Mom bites down on her cherry red lip. “Santa’s Sleigh Bells. Let’s just say Santa is a handsome thirty-something who makes nightly visits to all the naughty women on his list. I’ve read it cover to cover three times.” She gives a cheeky wink before heading to the rear of the café and pulling together a couple of tables.
Keelie leans in with a giggle in her throat. “I bet she’ll read it ten times before Christmas Eve.”
Noel gives a few friendly barks. “What about the investigation, Lottie? We’re wasting time with cookies and book clubs. We need to find whoever did this to my sweet Tamara.”
I sigh down at the pouty pooch just as an idea hits.
“Lainey? Are you busy this afternoon?”
“Nope. It’s my day off. I should be home soaking in a bubble bath, catching up on my to-be-read pile. I swear, one of these days all those books stacked on my nightstand are going to topple over and kill me in my sleep.”
Lily sighs hard. “Try not to drag any of Lottie’s desserts to bed with you beforehand,” she says as she heads to the kitchen.
“Duly noted,” Lainey shouts with a laugh before her features fall as she looks to me. “Only it’s not so funny, is it?” She makes an adorable face. “What do you need this afternoon? Going on another body hunt?”
“Nope. I just thought it would be nice to deliver a couple of cookie platters to the employees over at the Gray Farm. I’m guessing they could all use a little cheering up.”
“Hey?” Her face brightens. “Stacy will probably be there! I don’t know what you’re up to, but I’m in.”
It’s nice to know that whatever schemes I might have brewing, I’ll always have my big sister by my side.
Now if I could only figure out who killed Tamara.
The Grays’ produce farm sits on a forty-acre sprawl on the edge of Honey Hollow where the hillsides seem to butt right up to heaven. At the entry, there’s a big wooden sign that welcomes us to the property, and I drive the bakery van right to the front of the offices where most of the employees tend to congregate.
Lainey helps me schlep in four platters of every sweet treat I could get my oven mitts on. I’ve piled each one high with peppermint bark, peppermint chocolate brownies, and gingerbread men and women—mostly women, no thanks to my mother and her thorny horny book club. But there are peppermint pinwheels and sugar cookies in the shapes of Santa, wreathes, reindeer, and Christmas trees. I even included a couple holiday stollen, a German sweet bread made with candied fruit, nuts, and spices. Stollen has been a family tradition for so long, I could practically bake this with my eyes closed. But, lucky for me, I opt to make it with my mouth open. I confess, I’ve made it a tradition to eat the very first roll that comes out of the oven.
But nothing says Christmas quite like my walnut fudge, and I came prepared with two pink bakery boxes full of—
I suck in a quick breath and block Lainey from knocking on the door.
“What was I thinking showing up with the exact sweet treat that poor Tamara ate last?”
Lainey makes a face. “You’re talking about the fudge, right?” She rings the bell. “Trust me. Once they take their first bite, no one is going to care. If anything, they’ll be glad the poor thing had one last burst of joy. Your fudge is that good, Lottie.”
The door swings open before I can refute it, and both Lainey and I find ourselves staring right at Stacy Culberson.
Her hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, and she’s donned an old flannel shirt and a pair of cowboy boots as if she were ready to head off to the barn despite the snow flurries we’re experiencing.
“Lottie—Lainey.” She offers a pained smile. “Please come in. What is all this?” She takes a tray from Lainey and smiles as she peels back the aluminum cover.
“Just a few treats for you and the rest of the employees,” I say as she ushers us into an expansive room next to the foyer that looks like a comfortable living room with oversized leather couches and round wooden coffee tables that are strewn about.
A few people migrate over, and we set the desserts down on the elongated dining room table. Soon enough, there’s a smattering of people thanking us profusely and enjoying the sweet treats at hand.
Stacy shrugs as she leads us over to the Christmas tree in the corner. “Free tree courtesy of the Jolly Holly Tree Lot. They felt so bad they wanted to do something. Just like you nice folks.”
Lainey pulls her old friend in for a quick hug. “How are you holding up? Have you heard from Scott?”
