Leslie takes off to put our orders in.
“It all sounds so incredible,” I say, pinching off a pretzel bun and dipping it into the cheese fondue. “I might have to come here more often just to work my way down the menu.”
Everett flashes a rarely seen smile. “I just might have to take you.”
Noah growls, “I’ll take you, Lot. Everett, we’ll pick up a doggie bag for you.”
“Speaking of dogs.” I give a quick look around for my latest greatest favorite paranormal pooch until I spot him, standing on his hind legs at the bar, drinking the beer from the tap and no one seems to notice. “Rex is getting ripped off Irish ale. Do you think I should intervene?”
Everett glances back that way. “I say let the poor guy live it up. He is dead, after all.” He turns to look at Noah. “Speaking of dead, have you run your relationship into the ground yet?”
Noah lowers his chin with a clear look of irritation written on his face. “Lottie and I haven’t gotten out of the gate yet. We’re not going anywhere.”
Everett glances to the ceiling. “Hear that, Lot? He can’t navigate his way onto the field. If you need a little relief, I’ll keep my porch light on for you.”
My heart breaks for Everett. He’s been so patient, so very generous. And yet I don’t have it in me to cut him loose completely. Although I have made it clear he’s free to see whomever he wishes. But he insists the only person he wishes to see is me.”
A loud collective clap comes from the bar and the three of us turn around to find an entire row of beautiful waitresses in their skimpy skirts and skintight T-shirts clapping up a storm in rhythm.
The bartender steps around to the front as does Rex—albeit the friendly pooch does it with a lot more stagger to his swagger. It’s official. I have a tanked specter on my hands.
“Can I get your attention, please?” the bartender shouts over their rhythmic clapping. “It’s time for our nightly old Irish toast just for you! Girls…” He points their way and each one hops onto the bar and begins in on a clogging routine as the sound of their stomping feet mimics the rhythm of their clapping.
“Hey!” the girls all shout at once. “For every wound, a balm!” the girls sing while snapping their fingers over their heads and the crowd goes wild. “For every sorrow, a cheer,” they shout while their hair whips back and forth. “For every storm, a calm!” They whip off their T-shirts, revealing matching sequin green bikini tops much to the delight of the testosterone driven among us. “And for every thirst, a beer!” the girls shout as they turn their backs to us and hike up their skirts.
The howls of approval are deafening as the girls disembark from the counter and land safely back to the ground, putting back on their T-shirts in haste.
Rex saunters over in a zigzag pattern.
“Lottie,” he roars my name out nice and slow and I pick up both Noah and Everett’s hands. “I think I was meant to be Irish. Can I get a do-over?”
I swallow down a laugh. “I don’t think so, but the good news is, there’s a sign over the door that says we’re all Irish for our stay.”
Rex emits a low growl. “Have you found the killer? I’d enjoy my snack right about now.”
“No,” I say as I look to Noah and Everett. “Do either of you think Leslie could have done it?”
Everett winces. “I’m not sure. I want to say no emphatically, but hearts were involved. Tim kept the house. I heard she wasn’t thrilled with that.”
Noah nods. “I can’t rule anyone out.”
“Except me.” I blink a smile over to Everett. “My devil’s food cake was cleared.” I quickly relay what Noah said about the caffeine.
“Geez.” Everett looks genuinely distressed as he looks to Noah. “That sounds like a terrible way to go. Did the four of you get another cup of coffee once Lemon and I took off?”
Noah nods. “Come to think of it, we did. Right before we went back for seconds of Lottie’s cake.”
“I cringe just thinking that my sweet treat was in such proximity to evil,” I say.
Rex lets out a hostile bark. “I’d eat every last cake in your bakery even if they were poison, Lottie. I’ve never had such a great time on earth. Death is truly the best life.”
A laugh warms my chest. “Thanks, Rex. That means a lot to me.”
He twitches his handsome head as sparks emit around him. “Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to stop by the bakery before I take Carlotta up on her nightcap.”
