Murderous Magic

By Dormi Meckel and Denise Chartier Bobola

The three witches, Edna, Heloise, and Agnes have been exonerated and the banishment from
their magical home world of Lemain lifted.
Heloise enlists the help of Edna and Leonard to search for the scientist that worked with Leonard’s father trying to cure lycanthropy. Their quest covers several states in the non-magical world of Pedestria. While searching, they must also avoid hunters who wish to capture or kill them.

Meanwhile in Lemain, Rory and Vicky find themselves on opposite sides of a murder investigation. With Rory as the lead investigator and Vicky the main suspect.

Can Edna, Heloise, and Leonard elude capture long enough to find the scientist? Can Vicky prove her innocence? Will Agnes’s magic recipe box come in handy once again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796056471

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Arrgh!

Heloise looked up from the file she’d been studying at the ancient scarred oak desk in the librarian’s office at Sunny Acres School for the Gifted. She sighed and removed her eyeglasses, dislodging several honey-colored strands of hair from her intricate chignon. She took a sip from her ever-present cup of tea before responding to the intruder, What’s wrong now, Edna?

Edna glared at Heloise with snapping green eyes, then stomped the few feet to a battered, overstuffed green armchair into which she flung herself. What’s wrong is that those idiots at the Magic Council keep putting me off!

Edna, be reasonable. It’s only been a few weeks after all.

Yeah, a few weeks since we were vindicated, got our citizenship in Lemain reestablished, and got brushed off once again, Edna retorted, angrily brushing back an auburn curl that had fallen over one eye. I asked a simple question, which should have required a simple answer! Why won’t they tell us the truth?

Well, I’m sure it took the officials a little time and effort to determine the answer to our question. Heloise gave a little shudder.

Ever since they had earned revocation of their banishment by revealing the cell of Odious Overlord followers, led by Lucretia DuMaurier, Edna had hoped to return with Heloise and Agnes to resume their lives and catering business. Now it was quite evident that Heloise would not return to Lemain unless it was proven that the Odious Overlord was no longer a threat. Even though it was recorded that the Odious Overlord was executed long ago by an annihilation spell, none of the current government officials would, or could, confirm that he was actually destroyed. Without that confirmation, Heloise would never agree to return home; and Agnes wouldn’t go without her.

C’mon, Heloise, you were there when Binky Blankenship swore that the vaults would be investigated immediately to determine if the Odious Overlord’s belongings were undisturbed. Didn’t you expect we’d be notified of the results of that investigation?

Well, yes, I did think that someone would let us know, Heloise admitted. At the very least, I thought Rory would have passed that information on to you. Have you asked him?

Asked him? I can’t even get in to see him! Every time I go to the Investigators Department, I’m told that he’s too busy to see me. Evidently he’s been put in command of a new interdimensional task force to find all the citizens of Lemain who have gone missing over the past several years.

Anyway, the last time I tried to see Mr. High and Mighty, Investigator Van der Haven, some pompous old fart told me that if I didn’t stop coming around, he was going to have me arrested for stalking! As if I’d waste my time stalking Rory Van der Haven after the way he treated me. Edna sat and fumed as she entertained venomous thoughts about the dark-haired, handsome Lemain investigator she’d had a crush on not so long ago.

Did you ask Vicky for help? Heloise recalled the tall beauty with the face and figure of a supermodel and the fighting skills of a Pedestrian ninja.

Edna’s face lit up. Yeah, and you’ll never guess where I ran into her. It took a while, but I finally found the bar where most of the Justice Department hang out: the Sorcerer’s Throne!

Heloise blanched. That’s not the one with the you-know-what’s-on-the-sign is it?

"If you mean the gold toilet with a wand circling the bowl and shooting out stars whenever anyone passes by, yeah, that’s the one. It’s not as trashy on the inside as you might suspect. Quite nice, actually, with high wood-beamed ceilings, red leather wing-backed chairs, a fireplace you could drive a farm wagon into, and they make a fantastic Dragon’s Dew daiquiri.

Anyway, when we talked, she was just as frustrated as I am. I guess since they were partners before, Rory picked her to be on the task force with him. According to her, Rory goes around in a snit most of the time. She also told me that she’s been unable to get any information from anyone in justice or government since the debacle with Lucretia and Hattie. It’s as though everyone who might know something of interest is afraid of spies or evil forces.

