Jill!” Kathy called to me.
“What are you wearing?” I laughed.
“Shut up or I shall be forced to kill you.”
“What’s going on in here?”
“Your grandmother has closed down the yarn sales, and turned this place into a—err—”
“Destination?”
“Yeah, that’s what she insists we call it. As you can see, the whole of the ground floor is now the tea room. The roof terrace is still there, and so is the new ballroom.”
“And what are you supposed to be?”
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the red trouser suit.
“We’re the Everettes.”
“You’re what?” I almost choked.
“That’s what she insists on calling us: Everettes. Have you ever heard of anything so stupid?”
“I take it Chloe and Maria are Everettes too?”
“Oh yes. I feel sorry for Maria. She’s only just started here, and doesn’t know what’s hit her. If it stays as busy as this, we’re going to need a lot more staff.”
“Miss!” someone called. “Hey, Everette!”
“I think you’ve been summoned.”
It was way too crowded for my liking, so I started back towards the door.
“What do you think of the place?” Grandma appeared from nowhere.
“You’ve got rid of the yarn.”
“As always, your powers of observation astound me.”
“Why have you done that? Just because Ma Chivers has opened up a shop across the road?”
“Of course not. I could easily have seen her off. I was growing tired of the yarn business. It was time for a change. This is far more exciting, don’t you think?”
“I suppose so. What about all the people who have bought Everlasting Wool subscriptions?”
“They’ll be okay, as long as they keep paying their money. If we get any new enquiries, we’ll refer them across the road. Ma is welcome to them. Just look how busy it is in here.”
“It certainly seems to be a hit.”
“I’m going to need more staff. Are you sure I can’t tempt you to become an Everette?”
“Bye, Grandma.”
Chapter 11
I’d promised to meet the twins at Aunt Lucy’s house. We were going back to Candle Sands to collect their puppies. While I was there, I hoped to take a look around the lighthouse.
“Mum can’t come with us,” Pearl said in a hushed voice.
The twins and I were in the hallway; Aunt Lucy was talking to someone in the lounge.
“Why not?” I whispered. “Who’s in there with her?”
“It’s her friend, Gloria.”
“The one who’s lost her pet?”
“Yeah.” Amber nodded. “He’s still missing. Mum’s trying to comfort her.”
Just then, Aunt Lucy came out of the lounge, and closed the door behind her.
“Have the girls told you I can’t come?”
“We could wait until your friend has left,” I offered.
“I’ve promised to stay here and help her with the search. To be honest, after all this time, I don’t hold out much hope, but I daren’t say that to Gloria. She’s upset enough as it is. Take the keys to Lester’s car, Jill. You can drive.”
“Why can’t I drive it?” Pearl pouted.
“Or me?” Amber said.
“Because I’ve seen you two behind the wheel. Jill is a much better driver.” Aunt Lucy fished the keys out of her coat pocket, and handed them to me.
“Jill is a much better driver,” Pearl mocked from the back seat, as we were about to set off.
“Oh, yes. Much better.” Amber joined in.
“There’s no point in your having a go at me. I’d have been quite happy for either one of you to drive.”
“Move over then.” Amber grabbed the steering wheel.
“I can’t. Not now that Aunt Lucy has entrusted the driving to me. Do you two want to get your puppies or not?”
“I don’t see why we couldn’t have taken the train like last time,” Pearl said.
“Because trying to bring back two puppies on the train would be a nightmare. You have put the cage in the back, haven’t you?”
“Yes, it’s in there.” Amber was growing impatient. “Now, are we going, or aren’t we?”
The roads in Candlefield were a joy to drive on—so much quieter than those in the human world. And, much to my relief, the car seemed to know its way to the seaside resort. The only thing that slightly marred the journey was the twins’ constant questioning: Are we nearly there yet? How much longer?
“We’re here now!” I pulled into the car park on the cliff top.
“Come on, Jill. I want to see my puppy.” Amber was out of the car almost before it had come to a halt. “He’s so cute!”
“My puppy is cuter than yours.” Pearl scrambled out of the back door.