“Go right ahead,” I say. “Anything on the lower shelves at the bakery is fair game.”
And with that, Rex evaporates in a purple plume of smoke. Rex is different than the other ghosts, through and through, and I like that about him.
Dinner comes and we enjoy every last scrumptious bite. I think I’m about to embark on a whole new relationship with Irish cuisine.
O’Malley’s is fantastic.
Of course, we opt for dessert. How could we not? We each indulge in a creamy Irish coffee and split a giant bowl of soda bread pudding with caramel and spiced cream sauce.
“Oh”—I moan heartily—“that was simply to die for.”
Noah’s phone bleats and he pulls it out, taking a moment to stare at the screen. “I just got a text from Ivy. She’s down at the sheriff’s department right now. Apparently, there was a powder residue discovered on Tim’s suit jacket.”
My hand claps over my chest. “What was it?”
Noah’s brows bounce. “I’m betting we’re going to find out it’s powdered caffeine. I wouldn’t say a word just yet.” He glances toward the bar where the waitresses, including Leslie, congregate. “Everett, why don’t you give Lottie a ride home? I’m going to head down to Ashford. Mendelsohn Hall is still locked off as a crime scene. I think I’m going to have the carpet in that area where Tim died, and where the coffee was served, cut out and sent to forensics.”
I grimace. “I’m sure the people at Mendelsohn Hall will be thrilled with that.”
Noah flashes that dimpled smile. “They don’t have a choice.” He lands a kiss to my lips. “Don’t wait up for me. This might just be an all-nighter.”
Everett lifts his coffee toward Noah. “We won’t wait up for you, sweetheart. I’ll make sure to tuck Lemon in. She’s in safe hands with me.” He bears his fangs in a rather devilish looking smile and manages to look like the cat that was just about to eat the canary.
“Ignore the clown. Goodnight, Lot. I love you.” Noah takes off like a man on a mission and Everett pulls out his wallet and drops a giant wad of bills onto the table.
“Oh, Everett. Let me help.” I reach for my purse, but Everett shakes his head.
“It’s on me. Besides, you offered to bake me a cake. I’ll collect then.” He gives a sly wink.
“And I am absolutely going to bake you a cake. You’re my hero, Everett. You and Noah came to my rescue.” My eyes water on cue. “Noah doesn’t believe I was held against my will in that bathroom. I guess the facts aren’t exactly on my side.” I sigh as I look to him. “And you deal with facts for a living. I guess I can’t ask you to believe me either.”
Everett looks into my eyes, soul deep as if he were speaking to me telepathically.
“Lemon, if you’re convinced of this, then so am I. You have good instincts. I trust you. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years on the bench it’s that the facts don’t necessarily equal the truth. I’m on your side.”
Everett’s words warm me from my head to my toes.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
We head out to the foyer and pause when we see snowflakes the size of nickels raining from the sky.
Everett rubs my back. “Why don’t you stay here and I’ll pull my car around front and get it heated? I’ll be up front in less than five minutes.”
“Sure thing.”
No sooner does he duck out the door than Leslie pops up.
“Looks like I just missed Mr. Sexy.” She
sighs as she stares out after him. “Tell both him and Noah I said goodbye.”
“I will for sure. Thanks for inviting us. The food was out of this world. I’ll be coming back for sure. I think I just fell in love with Irish cuisine.”
She belts out a laugh. “Song as old as time. There’s just something satisfying about comfort food.” She gives a wistful shake of the head.
I can feel my time with her quickly fleeting and I’m desperate to keep her, to pick through her mind a little bit longer.
“I mean what I said”—the words come out so quick it sounds like one long sentence—“about not judging you.”
She waves me off. “Please. I was married to one man and sleeping with another. Not many people can relate to that, so, of course, they judge.”
My mouth rounds out. “Actually, I can relate.” I clear my throat. “You see, I’m technically married to Everett.” It’s true. “It has to do with his inheritance. It’s a long story. But I’m very much with Noah.” My shoulders pump. “I guess we’re in the same boat.”
