Free Witch Is When the Penny Dropped by Adele Abbott

in marketing books in the same genre.”
    “Well that’s where we excel,” Entwhistle said. “You’ve probably heard of the ‘Joe the Wizard’s school days’ series of books.”
    “Really, Peter.” Malone interrupted. “Are you trying to compare those to our, ‘Edward the wizard’s school adventures’?”
    “Neither of those can hold a light to the, ‘Paul the wizard does his homework’ series,” Jefferson said.
    I glanced across at Winky who had a huge grin on his face.
    “So let me get this straight. You gentlemen are all here today to bid for the right to publish the ‘Bruce’ book.”
    “Yes, indeed,” Malone said. “Am I right in thinking that you represent the author, Win Key? Tell me is that Edwin or Edwina? The letter didn’t make it clear.”
    “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to give you any more details about the author. He or she is a very private person.”
    They all nodded their understanding.
    “Look, gentlemen, no decision is going to be made here today. I’d like you to submit your offers to me in writing by the end of next week.”
    “But, Miss Gooder, if I could—”
    I put my hand up to stop Malone mid-sentence.
    “That’s my final word. Best offers in writing by next Friday. Now if you don’t mind, I have other business to attend to.”
    The three of them trailed out of the room. As soon as they’d gone, Winky leapt onto my desk.
    “Forty per cent,” I said.
    “What?”
    “That’s my cut.”
    “In your dreams. Five per cent.”
    “Thirty.”
    “Ten.”
    “Twenty.”
    “Ten or I get the old bag lady to do it.”
    “Okay. Ten it is.”
     
    After I’d fed Winky, I had a few words with Mrs V.
    “Who were those horrible men?”
    “No one important. It’s all dealt with now.”
    “I wasn’t going to waste a perfectly good scarf on them. They were simply dreadful—no manners at all.”
    “How’s your book coming along? I see you aren’t writing today.”
    “I have something else on my mind at the moment. Wool TV have asked me to do my first ever studio interview for them.”
    “How exciting.”
    “I know. I’m really thrilled, but also very, very nervous.”
    “Who will you be interviewing?”
    “That’s just it. They won’t tell me. They insist they want spontaneity. They don’t want me to go in there with pre-set ideas or prepared questions.”
    “Wow! That really does sound scary.”
    “And what’s even worse, is that it’ll be going out live.”
    A recipe for disaster if ever there was one.
    “I’ll let you know when it’s going to air as soon as I know.”
    “Yeah. That would be good.”
     
    ***
     
    I’d promised to meet Daze in Cuppy C. She wasn’t in the tea room when I arrived, but Amber and Pearl were. They were both in tears of laughter.
    “What’s going on?”
    Neither of them could speak, so they pointed out of the window.
    Best Cakes owned by Miles Best and his girlfriend, Mindy Lowe, was directly across the street. I could see both of them inside their shop, but I couldn’t for the life of me make out what they were doing. It would have been pointless asking the twins who were helpless with laughter.
    I walked out of Cuppy C, and made my way across the road.
    Then I started to laugh too.
    Miles and Mindy were running around the shop, desperately trying to grab the cakes which were floating in the air. They were fighting a losing battle. The customers in Best Cakes were either looking on in disbelief or holding their sides from laughter.
    Aunt Lucy—what a card!
     
    Daze had arrived by the time I got back to Cuppy C. Amber had managed to compose herself enough to bring drinks and cakes to our table. The twins could see we were in conference, so didn’t join us. The last time I’d seen Daze was to hand over the papers I’d managed to grab from Alicia’s flat. Alicia Dawes was a level two witch who had poisoned me, and who I believed was working with The Dark One (TDO).
    I’ve had my people go over the papers,”