The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7 Page 35

  The address proved to be on the other side of the dendrochronologist’s buildings. They pulled up a picture and map reference.

  “It is a nice-looking house,” Sam said.

  “It proves that the history around here is looked after,” Alison added, “but houses change hands all of the time.” Magda folded her hand around the pendant and said that she would like to look at the place out of interest.

  “We should go and collect the wood from the dendrochronologist anyway,” Sam said and then tapped the screen. “Look at that. Guess who owns the house in the picture.” The other two looked at him and he grinned. “Col Construction.”

  16

  “Wow!” Magda said. “I knew there was a connection.” She unfolded her fingers from the pendant. “It didn’t vibrate but I just knew there was something.”

  “They don’t live there,” Alison said. “They have a very large and very modern house in town. It is not to my taste, but it is quite impressive.” She laughed. “They bought a vintage old car like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang just to stand at the door and look impressive. There is a picture of it online from the local newspaper.” She typed in the name and address and showed them the photo.

  “Oh, that is just tasteless. The golden metal gates and bright red bricks are horrible,” Magda said.

  “And I would guess, not made from traditional materials. You can build big and make it look expensive even though the construction is flawed,” Sam added.

  Alison put down the newspaper. “Tomorrow is another day,” she said. “It’s my bedtime.”

  After saying goodnight to Alison and sitting with a cup of hot chocolate, Sam and Magda agreed that they would go tomorrow and also take a sneak peek at the house they had found.

  The next day, Sam thought that he could remember the way to the dendrochronologist, so he and Magda left Alison in peace and went to collect the pieces of wood. The wood pieces were handed over and Jessie said that it had been a joy to work on dating them. She asked if they had found out anything more and they brought her up to date.

  “Just being nosey Americans, we are going to have a sneak look at this house since it’s near here. That seems to be the other house apart from Waterside Cottage that is tied into the history of the family.”

  “The man who lives there works for Col Construction. They sometimes use the place for meetings. I don’t like the man and they don’t welcome visitors.”

  “Interesting,” Sam commented. “Thanks. We’ll take care.”

  The house, or what they could see of it, was set amongst trees. It was a quaint house and painted white. The gate to the driveway was closed and there appeared to be no movement of any sort but they had been spotted and a man came to the gate to ask if he could help.

  Magda played the American tourist card and said that her uncle’s family tree showed that he was related distantly to the family who had owned this house.

  “Enjoy your stay,” he said, “but this is a business headquarters now and there are no family people to talk to you.” He claimed not to know any history and they were about to turn away when a car drove up and Cameron Carty climbed out.

  “Well, hello again,” he said to Magda and Sam. “What brings you here?”

  “Our curiosity about family trees turned up this house. We were at the dendrochronologist anyway, so we were just looking around,” Magda told him.

  “I can offer you a very basic coffee if you would like to look inside.” He introduced the other man as Joey and said that the Americans were buying Waterside Cottage. They followed him inside and he was right about it being basic. It was very obviously a business office.

  “So, has it been in your family for a long time?” Magda asked Cameron and he said that it had.

  “It is useful as an office more than it would be rented out as a house. This one and your cottage seem to have been in continuous use for hundreds of years. What took you to the dendrochronologist when you are here on holiday?”

  Sam confessed that he had found what looked like the foundations of an earlier house and took some wood to be dated. Cameron stopped and looked at him in amazement.

  “It took two visiting Americans to discover some of our history. How old was it?” When he heard the date, he was absolutely amazed. “That is amazing. I don’t suppose you could let me see it. We never see anything as old as that.”

  “It’s in the car,” Magda said. They made their way back out and glanced at the gardens and old outhouses. They were all heavily locked and Magda wondered what was so valuable in a little rural backwater to warrant all of the security. There were also cameras in various locations as well. On one door there were skull and crossbones, signs saying to keep out and danger warnings. Cameron saw her look and explained that they had to keep explosives for the building sites.

  “It is in a reinforced bunker and heavily secured,” he told her.

  Cameron held the wood in his hand and turned it over.

  “Belinda the witch might well have walked on the floor that this held up. That is absolutely amazing.”

  “Do you think she was a witch?” Magda asked. “Or just a woman making creams and cough mixtures from plants in the garden?”

  “The books all seem to think she was not a real witch,” he answered. “I don’t suppose we will ever know for sure.” He handed it back to Sam and asked again about viewing the foundation. Sam glanced at Magda and there seemed no reason to be nasty and refuse.

  “There is one thing,” Sam said to him. “We are keeping what we found quiet because we don’t want any newspapers getting hold of the story.” He paused and told him that they had found the well in the courtyard and waded upstream to find the foundations.

  “That is fantastic,” Cameron answered. “I will keep it to myself, but you found the water for the cottage at the waterside.”

  “We will make a garden feature of the well eventually,” Magda said.

  “I can’t wait,” the construction man said. “I’ll see you about five if that is okay.” They said it was and drove away. He stood and watched them go.

