Poison Apple Crisp

by Addison Moore

  “Oh my word.” I squeeze my eyes shut tight because I’ve never heard that verbiage before from any animal, or human for that matter.

  “What’s the matter, Lot?” Carlotta chuckles. “Is she speaking your language?”

  I shoot her a look as Noah steps over.

  “What’s going on?” he asks, and Carlotta waves him off.

  “Lottie’s just jealous because Ginger got something she’s been looking forward to all day.”

  “Is it a pickle?” Noah leans in. “Because I just so happen to have one in my pocket for you.” He pulls a small wax bag out of his suit jacket, and Carlotta breaks out into a fit of laughter that lands her on the floor.

  “A pickle!” she screams with laughter. “Hey, Foxy? Is that a pickle in your pocket, or are you just glad to see Lot Lot?” She chortles herself into a conniption as she slaps the floor with her hand.

  “Never mind her,” I say. “Let’s look at these files so we can go home. I’m exhausted.”

  Noah gets right to work by my side, and truthfully, I knew if I spewed the buzzword he’d do just that—the buzzword being exhausted.

  I pull out one of the applications—Alyssa’s—and take a picture of it. The same for Rachelle’s and Brenda’s. It’s nothing more than a list of addresses, previous addresses, previous schools, and jobs they’ve held down. For the most part, it looks nominally boring.

  “Look at this.” Noah points to Alyssa’s application. “It says she’s divorced and happy about it, too. Her words, not mine.”

  “It looks as if that was the one place she was honest,” I say, pulling out Rachelle’s application. “Rachelle’s looks rather sparse. It shows she moved to Honey Hollow a year and a half ago. Married about that same time. Under employment history it reads masseuse.” I blow out a breath. “After the day I’ve had, I feel as if I need to seek her services.”

  Noah leans in close as he holds out an application between us.

  “Brenda’s paperwork.” He points to the middle of the page. “Her favorite quote? If you can’t control your life, control others.”

  “Nice,” I muse. “I suppose Brenda was being honest as well.”

  We button it up and head home. Noah comes over, and we start a fire. We sip hot apple cider while curling up with Pancake and Waffles, and it feels like a blissful end to a hectic day.

  Evie and Carlotta are in the kitchen working on polishing Evie’s cheer routine for tomorrow’s tryouts, and every now and again, the entire house shakes from their efforts.

  “So what do you think, Lot?” Noah toasts me with his mug. “What did our little field trip yield tonight?”

  “I think Cokie is looking pretty guilty. Tomorrow night, at the fundraiser, I think we should grill her.”

  “We as in me?” He dips his chin. “Or we as in you?”

  There’s a knock at the door just before Everett steps in, and he wastes no time in glowering over at Noah.

  “You should really lock the door, Lemon. All sorts of trouble can wander in if you don’t.” He holds up a bag of Wicked Wok, and I let out a cheer as if I haven’t seen food in a year.

  We eat right out of the containers in the living room as we talk about the case.

  And the more we mull it over, the more Cokie Hickman looks as if she’s ripe for a little revenge.

  “She had the motive,” I say. “A scorned heart. She had the obvious addiction to crime novels. That autographed copy might have been a prize.” Something she said to me comes to mind. “Hey, that night we were at Mangias, she asked where the two of you lived. I told her everything. In fact, I practically described my house to a T. Is it any coincidence that was the exact night I was robbed?”

  Everett points his chopsticks my way. “It holds water. But why break into your house to steal the book while you were home, no less? Why not bid on it at the auction? Or for that matter, why not wait until you returned it? She could have made it disappear at that point, too. How desperate could she have been to get that book back, and why?”

  “It was the note,” I whisper.

  Noah shakes his head. “And now it makes less sense than it did before. Cokie didn’t have a thing to do with that case.”

  I shrug over at him. “Or did she?”

  Chapter 17

  “I made the team!” Evie shrieks after she reads her name off the roster taped to the door of the gymnasium.

  It’s back-to-school night, the night of the do-over fundraiser as well, and Everett and I just sat through a mini presentation from each of Evie’s six teachers. Halfway through, Everett asked if I wanted to skip class and meet him by the lockers underneath the stairwell. Believe me, I almost took him up on the offer.

