All Hallowed Out Read online

  Even though I knew she was right, I felt a leap of sorrow in my stomach. Working so closely with Melissa and my mother had made it feel like the old days, when it was the Wayfair coven against the world. But with Cecily’s death, this case had taken a very serious turn. We’d worked so hard to oust the old regime. Now we had to follow the law to the letter, because there were probably a whole lot of witches who would love to see us slip up. ‘Okay,’ I said in a small voice. ‘See you later, so.’

  ≈

  Once the body was taken away, Christine went to help Finn organise things downstairs, while Gretel and I finished off in the meeting room. We ran our scanners around one last time, double-checking for magical signatures and activity. The only activity we seemed to be picking up was our own. But we took aura photos of every part of the room, too, so maybe Paul would be able to find something with our new software.

  ‘Why are there Jack O’Lanterns up here when the ball and A Trick for a Treat are going to be down in the main hall?’ Gretel wondered.

  ‘Candace said she wanted pretty decorations up here, for when people drop their coats off on Thursday night. Either way, I think we’re done here.’ Gretel nodded and we clicked our fingers, travelling downstairs to Arthur Albright’s office.

  When we arrived, Gretel looked around in amazement and whistled. ‘Candace has even decorated in here? Who for? I mean, there’s no way anyone from the ball’s going to be allowed into this office.’

  I chuckled as I sat down. ‘What can I say? The girl is thorough.’ I was afraid the truth might be a little more heartbreaking. If I knew Candace as well as I thought I did, then she’d probably come back here after she’d seen Hailey in Night and Gale. She’d probably finished the decorating alone, just to keep herself busy. And an entire hall clearly hadn’t been enough, so she’d done this room, too. I made a mental note to ask Candace when she’d left the building, just in case she’d seen anything of interest.

  On my lap, Tigger was beginning to knead the flesh of my thighs, digging his claws in as he worked. ‘When Thomas comes in here, I’m going to give him what for. Cecily wanted out of whatever deal him and her had going on, that’s what happened here. Maybe … maybe they were stealing lots of clients’ money, and that’s why Veronica Berry was sent to sleep too.’

  Gretel arched a dark brow. ‘And what about Hailey? She wasn’t one of Cecily’s clients.’

  Tigger frowned. ‘Well, no but … she probably figures in somewhere. We’re just not seeing it yet. Anyway, I think my theory still stands. Cecily wanted out because she got afraid of all the scrutiny – she knew she’d never get away with it now that the Wayfarers were on the case. So she came to tell Thomas that the game was up, and he strangled her before she could rat him out. That’s what’ll have happened. I just know it. Ooh, I’m going to go to town on that slimy, sleazy slimeball.’

  Oh dear. We’d been worried that letting my mother and Melissa continue to question people wouldn’t be appropriate. But if we let a cat get involved in questioning the suspects, we’d be laughed out of court. Unless Finn would consider deputizing Tigger? Hmm, maybe not.

  ‘Listen, maybe you should stay quiet,’ I suggested. ‘I could even perform a sneaky little invisibility spell, so you can watch without being seen.’

  ‘Ooh!’ Tigger dug in more forcefully, growing excited (I used to dream of having a cat familiar – now I was kind of glad for Dizzy). ‘Yeah, and we could tell Thomas that I have fallen asleep, the way he probably wanted me to all along. Lull him into a false sense of security. Criminals in Ariadne’s novels always trip up when they think they’re getting away with it.’

  I gave him an impressed nod. ‘Not a bad idea, Tigger.’ I kissed his head. ‘Now, are you ready to be invisible?’

  He grinned up at me. ‘Lay it on me, Wanda.’

  12. Self-Control

  By the time I’d cloaked Tigger, Christine was leading someone into the office. It was a woman of about thirty or so, wearing a pair of black jeans and a black turtle-neck. Her brown hair was secured into a long, neat plait. Atop her head, she wore a black beret. Even her nail polish was black. Her eyes were red-rimmed and fresh tears poured down her face.

  ‘This is Becky Fox,’ Christine said softly. ‘We’ve got the rest of the group gathered in the main hall, but Becky insisted on speaking with us first, as she was Cecily’s little sister.’

