Who needs to use a door when you can move as the crow flies? Or I should say, as the ghost flies.
I glance around the room crammed with women and spot Evie and her best friend Dash buying up handmade knit scarves and mittens. I’m secretly hoping one of those sets is for me as well.
About a month ago I couldn’t sleep, so I ended up ordering a majority of my gifts online and made sure to click the giftwrap option, too. I didn’t know how bad my morning sickness would be this close to the holidays, and I couldn’t risk anything ruining Christmas.
Little did I know the real reason I would be sick to my stomach would have nothing do with this little sugar cookie baking in my belly. If this baby belongs to Everett, and if Everett leaves me for another woman, I’ll officially usher my child into a world with a broken home. I guess the same holds true if it belongs to Noah.
The baby gives a swift kick to my gut, and I can’t blame it.
I’d like to kick me, too.
Tears come to my eyes, and I quickly blink them away as Suze and Elodie Frost emerge from the crowd over by the table with the handmade stockings.
Suze spots me and her face breaks out into a bona fide scowl—not that I’m surprised. She mumbles something to Elodie before darting over to the dessert table and stuffing her face with my chocolate chip cookies. Those happen to be Noah’s favorite, too. I guess the love of all things chocolatey and gooey runs in the family.
Elodie pauses as if she doesn’t know which direction to move in, so I make my own move.
“Elodie.” I take a breath from the quick walk over, and just as I open my mouth to say something else, Kringle appears sitting on her shoulder with his tail wrapped around her neck like a scarf. “How’s everything going?”
She huffs a laugh as she glances down to her arms laden down with a couple of overstuffed tote bags. Her short dark hair is parted to the side, and she’s wearing a cranberry red dress with silver snowflakes embossed into the fabric. She’s also donned that triangular pendant that hangs from a silver necklace. Same one from that magic maven’s club of theirs.
Hey? I wonder if Elodie is a beguiler?
“Everything is going a little too well,” she says, holding up her loot for me to see. “I bought the bags as gifts, and I only loaded them down with more gifts. I’m going to have to run this upstairs.” She cranes her neck. “I’ll need Wiley to help me with the endeavor.” Her lips curl with approval at the mention of my mother’s boyfriend’s name. “He is a looker.”
I’d remind her that he was taken, but to be honest, I would be Elodie’s biggest cheerleader if she could usher Wiley away from my mother.
But my mother does profess to love him. And there’s no way I’d willingly bring the misery I feel on anybody, least of all the saint that raised me.
“Elodie, can I ask you a question about the Christmas Angels?”
“Sure, anything.” Her eyes narrow in on mine as if to get a better look at me.
“I heard someone at the event the other night mention that they were looking for a new accountant.” I lift a brow, wanting to see if she’s heard a rumor about Chris stealing. “I happened to know of one, if you’re in need.” I’ll leave it at that. I’m not really believing Chris was pilfering the funds. Hook vouched for his character, and that’s good enough for me.
Her shoulders hitch a notch, and it sends Kringle sliding off her shoulder as he curls his tail around the pendant swinging from her necklace in an effort to keep from falling.
“That wouldn’t surprise me.” She whispers as she leans in, “I heard a lot of funds have suddenly up and disappeared.” Her eyes dart to the dessert table, and I glance over to see Suze whispering to Serena Digby. I can’t help but make a face. And I certainly want to corner Serena before I leave. I’ll leave Suze to Noah.
“Really?” I startle for a moment as I turn back to the conversation at hand. “You don’t think Chris is dipping into the cookie jar, do you?”
She shrugs. “It’s hard to believe, I know. I really like the man.” She shakes her head with a look of disappointment. “But he’s got a great job working for some fancy firm. Maybe he thought we would be too stupid to notice. But it’s been uncovered, and I’m afraid an internal investigation is going to ensue right after the holidays. Candy is seeing to it herself. Gloria knew about the theft, but all she wanted to do was rant. She never took action. Candy knows how to get things done. But the accounting has always been carefully guarded. Not carefully enough, I suppose.”
