“Mother—” Hugh groaned.
“The Luptons are a respected family, Hugh. Beatrice deserves better than a walking laundry disaster.”
Even Samuel looked surprised at Victoria’s change of tune.
I made a face. “What happened to ‘That girl is permanently glued to her phone and has an abnormal fondness for taffeta’?”
Victoria had the grace to look embarrassed.
“Danielle and I had a talk yesterday,” she admitted in clipped tones. “We came to the conclusion that it was best to let the children do what they wanted.”
I looked at the child in question. From what I could see, all he wanted to do was jump Beatrice’s bones. Then again, I wasn’t one to talk.
“The toothpaste, Hugh,” Victoria urged.
Hugh deflated and allowed Nora to shepherd him out of the dining room to get cleaned up.
I finished my coffee and pushed back from the table.
“I’m going to visit Mrs. Chen today,” I told Samuel.
He stared. “Any particular reason?”
I hesitated. “I think she might be able to help with ourinvestigation.”
Samuel frowned faintly before nodding. “I have a meeting in town this morning. Let’s catch up later.”
11
THE WITCH NEXT DOOR
Our old apartmentbuilding looked different this morning.
Bo and I stopped outside and stared at the exterior.
“Something’s changed,” I muttered.
Bo sniffed the air. “I don’t know. I still smell the familiar bouquet of mildew and regret.”
“I smell glass polish.”
“The pixies cleaned the windows,” a voice said behind us.
We yelped and twisted around.
Mrs. Chen stood looking at us like we were idiots.
I clutched my chest, my heart still racing. Even my wolf hadn’t detected her approach.
“She’s like a ninja!” Bo whispered to me.
This had the witch’s eyes rolling.
“Why did the pixies clean the windows?” I asked once I got my pulse out of the stratosphere.
“It was their way of apologizing for the rooftop garden incident,” the witch replied dismissively.
Bo and I traded a glance.