  Becky sniffled back her tears. ‘I can’t believe this. I come to my grief support group, only to find my sister d-d-dead!’

  ‘So you’re a regular member of this group, then?’ Gretel said. ‘Was Cecily, too?’

  Becky looked dazedly at Gretel and then, without answering the question, she moved her gaze to Christine. ‘Aren’t you the c-c-commissioner?’ she stammered, pausing to blow her nose. ‘Do you normally work on murder cases?’

  Christine gave Becky a sympathetic smile. ‘I work in many different areas. So Becky, was your sister a member of the Tearful Tear Drinkers, too?’

  Becky’s whole face wrinkled up, and she waved her tissue in the air. ‘I mean, it clearly was a murder. Someone str-str-strangled her!’ she shouted, once again ignoring the question. ‘Why would anyone do that? Sure, she was bossy and incredibly boastful, and she was so imperious. And catty. And selfish. And she often stole money from her clients. But … besides all that, why would anyone murder her?’

  Gretel handed Becky a fresh tissue. ‘So what you’re saying is that your sister had some enemies?’

  ‘Well, duh,’ Becky replied. ‘But none of them would have killed her. She might have been horrible to pretty much everyone, but she also made them rich and famous. A lot of people might have wanted to strangle her, but I’m fairly sure their own self-interest would have held them back.’

  I could hear Tigger snigger, so I yawned to cover it up.

  ‘You still haven’t told us if Cecily was a member here,’ Christine said loudly.

  ‘Yes! For goodness sake, yes! She was here for the same reason as everyone else. To talk about her grief.’ Becky sank into a chair, offered by Gretel. Gretel also offered her some tea, and she slurped it loudly before continuing. ‘We lost our mother a few months ago. We were both devastated, so we signed up for this group. Thomas is a wonderful counsellor, as I’m sure you know. We’d known him before, through Ariadne, but it was meeting him in this setting that made Cecily fall in love with him.’

  Her face formed into a scowl. ‘Ariadne is always giving out about poor Thomas. But she’s just bitter because he left her. He’s the most wonderful man I’ve ever met. And he’s the best leader the Tearful Tea Drinkers could have. He gave me some wonderful yoga poses to try. I cry like a snotty river while I’m doing them, but I always feel better afterwards. And he’s given me some amazing reading material, too.’

  ‘Reading material?’ I asked.

  ‘Mm hm. Some wonderful books.’ She fished about in her bag and found a handwritten list. ‘I’ll want this back, of course – Thomas wrote this list with his own fair hands, and I like to sniff it and hold it at least a dozen times a day. His recommendations are perfect. He really is one amazing man.’

  Once I’d taken the list from her, she brought a hand to her heart and let out a wistful sigh. ‘Heck, if Cecily hadn’t snapped him up, I would have.’ An awkward laugh escaped as her face grew puce. ‘Not that I’d kill my sister over a guy, if that’s what you’re thinking. Cecily might have scratched my eyes out if it were the other way around, but I wasn’t quite as emotional as my sister. I’ve always had much more self-control than her.’ She let out a loud wail, staring up at the ceiling. ‘I’ll get them for you, Cecily! Whoever killed you, sis, I’ll make them pay!’

  ‘Sheesh!’ Dizzy whispered in my ear. ‘That’s her idea of self-control? In that case, I wouldn’t like to see her when she does get emotional.’

  He was right about that. She was an incredibly emotional woman – particularly, it seemed, when it came to Thomas. I quickly scanned the reading list he’d given her, but there was no mention of anything that wasn’t well known.

  ‘This is a wonderful list,’ I said, handing it back to her. ‘Did he ever recommend anything fictional?’

  Her right eye began to twitch. ‘Fictional? Now you’re just being ridiculous. How could a work of fiction possibly help me? First my mother is taken from me, and now Cecily, and you think some silly story book is going to be of any use?’

  ‘Think you might have touched a nerve,’ muttered Dizzy. ‘Better calm her down before she strangles you.’

  ‘What did he say?’ She glared at Dizzy. ‘What did that dirty rotten little bat just say about me?’

  ‘He just said he’s sorry for your loss,’ I lied. ‘And I am too, Becky. We all are. We’re going to get to the bottom of who killed Cecily as quickly as we can. We’ll be asking every member of the group some questions, like what time they got here and where they were before the meeting? So … what about you?’

