Book excerpt: I was hanging out with Elizabeth when I saw the boy again. Not just a boy, but that boy, the one you sort-of notice, but only to think, hey, wasn't he here yesterday? He glided by Elizabeth's hedge on his bike once too often, giving that sliding sideways glance he hoped (I expect) looked casual, disinterested and, oh, there's that chick again, hanging out with her big sister...or is it her auntie? Too old to be a friend. Elizabeth is my great-great-great-great-great granny, for your information, Bike Boy, I thought-spoke to him on the fourth bypass of the week. He toed his pedal down and skimmed away before getting into some serious calf-work as he headed up the hill towards Caroline Court. Cat Mahal has an ordinary life in the suburbs. She is also an ethical witch