A few days before she was killed, she went around the village shoving flower pots at people. Mina got this weird plant – I think it’s an orchid? The widow also went to the village grocer, brought up all the cat food, and delivered it to her granddaughter. She also visited her solicitor, maybe to make the shop over into Rafe’s name? It’s as if she knew she was going to be killed.
She also went to the post office with a parcel under her arm and asked after someone named Agnes Mayberry, and when the post lady informed her that Agnes had died some years ago and left no family behind, she slapped her walking stick on the counter, said ‘that sorts that, then’ and stomped away with her parcel.
“It’s no good.” I blow out the candle. I’ve walked around the shop seven times, holding the candle up to every wall, nook, and cranny and waiting for the flame to bend towards the grimoire’s hiding place. “There is no magical book hiding in this shop.”
“My guess is that whoever killed the old bird took the book,” Rafe says.
“That’s what I’m thinking, too. That would mean that they know she’s a witch,” I say. “They deliberately targeted her.”
“So that leaves us back where we started – I have to perform a selfless act.” Rafe slumps in his chair. “I’m doomed to have a tail forever.”
“Is it really that bad?” I ask. “I like your tail.”
“I love how certain you are that I’m stucklike this!” Rafe pouts, his tail swishing. “Where’s yesterday’s confidence in my ability to be selfless?”
“I realised that I know you,” I grin. “Seriously, though. What if you solved the mystery of the Widow Hardcastle’s murder? Surely, bringing closure to the case of the witch who cursed you would be considered a selfless act.”
“It’s certainly worth a shot.” Rafe slaps his hands on the counter. “Celeste said that the Widow Hardcastle was asking about that Agnes woman. I need to find out why. And I should see these plants she gave away.”
“You’ll have to investigate in cat-form.” I glance at my watch. “I need to get back to the house. The inspectors will be at my house in an hour.”
“Investigating can wait. I intend to charm those inspectors into compliance.” Rafe stands, stretching his back. “And if they refuse you, I’ll throw up on their shoes. I have a nice hairball forming at the back of my throat for just such an occasion.”
“Let’s hope that you don’t need it.”
“If you’ll follow me, my facility is this way.” I lead the two inspectors along the winding garden path. The flower beds are particularly impressive today – the Japanese anemones have flowered early, and bees hop from bloom to bloom, collecting the nectar that will make a delicious mead for releasing grief.
“Lovely garden.” Councillor Komal Ahuja bends down to sniff the flowers. Rafe rubs around her ankles, immediately picking up that she’s on our side.
“I’ve nurtured this whole garden for the bees,” I say. “It’s really for them, but I get to enjoy it, too.”
“Is it hygienic to have these bugs everywhere?” Councillor Douglas flicks a bee off his collar. I’d been horrified to open the door and discover he was the second inspector. He doesn’t like me.
“It’s a garden. Bees and bugs are part of the ecosystem. Here are the hives. I’ll demonstrate the harvesting process. You’ll see that I conform to all commercial standards.”
I have them stand well back while I don my bee suit for their benefit and demonstrate how I perform hive maintenance and harvest the honey. Councillor Douglas scribbles so many notes that he breaks his pencil and has to borrow one from Councillor Ahuja.
After I close up the hives, I lead them to the potting shed.
“Your facility is a garden shed?” Douglas frowns as he scribbles something on his pad.
I hate that man,Rafe says as he lifts a leg against Douglas’ trousers.I’m going to show him a bylaw violation—hey! Unhand me, witch!
“Yowl!”
“There’s nothing in the rules that specifies the type of building required.” I dump Rafe unceremoniously in the lavender bush before he can pee on Councillor Douglas, and usher the two inspectors inside. I stand on top of the dark stain, so it’s hopefully not as noticeable. “Here’s where I extract the honey and make the mead. I’ve done some home brewing here for years, which is perfectly legal since I’ve never sold my meads. However, I’ve invested in new, commercial-grade equipment. All the certificates are here.” I pat a pile of paperwork, narrowly avoiding crushing a bee dancing on top.I’m sorry, little friend. All their questions make me nervous.
“But you haven’t been making mead for commercial sale yet?” Komal flicks through the papers. She’s a friend of Celeste and Mina, but I don’t know if they’ve told her about the stash we have in Celeste’s storeroom.
“Nope. Not before I get your signoff. Normally, mead would need to age for several months. However, I have methods that speed up the process.”
Douglas frowns. “And those methods are?—”
“Proprietary,” I supply.
Magical.
“That sounds unnatural.” Councillor Douglas makes a face as hepicks through a basket of roots and herbs I use as infusions. “You shouldn’t be deviating from common commercial practices. And what are these herbs? I’ve never seen these before. Do you have these listed as ingredients?”