Her entire face smooths out. “Wow, Lottie. I guess we are.”
I take a breath. “I really hope they catch whoever tried to hurt you guys. And they did hurt Tim. There is a very real killer out there.”
Her lips knot up. “I guess there is.” Leslie glances out the window for a moment. “Caffeine poisoning sounds like a terrible way to go. I know how bad I felt. Whoever slipped the powder into our drinks knew exactly what they were doing.”
My mouth falls open just as a car honks from outside and I look to see Everett’s sedan waiting for me.
“My ride is here,” I say. “Thanks for the recommendation. This place was great.”
“Anytime.” She offers me a spontaneous embrace. “Can’t wait to see you again. And don’t worry about the pearl clutchers. You just keep having fun with both those bad boys.” She gives a heavy wink and we share a laugh.
She turns to leave and my heart begins to race. I just need something else.
“Um, Leslie?”
She turns her head my way. “Yes?”
“Who do you think could have done this to Tim?”
An easy smile comes to her lips. “I’d bet good money it was Perry. And don’t think for a minute that the fact it happened at the crime symposium was a coincidence. He was trying to give the finger to everyone there. All of his colleagues backed away when they found out about our affair. The detective community is a small but tight one. He was ostracized pretty bad. It’s almost as if he was daring them to solve the crime.”
She gives a wave and disappears back into the crowd.
I duck into the snow and dive into the warmth of Everett’s car as he drives us back to Honey Hollow.
On the way there I share with Everett all the things Leslie said.
“I mean”—I can’t seem to catch my breath—“how did she know the caffeine the killer used was in powder form? And she was quick to implicate Perry. He is the obvious choice. Or at least I thought so until now.”
Everett’s phone vibrates before he can answer.
“I’m sorry, Lemon. Would you mind seeing who that is?” he asks, nodding to his phone sitting in the center console.
“Absolutely.” I pick the phone up and gasp at the image staring back at me.
There are some things I can never unsee, and this is one of them.
Chapter 15
Everett winces into his phone once we pull into my driveway.
“I’d better take care of this.” He shakes his head at the screen.
Staring back at us is a picture of Cressida Bentley seemingly naked, save for a well-placed sheet draped over herself as she lies in his bed.
“There is just no stopping Cormack or Cressida from breaking and entering into your homes. In fact, I bet Cormack is across the street right now.”
We turn onto Country Cottage Road, and sure enough her pricey car gleams like a prideful jewel tucked up high in Noah’s driveway. The lights are on at his place and I happen to know he’s not home. He went to Ashford to investigate new evidence that just surfaced.
I glance back up at the peachy glow coming from my own house.
“Carlotta said she was going to have some friends over.” I give the street a quick sweep. “And I only see a few cars out front. I guess she’s making good on her word. I think I’ll head straight to my room. Goodnight, Everett.”
I lean forward and land a kiss to the scruff on his cheek. That dark peppered stubble is one of my favorite things about him—okay, one of many. But I’ve always been mesmerized by how it makes his eyes glow all that much brighter.
“Text me once you crawl into bed.” He winks. “I’ll want to know what you’re wearing.”
“Yes, sir, Judge Baxter. I follow orders.” No sooner do I hop out of my car and head up to my porch than my phone buzzes. It’s a text from Noah’s ornery mother Suze who happens to be a long-term boarder at the B&B.
“Ugh,” I say before even reading it. I glance back and Everett has already pulled out of my driveway and into his. My attention falls back to Suze’s text.
Your mother is in deep trouble!
Along with the cryptic text there’s a picture of a mob in front of the B&B.
I quickly put a call to my mother and she picks up on the very first ring.
“What is happening at the B&B?” I don’t bother with hello. I have a feeling there’s no time for cordial niceties.
“Not to worry, Lottie. Wiley has everything under control.” Her voice pitches the way it’s prone to do when she’s in trouble, and I doubt very much that Wiley has anything under control. The man is a walking catastrophe. “Oh, I’ve got to go. The sheriff’s department just arrived.”
