Killer Christmas Cozies

by Jenna St James

  “It’s not Zane is it?” Evie asked.

  “No.” I straightened and looked her in the eye. “But it’s bad. A dead body has been dumped back there.”

  “What?” Evie cried. “Are you sure?”

  I laughed. “Pretty sure. I tripped over him.”

  Evie sucked in a breath. “Him? Then you know who it is?”

  I drew in a deep breath and nodded. “It’s Bert Candace.”

  Chapter 4

  Sheriff Jake Matthews and his deputy arrived in under ten minutes. I waved them down to the end of the lane and then headed back up to the pre-cut lot with Evie, Nic, and Miss Claws. I didn’t want to be around the body any more than I had to be.

  “I don’t even know where to start,” Evie said. “Why and how come to mind. But I think I can answer the why part. Bert was pretty hated in this community. I’m sure a lot of people wanted him dead.”

  “True. But why drop his body off on our lot?” I asked. “Why try and frame us?”

  “You girls go sit on the bench,” Nic said. “Miss Claws and I will start the water kettle and bring you a cup of hot cider when it’s ready.”

  Evie and I plopped down on the bench, each lost in our own thoughts. As much as I hated to admit it, I was scared of what this would do to our business. Would we have to shut down? There was no way I could afford the income loss. I needed every penny right now.

  “I’ve got to figure out who killed Bert,” I blurted. “I need to get this wrapped up so I can focus on my trees.”

  Evie didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “I’m not sure if my role is to say let the Sheriff handle it or if I’m supposed to encourage you. Because I’m feeling both emotions right now.”

  I let out a little laugh. “I can’t wait for Jake. I’m sure he’ll have a ton of procedures he has to follow. I need this figured out in the next day or two.”

  “Why?” Evie asked.

  “Today is Friday, and Christmas Eve is Sunday. I can’t afford to be closed on Saturday and Sunday. Those are my biggest selling days for fresh, live wreaths. People love to take them to Christmas dinners as housewarming gifts.”

  Evie sighed. “Okay. So first things first. Who are the suspects?”

  I frowned and looked up at the sky. That was a good question. Who did I think murdered Bert? “Well, I think because they dumped him here at the farm, it was someone who was here yesterday when the disagreement between Zane and Bert took place.” My breath hitched in fear. “I think someone is trying to make it look like Zane did it.”

  Evie put a hand on my arm. “Jake won’t believe that Zane did it.”

  Before I could say anything, a black Lexus turned into my long driveway and slowly drove into the makeshift parking area. Lillian Candace stepped out of the car, her frail body looking like it could collapse at any minute.

  I sighed and heaved myself off the bench. “Over here, Lillian.”

  Lillian rushed over to the bench, tears streaming down her face. “I received a call from one of the deputies. He said I needed to get to your place as fast as I could. What’s going on? It’s Bert isn’t it?” She started to sob in her hands. “He never came home last night.”

  Oh boy.

  “I’m afraid it is Bert,” I said.

  Lillian sobbed even louder.

  I didn’t know what all I was supposed to tell her. I had no idea how Bert had been murdered. I never saw blood…never saw a gunshot wound. I had no idea what actually had happened to him.

  Luckily I was saved from having to say anything more. Jake and Zane were both marching up the lane toward us. Both men looked grim.

  Nic handed Evie and me a hot cider. “Why don’t Evie and I watch over the pre-cut lot while you all go somewhere more private to talk.”

  I smiled at Nic. “Thanks. That’s a great idea.”

  Lillian and I hurried down to meet Jake and Zane.

  “What’s going on, Sheriff?” Lillian wailed. “Where is Bert?”

  Jake put his hand on Lillian’s shoulder. “I’m sorry to tell you this, Lillian. But Bert was found dead this morning.”

  “Dead?” Lillian’s hand clamped over her mouth and her body seemed to implode on itself. We all reached out to catch her. “How? How did he die?”

  “We aren’t sure right now,” Jake said. “The coroner still needs to come out.”

  Lillian stood up straight and smoothed down her hair. “Was he found here then?” She frowned. “Why would he be here?”

