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“I don’t care!” Autumn’s screech came through the solid wooden door. “Do your worst. Just know that karma will bite you in the butt!”
Maddie blinked awake. What was that about? She turned her head to look at Suzanne. Her friend sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes.
“Was that Autumn?” she asked. “What time is it? Does she want us to make breakfast?”
“I think it was another one of those phone calls she’s been getting,” Maddie said.
“Mrrow?” Trixie laid a paw on Maddie’s arm, her claws sheathed. It felt like a soft, velvet caress.
“I think Autumn’s having problems,” Maddie replied.
“Mrrow.” Trixie dipped her head, as if to say, “Yes”.
“Maybe we should check if she’s okay.” Suzanne hopped out of bed. She tugged on a short terry cloth robe over her t-shirt and sleep shorts.
“Good idea.” Maddie pulled on her dressing gown. “Want to come, Trix?”
“Mrrow!” Trixie jumped off the bed and padded toward the door.
They found Autumn pacing the hallway, dressed in a white dress with sunflowers decorating the fabric. Her cellphone was clenched in her hand. She looked surprised and then relieved when she saw them.
“Oh, girls, I was debating whether to knock on your door, but the Universe must have sent you.” She summoned a wan smile.
“We couldn’t help overhearing a little of your phone conversation.” Maddie gestured to the group leader’s phone.
“I just hope nobody else heard.” Autumn made a face. “I might as well tell you three what’s going on.”
“Mrrow,” Trixie encouraged with a nod of her head.
“I used to run this business, hosting self-help retreats, with a partner. In fact, he was my fiancé.” Her expression crumpled. “Until I caught him skimming the profits.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Maddie replied, her heart going out to the older woman.
“Not only that, but when I broke up with him, he drained our joint savings account.” Autumn’s hand tightened further on the phone. “He claims that since it was in both our names, it was perfectly legal to take all the money. And the only way I can try to get back half is by hiring a lawyer and that costs money.” She shook her head.
“That’s terrible.” Suzanne’s voice was fierce.
“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.
“But this is the worst thing.” Autumn laughed hollowly. “He’s now trying to put me out of business! It turns out he was the one who cancelled the original caterer and masseur, so this retreat would be a disaster. He’s being so toxic at the moment, I just can’t deal with him. And now I’m wondering if he was really like this all along, but I just didn’t see it, because I thought I was in love with him.”
“I’m so sorry,” Maddie said again. She didn’t know what else to say.
“He seemed to be so into my retreats and workshops.” Autumn shook her head slowly. “He even ate most of my vegan cooking – and he used to be a meat eater. I can’t believe he hoodwinked me like that.”
“Is he the one who’s been calling you this weekend?” Suzanne asked.
“Yes.” Autumn nodded. “He keeps crowing about how this weekend will be a disaster and that I can’t manage without him.” Her face tightened. “Which is a lie. I was running these retreats by myself before I even met him.”
“Maybe he’s jealous of your success,” Maddie suggested.
“Yeah!” Suzanne’s head nodded violently. “That must be it. Because you’re successful, he felt threatened by you and that’s why he’s done all this. I bet he thought you’d never catch him stealing the profits.”
“The only reason I’m taking his calls is because I’m trying to reason with him and get back my share of our savings. Not that I’ve been successful.” Autumn paused. “My mother was right when she told me a long time ago to have a secret savings account and tell no one about it. I just wished I’d put more in that account than I did the joint account.”
Maddie looked down at Trixie. She didn’t have a secret savings account. Maybe that was a good idea.
“Mrrow,” Trixie said softly in the affirmative, as if answering Maddie’s thought.
“It’s good that he hasn’t taken all your money, though,” Suzanne said encouragingly.
“Yes.” Autumn looked down at Trixie and smiled. “I think Trixie sensed that I needed comforting this weekend, and in her marvelous feline way gave me some much needed solace. You’re a wonderful girl, Trixie.”
“Mrrow.” Maddie thought her familiar was trying to appear modest, but failed.