“Sheriff’s department? Mother! Tell me what’s going on right this minute or I’ll be moved to jump in my car and drive over there. I’m standing outside in the snow, so if you could hurry, I’d like to avoid pneumonia.” I quickly hustle up to the covering of my porch and begin to fish my keys out of my purse.
“Fine.” Mom gives an exasperated sigh. “The ghosts didn’t show up. And there wasn’t a single drop of blood shed! Oh, Lottie, I’m terrified that I might just be a one-hit wonder in the séance arena.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Not really, but frostbite is beginning to set in and I think I might just treat myself to a cookie to celebrate my mother’s lack of success tonight. “The best advice I can tell you is to go out front and give each of those people a refund.”
“I can’t, Lottie. Almost all them bought their tickets from scalpers. Some of them paid over two thousand dollars to be here tonight. And they are not happy. Thank heavens I have the sheriff’s department on standby to protect the B&B.”
“Good Lord. The true lesson here is to eschew any rotten idea Wiley ever has to give you again. Call me if you need me.”
“Will do.” She hangs up abruptly, and I’m about to stick my key into the lock when I spot a tiny black box tucked behind a planter box sitting on my porch. “Not this again,” I say, plucking it up and letting myself into the house.
A small whoop of laughter comes from the dining room to my left, but I’m too concerned with opening this little black box.
It’s warm inside, the fire is going, and I pause a moment from the task at hand to take off my coat. The laughter in the next room quickly dies down and is soon replaced with the sound of whispering.
I’d better say hello to Carlotta’s friends. She’s probably told them how awful and prudish I am. And I’d love nothing more than to prove her wrong to her cohorts. I take my little black box and head on over.
“Hello—” I say it bright and cheery and my eyes spring wide at the sight before me and not another word dares traipse up my throat. “Oh my God.” I smack myself in the face with the black box of doom in my hands and spin in a little circle in an effort to get the heck out of Dodge.
Rex lets out a bark. “These are upstanding individuals, Lottie.”
; “Oh, come on, Lot Lot,” Carlotta belts it out. “It’s not like you haven’t seen two grown men in their underwear before.”
“Not in my dining room!”
The three of them break out in laughter, and I slowly turn back around.
Carlotta is seated smack between the two of them, holding a hand of cards, wearing nothing but her bra as far as I can tell. Dear God, she had better have something on down below or I will have to burn my furniture. Ensconcing her on either side are a couple of older men, generally good looking, one with a thick head of silver hair and large dark eyes, and the other is nearly bald with light gray eyes and a pointed chin. Both men are shirtless and each of them happens to be holding a hand of cards to their chests as if they’d rather die than divulge them.
Rex is slumped next to Carlotta on a seemingly empty chair with a bowl of brown liquid sitting half-empty before him. And judging by that opened bottle of whiskey next to the wily woman who birthed me, I can guess what that nefarious liquid might be.
Carlotta bears a wicked grin my way. “Jimmy, Luke, this is my darling daughter I was telling you about, Carlotta Kenzie Lemon—named after yours truly.”
It takes a lot for me to meet up with their eyes and give a little wave.
“Lot”—Carlotta holds a hand out to the gentlemen—“I’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Canelli and Luke Lazzari.”
“Hello, Jimmy. Hello, Luuuuuuuke.” I elongate that second name in horror as it hits me who they are. “Carlotta!” I bark and she appears next to me like an apparition. And believe me, I have no problem removing her from her corporal frame for pulling this little mob-inspired stunt. Everyone knows that the Lazzari crime family and the Canellis have been feuding forever. Not to mention that they’re each run by Luke Lazzari and Jimmy Canelli themselves.
Carlotta shakes me by the arms. Thankfully, she still has her jeans on. “Keep it down, would ya? We’re having a serious meeting of the minds here.”
Rex lets out a riotous hiccup and I frown over at him a moment.
“Carlotta,” I whisper. “These are dangerous people!”
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