“How’s that? I mean, I run the bakery. I’d love to monitor things a little bit more carefully myself.”
“Well, for starters, all of the accounting needs to be done on site at the Christmas Angels’ office. It all goes onto the hard drive and into some computer cloud. That way there’s less of a chance of someone cooking the books.” Her lips invert as if keeping a vital tidbit to herself.
“Good to know. I guess that makes sense. It’s all done on site, less of a chance for someone to fool around.”
She shrugs. “People get away with things. Gloria being one of them.”
“You really didn’t care for her, did you?” I wince as I say it, and her eyes close a good long while.
“Let’s just say Gloria wasn’t the angel she wanted others to think she was.”
“Oh? So she was keeping things from people?”
Her chocolate brown eyes widen. “Big things.”
“That’s quite a feat. It’s hard to hide things in such a small town like Honey Hollow. Unless, of course, she moved here from out of state.” Like, say Colorado. But I’m hoping Elodie will fill in the blanks for me.
“She did. She came from Plum Creek, Colorado.”
Plum Creek, Colorado. I make a mental note of it.
I nod. “And I bet that’s where she dragged the baggage with her from.”
Her chest bucks. “More like the body,” she mutters.
Kringle stands straight up on his hind legs. “Body?”
“Body?” I echo, but Elodie doesn’t know that.
She gives a quick nod. “I guess it doesn’t matter now that she’s dead herself, but Gloria Abner sailed right into town with a little deadly secret of her own.”
“What’s that?”
Elodie’s thin pink lips contort. “It’s nothing that bears repeating. Not during this time of year. Not with the reputation of the Christmas Angels at stake. I’m sorry, Lottie. I’ve said so much already.” She cranes her neck past me. “Please excuse me. I just have to have a half dozen or so of those candles. And by the looks of it, they’re about to sell out. Not only could Wiley help me carry them to my room, he might just help me try out a few.” Her shoulders dance suggestively before she darts off toward Carlotta’s table.
Kringle floats on over. “Say, could body be a euphemism for something?”
“Yes, for a body,” I whisper just as Suze strides up, glaring at me as if I were the one who was caught red-handed with the murder weapon.
“You’re noseying around, aren’t you?” she snips.
“Why yes, the baby is doing well, thank you for asking,” I snip back. I couldn’t help it. Suze is just asking for a piece of my hormonal pie, and boy, am I ready to give it to her. A part of me wants to blame her for everything that’s gone wrong in my life, and even though it makes very little sense, I decide to go with it.
Her lips cinch. “That baby is none of my business because not a drop of it belongs to my son. Now what were you shaking Elodie down over?”
“You can relax. It had nothing to do with the fact your weapon was found at the scene of the crime.”
She gasps and jumps back a notch. “Noah told you?”
“Noah tells me everything. We’re close, and nothing or no one will ever break that bond.”
Suze sniffs at the thought. “Men don’t take too kindly to their wives cavorting with other men. You keep up the shenanigans you’ve got going with Noah, and you’ll have a void to fill in your bed. Why ruin every
thing you and Essex worked so hard to build? Leave Noah alone. Let him find someone to make him happy. Give the entire Fox family an early Christmas gift and cut Noah loose.”
“I bet you’d love that—mostly because it’s free.”
Kringle snickers. “Her eyes are bulging. You keep this up and we might have another body on our hands.”
“I’m not that lucky,” I mutter.
Suze rolls her eyes. “You could be. God knows you hold all the power in this relationship.”
“Never mind that. Suze, what’s going on with the Christmas Angels? You don’t think someone is stealing from the organization, do you?”
Her body stiffens, and her lips pinch together so hard they turn white as paper.
“Suze? You know something. You may as well spill it.”
She glances over her shoulders. “All I know is that Elodie Frost is a shopaholic.” She nods her way. “Look at her over there loading up on anything and everything. It’s grotesque to look at.”
Kringle cranes his tiny little neck her way. “And not one sweet treat. What a waste of money.”
