Eggnog Trifle Trouble

by Addison Moore

  No, these two men are definitely out for blood. Noah pegs Everett hard in the side, causing Everett to double over for a second. Then Everett exacts his revenge, assaulting Noah with one vicious icy ball after the next until Noah’s body is bucking as it takes blow after blow. And once Everett slows down, Noah gets a few good ones in, too.

  Carlotta nudges me with her arm. “Something tells me that’s a pattern that will go on to repeat itself for the rest of time.”

  “Let’s hope a couple of innocent snowballs remain their weapon of choice.”

  Something tells me they won’t.

  The night dies down, and soon Everett and I are navigating our way through that pamphlet Dr. Barnette gave us this afternoon. And I am loving every inch of Everett’s newly healed arm, of Everett himself. And Everett loves me right back.

  Our weapon of choice is kisses, and we fire them off as freely as we can.

  Gloria Abner’s killer had a weapon of choice, too.

  A gun. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that gun must have been traced to an owner by now.

  Something tells me Detective Noah Fox is holding out on me.

  And I’ll make sure whatever that man is keeping under wraps is about to be revealed to me.

  I’ve got my ways.

  My weapon of choice?

  Donuts.

  Chapter 10

  The bakery is glowing with twinkle lights as the afternoon grows darker by the second.

  A storm is moving this way and should be here by tonight, and as much as everyone seems to be dreading it, I can’t help but feel downright cozy at the thought of it. I can’t wait to curl up by the fire with my family and sweet cats. My life may not seem ideal to the judgmental bystanders—of which several have congregated right here in my bakery this afternoon—but to me, it’s as perfect as can be.

  Last night, after Everett and I built up an appetite, I coerced him into heading to the kitchen for a midnight snack with me. I was as hungry for a ghost as I was a jelly donut, but I didn’t spot the creepy man from the portrait wandering the halls. And thanks to Kringle, there wasn’t a jelly donut left for me either.

  Lily comes my way as the two of us watch an entire gaggle of women congregating at the tables by the window.

  “Why are they here?” Lily grunts as the Santa hat on her head gives a little wobble. Lily Swanson is more or less grumpy all the time, but with that Santa hat on her head, it only seems to magnify this ornery characteristic of hers.

  The Santa hats and the Mrs. Claus-inspired aprons were more or less my idea. I thought they’d add a little extra Christmas cheer, right along with a little Christmas fear as far as reminding the customers that the big day was just a holiday hop and jolly skip away.

  “I don’t know,” I grunt back as I give Cormack and Cressida, in particular, the stink eye. But my stinky tendencies float to Serena Digby, too, with her witchy cackle that’s been pealing like thunder every few minutes. Suze is here schmoozing with the odd crowd, and Elodie Frost as well. A part of me knows I should probably quiz Elodie about the case, but another part of me—the one that thinks I should find my husband and quiz him about that addendum he added to the pamphlet last night wins out. And I’ll do that right after I quiz my ex about a certain murder weapon.

  I’ve already packed up a box of donuts to take down to Ashford. I thought I’d hit the sheriff’s department before I hit the courthouse. I’m having a serious hankering for a little juicy justice, as in juicy kisses. Everett mentioned he had a full day at the office, and I can’t wait to surprise him.

  Serena heads this way with her long dark hair swinging with a life of its own, those laughing blue eyes. She’s bundled in a green skintight turtleneck that shows off her curves and matching green velvet jeans. For as long as I’ve known this woman—almost a year, since Cormack and Cressida hired her to place a ridiculous hoax of a curse on me—she has always had the same look on her face. It’s a look that suggests she’s privy to some great secret, a look that suggests she has something over me and I can’t quite place what.

  “I’ll take this,” I say to Lily as I step over to the obnoxious brunette coming my way. “What’s with the coven congregating today? Let me guess, there’s a shortage of fresh sage now that the snow has frozen the land?”

  Serena averts her eyes. “You think you’re funny. We need a dozen or so more of those fresh baked brownies, please.”

