Page 112 of A Spell of Midlife Mayhem

The inspector arrived in an Audi after we’d been kicking our heels outside in the cold for twenty minutes. She wore an evening dress and fancy make-up and had clearly been on a night out. When she saw me, her eyes narrowed. ‘Ms Nicholls, if you’re wasting police time again, I’ll arrest you for interfering with my investigation.’

‘I’ve solved it,’ I said, indicating the police officers standing with Melissa, who was handcuffed and appeared completely deflated. ‘I recorded a conversation with my colleague in which she confessed to the crime.’

Inspector Pentecost’s gaze pinned me with narrowed eyes. ‘Is that so? Let me hear this conversation.’

She listened while I played it, then nodded. ‘I see.’ She glanced at me with grudging respect. ‘Your ad hoc investigation appears to have achieved something. But I’ll need to take your phone into evidence for a day or two.’

Of course. I gave it to her, but clung to my coat tighter, concealing the witch’s spell book so the inspector wouldn’t confiscate that too. She gave me a long stare, then pointed. ‘Is that the stolen book?’

‘Yes, it is.’ I sighed.

‘Hand it over, please. We’ll need it.’

I passed the book over. ‘I—that is, Chirtlewood—need this back soon. It’s historic and valuable and belongs in our library.’ And I need to borrow it for a while so Aunt Ruth can find a way to heal herself.

The inspector nodded. ‘That should be possible. The book itself might not bear evidence, given the number of people who have handled it, but I want to have a closer look at it, just in case.’

Good luck with that. It’s unreadable except for high-level witches. ‘Please let me know as soon as we can collect it. It won’t be more than a few days, will it?’

‘I shouldn’t think so. I’ll call you.’

‘Thanks. It’s important.’

The inspector gestured at Melissa and then to the police officers waiting in the background. ‘Put her in the car.’ She turned back to me. ‘You’re free to go, Ms Nicholls.’

‘Inspector, my car was stolen. Could you ask someone to give me a lift home, please?’

She gave a wan smile. ‘I’ll do it myself.’

I took my time getting into the car, pretending to tie my shoelaces and adjust my clothing, so Charlotte and Maisey had ample opportunity to fetch the inert, snoring earl from the White Hart and get him into the back. He laid across their laps in the back seat. Scruffles squeezed in beside them.

‘Where do you need to go?’ the inspector asked. ‘I hope you’re local.’

‘Kingston. But would you mind driving to Chirtlewood first?’

‘I can do that.’ She smiled. ‘You want to make sure the place is fine after what’s happened in the past few days. That’s commendable.’

‘Something like that.’

She drove off, the Audi purring like a tiger. Inspectors must have a good salary. The insurance money for Aunt Ruth’s car would hardly stretch to another small second-hand Renault.

‘It’s cold in here,’ the inspector said. She fiddled with the heater while turning a corner one-handed.

‘I hadn’t noticed.’ I’d wrapped my coat warmly around me, though. Four ghosts in the car resulted in a considerable degree of refrigeration.

At Chirtlewood, I got out of the car and strolled up the steps to the front entrance. I made a show of checking that the door was locked, and I peered in the side windows. Once the ghosts had all extricated themselves from the car, including the earl, who was now awake, I got back in.

‘Thanks. I had to see it for myself to make sure everything was all right. I’m sure you understand.’

‘It’s not a problem. I admire your perseverance, Ms Nicholls. I’m the first to admit when I’m wrong. Without your efforts, I don’t know when we would have cracked this case.’

I grinned. ‘Thanks.’

‘I’ll be in touch to return the book to Chirtlewood, and I’ll give Lydia Barksworth a call after I’ve dropped you off home to inform her what’s happened. Now, whereabouts in Kingston do you need to go?’

As I explained, she put the Audi in gear and set off.

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