  Magda looked across at Sam and asked what he thought.

  “He seems genuinely interested.”

  “The building that was padlocked and had the explosives?” Sam nodded. “There was somebody inside. I’m sure I saw a movement.”

  “I wonder if they have a patrol at night,” Magda mused.

  “There is nothing to see in the well or the cave. Nobody knows about the séances and the spirit and we can keep that to ourselves.”

  They decided to go back via Barbara’s crystal shop and have something to eat somewhere on the Medieval Mile. There was no doubt that Kilkenny had something special about it. The people in charge had done a great job in attracting artists and craftspeople. It gave Magda the feeling that it could almost have gone back in time. She took a lot of photos and sent them to Rula and Katie.

  At the shop, they waited until Barbara had served a customer and then brought her up to date about what they had found.

  She looked concerned when they told her about the house and the security.

  “What is it?” Magda asked.

  “That house was involved in a kidnap case a few years ago. The Carty’s were not suspects at all but they found the house hard to rent out and decided to make it a business unit instead.”

  “Maybe I was just on edge, but I could have sworn I saw a movement in one of the padlocked outbuildings,” Magda told her.

  “Best left alone, I think. Cameron seems altogether sensible, but the father can be a bit bad-tempered and the other son is revolting.”

  “We couldn’t think of a reason to not let him see the foundations. After he does, we can just leave it at that,” Sam added.

  They told her they would call again before they left for home and went to eat at an old-fashioned pub with tables outside and lots of hanging baskets of flowers. They took a leisurely drive, enjoying the beautiful country, as they made their way back to the cottage.
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  They brought Alison up to date as well and found their rubber boots and flashlights to see the visitor at five. He was full of thanks and apologizing for being a nuisance.

  “It is not a problem,” Magda said. “No doubt when we do the conversion, we will need to ask for your advice on things about the building work. You might end up with us apologizing for being a nuisance.”

  “I did think to put on work boots because it might be wet,” Cameron told them. They showed him the stone that lifted and the grills underneath.

  “It is only about six feet down and there are handholds,” Sam said and went first. Cameron went next and Magda brought up the rear. When they reached the cave, Cameron drew a gasping breath and shone the flashlight around.

  “My goodness,” he said, “You never mentioned this. What is it?” They said it was probably above ground at one time and they thought maybe Belinda used it for potions.

  “But we will never know for sure,” Magda said. There was a pause as Cameron looked around and then took a breath.

  “I can tell you for sure.” He looked at them. “I can feel her presence very strongly and maybe, just maybe she might make herself visible.”

  “You can see spirits?” Magda asked and he looked at her.

  “You are taking that rather calmly. It freaks people out. I don’t tell anyone, but this is quite exceptional.”

  “Our friend in America, who will come with us to do the conversion, sees spirits and we are used to his gift,” Sam said.

  “His folks came from Ireland as well,” Magda said. “However, we all saw the ghost cat in my café.”

  “It’s a relief to talk to people who take it in their stride,” he held up a hand and pointed across the cave. “Belinda Carty, is that you?” Sam and Magda held their breath. “She heard me. She knows we are here.”

  “Belinda, we saved Anna. Make a noise if you understand please.”

  Cameron gave her a quick glance and they heard a sound like a footstep.

  “I have the pendant. I’ll look after it.” Magda took it out of her pocket and Cameron gasped.

  “She is coming towards it,” he whispered and the pendant on its thong moved in a fast circle as the presence came near them.

  “Are you Belinda, that they called the witch?” Cameron asked and there was another sound.

  “But you weren’t a witch, were you?” Magda called out and there was another excessively loud bang. “What does she look like, Cameron?”

  “Long dark skirt and blouse with a shawl around her shoulders. About five feet two I would think with long, straight, dark hair. She’s fading now. She’s gone.” He turned to Magda. “And what is this about Anna being safe. There is more here than you are telling.”

  “Now that we see you being honest about spirits, there is no reason not to tell you, but we were not sure how much to give away,” Sam said. “Come and see the foundation and then we can explain over coffee.” He led the way back to the water and upstream the few yards to where the blackened wood of the foundation jutted out of the earth.

  “This is fabulous,” he told them and laid his hand on it. “There was something nasty in this house though. I can feel there was a fire at some point.”

  There was a meow and Jezebelle suddenly appeared and rubbed against his legs.

  “You are honored,” Sam said.

  “She comes in through the drain,” Magda added. “Let’s go and have that coffee.”

  17

  Irene had returned when they came back inside, and Cameron gave her a peck on the cheek.

  “My favorite nephew,” she said, and he smiled.

  They explained about the séances with Barbara and Jenni but asked him to keep that information private because the women didn’t want publicity. He listened intently to the séance about Anna and Seamus the butcher.

