by Tonya Kappes
Praise for the Kenni Lowry Mystery Series
“Fabulous fun and fantastic fried food! Kappes nails small town mystery with another must-read hit. (Also, I want to live in Cottonwood, KY.) Don’t miss this one!”
– Darynda Jones,
New York Times Bestselling Author of Eighth Grave After Dark
“Packed with clever plot twists, entertaining characters, and plenty of red herrings! Fixin’ To Die is a rollicking, delightful, down-home mystery.”
– Ann Charles,
USA Today Bestselling Author of the Deadwood Mystery Series
“Southern and side-splitting funny! Fixin’ To Die has captivating characters, nosy neighbors, and is served up with a ghost and a side of murder.”
– Duffy Brown,
Author of the Consignment Shop Mysteries
“This story offers up a small touch of paranormal activity that makes for a fun read…A definite “5-star,” this is a great mystery that doesn’t give up the culprit until the last few pages.”
– Suspense Magazine
“A Southern-fried mystery with a twist that’ll leave you positively breathless.”
– Susan M. Boyer,
USA Today Bestselling Author of Lowcountry Book Club
“A wonderful series filled with adventure, a ghost, and of course some romance. This is a hard book to put down.”
– Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
“Kappes captures the charm and quirky characters of small-town Kentucky in her new mystery…a charming, funny story with exaggerated characters. The dialect-filled quirky sayings and comments bring those characters to life.”
– Lesa’s Book Critiques
“With a fantastic cast of characters and a story filled with humor and murder you won’t be able to put it down.”
– Shelley’s Book Case
“Funny and lively...Before you blink you’re three chapters down and you’re trying to peek ahead to see what happens next. Fast moving with great characters that you wish were real so that you might be able to visit with them more often.”
– The Reading Room
“Kappes is an incredible author who weaves fabulous stories…I can’t wait to see what she comes up next in this series.”
– Community Bookstop
“I am totally hooked. The people of Cottonwood feel like dear friends, and I enjoy reading about the latest happenings…The story is well-told, with plenty of action and suspense, along with just enough humor to take the edge off.”
– Book Babble
The Kenni Lowry Mystery Series
by Tonya Kappes
FIXIN’ TO DIE (#1)
SOUTHERN FRIED (#2)
AX TO GRIND (#3)
SIX FEET UNDER (#4)
DEAD AS A DOORNAIL (#5)
TANGLED UP IN TINSEL (#6)
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Copyright
TANGLED UP IN TINSEL
A Kenni Lowry Mystery
Part of the Henery Press Mystery Collection
First Edition | September 2018
Henery Press, LLC
www.henerypress.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including internet usage, without written permission from Henery Press, LLC, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Copyright © 2018 by Tonya Kappes
This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Trade Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1-63511-396-9
Digital epub ISBN-13: 978-1-63511-397-6
Kindle ISBN-13: 978-1-63511-398-3
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-1-63511-399-0
Printed in the United States of America
To all the friends that I consider my family
even though we aren’t blood!
Thank you for your continued support,
unconditional love, and friendship.
Chapter One
“Let’s get this Christmas season kicked off!” The sound of a scratching record rose about the sounds of whistle calls and festive cheers from inside of the Hunt Club’s annual Christmas Cantata. “I’m DJ Nelly. I’m excited to be the DJ at the annual Hunt Club Christmas Cantata. I’m ready to ring in the holiday season with y’all with this little ditty to start us off,” DJ Nelly said into the microphone, the black headset perched on top of her head.
You better watch out, you better not cry. The music was barely heard over the residents of Cottonwood singing along as they formed a circle in the middle of the makeshift dance floor at The Moose Lodge.
DJ Nelly from WCKK, the only radio station in Cottonwood, had more than just the regular DJ happy-go-lucky voice, she had the spirit of Christmas coursing through her veins. It was strange seeing her in person and at this hour of the night, not that it was extremely late. It was eight p.m. and on a usual night all of our small town of Cottonwood would be tucked in. Especially on this cold winter night. The fact that DJ Nelly was a morning DJ, who played toe-tapping music to get me through my morning rounds, was messing with my head.
“Here you go.” Finn Vincent walked up with a couple of bourbon and cokes to start off the festive occasion. The perfect set of white teeth underneath his mesmerizing smile sent my heart into a tailspin. “I’m looking forward to my first Cottonwood Christmas Cantata,” he said as his eyes captured mine.
“Cheers.” He held up his plastic cup to mine.
“Merry soon-to-be Christmas.” I winked as we clinked our plastic cups together before we took a drink.
The strobe lights twirled and flashed with bright colors to the beat of the Christmas tunes DJ Nelly was spinning.
“I didn’t realize so many kids would be here.” He nodded towards the dance floor at the jumping teenagers who were singing at the top of their lungs.