Money…
“I bet that’s costing her a fortune,” I muse more or less to myself as Elodie loads up Wiley’s arms with a box of candles Carlotta just handed her.
“And that’s why she’s flat broke,” Suze offers. “I tried to help her. I even coerced her into coming to a few shoestring meetings, but it all went over her head. Just last month I heard her saying she was having trouble paying her rent, and look at her now.”
“That is odd. Maybe she got a new job?”
“Nope. And she just had her hours cut.”
“Had her hours cut? During this time of year?” My eyes shift to where she’s walking toward the exit with an armful of goodies. “She certainly doesn’t look like someone who’s having a hard time.”
Maybe it’s Elodie stealing from the organization?
Suze gags at the sight. “I just can’t stand seeing someone pilfer away their hard-earned money like that. It’s sacrilegious is what it is. Much like you holding my son’s emotions to the fire while you sleep with other men. Think about what I said, and give my son the freedom he deserves this holiday season.” She races off toward the dessert table once again and fills her fists with as many of my chocolate chip cookies as she can handle.
Candy Brighton strides by before quickly backtracking. “Everything okay, Lottie?” Her caramel-colored hair is swept into a ponytail, and she’s donned a green sweater dress that shows off her hourglass figure. A part me wonders if I’ll ever have an hourglass figure again.
Kringle tosses his forepaws in the air. “Oh, it’s fine. Suze just can’t stand the sight of Lottie and her unborn sugar cookie. And now she’s asked that Noah be let into the wild to do who knows what with who knows who. It’s just great, Candy.” He lands softly over my shoulder. “Just great.”
“Everything is more than fine.” I offer a forlorn smile to Kringle. “It’s a great showing today.” I give a quick sweep of the room. “I bet you’ll have a ton of people tomorrow night at the Jingle Hop Ball as well.”
“I hope so.”
“Hey, Candy, where is the Christmas Angels’ office? I was just talking to Elodie and she mentioned that”—on second thought, I probably shouldn’t say—“well, that you had some software that helps with organization, and she said I should take a look at it, for my bakery, of course.”
“Of course.” She sheds a little laugh. “Since we’re a strictly volunteer endeavor and we like every last dime to go toward needy families, we usually find a small space that’s been donated to us for a brief stint of time. Usually it’s people who are between tenants, that sort of thing. And several months ago we were able to procure a small room at the Evergreen Manor. It’s a converted supply room just behind the ballroom, which made things easy the night of the fundraiser—or at least it would have had tragedy not unfolded.”
“That’s helpful,” I tell her. Super helpful. A part of me wants to thank her for the road map. “Hey? Did you happen to hear any wild stories from Gloria’s past? You know Honey Hollow—rumors will fly, even about the dead.”
Kringle huffs, “Gloria was as innocent as a dove. It’s despicable what that Elodie person suggested. Clearly she’s the killer.” He lifts a sharpened fingernail into the air. “Let me at her. I have a sudden craving for eyeballs on a skewer.”
I shake my head his way.
Candy sighs. “People never fail to disappointment me. Gloria was all bark and no bite. What exactly did you hear, Lottie?” Her eyes round out as she tips her ear my way, hungry for whatever gossip I may have to dispense.
“Something about her having a past. I guess she moved here from Colorado. And whatever took place I’m betting it happened there.”
Her chest pumps. “Cormack and Cressida are right. You’re quite a detective. But I wouldn’t worry about Gloria’s past. I guess in a way she took it with her.” Her eyes spear past me, and I follow her gaze to Elodie. “Excuse me, I think I see a certain rumormonger. I don’t think this is the type of behavior the Angels need.” She takes off just as Wiley and Elodie disappear into the foyer with an armful of purchases.
Mom trots my way, blowing out an angry breath, her hands balled into fists.
“Can you believe that Elodie Frost? It’s like she doesn’t even care that Wiley is taken. When I brought it up, she said a man of a certain age is fair game until he’s tied the knot.”
“Any hope of that happening?” My December is already ruined. Why not have my mother marry a con artist?