  Lily raises a hand. “I’m on it, Lottie.”

  Serena cinches her lips. “Must be nice to have someone do your bidding.”

  “You would know.” I glance past her at Suze, who seems to be having the time of her life—an oddity all on its own. Suze isn’t exactly known for having a good time or smiling in general. She’s the resident sourpuss as far as people go, but with these women, she seems downright jovial. “What are you doing with this crowd, anyway? They don’t seem quite your speed.” She was irritated with Elodie the other day. In fact, she looked irritated with the entire group.

  She shrugs. “Maybe I like the fact I can get them to do my bidding.” She gives a little wink. “Maybe I like to beguile them into doing whatever I want.”

  “Beguile?” I suck in a quick breath. That’s right! Greer all but confirmed this to me, as did that little haunted meet and greet at my mother’s B&B. “You really are a beguiler! Oh my God, tell me right now if Suze Fox is one, too.”

  Her eyes bulge hard before returning to their natural mocking state.

  A dull laugh pumps from her. “Why, I don’t know what you mean.”

  She starts to turn, and I reach across the counter and grab her by the wrist.

  “I know who you are and what you’re capable of.” Okay, so that last part may not be one hundred percent accurate. “Admit it.”

  Her bright eyes search my features before she pulls her hand loose from my grip.

  “Lottie Lemon, what do you know about this beguiler business of which you speak?”

  A silent laugh bucks through me. “All those months ago I accused you of being a witch, and you weren’t a witch after all. You were a true blue beguiler. You have the power to coerce others, and perhaps even things into doing your bidding.”

  Her eyes widen another notch, confirming my theory.

  “You’re transmundane, further classified as a beguiler.” I nod and watch as her lips float open in shock. “Yes, I know things about you, Serena. Now tell me right now if Suze shares this wickedness in her bones.”

  “What’s this?” Suze squawks from my left, and I gasp at the unexpected sight of her. “Did you just call me wicked?”

  Serena quickly drifts back to a table filled with women all clamoring to have at my platter filled with fresh baked brownies. Not that I can blame them. There’s nothing as scrumptious as a hot, out of the oven brownie. And it’s certainly something worth smacking a few wrists out of the way for.

  Before I can answer Suze, a tall, dark, and handsome homicide detective waltzes through the door with a peppering of snow dusting his dark wool coat.

  “Noah,” I force his name out brightly. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

  Suze growls, “Don’t get excited, Noah. I bet she says that to every handsome man whose path she happens to cross.”

  “Right.” I glance to the ceiling. “I was just on my way to see you, Noah. Do you have a minute?”

  “Not so fast.” Suze is quick to cut the investigative party off at the knees. Much like any party I’m assuming she comes by. “This woman just called me wicked,” she says while wagging a crooked finger my way.

  Noah offers a playful frown my way before leaning over the counter and landing a kiss on my cheek.

  “Play nice, ladies.” His dimples dig in deep as he looks my way. “If it isn’t the ever beautiful Mrs. Claus. Have you felt the baby move today?”

  “Just a little when I got here. Nothing like last night.” And to be truthful, I felt bad that Everett didn’t get a full display of what this leggy littl
e sugar cookie can do.

  Suze heads over and straightens Noah’s jacket and clears the snow off his shoulders as if she were about to send him off to catch the school bus.

  “I don’t know why you spend time pining after a woman who doesn’t have your best interest at heart,” Suze snips. “Not only that, but one who is rude to your mother. Both you and your brother take after your father in the romance department. If I knew that catastrophe would ensue, I would have kicked him to the curb about a decade earlier. Come to think of it, I probably should have killed him.” She gives a strangled laugh before heading back to the brownie bunch.

  A part of me wishes Suze could go back in time and do the deadly deed with her ex. At least then I wouldn’t have to worry about my mother’s finances being hijacked by that wily dimpled man.

  “What’s up?” I ask, but Noah’s gaze is very much still set on his mother. “Hello?” I wave a hand over his face. “Earth to Noah. Everything okay?”