“Santa Clause is Coming to Town.”
I didn’t blame them. Vivid memories of me doing the same thing were at the forefront of my mind. I was excited to show Finn all the wonderful traditions Cottonwood had to offer now that he wasn’t just my deputy, who should love all things Cottonwood since he too served the amazing small town, but also my boyfriend. The only difference between then and now: Cottonwood had grown. Cottonwood had grown over the past year and it was practically impossible to know everyone like I used to. As the sheriff of Cottonwood, I wanted to know everyone who lived here.
“I thought those two weren’t supposed to be dating?” Finn pointed at the two heads stuck together at one of the long banquet tables, which was covered with a table cloth that looked like Santa had thrown up on with all the symbols of Christmas.
“Leighann Graves and Manuel Liberty,” I mused, noticing that Leighann looked a lot more grown up than the last time I’d seen her. Then, she’d come head-to-head with my five foot five inch frame. Now she appeared to have grown taller and more mature.
Leighann’s long red hair was tied up in a ponytail with what looked to be silver tinsel that was used to decorate a Christmas tree. Every time Manuel swung her around, she threw her head back and let
out a great peal of laughter that echoed all over the room. Seeing her happy did make me smile.
“Leighann is now eighteen.” I took another sip of my drink. “Since she turned eighteen, I don’t think we’ve gotten any calls from her parents.”
“I’m talking about her parents, not her.” Finn brought the cup up to his mouth and took a sip. “Look at Sean.”
He gestured to one of the tables across the room where Sean and Jilly Graves were seated, alone, and furthest away from their daughter. By the looks of disgust on their faces, neither Sean or Jilly appeared to be happy that Leighann and Manuel were still an item.
Sean had his arms folded across his chest. Jilly’s face was set, her mouth was clamped, and her eyes were fixed on the young couple. Across the way, I saw Juanita Liberty with her other two sons at a table about as far away from the Graves as you could get.
“Last time I spoke with Sean, he said they were going to try and get along.” I straightened up and sighed loudly before I took another drink to try to chase away the stress of the job for just one night. “He said that Leighann was legally an adult now so there’s really nothing they can do.”
Leighann Graves graduated last year from Cottonwood High School. She wasn’t one to conform to her parent’s rules and when she didn’t, they’d called me, Sheriff Kendrick Lowry, to go out and find her.
I wasn’t sure what they expected me to do. It wasn’t like the young couple was breaking the law. Plus, Manuel worked for Sean. It wasn’t technically trespassing like Sean would tell me. I did the best I could to try to talk to the young kids, but that’s about all I could do.
“Look at Juanita.” I pointed her out to Finn.
Finn started laughing.
“What?” I asked.
“We are always so busy assessing people and their body language that we just can’t enjoy a night off.” He shook his head and reached over to hold my hand.
“Job hazard.” I winked. “But look at them. Both families have that disgusted look on their faces.”
“Why don’t they like him again?” Finn asked.
We watched as the love birds got up from their seats and moseyed up to the refreshment table.
Manuel took a couple of plastic glasses full of the best darn punch around from one of the Sweet Adelines and handed it to Leighann. You know that delicious punch, the kind that’s made from Neapolitan ice cream with a ton of Spirit cola poured over top of it? The sweet and tart was the perfect combination.
It was a bonus if you got a little bit of ice cream in the cup too. Plus, the Sweet Adelines were serving it from a real glass punch bowl and not just a plastic one, making it taste even better.
“I think it was because she kept running away from home to stay with Manuel, plus her sneaking out at night didn’t help.” I couldn’t help but smile when I noticed my mama, Vivian Lowry, hand Manuel a napkin and gesture for him to use it on the little bit of punch Leighann had spilled on her chin.
Mama was always mothering someone, and, in this instance, Southern manners went a long way in her book. Manuel was getting a dose of Mama’s class in Southern manners about right now. I also couldn’t help but notice Sean Graves shake his head and lean over to say something to Jilly before they both got up and walked towards the exit.
“They aren’t staying long.” Finn had truly gotten to be just like one of us.
It took a few months for him to understand our unspoken rules of family and friends and gossip. This was just ideal gossip between me and him.
“By the looks of Leighann and Manuel, Sean and Jilly better get used to seeing them together. Time sure hasn’t stopped the chemistry between them,” I said after Manuel had pulled Leighann in for a kiss.
Out of the corner of my eye, I happened to notice my Mama walk out from behind the refreshment table, collect my daddy and head right towards me and Finn.
“Over here,” I called and waved my hands in the air, acting as if I was inviting them over and not waiting on her to barge in like she always did. “Where have y’all been? Do you know how hard it is to save these seats?” I asked, even though I’d seen her through the dim lights doing her duty to her Auxiliary Women’s club list of volunteering.