  Evie dives over both Everett and me with a strong embrace, and Everett picks her up and spins her.

  “Congratulations.” He offers a rather playful, stern look her way. “Just make sure to keep your grades up. School first, cheer second.”

  Evie scoffs. “Cheer is school, Dad—ergo I’m like totally fine.”

  I laugh. “And you’re like totally amazing. Congratulations again.”

  “I have to find Dash.” Evie starts to hop away. “She made the team, too. Bid on something good, Mom! I have my eye on that baseball hat from the sheriff’s department,” she shouts as she takes off into the dark of night in the direction of the quad.

  The gym is teeming with bodies. The silent auction seems to be thriving as hordes of people cluster around just about every offering up for bidding.

  Off to the right, I spot Cokie sharing a laugh with both Cressida and Cormack, of all people.

  Just great.

  Let’s hope they open their wallets. It’s the least they can do if they insist on polluting the parental waters.

  Everett wraps an arm around my waist. “Did Evie just say she wants a baseball hat from the sheriff’s department?” He grunts at the thought. “If anything, I think we should find some decent underwear and bid on those for her. If she wants to cheer with that short skirt, she needs to find something substantial to put on.”

  “Or you’ll put your foot down, Judge Baxter?” I ask, amused.

  “Yes.” His eyes bulge a moment as if he were surprised I went there.

  “Relax, she’ll have kick pants on. They’re specially designed for cheer skirts and rather modest. Believe me, they give granny panties a run for their conservative money.”

  “Good,” he says. “That’s what I like to hear. Now let’s get bidding.”

  “Do you want a baseball cap from the sheriff’s department?” I tease.

  “Only if you promise it’s the only thing you’ll be wearing later.”

  I bite down on a laugh. “Noah donated that hat. It would be practically sacrilegious for me to entertain you with it.”

  “All the more reason for me to win it.”

  “If Noah catches wind of this, he might just try to outbid you. This could turn out to be the biggest ticket item here tonight. And on that note, I might just have to tell him your nefarious plans.”

  “If you don’t, I will.” He gives a sly wink.

  Carlotta heads this way, holding Ginger and petting her as if she were every bit visible to every eye here.

  “Carlotta, please stop your supernatural shenanigans,” I hiss. “This is Evie’s new school. I care about what people think. And I don’t want them to think her grandmother is a loon.”

  She scowls as she tosses Ginger into the air like a basketball and the peppy poltergeist up and disappears in a plume of orange dust.

  “First off, her friends call me Car-Car.”

  “I believe it’s Cray-Cray,” I’m quick to inform her. “And that cute moniker has nothing to do with your name.” I’ve heard the whisperings among Evie’s friends myself.

  She waves me off. “Believe me when I say I’ve got the pipsqueak’s best interest at heart. I know how hard it can be to fit in. And by the end of this night, she’s going to be the queen bee of this Podunk honey hive. Now if y
ou’ll excuse me, Evie is waiting for me out in the quad. We have some last-minute business to conduct.” She winks over at Everett. “Don’t you worry your sexy little head off. Cray-Cray’s got it all under control.” She zips off, and I can feel my blood pressure rising, but I don’t dare tell Everett. He’d do anything to protect his baby, even if it means shipping Carlotta off to the arctic in a solid block of ice. And sadly, that may not be enough to protect us all from her zany antics.

  “Here we go.” Everett groans at something just over my shoulder, and I turn to find Noah headed this way along with two bubble-headed blondes.

  “Lavinia.” Cormack winks my way while attaching herself to Noah’s side like a barnacle. “I’ve already placed a healthy number of bids, and I’m willing to go as high as I need to in order to ensure a successful fundraising night for our Evie.”

  “Our Evie?” I glance to Everett.

  Cormack winks my way. “You bet your little costume jewelry-loving heart.” She pets Noah’s shoulder. “The Big Boss feels as if Evie were his own daughter. And now that you’re sharing children, anything and anyone that’s important to my man is important to me.”

  “I’m important to Noah.” I force a smile. “Am I important to you?”