  I held my breath, unsure of what Jake would say. “It looks like his body was dumped here. Which means the murder could have taken place somewhere else and then he was driven out here and dumped.”

  Lillian sucked in a breath. “Why would someone do that?” I could tell by the suspicious looks she was shooting Zane and me she thought maybe we had something to do with the murder.

  Jake held up his hand. “As Sheriff, you have my word I’ll do all I can to solve this crime. Rest assured, Lillian.”

  Lillian nodded. “Thank you, Sheriff Matthews.”

  “I want to ask you all some questions,” Jake said. “But I want to do it one at a time. Zane and Gracie, why don’t you guys see to your business while I question Lillian real quick.”

  Zane nodded and guided me up to the cash register where Evie and Nic were hanging out.

  “How did he die?” I whispered. “Could you tell?”

  Zane looked back at Jake and Lillian before answering. “I’m sure I’m not supposed to know this, but I was standing right there when Jake did a preliminary examination of the body. It looks like Bert was struck from behind. A few times.”

  I gasped. “Geez. I mean, he wasn’t my favorite guy, but that’s horrible.”

  “Unfortunately with the snowfall early this morning,” Zane said, “it’s covered up any vehicle tracks the killer’s car might have made.”

  “This is so insane,” I said.

  I glanced over at Lillian and Jake. He handed her a card, and she nodded before turning around and heading back our way. Lillian didn’t even pause as she passed us. She just got in her Lexus and drove away.

  “Okay you two,” Jake said. “Let’s hear what you have to say. First off, did you ever hear anything unusual or suspicious last night?”

  I shook my head and looked at Zane. “I didn’t. Did you?”

  “No,” Zane said. “I got home from my deliveries around ten or ten-thirty. I’d stayed late at a house to help them put up the tree, that’s why I was so late.”

  Ah ha! So he had done a little date thing last night!

  “I was awake when he got home,” I said. “I was sitting in the parlor drinking hot tea and listening to the storm trying to blow through. We talked for a little while, and then we went to bed. I woke up around six and went outside around seven. That’s when I noticed the gate.”

  “What about the gate?” Jake asked.

  “The gate that we open,” I said, “to let customers know we are open for business…well, it was swinging in the wind.”

  “Gracie asked me if I remembered to shut it when I came home,” Zane added, “and I told her I had.”

  Jake frowned. “Lillian told me that Bert said he’d gotten a call and needed to go out for a while. That was around six last night. Yet your gate was still closed at ten when you got home, right Zane?”

  “Yes.”

  “So sometime between ten and six in the morning someone came out here and dumped Bert Candace’s body in your trees. That’s a wide range of time.” Jake turned to Zane. “Why out here? Why would the killer drive here to dump the body?”

  “I think I know,” Zane said. “Yesterday Bert Candace and I exchanged some heated words.”

  “So you think the killer took advantage of that fight,” Jake said, “and dumped the body out here to try and make it look like you killed Bert?”

  Zane nodded. “I do.”

  Jake sighed. “I’m going to need a list of people who observed the exchange.”

  “Of c
ourse,” Zane said.

  I bit my lip and sighed. “I think I should tell you Bert had words with a couple other customers, too. Not just Zane.”

  Jake raised an eyebrow. “Such as?”

  I shot Zane an apologetic look and quickly filled him in on Gretchen, Merle, and Danica.

  “That’s a lot of people he seemed to have pissed off,” Jake observed.

  “Gracie and I finally had to demand he leave,” Zane said.

  “Just so I have it on the record, Zane, where were you between six-thirty last night and six this morning?”

  I sucked in my breath. “You don’t seriously think Zane killed Bert, do you?”

  Jake turned his piercing green eyes on me, and I swallowed audibly. “No, Gracie, I don’t think Zane had anything to do with Bert’s death. But I have to rule it out so no one calls me on it.” Jake turned back to Zane. “Now, tell me where you were and be as precise as you can.”

  “I was still here at six-thirty. I left the farm to go deliver trees around eight. I stopped off at a couple houses, and just so there’s no confusion, one of those houses I stopped at was Danica’s house. She also argued with Bert yesterday. But there’s no way Danica did this.”

