Free Witch Is Why Time Stood Still (A Witch P.I. Mystery Book 13) by Adele Abbott

understand that. Jules, don’t you think it would have been polite to ask Mrs V if she minded you sharing half the desk, before moving her things?”
    “Yeah, I guess so, but she wasn’t here for me to ask, was she?”
    “Okay, let’s see what we’ve established so far. Mrs V, you’re happy to share the desk. And Jules, you realise you should have asked before moving Mrs V’s stuff. Is that right?”
    They both nodded.
    “Okay, in that case, why don’t we turn back the clock and pretend none of this happened. Jules, you’re in the office with Mrs V now. What would you like to ask her?”
    Jules hesitated for a moment. I could tell she was a little intimidated by Mrs V, but she managed to summon up the courage.
    “Mrs V?” her voice wavered a little.
    “Yes, young lady?” Mrs V wasn’t going to make this easy for her.
    “Seeing as how we’re now job sharing, and I have to use your desk when you’re not here—”
    “Yes?”
    “Do you think that we could possibly share the drawers, so that you have half and I have half?”
    Mrs V glanced at me, and took a deep breath. “Yes, that’s perfectly acceptable to me, but I’d like a day to rearrange my things, so I know where everything is. I’ll leave one set of drawers empty; that can be your side.”
    “That sounds fair, doesn’t it, Jules?” I said, with my fingers crossed.
    “Yeah, I’m happy with that.”
    “But—” Mrs V hadn’t finished. “Once I’ve done that, I don’t expect to find your things in my half of the desk. Understood?”
    “Yeah, no problem.”
    “And, young lady, I do not expect to find my desktop a mess, I don’t want to see smudges of makeup on it.”
    “I wouldn’t do that.”
    “Or tea stains.”
    Oh dear. Jules was renowned for spilling drinks.
    “If I do spill anything, I’ll make sure I wipe it up, so it’s as good as new.”
    That was my cue to step in again. “Right, we seem to have reached an agreement. Mrs V will move her things out of one side of the desk today, ready for when you come in tomorrow. Are we all agreed?”
    They both nodded.
    “Right, Jules, off you go then. I’ll pay you for your time today.”
    I could still feel the tension between them as I walked through to my office, but at least we’d cleared the air, and made some sort of agreement. I’d just have to see how long the uneasy truce lasted.
     
    An hour later, I thought I’d better check how things were going. Mrs V had piles of her stuff on top of the desk.
    “Is everything all right, Mrs V?”
    “I’ll never get all of this in one side.”
    “You could always use the cupboard behind you.”
    “I suppose I’ll have to.”
    “Good, oh and by the way, I’m expecting the accountant any time now.”
    “I don’t know how you expect me to do this, and see to your visitors.”
     
    ***
     
    Luther Stone was every bit as hot as I remembered him.
    “Luther, nice to see you.”
    “You too, Jill. We’ve missed you. That apartment block is not the same without you; I don’t know why you had to go and leave us.”
    “You know why. I moved in with Jack.”
    “Why couldn’t he have moved in with you?”
    “With hindsight, I wish he had. I hate that poky flat of his, but anyway, we’ve moved out now. We’ve got a house in Smallwash.”
    “Really? How long have you been living there?”
    “Only a few days. You’ll never guess who I saw.”
    “Mr Ivers?”
    “How did you know?”
    “When you mentioned Smallwash, I realised you must have to go over the toll bridge. Mr Ivers likes to keep me updated on his life—such as it is. He told me a few weeks back that he had a new job. He made it sound like it was something really exciting. When I eventually found out what it was—taking fees on the toll bridge at Smallwash—I almost died laughing. Never was anyone more suited to a job.”
    “ I couldn’t believe it.” I laughed. “I honestly thought I’d got rid of him and his newsletters. He’s saved all the back issues