“That was so nice of you, Trix.” Suzanne praised the Persian.
Now Maddie knew why Trixie had been by Autumn’s side so often. Not for the first time she wished Trixie could speak English, or Maddie could speak cat! But she was glad the mystery of Trixie’s attraction to Autumn had been revealed. She bent down and stroked Trixie, making her purr with pleasure.
“But there’s no way my ex could know about Hailey’s death,” Autumn said. “He lives in Seattle. Why does he sound so sure that this weekend will be catastrophic? Not that it hasn’t been, of course.” Sorrow flickered across her face. “Poor Hailey.”
“You don’t think he has something to do with Hailey’s murder, do you?” Suzanne asked.
“Like what?”
“Like killing her.”
***
“BUT DETECTIVE EDGEWATER didn’t say it was an intruder,” Maddie pointed out.
“Oh, that’s right.” Suzanne sounded disappointed.
Maddie knew how her friend felt. It would be very convenient to pin Hailey’s murder on a stranger, especially one who had treated Autumn badly.
“I can’t believe it could be someone here.” Autumn looked distressed.
“I know,” Maddie replied. “Everyone seems nice.”
“I wonder what’s going on with Edith and Linda. Did you pick up a weird vibe yesterday from them, Autumn?” Suzanne asked.
“As a matter of fact I did,” the group leader said slowly. “I thought I might be imagining things, as I’ve been so stressed about my ex.”
“Apart from the phone calls you didn’t look too strained,” Maddie attempted to reassure her.
“I was trying to embrace positivity every minute,” Autumn replied. “And it did work – some of the time at least.” She glanced down at her phone. “But now I think it’s time to cut out the negativity in my life – starting now.” She punched some buttons on the phone. “There. I’ve blocked his number. He won’t be able to call me while I’m here. And if he contacts me again, I’ll go to the police and report him for embezzlement.”
“Shouldn’t you do that anyway?” Suzanne crinkled her brow.
“You’re right.” Autumn nodded. “I was hoping we could arrive at a truce – if he paid back my share of the joint savings account and he repaid the money he skimmed – then I wouldn’t need to go to the police. But after the way he’s treated me ...” Determination etched her face. “Tomorrow morning I’ll go to the police in Seattle and report him.”
“Mrrow!” Trixie said in approval.
“Trixie seems to think that’s a good idea,” Maddie said. She hated the thought of a bully and a criminal getting away with bad behavior.
“Then I will definitely do it.” Autumn smiled softly at the Persian. “I’ve loved having her here this weekend, Maddie. I think my ex has done me a favor in a way – if he hadn’t cancelled the original caterer, then I wouldn’t have met you three.”
They all smiled at each other – even Trixie, whose mouth turned up at the corners as she gazed at Autumn.
A bedroom door opened. They all turned to see Brenda joining them in the hall.
“Am I late?” she asked, running a hand through her short layered hair.
“No.” Autumn smiled at her. “We’ll have breakfast soon and talk about how we can end this retreat on a positive note.”
“Oh, good.” Brenda smiled down at Trixie. “I’m definitely getting a cat, Trixie.”
“Mrrow.” Trixie made it sound like a good idea.
“We better get started in the kitchen.” Maddie beckoned to Trixie and Suzanne.
“You’re right. Breakfast in a jiffy, Autumn!” Suzanne’s ponytail swished as she ran down the stairs.
“What is for breakfast?” Maddie whispered as they walked toward the kitchen.
“Granola,” Suzanne replied. “With lots of fresh fruit.”
“Sounds yummy.” Maddie’s stomach started to rumble.
She fed Trixie in a corner of the kitchen before she and Suzanne got to work.
“I’m stumped about Hailey’s murder,” Suzanne said as she got out a big container of raw granola. “I’m sure Autumn didn’t kill Hailey. And we didn’t.”
“And it looks like it wasn’t an intruder,” Maddie added, as she heated water for the coffee.
“It wasn’t my grandmother’s fault!” Edith’s voice carried into the kitchen. “Your father seduced her!”