  Jake held up his hand. “Just tell me about you, Zane.”

  Zane sighed. “Then I came home around ten or eleven. Gracie and I stayed up to talk for a little while. Then we went to bed. I was still here at the house at six this morning.”

  Jake finished writing in his notebook then stuffed it in his shirt pocket. “Okay. If I have any more questions, I’ll contact you. Until further notice, I’m afraid I have to shut you down.”

  “No!” I exclaimed.

  Chapter 5

  “Please don’t look at me like that, Gracie,” Jake said. “I’m sorry, but it must be done.”

  “Why?” I argued. “Can’t your people just block off the section where the body was located and leave the rest alone?”

  Jake pursed his lips. “There could be a chance evidence has been scattered from the snow. I really need to—”

  “Please, Jake,” I pleaded. “I really can’t afford to close.” I looked up at the pre-cut lot and saw customers already milling around. “I can’t send them away. It will bankrupt me if you shut me down.”

  Jake closed his eyes and growled under his breath. “Fine. I’ll set crime scene tape around the area I believe will hold the most evidence. But I better not hear of anyone coming out this way until I say it’s clear. Understood?”

  I barely refrained from kissing him. “Understood.”

  Zane walked Jake up to his police vehicle, and I rushed over to where Evie was ringing up customers and gossiping about what had happened. Once the customer left, I grabbed Evie and hauled her over to the bench.

  “We have solid suspects,” I said. “I’m looking mainly at either Gretchen or Merle because of their size. Surely the killer must be a bigger person to have hauled Bert out here, right?”

  Evie frowned. “I don’t know. I mean, I guess so.”

  “The only other suspect is Danica, and I can’t see her leaving her son alone at the house, finding Bert, killing him, lifting his body into a car, and then driving him out here to dump him.”

  “That’s true,” Evie agreed. “Okay, so we concentrate on Gretchen and Merle.”

  We grinned and high-fived.

  “Hey,” Evie suddenly said. “I just remembered. I overheard a bunch of teachers talking the last day of school before break, and there’s gonna be a party tonight out at the clubhouse. I know Gretchen is going. You can question her more at the party.”

  “Great idea,” I said.

  “Do you still have your Mrs. Claus outfit?” Evie asked.

  “Yes, why?”

  Evie grinned. “Did I forget to mention it’s a Christmas costume party?”

  ***

  Around two o’clock I loaded up the Chevy truck and rumbled into town. After making the three deliveries I had on my list, I decided to stop by and see Lillian Candace.

  The Candace house—a massively sprawling ranch home—looked ominous when I pulled up and parked in the circular drive. I wasn’t exactly surprised to see no other cars. The front door opened before I could ring the bell.

  “Hey, Gracie,” Lillian said as she wrapped her loose sweater around her frail body. “I don’t think I should be talking to you.”

  I barely refrained from rolling my eyes. “Lillian, you don’t really think my family had anything to do with Bert’s death, do you?”

  Lillian’s boney shoulders shrugged. “I don’t know what to think right now.”

  Deciding not to press my luck, I didn’t ask to come in. “I just had a couple quick questions. I know you saw Bert and Gretchen fighting. Can you tell me exactly what that was about?”

  Lillian pressed her lips together until they were flat and wrinkled. “I’m assuming you know already. Bert had decided to increase Gretchen’s rent. He found out the school board gave teachers a slight increase in their salary, so he felt he should increase her rent.”

  What a rat!

  “So I guess it’s understandable why she was so angry,” I said.

  “I guess.”

  “And Merle Hartford?” I asked. “Why was he so belligerent?”

  “I don’t make it a point to stick my nose into bank business,” Lillian said stiffly, “but I may have overheard Bert say something about the bank foreclosing on Merle’s farm soon. Again, I’m not sure.”

  Oh, you’re sure.

  “Do you know of anyone who wanted to hurt Bert? Maybe you overheard a conversation where Bert mentioned someone was threatening him?”

