Mystery City by Alistair Lavers

Author:Alistair Lavers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Published: 2017-04-28T10:56:01+00:00

Derek Beautimann and Maureen Moment, the Grand Wizard and Deputy of the Black Hand Coven, sat close together on separate armchairs in a quiet corner of the Royal Hotel’s lounge bar, talking quietly, amongst themselves. They had met to discuss what to do with their share of half a fortune in gold and jewels which Derek had located and excavated several days before. Though no one who knew their true circumstances would describe them as blessed, one of them was at least hopeful of a better future, once the matter of a certain curse was neutralised. Unfortunately, it did not look as though their fraternity of wizards and witches would survive the spring, but the manner of the coven’s dissolution had to be faced.

‘I’ve come to a decision Maureen,’ announced her accomplice and employer.‘I’m going to resign as Grand Wizard and Master of Ceremonies. I’ve no desire to continue to entertain a troop of fools and delinquents. From now on, they can be the masters of their own destinies. I shall say they have my best wishes for the future, be magnanimous and gracious, but I’m afraid I’ve come to a crossroads with our society.’

‘I wouldn’t have put it quite like that Derek. Nobody expects you to “entertain” them. What on earth will they do if you go?’

‘They’ll have the pleasure of arguing amongst themselves I expect. Why should you care what happens to them?’

‘Why do you have to be so rude about them? They’re not bad people. Most of them look up to you, if only you’d bother to notice.’

‘Oh they’re polite enough on their own, granted. I’ve no wish to go on record as having made a blanket character assassination of my own coven. But when they’re all together, it’s a different story isn’t it? They’re impossible… I’m sorry, but they’ll just have to manage themselves from now on and that’s my final decision.’

‘Well, there’s nothing more to be said then. Are you going to do it in writing?’

‘Maureen – would you like to think about what you just said?’

‘No – why?’

‘May I suggest that you do?’

‘No – you can’t.’

‘Well… I’ll just implicate myself in my own hand shall I? And end up on the front page of the News of the World, with my head superimposed on top of a pantomime wizard’s cape – and a goat tucked under my arm. That’ll do wonders for my career in the law.’

‘Oh…I hadn’t thought about it that way.’

‘I think it’s best if I do the thinking. That’s the way it is at work, and that’s the way it’s going to stay outside.’

‘Are you giving it up then? The dark side…’

‘Not exactly… I’m going to see if I can find some kind of parallel satisfaction in golf. There must be some kind of supernatural force involved in putting a tiny ball into a tiny hole, with something that looks like a joke shop drain rod. Trevor and James are always arguing about their damned golf handicaps, so I’ve decided to

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