She sniffs hard and nods. “He came back last night and packed a bag. He said he couldn’t believe I threw him under the bus like that.” Her face falls into her hands and she sobs silently a moment while Lainey rubs her back. She sniffs as she straightens once again. “I mean he did it.”
“He confessed?” I hiss it out so fast Noel pops up from thin air and barks up a storm.
“Did he do it, Lottie? Did he?” The ghostly pooch dances in a circle around the three of us.
I shake my head down at him before looking back to Stacy. “Did he?”
Stacy rolls her eyes. “Of course not. But he obviously did it. He’s just running scared right now. I told him if he confessed, they’d go easy on him.” Her eyes grow cold as she looks to the corner of the room.
Lainey wraps an arm around Stacy’s shoulders. “What is it?”
She shakes her head. “I guess I can tell the two of you. I mean, Scott and I are basically over.” She swallows hard, briefly looking over her shoulder. “He has a dark side. I didn’t see it at first. And Tamara tried to warn me. But I thought she was just trying to keep us apart. I couldn’t blame her if she was. It wasn’t right what Scott and I did, but I suppose that’s all in the past now. Anyway, he has a temper. You both saw it last night.”
Lainey’s fingers fly to her lips. “Has he ever hurt you?”
Stacy closes her eyes a moment. “He shook me once. Mostly his abuse was verbal, but he always begged for forgiveness, and of course, I always gave it to him. And to think, I thought we were soulmates.”
She swallows hard again and blinks several times dramatically, but my guard is up and I haven’t seen a genuine tear yet. Although, when my father died, my little sister Meg couldn’t cry. She was shaken and angry, but tears never came. I guess you can’t really judge someone by how they choose to grieve—and she is grieving a relationship in a way. Maybe even the former friendship she once had with Tamara.
Heck, Scott turned out to be a loser and Stacy didn’t care for Tamara. Maybe she doesn’t have a reason to shed a real tear.
Noel sniffs around her boots. “I smell bull. Ask if she saw him push her off that embankment.”
“Stacy?” I say her name quietly. “Did you see the altercation between Scott and Tamara?”
Her gaze flits across the room. “I think we all did. But if you’re asking about the big heave-ho he gave her”—she takes a quivering breath and holds it—“I did.” Her gaze floats to the ceiling. “It was terrible. I didn’t know what I was seeing. I thought maybe she fell in the bushes—that he would help her up. I headed back out of the woods, and that’s when I stumbled upon Joyce and Bonnie.” She shakes her head. “And now that I know what really happened—that look in Tamara’s eyes will haunt me forever.”
Noel growls and the faint blue aura around his fur picks up until he’s glowing a brilliant shade of blue.
“Ask if she knows what they were arguing about,” he ruffs it out in a heated growl. Noel is so piping mad I’m sure he’d like to bite an ankle or two. And I’ll be the last to clue him in on the fact he just might be able to do it.
“I’m so sorry, Stacy.” My hand floats to my chest. “Did you happen to hear what they were arguing about?”
She cocks her head to the side as if reliving it. “Something about the land, I’m sure. That’s all they ever fought over. Scott was determined that she wouldn’t get an inch of soil.”
Lainey shifts. “What about money? You know, their
bank accounts? I know the farm generates quite an income for them. Do you know if they ever hashed that out?”
Noel barks at my sister and it sounds as if he’s cheering her on. “Good question!”
Indeed.
Stacy shifts her gaze from one end of the room to the other before leaning in.
“That’s the thing”—she whispers—“Tamara never asked about it because she thought she was getting an even split every month.”
“She thought?” I ask, stunned by what this implies.
Stacy nods. “Scott was siphoning funds to a secret account she knew nothing about.”
Something burns inside of me. “And you weren’t going to tell her either.”
She lifts her chin as if I had struck her. “I was investigating it, Lottie. I had a feeling Bonnie was in on it. She’s the accountant here.”
“Bonnie?” both Lainey and I say in unison.
