“It was disturbing, but at least he wasn’t some maniac who would kill anyone. Stan had a specific reason for killing Alfie and wasn’t a threat to anyone else,” Ember said.
“Except you and me,” Phoebe said, reminding her of how they were almost suffocated by a snowman and tossed down a chimney.
“Good point,” Ember said. “He was pretty strong. Did you know he was quite athletic and the star pitcher of the elf softball team?” Ember had discovered this from one of the elves at the factory when she’d visited the day after Stan and Mr. Rinch’s arrest.
“Yes, dear. I saw them play many times. He had an amazing throwing arm.” Mabel’s eyes grew wide. “Oh! So that’s how he beaned Alfie in the head hard enough to kill him?”
Phoebe nodded. “Stood at the end of the alleyway and threw the sleigh bell at him.”
Mabel clucked and shook her head. “Darn shame. And to think that Mr. Rinch was going to burn down the factory!”
“But now that Yule Navidad has bought it, the factory is going to see better days,” Phoebe said.
Mabel’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know about that. I heard that Navidad character was bad news.”
Phoebe scowled. “Those are unsubstantiated rumors! He is quite a nice man—a gentleman—and did you know that he is raising the elves’ wages?”
“You don’t say!”
Phoebe nodded. “Yes, and he has a new program where for every three toys sold, he sets one aside for underprivileged children.”
“That’s very nice of him.”
“And a tax write-off,” Ember added. Yule had told her that now, instead of having to steal the toys, he could donate them and use it as a write-off. It was a win for everyone. Well, everyone except poor Alfie. The elves got better pay, the kids got toys, and Yule was his own best customer with the transport business. “And he gets free vanilla creams for life for saving us, courtesy of Aunt Phoebe.”
The bells over the shop door chimed, and they looked over to see Detectives Winters and Noel.
“Afternoon, detectives. Would you like some hot cocoa or chocolate?” Phoebe gestured to the table.
“No thanks.” Winters rubbed her round belly. “I’m on a diet. We just came by to fill you in. We found the set of sleigh bells with one missing bell in Stan’s apartment. They match the bell that killed Alfie.”
“So now you have solid proof,” Phoebe said.
Winters nodded. “Enough to make a good case.”
“Mr. Rinch won’t get off scot-free either, but he won’t be going to jail,” Noel said.
“No?” Phoebe made a face. “But he was going to burn the factory down.”
“He had intent but didn’t actually do anything. We have him on some minor stuff, so the judge gave him a fine and twenty hours of community service.” Winters reached for a piece of bark. “On second thought, these do look good.”
Noel’s radio beeped, and he went to the other side of the room to answer it.
Winters continued while munching on the piece of bark. “Now that the factory has been sold to Yule Navidad, Rinch is moving to Florida. Says he’s sick of the snow. I say good riddance.”
“You can say that again,” Mabel said. “With Stan in jail and Rinch leaving, the town can get back to its normal happy routine.” She pulled out her knitting and started clacking way. Brimstone slit one eye open, watching the yarn intently.
“Not quite.” Detective Noel joined them. “Just got a call about a grievance in Gingerbread Alley. Seems that an environmentalist is squawking about the conditions of the Christmas Village birds again.”
“You mean the turtle doves, swans, and geese?” Phoebe asked.
Noel nodded. “Yeah, and that partridge in the pear tree. Seems she thinks they are being mistreated and have deplorable working conditions. Wants us to send them to warmer climates. We’d better get over there. It seems she’s causing quite a ruckus.”
Winters shook her head. “Never a dull moment in Christmas Village.” She grabbed a chocolate and headed toward the door. “Come on, Noel. We better get over there before things escalate.”
Winters opened the door, letting a gust of snow in. Ember glanced out at the street. The long icicles reflected a rainbow of light. Beyond them, skaters whirled on the pond. The horse-drawn carriage clopped by, filled with tourists in long stocking caps, their hands shoved in ermine mufflers.
A sigh of satisfaction crossed her lips. Her visit to Christmas Village was almost over, but things couldn’t have gone better. Despite the fact that she’d spent a lot of time on Alfie’s case, she’d managed to help Aunt Phoebe bulk up her inventory for the holiday. But, best of all, she’d solved a case on her own. She couldn’t wait to get back to Silver Hollow and tell her cousins.
*******************
I hope you enjoyed this Christmas Novella! It features Ember and Brimstone from the Silver Hollow Series. You can check out the full length books in that series here:
Silver Hollow Series
What happens in Gingerbread Alley? Find out in the next Christmas Village Mystery - Grievance in Gingerbread Alley
Find out about my latest books and how to get discounts on them by signing up at:
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About the Author
USA Today best-selling Author, Leighann Dobbs, has had a passion for reading since she was old enough to hold a book, but she didn’t put pen to paper until much later in life. After a twenty-year career as a software engineer, with a few side trips into selling antiques and making jewelry, she realized you can’t make a living reading books, so she tried her hand at writing them and discovered she had a passion for that, too! She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix, Mojo, and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.
Find out about her latest books and how to get discounts on them by signing up at:
https://leighanndobbscozymysteries.gr8.com
If you want to receive a text message alert on your cell phone for new releases , text COZYMYSTERY to 88202 (sorry, this only works for US cell phones!)
Join the VIP readers group on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ldobbsreaders
This is a work of fiction.
None of it is real. All names, places, and events are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as being real.
Cadaver on Candy Cane Lane
Copyright © 2019
Leighann Dobbs Publishing
http://www.leighanndobbs.com
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this work may be used or reproduced in any manner, except as allowable under “fair use,” without the express written permission of the author.
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Cadaver on Candy Cane Lane (Christmas Village Cozy Mystery Book 1) Page 7