I Put A Spell On You

“Just shock,” I said, not looking her in the eye.

“What was in the folder you took?” she said.

I screwed my nose up.

“You saw that?” I said, wondering if she’d seen how I’d found the right folder. She didn’t seem the type who missed much. She certainly wasn’t fazed by it though, even if she had seen, and that intrigued me.

“Uh huh.”

I thought about lying then changed my mind.

“It was Star’s HR folder,” I admitted. “I just wanted to have a look at it.”

“Why?” she asked. I felt like squirming under her cool, clear gaze.

“I just think there’s more to Star’s death than her dodgy heart.”

“Why?”

I looked at Esme for guidance – it wasn’t easy explaining witchcraft to people who thought it was all Harry Potter and Muggles.

“I just had a bad feeling,” I said pathetically.

“Why?” she said again. She was beginning to annoy me.

“It’s complicated.”

I paused for a moment, staring at DI Baxter. She was maybe a tiny bit older than me and a tiny bit taller. She had blonde hair in a pixie crop and cool grey eyes. She looked back at me and I knew she thought I was up to something.

“Try me,” she said.

A tiny smile edged its way onto my lips.

“I might,” I said. “But not now.”

DI Baxter stood up.

“If you change your mind, you know where I am,” she said, giving me a business card. Her long strides meant she reached the front door in seconds. “And Harry? Don’t try anything, will you? You’re not Miss Marple.”

I tried to look innocent.

“I wouldn’t dare,” I said. “Keep in touch.”

On the surface I meant she should keep in touch with any news on Star’s death, but deep down I was intrigued by her and I couldn’t help hoping I’d see her again.

I reached past her to open the door and as I did, Jamie came out of the kitchen.

“Lou?” he said in surprise.

“JB!” DI Baxter – Lou apparently – threw her arms out in joy. Jamie walked into her embrace and they performed a complicated manoeuvre that began with them bumping stomachs and ended with DI Baxter holding Jamie in a headlock. They were both laughing uproariously. I was not. Nor was Esme, who was watching on in something resembling horror.

“Ez,” said Jamie, unravelling himself from DI Baxter’s grip. ‘This is Louise. We played rugby together at uni.”

Esme smiled a small, tight smile.

“Lou,” Jamie continued, “this is Esme – she’s Harry’s cousin – and my girlfriend.”

“Fiancée,” Esme said, frostily.

“Really?” I said in surprise. “Since when?”

Jamie took Esme’s hand and grinned at DI Baxter and me.

“Oh yes,” he said. “Earlier I asked Ez to marry me and she said yes.”

Esme beamed in pride and snuggled up to Jamie in a proprietorial manner.

“That’s great news, guys.” I said, giving them both a quick hug. For some reason I felt very close to tears again.

DI Baxter looked awkward.

“I’d better go,” she said. Jamie looked crestfallen.

“Let’s get together soon,” he said. “We’ve got years to catch up on.”

She felt in her pocket and handed him the same business card she’d given me.

“I’d love to,” she said. “Good to meet you, Esme.”

She let herself out of the door and I heard her footsteps disappear down the stone steps.

“She seems nice,” Esme said. I could read Esme’s thoughts as easily as I read my own – it was partly witchcraft and partly just that I knew her so well – and I knew she was lying.

“I liked her,” I said just so she knew I knew what she thought.

“I’m going to bed,” I added. “It’s been a hell of a day.”

Jamie slapped Esme’s bum gently.

“Come on then, Mrs B-to-be,” he said. Childishly, I made sick faces behind his back. Esme grimaced at me.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” she said to Jamie. She waited until he’d gone down the hall to their bedroom, then she took my arm.

“I’m in,” she whispered. “ I’ll come with you to Star’s flat. Jamie’s playing rugby tomorrow anyway.”

I was pretty certain she was only saying it because DI Baxter had told us not to do anything, but I didn’t care.

“We’ll go tomorrow,” I said.