She nods. “She’s not as innocent as one might think. In fact, if I hadn’t been so sure that Scott had pushed her, I would have pegged Bonnie for it.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, inching back as if to get a better read on her.
Stacy looks out the window and stares vacantly for a moment as if looking straight into another dimension.
“Because Bonnie Dupre has a very big secret.”
Lainey leans in. “Well? Don’t keep us in suspense. What is it?”
Stacy looks from my sister to me. “That’s Bonnie’s story to tell. Let’s just say, luck isn’t always a lady. Bonnie Dupre is guilty as sin.”
5
Bonnie Dupre asked Everett out for drinks again.
Normally, I would be incensed and say something like the nerve. I was with him at the tree lot that evening, after all. But, quite frankly not only am I relived, but I’m urging Everett to hop to it. Little does Bonnie know that I’ll accidentally on purpose bump right into them before they can knock down their shot glasses.
“How did she get your number, anyway?” I ask as Everett escorts me through the dark snowy evening and into the shelter of the Red Satin Gentlemen’s Club. Red Satin is tucked in the armpit of the next town over, a seedy place called Leeds.
“Funny you should ask.” His dark brows twitch, making his blue eyes siren out all the more. “She said she simply asked Detective Fox while he was questioning her, and he happily obliged her with my number.”
“Noah! That stinker.” A dull laugh ripples through me. “Remind me to ream him out for it.”
“I already did. I let him know I’ve got an arsenal of great attorneys who would love to do a legal takedown for me. My number isn’t for sale. It’s not a freebie either.”
“Little did he know his plan to divert your attention away from me would backfire.” I wince. “I mean, that it would allow me to interrogate a suspect.” I give a little shrug. I feel terrible leading us into such awkward relationship territory. “I realize you’re a free agent, Everett.” My cheeks flush with heat. “I’m so sorry my heart and my head are so confused. Although, Noah’s dirty tactics aren’t helping his cause.”
A smile twitches on his lips, but he’s too stubborn to give it. “I always did say, give that boy enough rope and he’ll do the work himself.”
“Funny.” I make a face because it’s anything but. And as evidenced by the fact he gave Bonnie the ammo to call Everett, it happens to be true.
“Lemon.” Everett pulls me in, landing his gorgeous face just inches from mine. He takes a breath and his chest expands over mine. “Don’t ever feel pressured to make a decision. A thousand women could invite me to have a drink, but there’s only one I’d rather be with and that’s you. I’m not going anywhere.” He gently brushes the hair from my forehead. “You are beautiful inside and out—and you are definitely worth the wait.”
My heart seizes in my chest so fast and tight, I can hardly breathe.
“Thank you for that, Everett.” It comes out lower than a whisper. And without thinking, I hike up on my tiptoes and dot the scruff on his cheek with a quick kiss. “Let’s go catch a killer.”
Inside, the Red Satin Gentlemen’s Club is booming. The entire room is thick with bodies, it’s dimly lit, the raunchy music is a touch too loud, and as per its true intentions, there is a bevy of scantily clad beauties both on stage and roaming the floor with a tray in their hands.
Yes, it’s a strip club. Yes, it’s the very strip club where my sister, Meg, teaches the dancers their lusty thrust moves. The walls, the carpet, and even the bar are a dark shade of crimson. And because of those dark hues alone, it’s always given off the impression that we’ve walked right into a portal to hell.
Everett weaves us through the crowd, and, as expected, every female in this place is struggling to get a better look at the handsome judge who happens to be built like a linebacker.
As much as I didn’t like that Bonnie chose this dive as the venue to knock back beers—or Long Island Iced Tea or whatever else she’s hoping to slurp up, I encouraged Everett to have her meet in a place of her choosing. And she just so happened to request they meet in the underbelly of this fine establishment. Yes, the mobsters who run this inglorious place happen to have a full-fledged, fully illegal, gambling casino in the expansive area beneath it.
A thought hits me, and I pull Everett in by the hand.
“Hey? Stacy said that luck isn’t always a lady, and Bonnie asked to meet up with you downstairs at the casino.”
