The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7 Read online

  “Declan is dying to come to Ireland anyway,” Magda told Alison. “Branna would be thrilled because he can actually see spirits.”

  “See them?” Alison queried and Magda explained that their friend had always seen people and thought everyone else could as well when he was a child. “Then he just kept it quiet.”

  “Jezebelle would love him.”

  “He can come and meet her when I manage to get her to America,” Alison said.

  They wandered out to look at the well again and then Sam made sure that everything was put back and it was safe.

  Alison went to see her elderly friend and Sam and Magda settled on the sofa.

  “It is really magical that we have an old stable turned into a café and will have a two-hundred-year-old cottage turned into a modern home to rent out,” Magda observed.

  “We also have two houses to live in. We are rapidly turning into property tycoons.”

  “I could sell my house and put the money into buying this one,” Magda pondered.

  “And if I provide all the alterations, that would be a fair share to both of us.”

  “Oh, we are lucky, Sam.” She reached over and kissed him as Jezebelle came and sat on her knee.

  “I will write a long email to all of the folks at home and bring them up to date,” Sam added. They spent the rest of the evening watching television.

  The morning found them planning to call Jonno to make arrangements to meet when the phone rang.

  “I was just about to call you,” Sam said. Jonno said there was some bad news. Sam put him on speakerphone and Magda and Alison both stopped what they were doing to listen.

  “Ricky rang me to say that his dad had been found dead in bed. It was unusual because there had been nothing wrong with him and the Garda were treating it as suspicious.”

  “Oh my,” Magda said quietly.

  “If you speak to him again, tell him we are all sorry,” Sam answered, and Alison echoed it.

  “Who found him?” Alison called across the room and Jonno said that he thought it was his brother.

  “Aunt Olive is a bit upset. Probably best if we leave the ghosts for another day. Is that okay?”

  “Yes, of course it is. If there is anything we can do, just call.”

  “Well, that is horrible,” Alison said and gulped her coffee.

  “Maybe it was a heart attack or something,” Magda surmised. “I think we could find a solicitor to draw up the plans to buy the cottage and get something sorted about that. It doesn’t seem right to just enjoy the holiday.”

  “That is sensible,” Alison answered. “I have a good solicitor who will do a fine job.”

  Alison called the solicitor and they went back into Kilkenny to meet the man and find out what they needed to do to complete the transaction. Magda told Alison that they were happy for her to take as long as she liked to arrange her return to the States.

  “We can transfer the money when we get back there,” Sam told the man doing the paperwork. Afterward, they went to find a coffee shop in the fascinating streets of small shops.

  “I think we are near the crystal store,” Magda said as they drank their coffee and watched the world go by. They decided to find the place again to see what the price was for the crystals which Magda wanted to take back to the café.

  Barbara was delighted to see them and showed Magda her price for the items.

  “You might have to pay tax at the airport,” she said.

  “Well, that would let us know what it would cost if I reordered online,” Magda answered and accepted the neatly and securely wrapped crystals.

  “Did you try dowsing for water?” Barbara asked Sam and he nodded and looked at Magda. She smiled and he knew that she was fine with telling the storekeeper about the well.

  “We did and we found the well,” he said with satisfaction.

  “Oh, wow,” Barbara said. “Tell me all about it.” The woman was absolutely taken aback when he said that there was also a small cave.

  “It looks like it has not been touched for a very long time and maybe it was used for things best left alone,” Magda said. “So, we covered it back over and decided to just leave it where it was.”

  “That is probably the best thing to do but I love it when people have success with the crystals.” She hesitated and then went on. “If you do decide to have another look, I would love to try the dowsing myself.”

  “Give me your cell phone number,” Magda told her, and they exchanged the numbers.

  They reached the cottage ready to sit and enjoy a drink but found a police vehicle in the driveway.

  “Oh, Lord, the Garda,” Alison murmured and got out of her car. “Is something wrong?” she asked the officer at the wheel.

  A plain clothes officer and his assistant climbed out of the car and asked if they could come inside.

  They accepted a seat and asked to whom they were speaking. Sam explained that he and Magda were buying the cottage from his aunt as she was going back to America.

  “Sorry to bring bad news to your stay. We love to have visitors here,” Inspector Donnelly told them, “but we have a nasty case here. Unusual in our quiet neighborhood. I understand that you spoke to Irene Carty yesterday?” They all nodded, and he went on. “Her ex-husband was found dead early today.” They all nodded again.

  “The forensic team tell me that we should treat this case as a murder.” There was a collective gasp. “Can you tell me what you were talking to his wife about please?”

  “Of course,” Alison said and started to explain that her nephew was interested in the history of the house as they were buying it. “And Irene called her ex-husband to ask him to remember anything his parents had said about the cottage.”

  Magda noticed that Jezebelle had come to sit beside her, but the cat wasn’t worried by the newcomers.

  “Aunt Alison married a Carty and so did Irene. This house has always been in the Carty family,” Sam added.

  Inspector Donnelly smiled slightly. “Did she say that he was upset in any way?” They all shook their heads.