  She glances to the ceiling. “Don’t be silly. You belong to Everett. You staked your claim in the sand and left Noah high and dry like I always knew you would. But don’t worry. I’m right here, ready and waiting to heal his heart. And who knows? Perhaps by Christmas I’ll have a ring on my finger, too.” Her fingers tiptoe up his tie. “Expect to see a lot of me around. I’ll be a regular fixture on Country Cottage Road now that I’m a devout pupil of Hannah Beckham’s.” She purses her lips my way. “And while you turn into a belly full of jelly, I’ll be toned and firm, and rock hard in all the right places. Don’t worry, Lazarus. You keep delivering the boys those tasty cookies of yours. I’ll make sure to deliver the eye candy.” She blows me a kiss. “I’d better ask Principal Hickman if she needs anything else. Cressie and I are already in line to join the PTA.” She zips off, and the urge to cry hits me for reasons I can’t understand or control.

  Everett pulls me in and drops a kiss to my forehead.

  “Don’t let her get to you, Lemon.”

  Cressida growls, “Oh, stop your blubbering. You’ve got my man, my child, not to mention that tax deduction in your belly should be mine, too. I’d like to think the woman who hijacked my life would be a little more appreciative of the things she has. But no. You’re greedy, and you want Cormack’s life, too. And because of it, we’ll make sure you suffer.”

  Everett steps forward, and I’m half-afraid we’re about to have a second homicide right here on school grounds.

  “Listen to me, Cress, and listen good. I want both you and Cormack to steer clear of my family.”

  She gasps. “I’m Everly’s mother. That family you have? It’s with me. And what about our future, Essex? What about us?”

  “There is no us. There never was an us. And the only mother Evie has is my wife. Don’t make me pull out a restraining order.”

  Cressida scoffs right in his face. “Fine. I’m not gunning to be anybody’s mommy. You can keep your restraining orders to yourself. Everly and I have come to an understanding. I’ll be in her life on the periphery, supporting her as I know how. And when she’s mature enough to realize she has Bentley blood coursing through her veins, she’ll step over to the right side of the tracks and take her proper place in high society.” She looks my way. “And that, my rotten Lemon, is the honest truth.” She blows Everett a kiss. “Toodles.” She trots off toward the auction table featuring the gilded birdcage with that luscious emerald necklace nestled inside of it just waiting for a good home. Too bad it will most likely end up in Cressida’s junk pile. But I won’t let Evie end up there.

  Noah picks up my hand. “I’m sorry, Lottie. I’d ask you to ignore them, but I realize that’s a tall order.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll steer clear. Our baby is my top priority, right along with Evie.” I bite down hard on my lip because I can feel the tears ramping up again. “And oddly, I meant ours in a universal sense.”

  Everett nods. “Not to worry. You keep your mood up. Noah and I aren’t going to kill each other.” His lips twitch. “Yet.”

  “Very funny,” I say, giving him a playful swat. “Everett, I hate to ask, but could you track down Carlotta and make sure she isn’t cooking up something deliriously inappropriate as far as Evie and her friends go? I just have to get a glass of water.” And shove a fistful of my apple crisps in my face, but I leave that part out. Oddly enough, Cokie insisted I bring them tonight, along with platters of cookies and brownies. She said she didn’t want me to think they had a stigma attached. But right about now, I think just about everything in my bakery has a stigma attached.

  Everett lands a kiss to my lips. “Consider it done.”

  He takes off as Noah and I walk over to the refreshment table, and he quickly produces a cold bottle of water for me.

  “Thank you,” I say before knocking back half of it. “I won’t lie, I feel as if I’ve been walking on a boat all afternoon—dizzy and sick to my stomach. But the one thing I can eat without any trouble is just about anything that comes out of my bakery.”

  Noah’s dimples dig in. “I’ve looked into it. And at this stage, as long as you can keep something down, you’re in good shape.” His phone beeps. “It’s Ivy. She wants to talk. Something about Meadows’ case.”

  “Oh? Well, don’t worry about me. In fact, I’m going to be right here filling my pie hole with whatever I can shove in it.”