  Becky pulled at her plait, looking flustered. ‘What does it matter where I was? I’d never kill my own beloved sister. Even if I did sometimes hate her with a blind passion, verging on murderous rage. Like I said before, I would never act on those feelings.’

  ‘So then you won’t mind telling us what time you got here, and what you were doing beforehand,’ pressed Christine.

  ‘Well, I … I don’t have an alibi, as such. I mean, no one can vouch for little old me, unfortunately. I don’t have men fawning all over me the way Cecily does. I’m a lonely, sad single lady. And tonight, I did what I do every evening. I watched Witch Wars. At home. By myself. All alone.’ She let out another loud wail. ‘So very, very alone! Oh, how miserable I am!’ She stopped wailing and wiped her eyes. ‘The show was over at eight on the dot and I came straight here. Via finger-click, of course. Can I go now?’

  Beside me, Christine smiled tightly. ‘In a moment, Miss Fox. But just one more question first – your sister was wearing a medal when she died. It said: World’s Greatest Agent. Does she normally wear that sort of thing on a Tuesday evening?’

  Becky’s lip curled into a snarl. ‘Oh, she liked to lord all her awards over me whenever she could. That was just the way my sister was. But no. Even she wouldn’t wear it to the meeting.’ She shrugged. ‘Maybe the killer thought of it as an ironic lesson sort of thing? You know – see if you’re still the greatest agent when you get to hell, Cecily Fox.’ She cleared her throat and smiled. ‘Just throwing some ideas around. Anyway, I must get off.’

  As she reached for the door, Gretel pulled a card from her pocket and pressed it into Becky’s hand. ‘Here’s how to get in touch with us, plus the phone number of our counselling service.’

  Throwing the card to the ground, Becky snarled again. ‘I don’t need your stupid grief counsellors! I’ve got Thomas. He’s all I need. And now that Cecily is gone, I’ll have more of his attention than ever.’

  13. Tearful Thomas

  ‘Well, she’s going to the top of our suspect list.’ Christine shook her head in amazement.

  ‘I suspect she might murder me next,’ said Dizzy. ‘Well, after she murders Wanda. Did you hear what she called me? Dirty little bat indeed! I’m very clean.’

  ‘Of course you are.’ I kissed his head, then found Tigger on the floor below me and asked, ‘What do you think?’

  I felt him hop back up onto my lap, and as soon as he got there he let out a yawn. ‘I think I need more Kapow Meow. I saw that reading list she gave you, Wanda. Even if Thomas did somehow have a copy of Ariadne’s book, it doesn’t sound like he gave it to Becky.’

  ‘One thing might not have anything to do with the other,’ Gretel pointed out, pacing the room. ‘Although … I guess it’s all too coincidental otherwise.’

  ‘Definitely,’ I agreed, watching with fascination as Tigger drank the energy milk. Seeing the milk being slurped without seeing the slurper was rather an odd experience. ‘Ariadne thinking the “culprit” could be here tonight, and then Cecily getting murdered – it’s all connected. Tigger’s theory might not cover everything, but so far it makes most sense – that Thomas and Cecily were working together and Cecily got cold feet. But how they were working together, and what the book and the sleepers has to do with it – that’s what we still don’t know.’ I stood up, going to the door and peeping out at the waiting Tearful Tea Drinkers.

  Unfortunately for Becky, her precious Thomas was waiting in the arms of a dark-skinned brunette with long, shapely legs. He didn’t even notice how Becky glared at him, and he definitely didn’t hear her scream and run from the room. He was far too busy burying his face in another woman’s hair.

  He was dressed almost exactly like Becky, too – black clothing, even a black beret atop his head. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was copying Becky, or (more likely) if she was copying him.

  ‘Oh, Trula!’ he cried. ‘You do know how to comfort a man in his hour of need. I’d be a simpering mess if it weren’t for you.’

  Trula, to her credit, shivered with revulsion and pulled herself away, before half-heartedly patting his back and saying, ‘There, there. I’m sure you’re devastated, Thomas.’

  I noticed that the other women in the group were giving him a wide berth, while the two men were glaring his way.

