“It’s my daughter, Shoana.”
Jack turned to see Jill standing in the doorway with a cup in her hand.
“Yes, she was there as well. She has followed me into the world of Wicca.” She walked over and placed the tea on the coffee table.” Coffee is more complex, Detective. I have an espresso machine. Latte okay for you?”
“Yes, that’s great. Sorry for snooping.”
“That’s okay. That’s what you’re paid to do. I have nothing to hide.” She gave a soft smile. “Now back to your coffee.” She turned and left the room.
“Her daughter. Makes sense,” Catherine said. “But I didn’t sense a closeness when they saw each other at the ferry terminal.” Catherine went and sat back down on the couch.
Jack heard the distinctive sound of milk being steamed. “Could’ve been the circumstances.” He joined Catherine on the couch.
The coffee making machinery had gone quiet. A few moments later Jill walked in with the latte and placed it on the table.
“That poor girl. I had no idea.” Jill spurted out as she seated herself on the lounge chair.
“Obviously, you know why we’re here.” Jack knew the local area commanding officer had given a media brief. “We’re interviewing participants in the event and trying to work out what transpired.”
“We were all drugged.”
“How do you know that?” Jack asked,
“I asked most of the people in the circle.”
“Most?” Catherine asked.
“Didn’t ask my daughter or her friends. I think one of her friends was the victim and felt they’d blame me as I’d encouraged my daughter to come, and to bring her friends. It was her friend’s first Circle and probably her last.”
“Your role?” Jack asked
“I’m what you call the high priestess for a local coven.”
“You’re the one that stands in the centre and controls the circle then?” Jack asked.
“Yes, normally.”
“Normally?” Jack said looking down on his notes.
“Another high priestess contacted me, claiming to be the local Wiccan leader for the island. She wanted to lead the circle because it was on her island and we were a visiting coven.” Jill paused. “Is the girl okay?”
“The girl is doing fine, considering. She appears a tough one. Do you have her details? The high priestess that is,” Catherine asked.
“She was secretive about it all, which was okay with me. No calls, all email correspondence.”
Secretive. An appropriate word.
“I do have her email address though.” She stood up and located her laptop.
Catherine wrote their email address on the back of her business card and handed it to Jill. “Here’s my email address. Could you forward the emails, please.”
“Okay.” Jill placed the card near her laptop.
“We could take the device, if it was okay with you, but for now it should be okay to hold on to it. Everyone needs their laptops in this day and age.”
“Yes. Think you’re right there as I would struggle without it.”
“You by yourself?” Catherine asked.
“Yes.”
She didn’t seem to want to expand on that so Jack left it for now. He took a sip of his coffee. “Lovely coffee.” He placed the cup on the table. “What did you do when you found out you’d been drugged?”
“I was staying at a friend’s holiday place by myself. It took me a while to work out what happened. I tried to contact a few people, including my daughter, but no luck. Not sure why. Maybe the service was down. I felt groggy so wasn’t thinking too clearly. Then I got off the island as fast as I could.”
She sipped her own tea. “This isn’t good for Wicca, because Wicca is a positive, peaceful practice. The media will slaughter us—they’ll paint a wrong picture.”
“The media does have a tendency to go overboard. They attack most religions one way or another,” Catherine said.
“Could you tell us anything else? Any distinguishing features? Anything unusual?” Jack asked.
“I wish I could.” Jill paused. “When I think about it I can see how well planned it was. Covens are funny things. People like to keep it quiet that they’re participating. Most people do anyway. It’s a personal, spiritual thing. They just need to be led.”
“And the coffin? Is that not unusual?” Jack asked.
“Not really. Use it to transport items and adds to the feel of things.”
“Anything else? Did others communicate with the high priestess?”
