Witch Is When I Said Goodbye (A Witch P.I. Mystery Book 10) (17 page)

“And do you think it will help?”

“I think so. My cousin’s fiancé says it helped several of his friends.”

“I don’t suppose you’d come with me for my first visit, would you?”

“Sorry. I don’t think that would be a good idea. You’ll be okay though. I’ll text you the address. The next meeting is a week today. Just ask for Declan.”

“Okay, Jill. That’s another one I owe you.”

Chapter 21

I’d overslept, but so what? I could go in late if I wanted. I was eating cornflakes when the phone rang. It was Kathy.

“Jill, have you seen The Bugle?”

“No. I’m still at the flat. I overslept. Why?”

“They’ve run an article on Ever.”

Dougal Bugle had told me that he planned to run an exposé on Ever A Wool Moment. Things were difficult enough with the new competition from Best Wool. The last thing Grandma needed was more bad news.

“Oh dear. Is Grandma up in arms about it?”

“No. Quite the opposite. She’s really quite pleased.”

“Very funny.”

“I’m serious. She thinks it’s great.”

“How come?”

“Hold on—she’s calling me. Got to dash, sorry. Buy a copy, and take a look for yourself.”

“Kathy?” She was gone.

I was intrigued, so I threw on some clothes, and popped over the road to the newsagent. Jasper James was wearing a yellow fedora, and was engrossed in a magazine.

I coughed to get his attention.

“Sorry, Jill. I didn’t notice you there.”

“What’s that you’re reading?”

“Fedora Weekly.”

I should have known.

He checked his watch. “You’re usually in earlier than this. Are you on holiday?”

“No. Just running a little late—I overslept.”

“I have just the magazine for you: ‘Alarm Clock Enthusiast’.”

I smiled. Everyone’s a comedian.

Then, to my amazement, he produced said magazine from the shelf.

“See. Everything you could ever want to know about alarm clocks. Would you like a copy?”

Back at my flat, I laid The Bugle on the kitchen table. There was nothing about Ever on the front page; that was a relief. Perhaps Grandma had somehow persuaded Dougal to bury the article in the inside pages. I flicked through, page after page, but there was no sign of it. Then, I realised that the centre pages were actually a pull-out feature.

What? Unbelievable!

The whole pull-out was dedicated to Ever A Wool Moment. It covered: Everlasting Wool, One-Size Knitting Needles and Ever membership. There was even a write-up on the tea room, complete with photographs. The article was very upbeat with glowing reports on all aspects of the business. The whole thing was as good as a giant advert for Ever A Wool Moment.

What had happened to the article Dougal had told me he intended to print? Grandma must have used magic; nothing else could account for such a complete turnaround. Somehow, she’d once again come out smelling of roses.

***

Madeline dropped by at lunch time; she was dressed in her librarian outfit. It was almost like knowing two different people—the contrast between her two personas: Madeline and Mad, was so pronounced.

“Hey, Mad. How goes the librarian life?”

“Boring as ever. Are you sure you don’t need someone to work with you? I could see myself as a private investigator.”

“I can barely find enough work to keep myself afloat, I’m afraid. Besides, your dress sense is hardly suited to the P.I. life.”

“You mean this outfit?”

“No. I meant your after work gear. It can be a bit outrageous.”

“Only a bit? I must be mellowing.” She grinned.

“So, to what do I owe this pleasure?”

“It’s a bit awkward, really. I’ve been approached by your grandmother.”

“What did
she
want?”

“She asked if I’d like to open a franchise of Ever A Wool Moment in Ghost Town.”

“Do ghosts knit?”

“Apparently, they do. According to your grandmother, research has shown that per head of population, ghosts knit more than humans.”

“You learn something new every day. Does that apply to sups too? If so, I’m surprised she hasn’t opened a branch in Candlefield.”

“I wondered about that myself, but I didn’t like to ask her.”

“Maybe she feels it would undermine her credibility as a witch? Grandma is one of the most powerful witches in Candlefield. Opening a wool shop might detract from that image. How do you feel about taking on the franchise? You’re always saying that you’re bored with being a librarian.”

“It’s a non-starter. If I was to take her up on her offer, I’d have to quit my job as a Ghost Hunter. If nothing else, ghost hunting is a secure, well-paid job, so it would be a big risk for me to give it up. And anyway, can you see me working in a wool shop?”

“No, but then I couldn’t see you working in a library either.”

“I’d be useless. I know about as much about wool as you do.”

“You’d be surprised how much I know about wool these days. What with Mrs V and Grandma, I’m becoming quite the expert.”

“I’m a bit worried about how your grandmother’s going to take it when I say no. I get the impression she’s not used to people saying no to her.”

“You’re right there. Look, if you like, I’ll tell her that you don’t want to do it.”

“You will?”

“Yeah, why not? I mean, she’s already got it in for me.”

***

I arrived ten minutes ahead of time for my meeting with my father. I ordered a latte, but couldn’t face anything to eat even though they had some delicious looking muffins. I had no appetite; my stomach was churning.

He arrived on the dot, and without even bothering to order a drink, came over and joined me at my table.

“Thanks for seeing me, Jill.”

“I don’t have long. I have to meet someone in fifteen minutes. Just say whatever it is you want to say to me.”

“I’d like to start by explaining why I wasn’t in your life when you were growing up.”

“No explanation necessary. You walked out. Seems pretty straightforward to me.”

“I had no idea Darlene was pregnant when I left.”

“Would it have made a difference if you had known?”

