“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?”

“I would think not. I sent out a detailed schedule of events and roles. Provided by the high priestess of course. You will find it with the emails.”

“All well concealed.” Catherine said. “Think that may be enough questions for now. You travelling okay? No after affects from the drug?”

“Think I’m okay, bit tired, but if there’s anything else I remember I’ll let you know.”

Catherine nodded.

Jack finished off his coffee. “Well, I think that should do it. But I hope we have to come back and see you, because your coffee is good.”

Jill gave a soft smile with a short thank you nod.

27 – Jack and Jill

JACK SAT WITH CATHERINE in their car.

“Wonder if the big green frog was in there? I didn’t sense anything bad, but who am I to ask, I’m not really tuned to such things,” Jack said.

“You think our friend Churchie got it wrong? Or maybe we connected the entity to the wrong person.”

Jack popped the car’s trunk. “Just going to grab my backpack.”

He stepped out of the car, and looked up at Jill Spencer’s house as he walked to the rear of the vehicle. She stood at a window staring down at the car but closed the curtains when she saw Jack. What did that mean? There was something sad about that lady, but Jack couldn’t put his finger on it. Loneliness?

He returned to the car with his backpack and took out the laptop. 

“Might just drive around the block. Best not to worry Jill.”

They parked in a nearby shopping centre. The CCTV USB files had been copied so it was a simple task to open them and review the content. Catherine had placed name bubbles next to the images. 

“I’m so lucky to have you as a partner,” Jack said.

“Let me guess. It’s because I’ve tagged the names?”

“It is, but I called them bubbles.”

“You’re forgiven. Any names bubbling up?”

Jack focused on the CCTV footage. There was another lady close by. Her name happened to be Jill as well—Jill Winter. She was greeted by a man with a Hawaiian designed shirt.