Page 113 of A Spell of Midlife Mayhem

Chapter 36

THE NEXT MORNING WAS sunny and calm. The storm had passed by during the night. When I got to Chirtlewood, I saw that Penny had brought the pastries, and there was one spare. She didn’t yet know about Melissa’s arrest.

I explained what had happened. Lydia, who’d been briefed by Inspector Pentecost, listened glumly. She and Penny had been colleagues with Melissa for ages. It would take them some time to get used to this.

‘I put an ad on the Antiques and Collectibles website offering to buy old books related to witchcraft. Someone replied, and my friend and I arranged to meet them.’ I sighed with sadness. ‘It was Melissa. She had the book on her and confessed to stealing it, but she said she didn’t mean to kill Ronald.’ Though she obviously did.

‘Oh! Damnation!’ Penny appeared horrified. ‘I never thought...’ Her voice trailed off. She looked down.

‘Dreadful,’ Lydia said, her head in her hands.

‘The police arrested Melissa. I’m sorry to give you this news, Penny. And Lydia, I believe the inspector told you last night. I wish it weren’t true.’

‘She must have wanted to sell the book. Perhaps it was valuable.’

I nodded.

Penny hugged me. ‘I’m sorry I got so angry at you. I understand why you did it now.’

‘Me too.’ Lydia joined us for a group hug.

Joy filled me. I would not lose my job. In time, I’d be great friends with these two.

‘I’m glad we know who killed poor Ronald,’ I said.

Lydia blanched. ‘I can hardly believe it.’

‘Me neither,’ Penny added. ‘But there it is. Whoever knew Melissa would be capable of something like that?’

‘She certainly concealed her avarice from us,’ Lydia said. ‘But, in the end, it overcame her.’

We stood quietly for a few moments, as if it was all too much to take in. My mind wandered. I had other issues to deal with.

Penny broke the silence. ‘Why don’t you have the extra pastry, Heather? You deserve it.’

‘Ha. I think I’d better not. I’ve got fitter since working here, and I like that a lot, but doubling up on the pastries won’t help. I’ll gain weight.’

‘It won’t eat itself. Who cares about body shape at our age? It’s more important to be yourself. Right, Lydia?’

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