  “I don’t know.” He takes a seat at the counter, and I offer him a plate full of crullers, chocolate chip cookies, and gingerbread men, right before I pour him a cup of coffee just the way he likes it, extra milk and sugar.

  “Noah, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You didn’t see that man from the portrait in my living room, did you? I’m sort of on the lookout for him myself.”

  “No.” He winces. “It’s nothing.”

  “It’s something.” My mouth opens. “This has to do with the case, doesn’t it?”

  He gives a single nod.

  “Tell me if you’ve identified who that gun belongs to,” I whisper as I lean in as far as my blooming belly will allow.

  “Only if you tell me if you’ve enrolled for birthing classes.”

  “An odd exchange, but one that I’m happy to make because I just so happened to have done it this morning after I finished my baking. Classes start in early February.” I make a face. “Dr. Barnette is right. They’re all booked until then. If I would have waited another few days, I would have missed my chance entirely. I’m this close to blowing everything. Including the cover of this killer.” I give a short-lived smile, but Noah doesn’t partake in my stab at humor. “Your turn.”

  He glances over his shoulder. “Okay, but in no way does this mean anything. It turns out, the gun found at the scene belonged to my mother.”

  “What?” I practically shriek the word out, and honestly, it came out a little too gleeful. “What does this mean? Oh my God, Noah, are you here to arrest her?”

  “What? No.” He glances her way once again, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think Noah was a wee bit afraid of his mother. Not that I could blame him. Especially now that she might have dubious supernatural abilities. “Lottie, my mother didn’t do this. I know it’s not the professional conclusion I should be coming to, but I’m positive on that front. There’s no way I’m arresting my mother, at Christmastime no less, for a homicide she had nothing to do with.”

  I frown over at him. “She sort of had something to do with it. She was holding the gun, which she never said was hers. Did the bullet match the one used to kill Gloria?”

  He gives a single nod before closing his eyes.

  “Noah.” His name comes out in a depressed whisper. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Lottie, the killer used a silencer when they shot Gloria. My mother doesn’t even know what a silencer is.”

  “Did you know your mother had a gun?”

  He sighs. “I gave it to her a while back. I thought she should keep it with her—things are crazy around here. I just wanted her safe, the same way I want you safe. But to be truthful, none of that registered the night of the murder.”

  “Safe? And if this baby is yours, are you going to stuff a weapon in its hand the second it’s born? Noah, some people shouldn’t be trusted with high-powered weaponry. I’m sorry, but your mother is one of them.”

  His brows hike. “I’m starting to think you’re right.” He grinds his palm into his left eye. “I take that back. I stand by what I said. She didn’t do this. And please, I ask that you don’t breathe a word.”

  “I won’t. And for the record, I don’t think she did this either. But I still think she has a lot of explaining to do. And believe me, that’s one suspect I will gladly leave to you.”

  A small chuckle comes from him.

  Noah gobbles down his sweet treats in no time before looking back at the strange menagerie of women, and that’s exactly when his famed stalker spots him.

  “I’m out.” Noah hops out of his seat. “I’ll track my mother down again tonight and have dinner with her or something. I’ll let you know how it goes.” He pulls my hand over and kisses the back of it. “I’ll bring home a pizza from Mangias tonight for you, too.”

  “You’re a prince among men,” I say as he darts out the door, and Cormack darts right after him,

  “Big Boss, wait! I’ve got news!”

  But I don’t care what news Cormack might have. Noah apparently doesn’t either since he’s long gone before she can assault him with her presence.

  She scowls my way on her way back to her seat, but I don’t give two shakes of a reindeer’s tail what that’s about.

  I ask Lily to man the fort while I grab the box of donuts I packed up for Noah and head for the Ashford Country Courthouse instead.

  All the way there I wonder if Suze Fox is far more wicked than I’ve given her credit for. As much as I don’t want to believe she could have pulled the trigger, maybe, just maybe, it’s time to slide her onto the suspect list.

  But I evict Suze from my mind as I make it to the courthouse and traipse all the way over to Judge Baxter’s office.

