Witch Is When Stuff Got Serious (A Witch P.I. Mystery Book 11) Read Online Free PDF

pressed a button, and the conveyor belt started to go in reverse. There were more moans and groans as the cakes got even further away from the guests. She pressed a different button, which at least meant it was travelling in the right direction again.
    Pearl pulled one of the levers. “I think it’s this,” she said.
    “No. It isn’t.” Amber pulled it back.
    “Yes it is.”
    “No, it’s not.”
    Suddenly, the lever broke off in their hands, and the conveyor belt began to speed around the room so quickly that the cakes flew off in all directions. A custard tart hit the mayor smack bang in the face. Buns were spilling into people’s laps.
    Amber jumped up onto the counter and shouted, “Don’t panic. Everything’s in hand.”
    But it was way too late; everyone was leaving. The last person to leave the shop was the photographer from The Candle. He turned, and snapped a few photos.
    I could already picture the next morning’s headlines.
     
    ***
     
    Everyone else had left, but I stayed on in Cuppy C. It seemed a shame to let the blueberry muffins go to waste.
    “Hi, Jill.” It was Annie Christy. “Where is everyone? And what’s that monstrous thing?”
    “A conveyor belt. It’s the twins’ latest brainwave, but things didn’t quite go to plan.”
    “Oh dear. Can you spare me a minute?”
    “Sure. Would you like a drink?”
    “No, I can’t stay. I popped in on the off chance that I’d catch you here. I know you’re never far away from the blueberry muffins.”
    Harsh, but true.
    Some time ago, I’d been hired to find out who was sabotaging Annie’s mother’s bakery business. It turned out that it was actually her mother who was behind it. She’d done it for the best of reasons. Annie had wanted her to sell the business and retire, but her mother had been dead set against the idea. She hadn’t known how to tell her daughter that she didn’t want to sell up and retire, so she’d sabotaged her own business to put off the potential buyer. Anyway, it had all ended well, and afterwards, Annie and SupAid had helped me to find an expert for Lester to consult when he temporarily lost his magic powers.
    “I haven’t seen you for ages, Annie. How are things at SupAid?”
    “Not great, actually. That’s the reason I’m here. I’m after a favour. I’ll get straight to the point, Jill. Donations to SupAid are at an all-time low. I’m not sure why. Money’s tight, I guess. We’re struggling to meet our commitments. What we need is a big fundraiser—something that will really make an impact, and replenish the coffers. The truth is that myself and my colleagues are all out of ideas. I wondered if maybe you could come up with some suggestions?”
    “Me? I know nothing about fundraising. What made you think of me?”
    “You have the highest profile of all the witches in Candlefield, so anything you do will probably get the headlines.”
    “But I wouldn’t know where to start.”
    “Will you at least think about it?”
    “Yes, of course. If I come up with anything, I’ll give you a call.”
    “Thanks, Jill. That’s all I can ask. I’d better be off. I’ve got an appointment in five minutes. Nice to see you again.”
    A fundraiser? That sort of thing was more Kathy’s department. She was always raising funds for the school or some other good cause. I could just imagine how that conversation would go.
    “Hey, Kathy. Do you have any suggestions for a fundraiser?”
    “What’s it for?”
    “SupAid.”
    “Never heard of it.”
    “They help supernatural creatures who have temporarily lost their magical powers.”
    “Do what?”
    “You know. Witches, wizards—that sort of thing.”
    “Have you been drinking again, Jill?”
     

Chapter 5
    I was pleased to discover that the mini-market across the road from my block of flats had, at long last, restocked on custard creams. And about time, too!
    Jammie Dodgers, indeed!
    I bought five packets—just in case there was a rush on them.
     
    There