Well, Edna, considering our meeting with Lucretia, and her connection with the Odious Overlord, can you really blame them if they are paranoid? Heloise frowned, remembering their recent encounter with the diabolical agent of the most evil being ever to threaten their magical home world.

Oh, I guess not, but what can we do about it?

I doubt there is much we can do as far as getting information about the Odious Overlord. Do you know if Agnes has decided what she’s going to do with the recipe box?

Seems to me that the most important thing is for her not to use any of the ancient recipes in that box, Edna snorted. Some of those concoctions are really nasty. Actually I tried to convince her to leave it with her mother at Aunt Mildred’s School, but she wants to try to figure out exactly what powers the stones on the box have. She has it hidden in a safe place close to hand.

Hmm, just how safe is this hiding place?

You know that birdhouse/cage contraption that her cockatiel, Coco, sleeps in? Well, she was able to create a concealed compartment large enough to hold the recipe box in the base of it, and I don’t think even I could get to it past Coco without Agnes’s permission.

I suppose we’ll have to accept her hiding place as adequate for now, Heloise mused. "I’m concerned that there may be more nefarious factions than just the Odious Overlord’s followers wishing to acquire the box.

Since there is nothing more we can do about the box for now, I have in mind turning our focus in a different direction.

Edna perked up at this statement. Heloise had a plan! Edna liked it when Heloise had a plan because Heloise’s plans were practical, well thought out, and likely to succeed. Unlike most of Edna’s plans, which tended to fail miserably.

Okay, so what’s your plan? Edna folded her legs under her in the armchair and perched on the edge of the seat, looking like a high-strung terrier, as she awaited Heloise’s answer.

I never said I had a plan, Heloise said. I’ve just been thinking over our options and various courses of action. She averted her eyes while nibbling on her lower lip.

From shock, and her precarious balance in the chair, Edna had just enough time to emit one short squeak before she tumbled from the chair into a very unladylike heap before Heloise’s desk. Grabbing the front edge of the desk, Edna pulled herself up until she was eye to eye with Heloise, who had half risen and was looking anxiously over the top of her desk at Edna.

Edna glared as ferociously as she could at her best friend. Don’t you ever lie to me like that again, Heloise Amburgy, or I’ll have to … I’ll have to … well, I’ll have to do something, and it won’t be nice! I know you have some sort of plan in mind, and if you don’t tell me what it is this very instant, I’ll just explode!

Heloise sighed with resignation and sat down behind her desk while she waited for Edna to untangle her legs and regain her seat. Very well, Edna, if you must know, I was thinking that we have several options now that we are once again able to visit Lemain. We are able to use our magic, albeit restricted in Pedestria, and we can move freely about Lemain. There are a few mysteries I think we should try to solve, such as where is Leonard’s father, John Marshall, and John’s laboratory assistant, Barbara Spencer? Also, who are the Odious Overlord’s followers, and how can we stop them, and what’s behind the curse on Agnes’s family? I’m undecided on which of these questions to tackle first because I’m afraid I’m a bit biased.

Oh my goddess! Edna gasped. I’m sorry, Heloise, I hadn’t thought beyond getting our banishment rescinded and pulverizing whoever caused it to begin with. I forgot about the other issues.

Edna propped her elbow on the arm of the chair and rested her chin on her hand as she thought aloud, Well, we can’t do much about the Odious Overlord’s people since no one will talk about them. Agnes’s situation is just plain weird. Do you suppose her recipe box with the magic stones from Elijah Witherspoon has any connection with her family curse?

Heloise paused to take another sip of tea before answering, It is common for extremely powerful magic items to be accompanied by curses. I think we would need to find out a lot more about Elijah Witherspoon and how he acquired the stones before we could be certain.

Wow, Heloise, that’s going to take a lot of work. I don’t know if we can handle it. Maybe we should hire a professional curse breaker. I know several who have offices on Oath Avenue in Capital City, Edna suggested.

That’s not a bad idea, but we can’t proceed without Agnes’s approval, and she seems more interested in discovering the powers of the stones at the moment. Heloise drew a deep breath. For purely selfish reasons, I was leaning more toward trying to find John Marshall and Barbara Spencer.