  “We didn’t actually speak to him,” Alison said.

  “There are a great many of that name around here. We are just trying to find out who he contacted and what he talked about during the day. Can I ask what jobs you do at home?”

  Magda explained about her chocolate truffles and the café and Sam said that he was a builder. Magda showed him a photo of the café on her cell phone and the cat came over and pushed at it in her hand.

  “My cat at home does that,” Magda smiled and saw that the photo had changed from the café to the picture of the open well that she had taken the day before. The inspector caught her change of expression and took the phone in his hand.

  “A hole in the ground?” he asked. “What on earth is it?”

  “My nephew uncovered an old well in the garden. We covered it over securely and put the stones back,” Alison told them. Donnelly handed back the phone and told her that the café looked historical as well. She smiled and told him that strangely enough, her aunt had left her an old stable that was now the café.

  “And now you are buying another piece of history. Sorry to disturb your day. I don’t think an American café would cause someone to be murdered.” The two Garda left, and Magda sat down with a bump.

  “Murdered,” she gasped. The cat came and rubbed at her legs. “And you, little madam almost got us into trouble.”

  She opened her tablet and started to update the folks back home about what had happened so far and then Rula called her on FaceTime which gave Magda the chance to talk about it all. She brought her friend up to date with the house purchase and said she would send lots more photos. She sent the one of the well as she was talking and said that Sam would send Declan the loft pictures.

  “I do love the cottage and the whole place. The people are very friendly and Jonno and Branna are into ghosts and stuff. They are so jealous of the ghost cat but Jezebelle just did a Crystal on me and pushed t
he phone in my hand.”

  “Which picture did she take you to?” Rula asked and said that strangely enough Crystal seemed to be telling them about things to do with water.

  “You know when she has been drawn to water things before?”

  “Well, she was right because we found the underground stream. Sam actually dowsed and found it with a crystal. He is secretly very pleased with himself.” Sam came behind her and told Rula that he had found a new skill.

  “Anyway, I have bought some crystal items for the café and have ideas for witch truffles, Guinness ones and Bailey’s as well as the shamrocks,” Magda added.

  As she sat with the tablet, Rula suddenly laughed out loud.

  “I can see Jezebelle,” she said. “Puss, puss, puss.” Jezebelle looked directly into the screen and then swiped the screen with her paw. Nothing actually happened.

  “Heaven’s above,” Rula cried out. “She is trying to do something.”

  “Oh no,” Magda groaned. “I’ll get her some treats. Speak to you when we know anything else.”

  “Take care,” Rula called and blew a kiss as she closed down the connection.

  “Come on, you little villain,” Magda said and carried the cat to the kitchen to find the treats. The cat ignored them completely and went to the back door.

  7

  Out of curiosity, Magda watched the little figure as it stalked its way to the archway in the garden. It stopped directly over the well and looked down before strolling into the garden and disappearing into the flowers. Magda shook her head and closed the door.

  Sam was answering a call on his phone. “No problem. Love to see what she thinks.” He put the phone in his pocket and told them that Jonno was bringing over the white witch lady who was keen to see the plants.

  “Never a dull moment,” Alison said and hurried to tidy up the room.

  Jonno and Branna brought in a pretty woman of about thirty-five or so with blonde, curly hair and wearing a denim shirt dress. They made introductions.

  The newcomer laughed. “Yes, my name really is Jenni Wren. My mother had a sense of humor. And yes, I am a white witch who makes creams and other products from natural materials. More to the point, I am dying to see this garden.” Magda led the way out to the archway. They walked into the flowers and stood still.

  “Oh, it is just so lovely,” Jenni said and started to look at one plant after another. “When Branna told me that it was the cottage at the waterside, I could hardly believe it. We have all grown up with the folk tales about witches.”

  “I found this app for the phone that tells you what the plants are called as it photographs them,” Magda said and showed the visitor what she had.

  “If this garden has never been dug over and redone, some of these plants could be descended from the originals.” She looked at the screen again. “That is strange.”

  “What?” Branna asked and the woman turned to look at the stunted old tree beside the cottage door.

  “That is an Elder,” she said, and Magda nodded and looked at the photo. Jenni went on, “You would never plant an elder by your door because witches are supposed to live in elder trees, and she would get inside your house.” Jonno laughed and said that it was an old wives’ tale. Jenni shook her head.

  “It might well be just a superstition, but feelings about it were very strong. You never burn elder wood because the resident will be furious. You never make a cradle from elder because the witch will get to the child.” She stopped and thought. “And why would somebody who was a witch herself, have an elder tree at the door?”

  “Elderflowers and fruits are good to use in drinks and jams,” Alison added. Jenni said it was a really useful tree but it also had these stories attached to it. If that tree was here when Belinda was here, people would have really believed it.”

  “She denied being a witch right until the end,” Alison said. “Maybe she was telling the truth.”

  “On a lighter note, the rowans at the bottom are wonderfully good trees. You can make a cradle from them; they burn well and if they are planted at the door would give you protection.”

  “How fascinating,” Branna said.