“I’m going to take a look around the lighthouse. Why don’t you two go and collect your puppies, and meet me back here in an hour? You’ve got the address, I assume.”
“Of course we have.” Amber rolled her eyes. “We’re not stupid.”
“Girls! Wait!” I called after them.
“What now, Jill?” Pearl sighed.
“The cage?”
“Oh yeah.” Amber opened the boot, grabbed the cage, and then the two of them raced off.
As I walked along the cliff top towards the lighthouse, I noticed that the large light was actually on. That struck me as strange because it was broad daylight, and Duncan O’Nuts had told me of his struggle to pay the candle bill. Why then waste candles by burning them during the daytime?
A small white-stone cottage, which I took to be the keeper’s accommodation, was built onto the base of the lighthouse. The solid wooden door barely registered my knock, but then I noticed a black metal chain—I gave it a pull, and heard the clap of a bell inside the house.
“Hello, deary.” The woman who answered the door was wearing a white apron over a paisley-patterned smock dress. “Can I help you?”
“Mrs O’Nuts?”
“That’s right, deary.”
“Is Duncan in?”
“He’s up top at the moment.” She gestured to the top of the lighthouse. “Would you like to come in and wait for him?”
“Yes, please.”
The small cottage was beautiful, but it did have a strange odour which I couldn’t quite place. Incense probably, although I couldn’t see any.
“Tea, coffee, orange juice?” She led the way into a tiny kitchen fitted out with oak cupboards and furniture.
“Tea would be lovely. I’m Jill, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Jill. I’m Maude. How do you like your tea?”
“Milk and two-thirds spoonfuls of sugar, please.”
“Two-thirds?”
“I know it’s a little precise, but—”
“Not at all. My friend, Rosemary Teacup, always insists on four-fifths. That can be a little tricky.”
A few minutes later, I heard footsteps above us.
“Duncan’s on his way.” Maude held out a tin of biscuits. Another mixed-biscuit travesty.
“No, thanks.”
“Duncan. We have a visitor.”
“Oh?”
I stood up. “We met a couple of days ago. You were collecting for the lighthouse.”
“Right, yes, of course. I remember.”
“Did you realise that the main light is still on?”
“Is it? I must have forgotten to shut it down. Did you want something in particular?”
“I was hoping to take a look around the lighthouse. When I saw you before, you said—”
“Sorry. I—err—have an urgent appointment.”
“You never mentioned anything,” Maude said.
“I forgot.”
“What about the light?” I said. “Shouldn’t you shut it down before you go?”
“No time. I’m running late.” He grabbed his coat, and moments later, was out of the door.
“I do apologise for my husband.” Maude tutted. “He isn’t normally so rude, but he’s been under a lot of pressure lately.”
“Finding the funds to keep this place going can’t be easy. He must be under a lot of stress.”
“He is. That’s why I insisted we take a trip to Candlefield yesterday. We had a lovely day. We did a little shopping, spent some time in the park, and visited the elf museum, and the pixie king’s palace gardens—they’re so beautiful. I’d hoped the day out would take his mind off things, and I thought it had. When he came back, he seemed much brighter, but—well—it doesn’t seem to have lasted.”
“How is your dog? It’s Bonny, isn’t it?”
“She’s doing well. We’re expecting the pups any moment now. I can’t let you see her, I’m afraid.”
“I understand.”
“I apologise again for Duncan. Normally, he loves to show people around.”
“No problem. He’s obviously very busy. I’ll try again the next time I’m down here.” I finished the last of my drink. “That was a lovely cup of tea, thanks. You won’t forget to remind him about the light, will you?”
“I won’t. It was nice to meet you, Jill.”
I could see the twins weren’t back yet, so I had a quick walk onto the beach below, making sure to keep my eyes peeled for sand demons. The only people on there were dogwalkers. Everyone else must have been put off by the strong wind, and the drizzle which had just started to fall.
“Jill! We’re back!” Pearl yelled from the cliff-top above. The two of them were carrying the cage between them.
“I’ll be with you in a minute.”
