Broom Mates Read online

  Broom Mates

  Sea Witch Cozy Mysteries, Book 1

  Morgana Best

  Broom Mates (Sea Witch Cozy Mysteries, Book 1)

  Copyright © 2018 by Morgana Best

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN 9781925674774

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The personal names have been invented by the author, and any likeness to the name of any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  This book may contain references to specific commercial products, process or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, specific brand-name products and/or trade names of products, which are trademarks or registered trademarks and/or trade names, and these are property of their respective owners. Morgana Best or her associates, have no association with any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, specific brand-name products and / or trade names of products.

  By this act

  And words of rhyme

  Trouble not

  These books of mine

  With these words I now thee render

  Candle burn and bad return

  3 times stronger to its sender.

  (Ancient Celtic)

  Contents

  Glossary

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Connect with Morgana

  Next Book In This Series

  Also by Morgana Best

  Excerpt from Broom With a View

  About Morgana Best

  Glossary

  The author has used Australian spelling in this series, so for example, Mum instead of the US spelling Mom, neighbour instead of the US spelling neighbor, realise instead of the US spelling realize. It is Ms, Mr and Mrs in Australia, not Ms., Mr. and Mrs.; cosy and not cozy; 1930s not 1930’s; offence not offense; centre not center; towards not toward; jewellery not jewelry; favour not favor; mould not mold; two storey house not two story house; practise (verb) not practice (verb); odour not odor; smelt not smelled; travelling not traveling; liquorice not licorice; leant not leaned; have concussion not have a concussion; anti clockwise not counterclockwise; go to hospital not go to the hospital; sceptic not skeptic; lasagne not lasagna, aluminium not aluminum; learnt not learned. These are just some of the differences.

  Please note that these are not mistakes or typos, but correct Aussie spelling and terms.

  * * *

  AUSTRALIAN SLANG AND TERMS

  Big Smoke - a city

  Blighter - infuriating or good-for-nothing person

  Blimey - an expression of surprise

  Bloke - a guy

  Blue - an argument

  Bluestone - copper sulphate (copper sulfate in US spelling)

  Bluo - a blue laundry additive, an optical brightener

  Boot (car) - trunk (car)

  Bonnet (car) - hood (car)

  Brown - “a brown” means a brown snake of the (highly venomous) Eastern Brown variety. Example: “I saw a brown in the paddock.” People usually refer to Eastern Brown snakes simply as “browns” or “brown snakes.” Eastern Brown snakes are the second most venomous snakes in the world.

  Bunging it on - faking something, pretending

  Cark it - die

  Cask wine - cheap wine that comes in a cardboard box

  Cling wrap - Saran wrap

  Come good - turn out okay

  Copper, cop - police officer

  Coot - silly or annoying person

  Dibber Dobber - or simply Dobber - an informant, from “to dob on someone” meaning to inform on someone.

  Drongo - an idiot

  Dunny - an outhouse, a toilet, often ramshackle

  Fair crack of the whip - a request to be fair, reasonable, just

  Flat out like a lizard drinking water - very busy

  Galah - an idiot (also an Australian native bird)

  Garbage - trash

  G’day - Hello

  Give a lift (to someone) - give a ride (to someone)

  Goosebumps - goose pimples

  Icing - frosting (on a cake)

  Laundry (referring to the room) - laundry room

  Like a stunned mullet - very surprised

  Mad as a cut snake - either insane or very angry

  Main street - a general term for the main street in a town. Not the UK “Main Street.”

  Miles - while Australians have kilometres these days, it is common to use expressions such as, “The road stretched for miles,” “It was miles away.”

  Mow (grass / lawn) - cut (grass / lawn)

  Stone the crows! - an expression of surprise

  Takeaway (food) - Take Out (food)

  Torch - flashlight

  Tuck in (to food) - to eat food hungrily

  Ute /Utility - pickup truck

  Vegemite - Australian food spread, thick, dark brown

  Wardrobe - closet

  * * *

  Indigenous References

  Bush tucker - food that occurs in the Australian bush

  Koori - the original inhabitants/traditional custodians of the land of Australia in parts of NSW. Murri are the people just to the north. White European culture often uses the term, Aboriginal people.

  Chapter 1

  I stood at my office window, looking through the sudden storm at the Yarra River far below. It wasn’t a pretty sight—fondly known as the River that Flows Upside Down due to its thick brown colour—but it was no less an icon than the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Melbourne was arguably the cultural capital of Australia, albeit one where people didn’t ask your name upon introduction, but rather which football team you followed.

  Thomas’s voice droned on behind me. “I don’t know why you’re so suspicious, Goldie. I only promoted Alexis over you because she has people skills, whereas you don’t.”

  I had seen her people skills firsthand, kissing Thomas in his office only minutes earlier. “I’m the best salesperson in this office,” I snapped. “I have people skills.”