  “These are the same questions Sheriff Matthews asked me already. I answered his questions. I don’t think I need to do it again.”

  “So Sheriff Matthews has been out to see you again since this morning?” I asked.

  “He stopped by around lunchtime to see how I was doing.”

  “How are you doing, Lillian? Are you holding up okay?”

  Tears filled Lillian’s eyes. “About as well as can be expected under the circumstances, I suppose.”

  It did break my heart to think about her roaming the big house all alone. “If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Lillian said nothing, just stared balefully at me.

  ***

  “Well now if this isn’t a sight.”

  I gasped and whirled around, causing my Mrs. Claus skirt to fly indecently around my upper thighs. I barely managed to keep the cookies on the cookie sheet and not drop them. I could feel my face warming and told myself it was just the heat from the oven.

  “Don’t believe in knocking?” I asked.

  Jake grinned and grabbed a cookie off the counter. “I met Zane leaving for his nightly deliveries. He said you were in the house and to come on in.”

  I narrowed my eyes at Jake as he wolfed down a cookie and went to grab another. “And so you just thought you’d come on in and steal my cookies?”

  The Christmas tree lot closed at eight, but I didn’t need to pick up Evie for the party until nine. We wanted to arrive late so Gretchen would be sure to be there. Since I had some down time, I figured I’d bake some Christmas cookies for customers.

  Jake swallowed the cookie in his mouth and slowly ambled over to where I was standing. “No. I thought I’d come in here and see just what the heck you’re up to confronting and questioning Lillian about people who may have wanted her brother dead.”

  Crap! Had Lillian called Jake after I left?

  I averted my gaze and busied myself transferring cookies over to the cooling rack. I was bound and determined to ignore him, but it was hard to do when he was standing so close to me.

  “I’m waiting,” Jake said. “I mean, you do realize questioning suspects and witnesses is my job, right?”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “I saw that, Gracie Ann Kellerman.”

  I wiped my hands on my skirt, took a deep breath, and looked hi
m in the eye. “I’m aware of what your job title is, Sheriff. I just stopped by the Candace house to offer my condolences.”

  Jake reached up and ran his thumb down my cheek. “Somehow, Gracie, I doubt you were just being polite.”

  It took every amount of effort I had to step back from his touch. I couldn’t get a read on him. He goes from not acknowledging my presence since his return to town, to suddenly acting like we’re dating. It was off-putting, and I knew he was doing it to unbalance me.

  He ran his eyes over my Mrs. Claus getup and lifted one corner of his mouth. “That’s a killer outfit you got on there, Gracie. Going somewhere?”

  I bit my lip and glanced sideways at the clock on the wall. I now had five minutes before I was due to pick up Evie. Luckily she lived only two miles from the golf course, so it wouldn’t take long to get to the clubhouse.

  “I’m picking up Evie in a few minutes and we’re going out tonight.”

  A part of me hoped he was jealous. I knew I looked pretty good in this outfit. Let him see what he was missing out on by not reciprocating my feelings.

  “I heard there was going to be a Christmas costume party out at the clubhouse tonight for teachers,” Jake said. “You and Evie wouldn’t happen to be going to that, would you?”

  Darn!

  “Evie is a teacher,” I said.

  “And,” Jake continued as though he hadn’t heard me, “I sure hope you aren’t going out there to question Gretchen Smith.”

  Double darn!

  “Of course not,” I lied smoothly.

  By the time I kicked Jake out of the house, made my secret supply of spiked hot cider, and hopped on my fully restored, ruby red 1963 Polaris snowmobile—the only other means of transportation I had thanks to Zane having the Chevy—I was five minutes late picking up Evie.

  She snorted when she saw my ride. “I still can’t believe that thing runs. I remember riding on it when we were kids…and it was ancient back then.”

  I loved the ’63 Polaris. It wasn’t your typical flashy snowmobile. The front end was a square box, you started it like you did an old lawn mower, and it hit top speeds of twenty miles per hour. The overall look was big and bulky. But it was one of the last vehicles Dad, Zane, and I had restored before Zane left for the military. Now it was a show piece.