  “Hello!” I say brightly to his secretary, a gray-haired woman named Millicent who looks up at me from over her glasses. “Just popping in to see my handsome husband. Would you like a treat?” I hold open the box her way, and she plucks out a glazed donut.

  “Why, thank you. But I’m afraid you won’t find Judge Baxter in there. He cleared his schedule a few hours back. He left with such a spring in his step I thought for sure he was going to have a romantic day with you.”

  “A couple of hours ago?” I blink, trying to wrap my head around it. “I’d better leave these with you,” I say with a touch of dejection in my voice as I slide the box her way.

  “Thanks. I’ll be sure to share these. And I wouldn’t worry about it. If he’s not with you, he’s probably getting some shopping done. It is that time of year.”

  “You’re right. That’s exactly what it is.” A flood of relief hits me.

  He’s probably buying me a naughty nightie as we speak. That man has a one-track mind that I wholeheartedly approve of.

  I head back to my minivan and pull out my phone. I just have to text him.

  Any chance of you coming home early? I hit send. I don’t want to tip him off to the fact I know what he’s up to. But if he’s smart, he’ll let me put on the nightie far before Christmas ever gets here. No reason to wait on a gift that keeps on giving.

  Sorry. He texts back, and those dancing ellipses light up the screen to let me know he’s still typing. Heavy load all day. I’ll try to get away soon if things let up.

  My heart sinks a little. I’m sure it’s not a lie—not in the traditional sense anyway. He probably has a heavy load of packages.

  His secretary is probably right. Everett is shopping, and he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise.

  I hope.

  I drive all the way back to Honey Hollow wondering what Judge Essex Everett Baxter is up to.

  Chapter 11

  “What in the heck is that?” Lily asks while Meg and Carlotta look my way with equally disgusted faces. It’s the very next day, and I’m right back where I started, at the bakery eating my emotions, eating my curiosity about the case, and eating just for the glorious sake of eating. Honestly, I couldn’t think of a better reason.

  Carlotta pretends to gag, or perhaps she is gagging,
I can’t quite tell the difference.

  “Lot Lot, that smells like meat, and I think I see cheese oozing out of your new dessert.

  I carefully cut off another piece, take a bite, and moan as I look out at the bakery before me.

  “It’s a cannelloni,” I say as I swallow down my food. “It’s basically a slice of pepperoni pizza folded over on itself. I hopped across the street to Mangias to grab a quick lunch and they had one ready to go, so I took it.”

  A guttural sound escapes from Meg’s throat. “What’s that on top of it?”

  “Oh, that?” I make tracks with my fork over the concoction. “Naturally, I thought this would pair well with vanilla ice cream, but since I didn’t have any I thought I’d slather it with a thick layer of the eggnog custard.”

  “Ugh.” Lily sounds as if she’s about to outright vomit. “Well, what’s the brown goo?”

  “Chocolate fudge.” I shrug. “Did I have any other choice?”

  Carlotta wrinkles her nose at the concoction. “And you added sprinkles because?”

  “I thought it added a festive flare, and I sort of craved the crunch.”

  Lily makes a face. “I’d see a doctor about that if I were you.” She heads off to help the customers at the register.

  Carlotta makes a face at the food in my bowl. “Don’t bring that mess home with you, Lot Lot. Evie might just start in on some of that projectile vomiting she’s always threatening us with. Speaking of which, she asked me to take her to that snazzy outdoors shop out in Fallbrook tomorrow to look for new ski boots. Make sure you slip her some Benjamins, or better yet, arm her with her daddy’s plastic. I don’t want to get stuck footing the bill for a bunch of designer skiwear.”

  “Don’t worry about it. You’re not taking her. She thinks she’s going skiing with a bunch of boys, and Everett and I aren’t having it.”

  “I don’t know, Lot. She’s a blue blood. You can’t keep those blue bloods from noshing on Beluga caviar while cascading down a snow-covered mountain. Which reminds me. She wanted me to call up at the lodge and make sure they stocked up on Beluga and truffles.”