“He did not!” Linda sounded indignant. “Your grandmother tempted him until he couldn’t resist! I’m sure she was the one who said they should run away together!”
Maddie, Trixie, and Suzanne stared at each other.
“But your father was a bigamist!” Edith came into the kitchen and froze as she noticed Maddie, Trixie, and Suzanne. “Oh!”
“What are you – oh no!” Linda looked embarrassed as she almost bumped into Edith and saw the trio in the kitchen.
“We’re making breakfast.” Suzanne gave them a little wave. “Can we get you two anything?”
“Maybe Maddie and Suzanne can decide,” Edith said. “And Trixie.” She looked down at the cat to say hello.
“Decide what?” Maddie asked curiously. Was this the reason for the weird vibe between Edith and Linda – whatever this was?
“Who the guilty party was,” Linda said.
“It sounds like family history,” Maddie commented. “Are you sure you want to tell us about it?”
Linda and Edith looked at each other, as if daring the other to speak first.
“Yes!” they said together.
Edith sat on a stool at the kitchen counter.
Not to be outdone, Linda sat on one next to her.
Maddie and Suzanne exchanged a glance, their eyebrows raised.
“My grandmother,” Edith began.
“Ran off with my father.” Linda scowled.
“Only because he seduced her!”
“He did not!” Linda’s scowl became more ferocious.
“When my grandmother found out that he was already married – with a child! – it was too late. She’d already married him,” Edith continued. “But her marriage wasn’t legal. She didn’t know what to do. If she went back home, she was sure it would all come out and she’d be shamed by everyone in the town.”
“So she should,” Linda muttered.
Edith glared at her. “Then Linda’s father left my grandmother and ran off with someone else.”
“He did not!”
“He did too!”
Linda looked surprised. “He did? He didn’t stay with your grandmother?”
“No.” Edith shook her head. “Grandma was so ashamed of it all, even though she thought he was single when she ran off with him. She couldn’t face everyone she knew and admit that she’d been living in sin, even though at first she thought they were legally married.”
“When was this?” Suzanne asked.
“Nineteen-fifty-seven,” Edith and Linda chorused.
“What did your grandmother do?” Maddie asked, caught up in the story.
“She stayed in Edmonds. She got a job at the telephone exchange, and a few years later she met my grandfather and they got married.”
“Did he know about what had happened with my dad?” Linda asked.
“Yes,” Edith replied. She sighed. “But Mom and I didn’t have a clue about any of this until a couple of years ago when it all came out at Grandma’s eighty-fifth birthday party. She’d had a few sherries and started talking about the past.”
Linda stared at her. “And all this time my mother and I thought he was still living with your grandmother.”
“Did you ever hear from him?” Edith asked timidly.
“Nope.” The older woman shook her head. “He just told Mom he was running off with Edith – your grandmother – and there wasn’t anything she could do about it. The last we’d heard from a friend was that he’d settled in Edmonds with her.”
“Wow,” Suzanne murmured.
“So that was the weird vibe happening between you two last night?” Maddie asked gently.
“Yes,” Linda replied. “I’m sorry, Edith. Even though it happened so long ago – I was five – things like that stay with you, even when you don’t want them to.”
Edith nodded in understanding and smiled tentatively at Linda.
“I’m sorry it all happened too,” she told the older woman.
“And you two met for the first time this weekend?” Suzanne asked.
“Uh-huh.” Edith nodded.
“That is so ... so ... bizarre!” Suzanne shook her head in wonder.
“I’m glad everything is okay now, though.” Maddie tried to inject some positivity into her voice.
“Mrrow,” Trixie agreed. She’d been riveted the whole time.
“Me too. And guess what? I think breakfast is ready, everyone,” Suzanne declared. “It looks delicious!”
***
EDITH AND LINDA HELPED out by taking some chinaware to the dining room.
“We better give the deputy something to eat,” Maddie said, as she filled a bowl with granola and added some almond milk to it.
“Is he still in the great room?” Suzanne asked.
“I think so.” Maddie looked at the carton of milk. “Maybe I better check with him that he can eat nuts.”