He hesitated. “Probably not. Things had gone very badly for me in a short space of time. I’d made some very bad decisions that had come back to haunt me. I had to put some distance between myself and the ones I loved—to protect them.”

“Oh, I see. So it was a purely unselfish act on your part?”

“No. I would never claim that. It was my selfishness that got me into that situation in the first place, but I left to protect Darlene.”

“Did you
ever
love my mother?”

He looked surprised by the question. “Of course I did.” He glanced down at the table. “I still do.”

His answer threw me for a moment. “Why come back now?”

“To warn you of the danger you are in. During my exile, I met many people. Some of them good, but a lot of them bad. But none as evil as TDO.”

“What exactly do you know about TDO?”

“Too much.”

“Do you know who he is and where he is?”

“It’ll be safer for you if I don’t answer those questions.”

“Don’t give me that. Either you know him or you don’t.”

“I can’t tell you any more than I already have.”

“Are you TDO?” I challenged him.

“Me?” He seemed stunned by the question.

“You never did explain why you were at the Fleur Hotel.”

“I was looking for you.”

“So you said.”

“It’s true. I had to warn you.”

“About what?”

“I’ve heard that TDO has declared you must be eliminated soon.”

“Heard? Heard from who?”

“I’d rather—”

“You’d rather not say—I get it. So what if he says I have to be eliminated? What’s new? He’s been trying to kill me ever since I discovered I was a witch.”

“Time’s running out for him.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s seen how rapidly you’ve progressed through the levels. It’s totally unprecedented. If he doesn’t eliminate you soon, it’ll be too late. You’ll be too powerful.”

“You seem to know an awful lot about TDO. Why would I trust anything you say?”

“Because despite what you may think, I love you.”

“Too little, too late.” I stood up. “You’ve had your say, now. I never want to see or hear from you again.”

***

After my brief meeting with my father, I didn’t really want to go straight home. I knew if I did, I’d spend all evening brooding about what he’d said. I wanted to forget all about him in the same way he’d once forgotten about me.

I called Kathy, and she said I could pop over to her house.

“How’s Peter’s business doing?”

“It’s coming along quite nicely actually.” Kathy had bought a new kettle, but had not yet figured out how to get it working. “He’s picking up new customers every week. He did a leafleting campaign around the local neighbourhood a while back, and he landed some new business from that. In fact, he’s working at a house just down the road right now.”

“Do you need a hand with that?”

“No. It’s only a stupid kettle. How difficult can it be?”

“You’ve been at it for ten minutes.”

“They make everything way too complicated nowadays. Look at all these buttons. It’s only a kettle. Why does it need all of these?”

“I think I see the problem.”

“Come on then, Miss Smartypants. Let’s see you work it out.”

I walked over to the socket on the wall, and clicked the switch to the ‘On’ position.

“That should do it.”

Kathy sighed. “Do you think that was my first senior moment?”

Just then, the door opened, and in walked Peter, looking sweaty and tired, but with a huge smile on his face.

“What are you doing here?” Kathy said. “You should be working—earning money for me to spend on clothes.”

“I needed a break. I couldn’t see the point of sitting out there with a flask when I was only two minutes from home. I thought I’d pop back for a cup of tea, and one of your finest muffins.”

“You’re in luck. Jill just showed me how to use the new kettle.”

“How’s it going, Peter?” I said.

“Not bad at all. I’ve been working at an old guy’s house down the road—a Mr Durham. Nice chap, but crazy as a box of frogs. You’ll never guess what he was telling me this morning, Kathy.”

“Has he seen more aliens?”

“No, not aliens this time. Apparently he saw a zombie in his backyard last week.”

“A zombie?” Kathy laughed. “Wow, that old guy really does have an active imagination.”

“Yeah, and that’s not all. According to Mr Durham, a woman turned up and shot the zombie in the head. Then it just disintegrated.”

Kathy and Peter both laughed.

“Yeah, that old guy sounds really crazy,” I said.

There was a knock on the door.

“I’ll get it.” Kathy headed out of the kitchen.

Moments later, she returned, accompanied by an old man. “Pete, it’s Mr Durham.”

The old man walked unsteadily into the room. “You left before I could pay you.”

“You needn’t have come over, Mr Durham. I haven’t finished up yet.”

“I like to pay my debts on time.” He glanced over at me, and did a double-take. “It’s her!”

“That’s my sister,” Kathy said. “That’s Jill.”

“She’s the one!”

Peter and Kathy both stared at him.

“She’s the zombie killer!”

When Kathy had eventually managed to calm Mr Durham down, Peter said he’d walk him back to his house. After they’d left, I jumped in first.

“You’ve got some crazy neighbours.”

“Maybe.” Kathy gave me a doubtful look.

“What do you mean,
maybe
? Didn’t you hear what he just said? He said there was a zombie in his backyard.”

“He also said you were the one who destroyed it. Where exactly did you go the other night when you said you had cramp?”

I raised my hands in mock surrender. “Gee. You got me. I’m actually a zombie hunter. That’s why I was hiding in the bus shelter. I was waiting for a zombie to turn up.”

Kathy stared at me for the longest moment, and then dissolved into laughter. “I think I’m cracking up. It must be all the drumming that Mikey does.”

“Still,” I said. “It would be a pretty cool job—being a zombie hunter.”

Phew! Another bullet dodged.

***

Just the man I wanted to see.

“Luther!” I called after him.

“Hi, Jill.”

“I’m glad I caught up with you.”

“It’s not every day I have women chasing after me.”

I found that hard to believe.