  “You have a fair selection of poisonous plants as well. I don’t have poisonous ones in my own garden in case the dogs eat them. Of course, lots of them have to be boiled or treated before they are poisonous, but some are just nasty.”

  “Leave me a list and I’ll dig them out,” Alison said.

  Jenni laughed. “At dead of night by the light of the moon. That was supposed to make them more magical but probably was just because they didn’t want to be seen.” They looked at more of the plants and wandered back to the courtyard.

  “I wonder why it was the cottage by the waterside,” Jenni mused and saw the others look at each other. “You know something that I don’t,” she said, and Magda smiled.

  “Sam found the well.”

  “What?” the woman exclaimed. “How? When? Where? That is fabulous.”

  “You’re standing on it,” Sam said and when she stepped aside, he obligingly lifted the stone and let her gaze down into the blackness. The running water could be heard at the bottom. She looked around at them with excitement.

  “So, it really is the cottage by the waterside? It really is where Belinda Carty lived. These plants may well be seeds of those that she used. This is absolutely fabulous.”

  Magda smiled and said that it was good to own a piece of history.

  “I love all things wiccan. I believe in the earth being a provider and we should look after it. To actually stand on the spot where Belinda Carty stood has something magical about it.”

  “Do you think she was really a witch?” Branna asked her and Jenni shook her head.

  “I don’t think she was conjuring up the devil or things like that but if I had lived then, they would have thought that about me as well.”

  “The thing is, that we don’t want the newspapers and curious folk turning up on the doorstep, so we are not telling anyone about it. As far as I am concerned, there is no well in the garden.” Sam told her. “Please keep it to yourself.” She nodded and smiled at him.

  “My friend Barbara will be furious if she finds out that I know and haven’t said anything, but I will keep it to myself.” She looked around. “I will take photographs and make a list for you of plants that might have been used all of those years ago.”

  “Is your friend Barbara the owner of the crystal shop?” Magda asked and Jenni swung around in amazement and nodded.

  “She already knows that we found a well because Sam found it with a dowsing crystal.”

  “Good grief,” Jenni said and sat down on the little wall.

  Magda sat beside her and Branna sat at the other side.

  “What we didn’t tell her was that there is a small cave down there and maybe, just maybe there are pots that she might have used.” Magda gave her the rest of the story.

  “Oh, Lord. I might pass out,” Jenni said. Alison fetched her a glass of water. “There is so much to take in.”

  “I guess the stone altar was taken many years ago because the story was that it stood by the well,” Alison remarked, and Jenni agreed. Then she asked if she and Barbara could see the cave.

  “It is really important to us. We work together with crystals and candles. It would be wonderful if we could feel the atmosphere.”

  “I wish Merle and Declan were here because they would be able to sense something,” Magda said and explained that their friends from home had been in séances and circles to see if there was a spirit about.

  “Barbara can do that,” Jenni was wildly excited.

  “Give her a call,” Sam suggested. “Let’s see if we can do something about this cave and this well.” Then he checked it was okay with his aunt. She smiled and said that she was already thinking of the house as his.

  “I would like to find out about it before I leave.”

  Jenni found her cell phone and had a jabbering conversation with Barba
ra who said she would leave her assistant in charge and come straight over. Then she called back for the address. Branna laughed at the two of them being so wildly excited.

  “You’ll get your feet wet,” Jonno said to Jenni and she said that it was no problem and she would go down barefooted. She laughed and added that they did go sky clad in the woods when there was nobody about to see them.

  “Sky clad?” Sam asked.

  “No clothes on,” Magda said drily. “Don’t even think about it, Sam.”

  “Or you, Jonno,” Branna warned but laughed when she said it.

  “Is it not cold?” Alison asked with a view to the practical side. Jenni said that they did think about that and only did it once in a while.

  “The moon is said to be very powerful and sometimes it feels good to feel that energy.”

  “I did read somewhere that the atmosphere is denser when there is a full moon because it is closer to the earth,” Branna added. “Maybe it is more than just something you believe in.”

  “More people are coming around to nature’s cures and more traditional ways of living. I try to keep my life as simple as possible,” Jenni stated. “But it is not easy with the internet and everything else.”

  “I guess you have to use the web as a tool and not let it take over,” Magda added.

  Barbara arrived and the excitement that the two women felt was infectious.

  Sam went for the crystal.

  “This is what Barbara sold me that helped to find the well. He walked over to where he had replaced the stone and stood still. The crystal circled clockwise and Jonno bent and lifted the stone.

  “This time I have a flashlight,” Sam said and produced his aunt’s emergency light that she kept in the car. “This will stand and light the place up.” He placed it at the edge and climbed down the steps. Then he held out a hand and Jonno handed him the light.

  Jenni went next and then Barbara, followed by everyone else but Alison who said she preferred to stay dry. They splashed through the water and stepped up into the dry floor of the cave.

  “Oh, my giddy aunt,” Jenni breathed. “This has been here for hundreds of years.” She walked around and looked at the shattered bits of pottery. “There are one or two bits of bone here as well,” she added, “but they might just be here naturally.”