  “The place should be fine now,” he said. “There has been a long history in this area of people trying to call up Satan. There must be some truth to it but mostly it seems to be folk dancing around fire and trying to frighten people. The drug dealers do well out of it. I do a little work with a spiritualist church in another town. We try to help anyone with bereavement and anxiety.”

  “That sounds wonderful. We won’t mention it to anyone,” Magda told him, and he asked that if they did another séance could he be included.

  “I could probably help,” he finished.

  “It might have to wait until we come back again,” Sam said. “We only have a few days left of our vacation.”

  “Can I possibly see the pendant?” he asked. Magda unwrapped it from the little cloth bag and handed it over. He took it in his hand and closed his eyes. “Lord, Lord,” he murmured. “This has such a history. I can feel it.” He handed it back to her and Jezebelle came and rubbed against his legs. Magda knew from the cat that this man was no threat and took back the pendant. “Here’s my number if you need me,” he added and handed Sam a business card. “Even if it’s just for building materials.” He stood up, thanked them all and went out to his car.

  “Well that was one for the books,” Alison said.

  “I actually liked him,” Magda said.

  “And he has a talent like Declan,” Sam remarked.

  “He has always been a pleasant young man, unlike his brother,” Irene told them.

  “Talking about our friends at home, I need to catch up.” Magda said as she picked up her cell phone.

  “Before you do,” Alison asked, “Do you think that maybe tomorrow night we should have a get together to celebrate you buying the cottage and having the holiday?”

  “And making some great new friends,” Magda finished for her. “Isn’t it a lot to ask of you though?”

  “I would love it. Irene is here to help. Ricky can join us, Olive, Branna, Jonno and the others.”

  “It might take our minds off funerals and people painting on doors,” Sam said. “Let’s do it.”

  Magda left them planning the get together and went to the bedroom to call Rula on video chat.

  “What a time,” Rula said when she heard the whole story. “The café is fine, but it will be good to see you both again.”

  “I have a whole lot of photos to send you later. I had better help with the plans for the party tomorrow night. We come back two days later.” After they said goodbye, she went to find out what the plans were.

  “I’ve called Olive. She is telling Jonno and Branna,” Alison said. “Can you get hold of Barbara and Jenni?”

  “I want to tell them about Cameron anyway,” Magda said and was talking to Barbara on the phone when a message pinged. She glanced at the screen. Declan was messaging. She asked Barbara to hold for a few minutes. Declan’s message told her he had the photos and could see a figure in the window of the locked shed.

  Magda pulled up the photo and magnified it. Then she gasped.

  “Sam look at this, please call Declan and I will go back to Barbara.” Sam looked at the image and then used his own cell to call Declan. Magda apologized and told Barbara that she was sending her an image and to see what she thought about the window and to call her back.

  Magda showed the picture to Alison and Irene and asked what they saw in the window.

  “It’s a woman,” Irene said.

  “Agreed,” Alison added. “But who and why are they in a locked shed with explosives?”

  “And did Cameron know?” Sam queried.

  “Oh my,” Irene sighed. “I always trusted him.”

  “Well, Jezebelle thinks he is okay,” Magda reasoned. “Maybe there is a good explanation.”

  “Or maybe we can warn him about something. Maybe I should give him a call and just mention it.” Sam added. The rest of them nodded and he looked at the business card to get the number. They were all silent as he waited to speak to the man.

  “Cameron,” Sam said, “I know that we’ve just met, and I might be being interfering, but one of the photos we took today shows that somebody was inside your locked shed with the
explosives. I can send it to you if it helps.”

  “You are not interfering. Thanks for bothering,” Cameron replied. “Send it over and I will have a look. Maybe the man who looks after the place had somebody doing some work. There is another door that might have been open, but I will check it out.” Sam sent the photos and Barbara called Magda after that to say that she could definitely see a female figure.

  “Cameron didn’t seem worried at all, so maybe it was nothing. We are waiting for him to call back. Can you make tomorrow night?”

  “Love to and I’ll bring food to help out,” Barbara said. Jenni said the same. Then Branna and Jonno arrived at the door to see if they could help with arrangements. They needed to hear all about Cameron and his visit.

  “Oh my,” Branna said. “Life will be dull when you two go home.”

  “We’ll be back in a few weeks and then the work will really start,” Magda said. “Let’s have a good night tomorrow, a lazy day the next day and plan for when we come back again.” Branna jumped up and gave her a hug. She turned around and looked at Jonno. He grinned and took her hand.

  “One more announcement,” he said. “I am completely insane, but I asked this one to marry me and she said yes.”

  Magda screamed and jumped up to throw her arms around both of them. Sam joined the hug as well. Alison wiped away a tear and Irene said that it was wonderful news.

  “When?” Magda asked.

  “Next year,” Branna said. “You will have to come over for the great occasion.”

  Alison brought out drinks and glasses and Jonno told them that he and Branna had been thinking about a local caravan site.

  “We could live on it in a big static mobile home and rent out the rest. Working with this house will be helpful as well and maybe we can make a small business into a big one.”