  Thomas held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Not for Melbourne, you don’t. That’s why I’ve decided to send you to the Gold Coast, to manage the new office in Southport. I hope this won’t intrude upon our personal life. Our relationship can easily change to long distance.” He trailed his finger across my cheek. “I’ll fly to Queensland every weekend to be with you.”

  I slapped his hand away and considered throwing the paperweight on my desk at his head. Until moments ago, I had been happy with my life: a successful career, a one-bedroom apartment in Chapel Street, right in the centre of trendy inner-city suburb Prahran, and dating the owner of a successful real estate firm. “I quit.”

  Thomas reached for my shoulder, but hesitated. “You don’t mean that. I understand why you’re upset, but nothing’s changed.”

  “Everything’s changed.” I shook my finger in his face. “I’m giving notice, as of today. As of right now, in fact.” I pulled out one of my desk drawers and tipped the contents onto my desk for emphasis.

  “You legally have to give five weeks’ notice,” he said, but I held up one hand.

  “The fact I just saw you kissing Alexis in your office relieves me of that legal duty, I believe. I’m sure the Real Estate Institute would love to hear about you promoting h
er over me.”

  Thomas turned white. “That was nothing, nothing,” he stammered. “She tried to kiss me, but I pushed her away.”

  That wasn’t at all what I had seen, but I was too upset to get into it right now. “I’ll go into business for myself. I’m fully licensed.”

  Thomas laughed. “I’d be surprised if you have enough savings to set up a business. You have expensive tastes.” He gestured to my clothes. “Office rent in the city costs a fortune. I’m sure you could only afford an office in the outer suburbs, and I know you’re a city girl. Look, you’ll love the Gold Coast, and you’ll be in charge of the whole office.”

  Mrs Winters, the head secretary, poked her head around the door. “Sorry to interrupt, Ms Bloom, but there’s a lady here to see you.”

  I looked up, surprised. “I don’t have any appointments this afternoon. Anyway, I’ve just quit!” I added dramatically.

  Mrs Winters’ jaw dropped. “She’s a lawyer. She says it’s urgent, that you’re in danger of missing a deadline.”

  “A deadline?” I echoed. I was entirely mystified. “Okay then, show her in.”

  Thomas leant over and whispered in my ear, “Goldie, you know you don’t have a choice. I’m sending you to Queensland for your own good. It’s a great career move for you.” He winked at me before leaving the room.

  Mrs Winters showed in a tall woman whose attitude was as tightly wound as her skirt. “I’m Ms Finch,” she said in a nasal tone, “from Fortescue and Fythe.”

  I gestured to the chair in front of my desk. “Please have a seat.”

  Before I could open my mouth, she continued. “I have sent several letters, but you have not responded.”

  My eyes went straight to my overflowing Inbox tray. Right on cue, the top envelope fell to the ground. I retrieved it, and said, “Oh yes, I’m a little behind with snail mail. Who uses snail mail these days?”

  “I do,” she snapped. “You have until five today to sign for your inheritance, otherwise it will pass to the next in line.”

  My ears pricked up. “Inheritance, you say? I didn’t know I had an inheritance.”

  Her lips pursed tightly. “That is because you did not read our correspondence,” she said slowly and carefully, as if speaking to a wilful child.

  “I didn’t know there was anyone who would leave me money. Are you sure it’s for me?”

  She looked down her nose at me by way of response. “Peter Proteus was your uncle.”

  It was a statement, not a question, but I nodded. “After my parents passed away, I tried to find him. I do remember visiting him as a child. He was my mother’s uncle, but he’d spent the last few years in Europe, I believe.”

  “He’s dead. He left you his entire estate.”

  “That’s hardly a way to break the news to me gently,” I admonished her. “I’ve already had one shock today.”

  Ms Finch appeared oblivious to my rebuke. She shoved some papers across my desk, dislodging some of the items from my drawer as she did so. “Sign here.”

  I eagerly read the first page of the document. I sure hoped Uncle Peter had left me some hard cash. To my delight, he had, although not enough to start a new business, and he had left me a house as well. I looked up to see the lawyer impatiently drumming her fingers on the table. “East Bucklebury,” I said. “Where on earth is that?”

  “Gold Coast,” she said. “North Gold Coast, to be precise. Small seaside town. Your uncle left you a house by the water.”

  I slumped back in my seat, shocked. “Gold Coast?” Exactly where Thomas wanted to transfer me? And a seaside house? I had always wanted to live by the sea. Everything happens for a reason, right? Instead of trying to start my own business here in Melbourne, I could accept Thomas’s transfer.

  “There’s only one catch,” she added.

  I rubbed my forehead. “I knew it was too good to be true.” I flipped to the next page. “What’s the catch?”

  She stubbed her finger on the document. “You have to live there for a year.”

  I was at once relieved. “That’s fine.” I waved one hand at her.