“Good idea.” Suzanne grinned at her. “You know, I’m not missing meat as much as I thought I would.”
“Me either.” Maddie smiled back. “I’m thinking of making a salad sandwich for my lunch tomorrow.”
“Snap!” Suzanne high-fived her.
“Mrrow?” Trixie asked, the white fur furrowed between her eyes.
“Don’t worry, Trix,” Maddie reassured her. “I have no intention of changing your diet. I’ll still give you plenty of meat.”
“Mrrow.” The furrow disappeared on the Persian’s face and she looked relieved.
“I’ll take the rest of the breakfast stuff in while you visit the deputy.” Suzanne loaded up a tray and headed out of the kitchen.
“Are you joining us in the dining room, Trix?” Maddie asked.
“Mrrow!” Trixie stayed by Maddie’s side as she carried a small tray to the great room.
“Would you like some breakfast?” she asked the deputy, who was staring out the window.
“Thank you.” He came over and took the tray from her, looking at the granola appreciatively.
“I added almond milk to it,” Maddie told him.
“My wife gives me that at home.” He smiled at her. “Thanks. I should be getting relieved soon, but I don’t think I can wait ‘til I get home for breakfast.”
Maddie and Trixie left the deputy crunching on the granola.
“I think we should check on Jenna. Don’t you?” she asked Trixie. “Then we can join the others in the dining room.”
“Mrrow!”
Trixie scampered up the stairs ahead of Maddie. She waited outside Jenna’s room until Maddie caught up with her.
Maddie knocked softly on the door.
No reply.
She knocked harder.
After a few seconds of silence, she stared down at Trixie.
“Do you think she’s in there?”
Trixie raised a paw and patted the door.
“Do you think we should see if the door is locked?” Maddie frowned.
“Mrrow!” Trixie’s turquoise eyes shone.
“Okay.” Maddie felt a little doubtful, but she tested the doorknob. It turned, and Jenna’s bedroom door opened.
“Jenna?” she called out, in case the soccer mom was in the middle of getting dressed.
Silence.
“Jenna?” she projected her voice.
Nothing.
“Mrrow.” Trixie sauntered into the room.
“Trixie!” Maddie hurried in after her. “We shouldn’t be doing this.” But she’d already wondered this morning if Jenna was okay after her sleepwalking episode the previous night. Surely it wouldn’t be considered pushy – or snoopy – to make sure Jenna wasn’t lying unconscious in her room?
Jenna must have woken up at some point though, because the door was unlocked.
Trixie prowled around the bedroom.
The bed was unmade – and empty. No Jenna.
One pillow lay on the bed.
Maddie bent down and looked underneath the single bed. Nothing apart from a couple of dust bunnies.
She crossed to the armoire and hesitated. Should she open it?
“Mrrow,” Trixie said encouragingly.
“We really shouldn’t,” Maddie told the Persian. But the temptation was too great. She checked the doorway, but no one was there – Jenna or anyone else.
Maddie opened the mahogany door.
A couple of outfits that looked like Jenna’s were in there. Nothing more.
“She’s not in there,” Maddie told her familiar, feeling a little silly. She just hoped the soccer mom was okay.
“What are you doing in my room?”
Maddie whirled around. Jenna stood in the doorway, her expression puzzled. She wore jeans and a green t-shirt.
“Oh – hi.” Maddie flushed. “I’m sorry. The door was unlocked.”
“I must have forgotten to lock it,” Jenna replied in a tight voice.
“I came to check if you were okay and if you wanted to come down to breakfast or if you’d prefer a tray in your room and ...” She trailed off as Jenna’s expression slowly changed to suspicion.
“I’m perfectly fine, Maddie.” Jenna strode into the room. “I went for a walk, that’s all. After everything that’s happened this weekend, I thought some fresh air would do me some good.”
“And did it?” Maddie asked, noticing the spots of color on Jenna’s cheeks.
“Yes. Yes, it did.”
“What’s the weather like?” Maddie asked curiously. “I haven’t had a chance to go outside this morning.”
