Page 111 of A Spell of Midlife Mayhem

‘He died because of your greed, Melissa.’

She tilted her head, not bothering to deny the accusation. ‘We can split the proceeds, Heather. How about it?’

‘Not a chance. You’ll pay for what you did.’

The ghosts, apart from the earl, had come out of the White Hart to watch our confrontation.

‘Lop off her head!’ the countess suggested.

Maisey glared at Melissa. Beside her, Scruffles barked.

A police car arrived and two police officers got out. ‘Is there a Heather Nicholls here?’ one of them asked.

‘That’s me,’ I said.

‘We found your car. Unfortunately, it’s a write-off. It crashed into a wall in Teddington. Witnesses saw some youths push it into the canal.’

Great. That was all I needed right now. The insurance should cover it, though.

‘We’ll need a statement from you.’

‘Of course.’

Melissa was edging away surreptitiously. I grabbed her arm. ‘Officers, please call Inspector Pentecost. This is the person responsible for the murder of Ronald Morris.’

Chapter 35

THE POLICE OFFICERS detained Melissa and handcuffed her when I played them the audio recording I had of our conversation. She cried, but she didn’t plead innocence. I didn’t feel sorry for her. She’d brought this on herself.

We all took cover under the front awning of the White Hart. I pulled my coat further around me. The witch’s spell book was tucked inside, protected from the rain. One of the constables remarked that the evening was becoming chilly because the wind was picking up. But it was because of the ghosts who crowded around us.

‘This jaunt certes eclipses the others,’ Maisey said. ‘’Tis a shame the earl didst not see all of the merriment and miching mallecho.’

‘We shalt tell him about it when he wakes up,’ the countess said.

How would I get them home? Raven had gone and probably wouldn’t come back tonight. The car was wrecked. I’d need a taxi.

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