The Witch who Picked a Poppy: Felix and Penzi’s Ninth Paranormal Mystery by Katie Penryn

Author:Katie Penryn [Penryn, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: katiepenryn.com

Felix and I were on our way out of the door when I received a call from Inspector Dubois.

“I don’t want to put a damper on your day, Penzi,” he said, “but you need to know that the driver of the mortuary van died early this morning. That makes two homicides. We have to catch this killer, whatever it takes.”

With any luck, Iglesias would turn out to be the villain, or at least put us on the killer’s trail with new information.

The clinic was set in the middle of a wood of Douglas fir trees some distance from the coast, hemmed in by a tall limestone wall and shut off from the outside world by tall spiked iron gates which turned out to be locked. I parked our car to the side and searched for a two-way telephone to ask for the gates to be opened.

“Our clients do not receive visitors while undergoing their treatment here,” I was told.

“I’m here on police business,” I said.

“Even worse,” the voice retorted. “The last thing one of our clients need is to be upset by the police whatever they’ve done or not done.”

And with that, the device clicked off. I walked back to Felix and reported. I asked him if we had Iglesias’ room number.

He nodded. “Even better. I’ve pulled up the plans of the clinic on my laptop. If they haven’t rearranged the rooms since the last fire inspection, his room is here in the corner,” he said, pointing to a front-facing room with its own verandah.

“What should we do? Any ideas?”

“Remember what Dubois said — whatever it takes. With two killings under his belt already, this murderer is prepared to stop at nothing. We shouldn’t either. I would advise you to use magic, boss. This Iglesias could have something important to tell us.”

I was afraid Felix would say that. The decision to use magic or not is a difficult one. It could not be used for my own benefit. Check. It could only be used if normal means escaped me. Could I argue that time was of the essence in this case? If magic could get us the answers before another murder was committed, was I justified in using it?

Felix noticed my hesitation. “Go on, boss. You have to do it. I suggest you unlock the gates, and then use your invisibility spell to get us into Room 42. I can give you a hoist over the verandah wall and keep watch while you question Iglesias.”

“But, Felix, what if he’s violent? He’ll be in withdrawal. I don’t know much about that.”

“They’ll be giving him something to compensate so that he can come down gradually. Anyway, I’ll follow you in. If I have to, I can shift to my leopard state to get over the parapet.”

We clung to the wall and edged up to the gates.

“Invisibility first, Felix,” I said. “We don’t want hidden cameras spotting us while I unlock the gates.”

I searched my memory for the non videor spell. I was reasonably confident I had the images and symbols correct in my mind.

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