“You should. The rain has stopped and the sun is trying to shine.”
“You’re feeling okay after last night? You were sleepwalking,” Maddie explained.
“I was?” Jenna clapped a hand over her mouth. “I haven’t done that for a while. That explains why the key to my bedroom was on the floor this morning. I only sleepwalk when I’m stressed, and this weekend ...” she shook her head.
“I’m sorry,” Maddie said gently, glancing at the bed.
She stiffened as a thought hit her. Jenna had claimed she’d gone into Hailey’s room the night she was murdered to borrow an extra pillow because she needed two to sleep on. But there weren’t two pillows stacked on top of each other right now. Instead, only one lay on the bed.
And there wasn’t a pillow in the armoire.
If Jenna needed two pillows to sleep on, why weren’t there two pillows on the bed – or in the room?
“Where is the extra pillow you borrowed from Hailey?” Maddie asked.
“In the armoire.” Jenna gestured carelessly to the closet. “I couldn’t bear to look at it or use it after what happened to Hailey so I stuck it in there.”
But there wasn’t a pillow in the armoire.
Maddie slowly looked from the armoire to the single pillow lying on the bed and back again. She lifted her head to stare at Jenna, her heart hammering.
Jenna’s eyes widened and she fled the room, her footsteps pounding down the stairs.
“We have to catch her, Trixie!” Maddie raced to the staircase.
The Persian overtook her, practically flying down the stairs as she tried to overtake the soccer mom.
But Jenna ran as if her life depended on it – and it did.
Maddie ignored the surprised gasps coming from the attendees in the dining room as she sprinted past.
She had to stop Jenna from escaping – she just had to!
Trixie scampered through the open front door into the parking area, Maddie close on her paws.
Jenna dashed to a silver SUV.
Maddie’s heart fell – she didn’t have her keys with her, so if Jenna was able to start her car, she’d get away.
Trixie slowed down and circled Maddie.
Suddenly, the new spell she’d read about last night in Wytchcraft for the Chosen popped into her mind.
To stop your enemy from fleeing, raise both hands in the air and concentrate on making that person stay where they are.
“Okay,” Maddie gasped, out of breath. Luckily, she didn’t have to recite any words.
She raised her hands and stared at Jenna, who was opening the car door and getting in behind the wheel.
Stay where you are. Stay where you are.
Maddie focused on Jenna not being able to start the car.
The engine turned over with a cough – again and again.
Jenna hit the steering wheel in frustration, setting off the horn. A loud blare filled the morning air.
“Maddie!” Suzanne reached her. “What’s happening? We all saw you race past the dining room – and Trixie and Jenna, too. Did she do it? Is she the murderer?”
Maddie nodded, not wanting to shift her focus in case the spell stopped working.
To her relief, the deputy ran into the courtyard and toward Jenna’s car.
“Stop right there.”
Jenna kept hitting the steering wheel as the engine continued coughing.
“No, it’s not fair!” Her loud, wracking sobs reached Maddie.
As the deputy escorted her from the car and handcuffed her, Maddie slowly lowered her hands.
The spell had worked!
“Mrrow!” Trixie looked up at her in approval. “Mrrow!”
To Maddie, Trixie sounded as if she was saying, “Very good!”
“Maddie, are you okay?” Autumn came up to her.
“I will be,” Maddie replied. Her knees trembled and her arms ached but she knew it was temporary. She’d prevented Jenna from leaving!
“I can’t believe Jenna killed Hailey,” Suzanne murmured.
“Me either.” Maddie shook her head.
“You don’t look very well, dear.” Autumn placed a hand on Maddie’s shoulder. “Why don’t we all go inside and sit down? We can talk about what’s just happened.”
“Good idea,” Maddie murmured, hoping nobody had seen her standing out there with her arms raised. No one apart from Suzanne – and Trixie, of course – knew she was a witch.
“Maybe we all need a cup of coffee,” Suzanne suggested.
“Definitely,” Maddie agreed. “I think French Roast would be a good choice.”