  “Good.” He offers a stern look. “Try to stay out of trouble.” He takes off, and I can’t help but frown as he leaves.

  Try to stay out of trouble?

  It’s like the whole world thinks I’m a magnet for misfortune.

  My hand warms my stomach. “Don’t you worry,” I whisper. “I plan on keeping us plenty safe.”

  A dark shadow moves in the corner of the room, and I gasp as my feet inch in that direction. A cold, foreboding feeling fills me as I sense its dark presence. It’s the same feeling I had that night when I saw that enormous creature with the blood red eyes.

  “Lottie?” a woman’s voice calls my name from behind, and I turn to find Alyssa Thomas as she strides over with an easy grin. Her dark hair is pulled back into a bun, and she’s dressed demurely as if she were about to attend a business meeting. Although, I guess her accouterments are far better suited for a school function than those donkey ears of hers.

  “Hello, Alyssa,” I say, scooping up an apple crisp just as she does the same. “How is everything going over at the Brew Ha Ha?”

  “Business is brisk. In fact, believe it or not, I’ve got approval from the PTA to cater the homecoming dance.”

  “What? That’s fabulous. Congratulations. I know that’s a big deal and an honor.”

  She nods. “I was iced out for so long, I had resigned myself to the fact I wouldn’t have much to do with the school. But now that Brenda is gone, Rachelle has stepped in as the interim PTA president. And she says she’s determined to right all the wrongs.” She takes a deep breath. “Lord knows she’s got her work cut out for her, but so far she’s done quite a lot of good things.” She grimaces a moment. “And as much as I didn’t get along with Brenda, I hate to say, without her here the air is just a little bit lighter.” She shrugs as she takes a bite out of my apple crisp. “Oh, Lottie.” Her eyes roll into the back of her head. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m putting this on the menu at the Brew Ha Ha. Of course, I’ll have to find a way to add a little beer to it. But I can’t wait to experiment in the kitchen. Thank you for inspiration.” She toasts me with it as she takes off toward the throngs of people near the silent auction.

  I’m about to snatch up another apple crisp when a familiar brunette with sharp almond-shaped eyes, full pouty lips—and who could forget, buns of steel—breaks out into a fit of laughter to my left
at something Rachelle seems to be telling her.

  “What in the heck?” I march right over. It’s bad enough Hot Hannah has taken over my neighborhood. She’s not taking over my school. “What’s this?” I ask in lieu of a hello, and both Rachelle and Buns of Steel look equally stunned by my outburst.

  Rachelle gives a nervous titter. Her blonde hair looks particularly pale and ashen, as if she’s freshly dyed it, and her crimson roots are well covered. She’s wearing her signature turtleneck in winter white with a denim dress over it. And pinned to her chest is the brooch of a red apple with what looks to be green caramel dripping down it. It’s adorable, and I’ll have to ask where she got it.

  Rachelle leans my way. “Lottie, this is my friend, Hannah. Her nephew just graduated last year.”

  “He’s a Yale man now.” She nods. “But I thought I’d come back to his old stomping grounds to help with the fundraiser.”

  “Thank you.” I think. I can’t help but glance down at that skintight dress she’s wearing. It’s blood red, looks to be made of latex, and ends just past her steely buns, emphasizing her stellar figure. “You look fabulous.” I frown because complimenting and envying my irritating neighbor was not how I envisioned this night going.

  “Thank you.” Her expression sours as she rides her eyes up and down my body. “After you pop your pup out, I might be able to work with you. Once I have you cut carbs, you’ll instantly bounce back into shape. I’ll have an entire regiment for you to adhere to, free of charge. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some bidding to do.”

  An exasperated huff bursts from me as I look to Rachelle. “I happen to cut carbs every day—with a pizza cutter.”

  Rachelle bucks with a laugh just as a sprinkling of tiny orange stars emits from my left, and sure enough, Ginger appears barking up a yippy storm right into my ear.

  “Oh, Lottie, come quickly. Thirteen and I were, well, you, know, trying to populate the spiritual world, and things got out of hand. The next thing I knew, books were falling to the ground and now we’ve done it!” She yaps and yips herself into a doggy conniption.