  ‘So we question Thomas now, right?’ Tigger asked excitedly. ‘Because when I get my paws on him, I’m gonna make him wish he’d strangled himself with that award.’

  ‘Hmm, maybe we should wait a little while more,’ I said. ‘Thomas could do with stewing for a few minutes, I think.’

  Christine nodded her approval. ‘Good idea. He looks vain – and vain men hate to be kept waiting.’ She moved to the door and glanced at the members’ list. ‘Trula Macey? We’re ready for you now.’

  Trula headed quickly to the office, taking a seat as Christine closed the door behind her.

  ‘Won’t be too long, Trula,’ Christine told her. ‘We just have the usual questions to ask you. We’ll start with what time you arrived here.’

  ‘I was late, actually. Everyone else was already here – including the Wayfarers. I own the factory that makes Super Sponges – you know, those ones that wash the dishes for you? Anyway, I had a meeting with a new stockist, and I was with him until about five past eight.’ She reached for her bag and pulled out a notebook. ‘I’ll write down his details, in case I need an alibi.’ She bit her lip. ‘Although if I were going to kill anyone from this group, it’d be Thomas, not poor deluded Cecily.’

  As Christine lifted a dark red brow, Trula groaned. ‘That sounded bad, didn’t it? I wouldn’t actually kill Thomas, but … well, I must admit I would like to throttle him sometimes.’

  ‘Oh?’ Even though I could imagine wanting to throttle him six ways from Sunday myself (I’m sure that expression makes sense to someone, somewhere) I feigned innocence. ‘Why so? I mean, isn’t he the group leader here? Do you come to the Tearful Tea Drinkers every week?’

  Dizzy leaned forward. ‘And do you actually like tea? Because it seems like it’s all that’s on offer. I’m just fascinated about it. I know Wanda wants me to stop fixating, but I can’t.’

  Trula laughed softly. ‘You’re funny. And no – I much prefer coffee. In any case, the only reason I came here tonight was to tell the others I was leaving the group, and to say my goodbyes. I mean, at the beginning I loved it here. But after a while Thomas started to slime onto every other woman he could. Using tea and sympathy as a come on. He actually suggested I wear my yoga clothes this week so he could teach me some poses to relieve my grief. Here I am, distraught at the death of my husband, and all Thomas wants to do is see me in tight clothes.’

  ‘Another member mentioned the yoga, actually,’ I said. ‘She also told us about reading materials suggested by Thomas. Did he offer anything like that to you?’

  Trula looked thoughtful. ‘Well, there were the usual pamphlets, I suppose. And a few books that you could get in the self-help section of any bookshop. Nothing special.’

  ‘Okay,’ I said, trying to quell my sigh. Maybe the book didn’t mean anything. Perhaps Ariadne was just so addled by whatever spell she was under that she was fixating on it as much as Dizzy was fixating on the tea. On the other hand, Cecily had a very strong reaction when I asked her about it earlier on.

  ‘So it’s safe to say you weren’t a fan of Thomas,’ I continued. ‘What about Cecily? Did you – or anyone in the group – have any problems with her?’

  She tapped her chin as she pondered. ‘Well, she wasn’t the most … humble of women, shall we say? But she was genuinely grieving the death of her mother. She and Becky both were, so she was made very welcome by the group. Becky and she did bicker an awful lot – mostly about the fact that Cecily had started seeing Thomas.’

  Trula winced. ‘I shouldn’t have mentioned that. We were all told to keep the relationship on the down low. What with Thomas’s divorce not being finalised. But I was a bit uncomfortable when Cecily started up with him, to be honest. I couldn’t understand what she saw in him. He certainly didn’t love her – you don’t go around chancing your arm with every woman you meet if you’re in love, do you?’

  ‘You certainly don’t,’ Christine agreed. ‘Well, thank you very much for speaking with us, Trula. If we think of anything else, we’ll be in touch. Could you do us a favour and send in Chantelle Rundt when you leave?’

  Trula stood up, smiling faintly. ‘Sure thing.’ As she opened the door, she gave Dizzy a little wink. ‘And next week, I’ll be joining a group that has coffee.’

  ≈

  One by one, the rest of the group members answered our questions. We didn’t mention Ariadne’s book outright, but it was clear no one knew a thing about it. Hopefully Thomas would be able to enlighten us.