Free Witch Is When the Penny Dropped by Adele Abbott Page B

it?”
    “A jack-in-the-box of course.” He slipped open the catch.
    “No!” I screamed.” I’d always been terrified of jack-in-the-boxes.
    Too late—I closed my eyes.
    “Are you okay, Jill?” The colonel sounded concerned.
    I opened my eyes, and realised that the jack was still firmly in the box.
    “Yes. I was just—err—I thought Winky was going to jump on the desk.”
    Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Winky giving me a puzzled look.
    “It needs a little work.” The colonel closed the lid.
    “Is it a present for someone?”
    “Yes, for myself.” He laughed. “Didn’t I mention that I collect antique and unusual toys?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “I really must show you my ‘toy room’ some time.”
    “Do you have any clowns in there?”
    “Clowns? No, I don’t think so. Why?”
    “No reason.”
    “Tinker is looking well,” he said. ‘Tinker’ was the colonel’s name for Winky.
    Winky hissed at him. He wasn’t a fan of the colonel’s—probably because he could smell the scents of a thousand dogs on him.
    “How’s that Mutt of yours doing?”
    “Barry? He’s okay. Got his eye on a young lady dog at the moment.”
    “I trust you’ve had him snipped?”
    “It’s in my diary.”
    “Hope you didn’t mind me dropping in unannounced. I was in town and wanted to ask if you’d like to help with our latest charity push.”
    “Sure.” I grabbed my handbag and was about to get out my purse.
    “I’m not here for your cash. We’re having a sponsored event, and I thought you might like to take part.”
    “I’m not a great one for walks, if I’m honest.”
    “That’s okay. No walking involved.”
    “Maybe then. What does it entail?”
    “Well, I know your job takes you into a few sticky situations, so when we decided on skydiving, I thought you’d be keen to have a go.”
    “Skydiving?”
    “Exciting, eh. Just a pity I’m too old.”
    “Diving? Out of a plane?”
    “You’ll be strapped to an experienced skydiver, obviously.”
    Obviously.
    “So, what do you say? Can I put your name down?”
    I shook my head. “Sorry.”
    “I thought this would be right up your street.”
    Jumping out of a plane with nothing between me and the ground—sounds great.
    “Sorry, Colonel. I have a fear—”
    “Of flying? Of heights?”
    “Of dying.”
    “Peter has signed up.”
    “He has?” I’d thought he was insane when he married Kathy—now I had proof.
    “Are you sure I can’t persuade you?”
    “Sorry, Colonel. It’s not for me. I’ll sponsor Peter obviously.”
    “And you’ll come to the big day?”
    “To see Peter jump out of a plane? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    Winky came out from under the sofa as soon as the colonel had left.
    “Can I do it?” he said.
    “What?”
    “The skydive. Sounds like a lot of fun.”
    “Your idea of fun and mine are very different.”
    “So, can I do it?”
    “I’ll ask the colonel the first chance I get.”
    “Promise?”
    “Would I lie?”
     
    I rang Kathy.
    “How much have you got Peter insured for?”
    “Sorry?”
    “Have you taken out life insurance on Peter?”
    “What are you going on about, Jill? Is this your latest plan to try to bolster your meagre earnings, by selling insurance on the side?”
    “No. I’ll have you know I’ve billed a client earlier today.”
    “How many bills have you sent out this month?”
    “I forget.”
    “Double figures?”
    “Not quite.”
    “More than five?”
    “Close.”
    “How close? Is it closer to five or zero?”
    “Zero.”
    “Is that the only bill you’ve issued?”
    “Yes, but never mind that. Why are you letting Peter skydive?”
    “Why not? It’ll be fun. He’s looking forward to it.”
    “You two are both insane. You do know what skydiving is, don’t you? There’s no water involved.”
    “It’s perfectly safe. He’ll be attached to a qualified instructor.”
    “How does that make it safer? It’s twice the weight falling to the