Well, duh, I should’ve seen that coming, Edna thought. Ever since she’d become involved with Sunny Acres’s history teacher, Leonard Marshall, Heloise had grown more concerned with finding Leonard’s scientist father, John, and his assistant, Barbara Spencer. She did share Heloise’s concern for Leonard’s special circumstances to a degree. He was the first lycanthrope she had ever heard of that cared enough about his victims and had strong-enough willpower to become a vegetarian. Leonard was probably the first man in the history of Lemain to resist eating meat. Fortunately, for the Pedestrians living in the vicinity of Sunny Acres School, the only thing they had to worry about during the full moon was their vegetable gardens. That werewolf could really pack away some vegetables.

Heloise continued, Of course, it would mean so much to Eleanor and Leonard if we could find John and reunite them. And if we found Barbara, she could continue working on a cure for Leonard’s condition.

And just how do you propose we go about finding them after all these years?

Taking Edna’s response for approval, Heloise became more animated. We’ve got the perfect starting place. Remember that picture in Eleanor’s living room? Barbara looks just like that woman we met at the Equestrian Village last summer. That’s where we’ll begin!

Edna looked dubious. She had learned to trust Heloise’s plans over the years, but this one seemed pretty far-fetched. While the horse handler did bear a striking resemblance to the photo in Eleanor’s house, Edna couldn’t quite bring herself to believe they were the same person. The woman they’d seen at the Equestrian Village wearing boots, faded blue jeans, and a T-shirt gray from too many washings just wasn’t what she pictured when she thought of a scientist.

I don’t know, Heloise, Edna began. She didn’t look too much like a scientist to me.

What do you mean?

Well, when I think of scientists, I picture characters in long white coats who are pale and flabby from sitting indoors peering through microscopes all day. That woman was well muscled and had a ruddy tan.

Heloise stared at her in stupefaction for several seconds before responding, Edna, do you think that might be explained by Barbara being abducted from Lemain, having her memory erased, and is now working outdoors all day training horses?

Oh, I suppose so, Edna replied, chagrined. Okay, if we do return to the Equestrian Village and find Barbara Spencer, how are we going to restore her memory and get her to help concoct a cure for Leonard?

Heloise smiled. I’ve given this a lot of thought. Once we make contact with Barbara Spencer, we’ll have to get her away from the Equestrian Village. According to the information supplied by Elijah Witherspoon, the yellow stone on Agnes’s recipe box will restore Barbara’s memory if Agnes invokes it. So all we have to do is get Barbara to come with us, then have Agnes invoke the yellow stone, and her memory will be completely restored. After that, I’m sure we’ll have no problem convincing her to work on a cure for Leonard’s condition.

Why do we have to get Barbara to come with us? Isn’t Agnes joining this little excursion?

Heloise busied herself straightening a pile of papers on her desk. Actually, she’s staying here this summer. She’s taking an adult education class in Laurelwood—ballroom dancing.

Oh gee, Agnes’s partner for this class couldn’t be Sunny Acres’s very own music teacher, Ed Bigelow, could it? Edna’s voice dripped sarcasm.

Heloise frowned. Don’t you dare tease Agnes about her relationship with Ed. Besides, if Agnes is busy with Ed, she won’t be pestering you or digging up obscure Lemain delicacies from her recipe box.

Uhmm, hadn’t thought about that. You’ve got a good point. Edna cocked her head to one side as she studied Heloise. Uh, Heloise, if we’re returning to the Equestrian Village, I think we need to make a few minor changes to your wardrobe.

Why? What’s wrong with the way I dress? Heloise rose and stood beside her desk.

Edna studied her friend’s wardrobe selection for the day. She was wearing a pale-green silk blouse with a crew neck and three-quarter-length sleeves and a full calf-length emerald green skirt, with the usual voluminous pockets, in one of which reposed her chinchilla familiar, Beowulf.

Nothing’s wrong with your dress as long as you stay here, but we’re going into the greater outer world of Pedestria, and the Pedestrians just don’t dress like that, especially when they are on vacation. You’re going to have to wear pants!

Pants! Heloise blanched. But how would I carry Beowulf? I didn’t have to wear pants the last time we went on vacation.

Last time we were on a bus tour, eating in restaurants and staying in hotels. This time things may be a bit more rugged. We need to go shopping.