Everett tips his head to the side. “I’m guessing she’s a gambler.”
“Maybe she has an addiction?”
“And maybe she’s addicted to men as well,” a deep voice growls from somewhere near the floor and I spot Noel with his powder white face, pink nose, and black svelte ears sticking straight up.
Everett looks down near our feet. “He’s here, isn’t he? I can hear him.”
And the only reason Everett can hear him is because he happens to be holding my hand.
“He sure is,” I say, reaching down and picking up the ghostly pooch. “And my goodness, you feel every bit solid.”
Noel howls out what sounds like a laugh. “I don’t mind lightening up a bit for you.”
And he does just that, nearly floating right out of my arms in the process.
The three of us head downstairs and take a moment to peer inside the casino before heading inside.
The ping, ping, ping of the one-armed bandits goes off like a chime on a loop, the atmosphere is dim, the music is a touch too loud, and the sound of lively conversations fills the place. Judging by the fact this room is packed tonight lets us know that the state laws of Vermont, regarding its ban on casinos, doesn’t have the power to scare some people off.
“Oh, look!” I nod to the bar. “There she is, already nursing a drink. Why don’t you head over, and I’ll pretend to bump into you?”
“You really think she’s going to buy that?”
“She will when she discovers I’m the jealous girlfriend who has a tracking device attached to your phone.” I give a little wink. “Okay, so I might fake a need for speed at the one-armed bandit myself. Who knows? She might give me a few tips, and I might get lucky.”
Noel whimpers, “Or she might confess to being the killer.”
I can’t help but shake my head at that one. I just can’t see it.
Everett heads in while Noel and I do a few laps around the slimy environment. For as many drooling men as there are in the strip club, there are just as many in the casino ogling me as if I were scantily clad myself.
Finally, I’ve had enough, so I make a beeline over to where that blonde bombshell happens to be laughing it up with my man.
My heart cinches at the thought of Everett being my man. He could easily be just that if I’d simply say the word. And believe you me, after the stunt Noah pulled, I’m a little closer to doing just that.
“Well, look who’s here!” I feign surprise as I slide into the empty barstool on the other side of Bonnie.
Her blonde mane is tous
led and teased, drifting around her shoulders like a tumbleweed. Her lips are a caustic shade of red, and she’s donned a gorgeous black gown that as soon as this nightmare is over I will insist she give me the name of the shop where she purchased it.
“Lottie Lemon?” She inches back before her mouth rounds out into a circle. “Oh no. Please tell me I’m not stepping on your toes.” She squeezes her eyes shut a moment. “Would you believe me if I said I’ve only just now put together the dating pieces? The two of you are a couple, aren’t you?” She turns to Everett and swats him on the arm. “And you’re thinking of cheating on her with me!”
“No, no!” I try to quickly defuse the situation as Noel dances across the counter in front of us, laughing and barking his ghostly head off as if he were having a heyday with this new development. It’s nice to know he still has his sense of humor intact. “Everett and I are just good friends.” I shrug over at him as soon as she turns his way.
“In that case.” She picks up his hand and brings it to her lips. “Let me kiss it and make it all better.” And she does just that.
Gag me.
Everett chuckles as if he heard my response. Or perhaps he was going off the threatening face I’m making.
I force a smile to come as soon as Bonnie turns my way. “So what brings you to this place?”
“Trying my hand at craps.” Bonnie doesn’t miss a beat.
Do they even have craps here?
Would I recognize craps if I spotted it in the wild?
Probably not.
Noel trots up and sniffs around Bonnie’s candy red fingernails. “She smells of money and greed. Ask her if she killed my Tamara—my best girl.”
“So who do you think pushed Tamara?” I twitch a brief smile at Noel for giving me the nudge I needed.
Her eyes widen, and for a moment I see a hint of fear flicker through them.
Odd. I’ve seen that look before, and it’s always been in the eyes of a killer.
But this is Bonnie. I know her.
She couldn’t be a killer, could she?
Six Merry Little Murders Page 31
