Pulling The Wool: A Magic Garden Mystery (Book 1) by Demy Watts Page A

lady!”
    “I know, but I actually felt a little sorry for her at the end. Seems like it really matters to her that she has the best flowers in Thackery.” Fern shrugged her shoulders. “I offered to give her some soil when she’s next at The Magic Garden.”
    “That’s kind of you.” Zinnia said. “Just be careful as your soil contains a trace of magic and you don’t want to be giving it away.”
    “I know. I guess a little can’t hurt.”
    “So, did you get a chance to meet with those thugs?” Essie was still clearly upset from his meeting yesterday.
    “I did. After I said good-bye to Lady Cecily, I snuck around the back of the Manor and I soon spotted one of them. We spoke.” Fern’s face widened into a grin. “ We spoke!”
    Essie huffed. “I’m not sure that I’d be so delighted to meet with their acquaintance.”
    Fern was quick to reassure him. “It’s not that, Essie. Don’t you see, I spoke to another cat!”
    Essie’s eyes widened with realisation. “Oh! I knew you had it in you!”
    Fern looked at Zinnia who sat back in her seat looking at her proudly. “Good going, Fern. Now that you’ve broken through the communication barrier, it will get easier and easier the more you try.”
    “Thank you. I couldn’t believe it when he answered me. I must say, I don’t think he would have if he hadn’t spotted the tuna.” She smiled. “All hail prime tuna cuts!”
    Zinnia laughed lightly. “Tell us, what did he say?”
    “Well, he mentioned that he has seen Angela Barker sneaking around the property a few times, notably when Lady Cecily and Sir Chesterton are out.”
    “That’s very strange indeed. Wonder what she is up to on their property.” Zinnia looked puzzled and worried. “I’m beginning to think you’re right, Fern. Her behaviour does seem very suspicious.”
    “I agree. That’s exactly what I was thinking. Maybe it’s time to have another chat with her again.”
    “Well, it wouldn’t surprise me,” Essie said, “I mean, she could be doing her father’s dirty work.”
    “Unfortunately it makes sense, Essie.” Zinnia turned to Fern. “Do you think we should take our suspicions to Willie?”
    “I think so. I’m just not sure how’d we’d explain the part about knowing that she was sneaking around the Pince-Wittington Manor.”
    They sat in silence for a few minutes whilst they thought about it. Fern glanced at her watch.
    “Alana and Stewart are doing a special report on the evening news about the mystery surrounding the poisoning. It’s starting in ten minutes.”
    “Oh, it will be interesting to see if they have any more leads.” Zinnia stood up. “I’ll go and brew some tea.”
    As she walked into the kitchen, Essie jumped up and started to circle Fern’s legs.
    “What on earth are you doing, Essie.”
    “It’s okay, Fern. Zinnia’s out of earshot. You can tell me. Where are you hurt?”
    “ Hurt? I’m not hurt. What are you talking about?”
    He stopped his investigation. “Are you sure that cat thug didn’t scratch or attack you?”
    Fern smiled. “No, I told you everything that happened.”
    “Hmmmm. Well, I’m glad that’s the case then. They obviously had something against me. A bias against posh cats.”
    Fern stroked his back. “Don’t worry, you’ll never have to see them, okay?”
    Essie purred against her leg. He certainly had no intention of mixing with that riff-raff ever again.

    A few minutes later , settled with their herbal tea, Fern and Zinnia put on the television just in time for the news. They were greeted with a sombre looking Alana and Stewart on their screen.
    “Good evening, I’m Alana Mallory, here with my colleague, Stewart Silversmith. Tonight, we are coming to you with a special report on the poisoning of three of Sir Chesterton Pince-Wittington’s, prize-winning sheep.”
    The camera cut to Stewart’s face.
    “This crime has rendered the residents of Thackery village in shock, especially as the method used