  She sighed. “If you had let me finish, I was going to say that you have to live there for one year with a room mate.”

  “A room mate?” I said, horrified.

  Chapter 2

  Thomas had been right. I wasn’t a people person. In fact, I far preferred animals to people. I could watch plenty of movies where people were killed, but I could not bear to watch a single movie where an animal was harmed. Give me animals over people any day. “I’m not good with people,” I told her.

  Ms Finch arched one eyebrow. “Those are the terms of the inheritance.”

  “Hang on a moment. Is this any room mate of my own choosing?”

  She tapped the papers once more. “There is a particular room mate already in residence.”

  “Is it a frail and elderly, or perhaps sick person?” I asked, clutching my throat. “Do I have to be a caregiver?

  Ms Finch was clearly becoming impatient with my questions. “No.”

  “Or is it a child? I can’t do children. They don’t like me. And I don’t like them,” I added for good measure.

  Ms Finch’s lips formed a thin line. “I can assure you, Ms Bloom, that Persnickle is neither an elderly person nor a child. He is entirely independent, according to your uncle’s instructions. You simply need to provide food and board.”

  My mind ran through the possibilities. Maybe Persnickle was a young man my uncle had taken in out of the goodness of his heart, or maybe he was his gay lover. Who would know? I’m sure I would find out soon enough. I looked through the contract and saw that Persnickle did not have a surname. Or maybe that was his surname. Perhaps he was one of those artsy types. Oh well, so long as he kept to himself and didn’t complain about my cooking.

  I held up one finger to the woman. “Just a moment!” I turned to my iMac and punched in East Bucklebury. The first entry was East Bucklebury Waste and Recycling Centre. I scrunched up my nose, and clicked on the second entry, City of Gold Coast/East Bucklebury. My jaw dropped open when I read of the luxury resort, the deep water marina, and the pristine beaches, as well as the nearby uninhabited island.

  It didn’t take me long to decide. I had always dreamt of a home by the sea. There were two drawbacks, the first being the room mate, Persnickle, and the second being that an outlying suburb of the Gold Coast was hardly big-city life. I looked at the amount of money once more, and then signed as fast as I could.

  Chapter 3

  The past five weeks had been a whirlwind. I had given notice on my tiny apartment, hired a removalist, and was on my way to East Bucklebury. It was a four-day drive through three states, so I tingled with excitement when I finally crossed the border into Queensland.

  I had attended conferences at the Gold Coast, and had always liked it. Still, I had never considered living there. I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake, but Thomas had made it abundantly clear that I wasn’t able to keep my old position in Melbourne.

  My stomach tingled with anticipation when my GPS showed I had only twenty kilometres to go. I had spent the last few days wondering what my house was like. It didn’t show up on Google Street View. Some of East Bucklebury houses did appear online, and were veritable mansions, each worth well over two million dollars. My house was not so grand. After all, Mrs Finch had informed me that it needed some work. That didn’t worry me—I had always wanted to renovate a house. My lawyer, at my request, had hired a builder to take care of any urgent work, and I figured I could press this Persnickle guy into helping me do the minor work.

  I drove between sugarcane fields for about fifteen kilometres, and turned right onto a road boasting that East Bucklebury was only five kilometres away. The town itself was a huge letdown. It was cutesy, if you liked barely-inhabited and cosy little towns—and I didn’t. I guessed the population was only around two thousand people. There were more people in my old street in Melbourne. I wasn’t fond of people, bu
t with people came convenience.

  I took a deep breath and continued through town. So far, I had only seen old houses that looked over a hundred years old. These houses were not renovated, and most were ramshackle. I could see no beach, no marina, not even a resort. Thankfully, the derelict houses gave way to the huge houses I had seen online, towering constructions of concrete and glass, with high-security fences and electronic gates, the very epitome of luxury. It was with high hopes that I continued down the street.

  It only took minutes to arrive at my new house. While it was no towering concrete and glass mansion, it was a Queenslander, one of those beautiful homes built since Victorian times for the sub-tropical climate. I had only seen them online and in magazines, but this one looked typical, the living spaces all built above ground to allow airflow under the house and to keep snakes out. It had the wide wrap-around veranda as well as the traditional casement windows and double hung windows that were typical of the best of Queenslanders.

  It was not a beachside property. On the other side of the road was the sea, only there was no surf and no beach, not unless you counted a strip of sand. I felt cheated; after all, Australia was famous for its beaches. As far as oceans went, it was a disappointment. I’d had the romantic notion of waves crashing on a pristine beach, but this water was flat. Even an ant couldn’t surf here.

  I got out of the car and took one step. My heel at once wedged in the mud. I threw out my hands to save myself, and fell unceremoniously face forward in the mud.

  I said a few rude words and struggled to my feet. I ripped my shoe out of the mud, but the heel had partly detached. I put it back on as best I could and hobbled over to the house, straining against the blustering wind.