Witch Is Why Time Stood Still (A Witch P.I. Mystery Book 13) Read Free Page B

out?”
    “The girls have advertised them in The Candle, but I don’t know if they’ve had any response yet. Are you keeping your room on there?”
    “Definitely. It’s handy to have a base here in Candlefield even if I don’t use it very often. I suppose I should offer the twins some rent money now. I don’t get the chance to help out in Cuppy C much these days.”
    “You could offer, but I doubt they’d take anything from you.”
    “Thanks again for taking Barry and Hamlet in. I didn’t like to leave them above Cuppy C once the twins had moved out. I’m not sure the new tenants would have approved.”
    “No problem. It’s doing me good to have a dog in the house; it means I get plenty of exercise.”
    Just then, the twins arrived. “Jill! Hi!” Amber shouted.
    “Hiya, Jill!” Pearl followed her sister into the room. “It’s your big day tomorrow, isn’t it?”
    Sheesh!
     
    A few minutes after the twins had arrived, Alan and William turned up. William was his usual happy self. He shouted hello, and went over to join Amber. Alan, though, seemed rather subdued.
    Ten minutes later, everyone was chatting when Alan tapped me on the shoulder.
    “Jill, do you think I could have a quiet word in the kitchen?”
    “Yeah, of course.” I followed him through. “Is everything okay?”
    “Two vampire friends of mine have been taken ill in the last week. One of them is still in hospital.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    “The thing is, I think someone poisoned them.”
    “Deliberately?”
    “Yes.”
    “What do the police say?”
    “Nothing. Everyone is trying to make out it’s some kind of virus.”
    “What makes you think it’s not.”
    “They’re both players in my BoundBall team. I think someone is trying to nobble our team ahead of the big match.”
    “What match is that?”
    “It’s the top of the league clash. First and second place in the league play one another next. Whichever team wins is guaranteed to finish top of the league.”
    “If it’s poison, why haven’t the medical authorities notified the police?”
    “I don’t know. It’s like there’s some kind of conspiracy to cover it up. I didn’t know who else to turn to. Do you have time to see if you can find out what’s happening?”
    “Sure. Leave it with me, and I’ll see what I can dig up. Try not to worry about it.”
    “Easier said than done.”
    “I know. What does Pearl think about it?”
    “She doesn’t know, and I’d prefer to keep it that way. She’d only worry that I might be next.”
    “I understand. I won’t say anything to her. Why don’t you go back in there and try to enjoy dinner?”
    “Okay, I’ll do my best. Thanks, Jill.”
    While we’d been out of the room, there’d been a new arrival. Grandma was seated at the head of the table, and I could tell by the look on Aunt Lucy’s face that she hadn’t been expecting her.
    “How much longer is dinner going to be?” Grandma grumbled.
    “About five minutes, Mother. Surely even you’ve got enough patience to wait another five minutes.”
    “It had better be worth waiting for. I’m starving. What is it, anyway?”
    “A nice roast chicken.”
    “Chicken? I had chicken the last time I was here.”
    “Well you’ve got it again. Now pour yourself a drink and be quiet.”
    “The way kids talk to their parents these days.” Grandma tutted. “It’s terrible.”
     
    Fifteen minutes later, we were all tucking into dinner; it was doubly delicious. I wish I could make gravy like Aunt Lucy. It was such a shame that Jack could never join one of these family dinners. It was becoming more and more frustrating that I wasn’t able to tell him about my life in Candlefield. Whenever he asked about my birth family, I either had to change the subject, or even resort to the ‘forget’ spell. I hated using magic on Jack, but what choice did I have?
    “Have you come to your senses yet, Jill?” Grandma said, when we’d all finished the main course, and