Read Online Meows, Magic & Murder by Madison Johns - Free Book Online

fit the bill.”
    “How awful. So what did you do?”
    “I tracked Carl to his home in Kingston, New York, when I was off duty. We got into an awful fight.”
    “Did you beat him up?”
    “No, the cops showed up before that. Later, my boss called me down to the station and I was fired since I had my service revolver with me that day in Kingston. Luckily, no charges were filed and they recorded it as a layoff so I wouldn’t be barred from being a cop again.”
    “So you let your cheating fiancée ruin your life?”
    “I can’t blame Lisa for what I did totally. I knew I was breaking the rules when I went to Kingston, but I was just so angry at the time that I just didn’t think straight.”
    “What about Lisa?”
    “She was gone by the time I made it home after my arrest. I scared her pretty bad and she left the city. My parents weren’t too happy, and they really weren’t all that supportive after I lost my job. They just kept pushing me to go back to school and I knew then that I had to pick up and leave, so here I am.”
    “Planning to run for sheriff,” Petunia said. “In Lake Forest, of all places.”
    “So far, it seems to be a great town. I’ve never lived in a small town before and can tell already that this one is growing on me.”
    A waiter cleared his throat, setting down menus, taking their drink orders and coming back with a bottle of red wine. “Not sure it’s a good idea to drink before I’ve had something to eat.”
    “I’ll bring you folks bread right away.” The waiter disappeared and brought back the bread, just like he said he would.
    “Thanks,” I said. “I’d love the mushroom Alfredo with chicken.”
    “That sounds great, make that two,” Noah said. He sampled the wine, slicing the bread and handing a slice to Petunia. “So, besides Aunt Petunia, do you have any other family members who live in Lake Forest?”
    Petunia swallowed hard, taking a drink with a shaky hand. “I did, but she’s all I have now in town. My grandfather lives in a nursing home in Bear Paw.” When Noah gave her a strange look, she went on to explain. “My parents died when I was twelve. Aunt Maxine basically raised me since that time.”
    “Oh, wow. I’m sorry.”
    Petunia frowned. “Thanks. They died in a car accident near Detroit. I was going to go with them, but at the last minute Aunt Maxine insisted that I stay home. She also told them not to go, too, even going so far to tell them she had a terrible dream that something dreadful would happen to them. My dad insisted that they go anyway, although he did relent and let me stay with Aunt Maxine. My dad didn’t believe in the same things that Aunt Maxine does, but he never lived with a witch, either.”
    “So we’re talking Anastasia Cuza, here?”
    “Yes, my aunt’s parents also died in a car accident. Aunt Maxine believes our family is cursed.”
    “Either that or your family was just touched with an unfortunate chain of events that just happened to lead to their deaths.”
    “Car accidents, to be exact. That’s why I don’t own a car.”
    “If you don’t have a car, how do you get around town?”
    “I have a bicycle that I use, but since I live in town, most businesses are within walking distance.”
    “You took a ride on my motorcycle, though.”
    “Yes, because motorcycles don’t scare me, just driving a car does. I about had an anxiety attack when Aunt Maxine insisted that I drive her home earlier.”
    “I can’t even image not owning a car, or driving. For me, it relaxes me. What’s the worst that could happen in a town such as this? It only has one traffic light.”
    “You should never say something like that. Something bad can always happen.”
    “Okay, so besides being superstitious about driving a car, what other fears do you have?”
    “I won’t walk under a ladder, I throw spilled salt over my right shoulder, and I always put on my right sock first.” When Noah’s eyes widened slightly, she asked, “Why are