Another one of Mama’s Southern rules in life was to volunteer anywhere you could. She was on every committee she could fit into one day.
“You know your mama.” Dad rolled his eyes so hard, it made his nose curl. “First, she tried on several different outfits. Then when we got here, she took on more jobs than she’d signed up for and one of them was pouring out the punch.”
“Why?” I looked at Mama. “It’s the Moose Lodge. It’s the Hunt Club not the Sweet Adelines putting it on. You need to enjoy yourself every once in a while.”
“I wasn’t sure if they’d made all their money to put on the annual dance, so I was just helping out where needed.” Her Southern drawl not only drew out her words to make them longer syllables, but it drew her hand up to her chest and she lightly tapped the pearl necklace around her neck.
Earlier in the year the Hunt Club puts on their annual gun show where they rent this space from the Moose and sell guns. The proceeds go to put on this annual Christmas dance where all those proceeds go towards the schools and library of Cottonwood.
“I mighswell tell you.” Mama’s lips pursed as her words ran together. These are words that you never wanted to hear from Mama. They had a deeper meaning when they came from her.
“Tell me what?” I encouraged her with a deep-knotted fear that I was going to regret it.
“I’m running for Snow Queen,” she proclaimed with pride. A squeal of joy broke from her lips.
“You’re what?” My jaw dropped.
Finn lifted his hand to his mouth in an effort to try and cover up the smile on his face.
“The fame of being on the Culinary Channel has gone to her head and now thinks she needs to run for Snow Queen.” Daddy didn’t sound as enthusiastic about it as Mama did.
“Shush that up,” Mama scolded him. “You turn that frown upside down because people will see that you’re not happy for me. That’s negative.”
My eyes darted between my parents. No way, shape or form was daddy going to win this battle. Yet another defeat.
Daddy took my plastic cup and downed what I had left in my drink. “Come on, Finn.” Dad nudged his head towards the cash bar. “I’ll buy you a drink. I’m gonna need a double.”
Mama had a big ole smile on her face and graciously nodded at everyone walking by.
“What’s wrong with your hand?” I asked when I noticed she did some sort of flicking motion when someone walked by and said hello to her. “I’m sure Dr. Shively is here somewhere and can take a look at that for you.” I twisted around in my seat to see if I could find Camille Shively, the only doctor in Cottonwood and who could give Mama something for her twitching hand.
“Obviously you haven’t been watching any of those public broadcasting shows about the Queen and how they wave to their people.” She did it again. “I’m practicing. If I win, I’ll be in all the parades. These will be my people.” She gestured to the room. “I’m hoping to get one of the car dealerships to sponsor me and I can sit on the back of the seat of a convertible.”
“You’ve lost your mind.” I shook my head.
“What?” She drew back. “I know it’s winter, but convertible cars have heat. Besides, I’ve been eyeballing this fur down at Lulu’s Boutique and it’d go perfect with my hair coloring.” She sniffled and lifted the side of her finger under her nose. “What else do I have to look forward to this Christmas?” Her voice took a sharp turn from upbeat to tearful with a few extra sniffs to drive her point home.
“Here we go,” I grumbled under my held breath and drank what little cocktail was left in my cup.
Now it was my turn for a good Southern scolding. My Mama was going to tell me
which way was up and right now I was on the top of that list.
“You bet, here we go,” she mocked me and shook her finger. “How do you think your father feels about you leaving us on Christmas? You’re our only child. And you decide that you’re going to leave us without a Christmas after all we’ve done for you. After all these years?”
She was so mad, she could’ve started a fight in an empty house.
“I guess you wouldn’t know how your father feels because you’re still not married and I’ve got no grandchildren. Thank God for that. Hallelujah!” She threw her hands in the air. “Because it’s bad enough you’re leaving us alone for Christmas. If we had grandchildren and you took the pleasure of spending Christmas morning with them away from you, you mightswell stick me in a nursing home and never come see me.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll come see you once a year.” I teased “Or at least make sure the girls who work there will wipe your mouth after you eat.”
I patted her hand. She jerked it away from me, apparently still not amused with my jokes.
“Mama, you’ve pushed me to get a boyfriend. Now that Finn and I are dating, you’re mad.” It was a lose-lose situation with Mama if things didn’t go her way.
Mama and I had the typical Southern mother/daughter relationship. It was a love/hate relationship that no matter what, in a time of need we were there for each other one-hundred percent. The problem was, she had an image of what my relationship should look like in her head, not what was real in the world.
“Yes. But I never said that you going away for Christmas was part of it. We like Finn. He’s the hunkiest male in Cottonwood.” Her words describing Finn made me feel icky inside because they shouldn’t be coming from my mother.