Mom shakes her head. “I doubt it. I ran a few ideas past him for my new book, and he’s rejected them all. He says I should pivot and write beach fiction, something with less heat, more friendships, and a whole lot of sand.”
“Actually, I think I like that idea. You could have those dreamy covers of Cape Cod beaches and lighthouses. In fact, I think I’d pick that book up right now. I can really use an escape.” My hand warms my belly.
“Me too, Lottie.” She frowns over in the direction Wiley just took off in. “Before I forget, I’ll need you to cater dessert for Christmas Eve dinner. Oh, and I’ve already invited Eliza and Everett’s sister. So that’s one less thing you’ll need to worry about.” She pats my hand before taking off.
Serena swishes by in her floor-length deep purple dress, and I catch her by the wrist. Her dark hair is set in long ringlets, and her face is so pale it matches the snow piling up outside.
“Not so fast,” I say. “I demand to know right now if the women at those ridiculous magic mavens meeting share your strange talent.” Namely Suze. “Look me in the eye right now, Serena. Are you a true beguiler? And is Suze Fox one as well?” My heart beats wildly in my chest at the prospect. And just as Serena’s lips part, my phone bleats. I quickly fish it out, but it’s not Everett or Noah for that matter, or even Lily at the bakery. It’s a text from Dr. Barnette letting me know that my iron levels are low and that she’s already called in a prescription for me.
“Ha,” Serena balks while peering down at the screen. “I called it.” She lifts her chin in a smug manner before ditching back into the crowd.
“What about Suze?” I call out after her.
Serena did say I had low iron that day she was swinging old wives tales over my belly by way of that pendant hanging from her neck. Wait a minute… if she was right about that, is she right about Noah being the father?
I wrap my arms protectively over my growing stomach. If that’s right, then there’s another chasm between Everett and me.
Maybe Everett is only with me at the moment because of the baby? And once he finds out it’s Noah’s, he’s going to leave me outright.
This is terrible. A tragedy unfolding right before my eyes, and this time it’s happening to me.
But in order to keep my sanity together, and make it through this holiday season, I’d better focus on something else—like the tragedy that unfolded for Gloria Abner.
&nb
sp; “Where to now, Lottie?” Kringle whips my ear with his tail.
“It looks as if we’ll be visiting the Evergreen Manor tonight, long after office hours. I have a feeling if we do a little digging, we’ll find something new.”
Something that just might lead all the way to the killer.
Chapter 15
The Evergreen Manor is a large, stately beast of a structure that looks like it eats little establishments like my mother’s B&B for breakfast.
It’s aptly festooned with garland and lights, and a tall evergreen stands out front bejeweled in white twinkle lights from top to bottom. A giant sleigh driven by two gorgeous beasts with long flowing manes offer rides around the property, and a couple is currently taking what looks to be a perfectly romantic adventure on a snowy moonlit night. The sleigh is decorated with garland and twinkle lights and a giant wreath strapped to the front with a bow on it. And to the right of the entry to the Evergreen there is a snowman out front to greet us with his cute carrot nose and fancy top hat and scarf.
Nice touch.
I’ll have to pass it along to my mother, and maybe Wiley could build her one out in front of her place. Come to think of it, I wouldn’t mind having one in front of the bakery to greet my patrons, too.
I pull out my phone to take a picture of it—lest I forget about my snowman endeavors, as I’m prone to forget just about everything these days. The baby is not only sitting on my bladder these days, but she or he is noshing on my brain cells as a snack.
I’m about to snap a picture when a couple steps out from the entry and swoops on by on their way to the parking lot, and I freeze solid once I see who that man in the dark coat is—the very man who graced my bed up until last night.
The woman he’s with has on a long red coat, and they move behind a planter box for a few seconds, taking themselves out of my line of vision while they do God knows what. Then a few moments later they walk off toward the parking lot, slowly drifting from one another as if they were strangers.
Murder in the Mix Boxed Set 28-30: Cozy Mystery Page 17