Heloise raised an eyebrow. Edna, are you sure this isn’t just an excuse to shop? Do you realize we’ve done more shopping in the past nine months than we have the entire time we’ve been in Pedestria?

Edna grinned, Yeah, but isn’t it fun?

Heloise returned the grin. Edna Fitzsimmons, I do believe you are becoming what the talk shows on television call a shopaholic. When should we go?

Well, I guess we need to find out when Carl is planning another trip into Laurelwood. With the academic year ending, the school’s reliance on outside resources is dwindling, and Carl isn’t making as many supply trips into town. I’ll go find him and see when he’s going again. Uh, do you have any idea where I might find Carl right now?

Heloise pondered for a moment considering just where the school’s caretaker might be before replying, I believe at this time of day he is usually puttering around the gardens. I would suggest looking for him there. After you talk to him, come get me at the cottage.

Great! Thanks, Heloise. Catch you later. Oh, by the way, will you be having supper at the school or at home?

Heloise smiled. Don’t worry about fixing dinner for me. Leonard is taking me to that cute little Italian restaurant in town. Then, we’re attending the first Concert in the Park of the season. Ed Bigelow is going to be the guest conductor. I hope he does well.

Edna stopped in the doorway and looked indignantly at her friend. Why didn’t anyone tell me? Maybe I would have liked to attend the concert too, if I’d known.

But, Edna, it was announced in the last school newsletter. Didn’t you read it?

Heloise, you know perfectly well that the only parts of the school newsletter I read are the cartoons and the horoscope.

CHAPTER 2

Edna continued to fume as she descended the stairs to the main door of Sunny Acres School. She paused on the third landing and looked out over the school grounds through the large mullioned windows. As far as she was concerned, the only vision that could surpass this one, of a vast ocean of trees leafed in soft delicate green and swathed in lemon hues of afternoon sunshine, was the same vision colored with the vibrant hues of autumn. Smiling and heaving a sigh, Edna resumed her descent. Walter Higgins had certainly adhered to the realtors’ mantra of location, location, location when he picked the spot for his school.

Hurrying around the east side of the building, Edna rapidly approached the school’s ornamental gardens. These gardens were laid out in an ornate pattern resembling a maze. The gardens were best observed from the southeastern tower of the school, and their pattern would only have special significance to someone from Lemain. (The pattern was an exact duplicate of the gardens of the Royal Palace created before Lemain society converted to a democracy.) In addition to the beautiful flowers and shrubs in the garden were several varieties of herbs and rather unusual plants whose roots, leaves, and blossoms were harvested late at night and used in classes that never appeared on the school’s core curriculum registry.

Turning the corner of a trio of six-foot junipers, Edna almost fell over the bent form of Carl where he was pulling weeds. She stopped abruptly and stood, hands on hips, trying to catch her breath. As she stood looking out over the gardens, she noticed the largest grayish-brown canine she had ever seen in her life. Slowly she reached over and shook Carl’s shoulder. Carl, what is that? She pointed to the immense beast lounging on the sunlit path.

Carl looked first at Edna then at the path. That? Why, that’s Henry, my new watchdog. Ain’t he a beaut!

Yeah, Carl, he’s really something. But just what kind of creature is he?

He’s an Irish wolfhound, of course. Hey, Henry, c’mere, you dumb mutt. Carl didn’t wait for the dog to answer his summon but returned to pulling weeds.

Henry slowly raised his head and regarded them with an intelligent and lengthy stare, exposing dazzling, sharp white teeth in what had to be at least a twelve-inch radius. Henry’s absolute self-confidence would have been obvious to Edna even without her special ability to communicate with animals.

Henry ambled over to Edna on his long legs. Then he stood on his hind feet and rested his front paws on her shoulders. Hello, Little Sister, have you come to run with me? came the deep rumbling question from the dog.

Edna looked up a long way into dark amber eyes framed by grizzled whiskers. "Why do you refer to me as little sister?"

I know by smell that you are female, I can sense you are a kindred spirit, and—he grinned down at her—"you are much smaller than I am, so little sister seems an appropriate name for you. Do you object?"

"No, not at all. When you explain it that way, it makes perfect sense. Yes, to you, I will be known as little