“Straight no chaser!” Macon squawks at ear-piercing decibels. “Straight no chaser!” He looks my way and winks once again, and it’s starting to feel like something intentional and not some cute quirk I’ve dismissed it as thus far.
“Who do you think she threatened? I heard her argue with Rigby,” I offer.
Willow snaps her fingers and points my way as if I were onto the killer herself.
Felicity nods. “Rigby is just the tip of the iceberg. Her creepy boyfriend is right up there—no offense.”
“No offense taken. I could think of a lot of things to call him, and creepy is the most pleasant of them all. Continue.”
Willow makes a face at Felicity. “What about your creepy boyfriends? All three.”
Felicity chuckles. “Fine. Rags is a piece of work. He fully blames my mother for our breakup, and he’d be right. Simon”—she shakes her head—“even though my mother really liked him, not only did she debunk every one of his beloved UFO theories, but she put a complaint in to city hall after Simon had the Alien Chasers Convention booked for the community center. She thought it would disrupt the serenity of Honey Hollow and fill the place with quacks running amuck.”
Willow elbows her. “She was probably right about that one.”
Felicity takes a breath. “And then there’s Bear. My mom owes him money. Usually it’s the other way around. My mother has been known to give a creative loan or two to the people she cares about. But Bear installed a new island at the flower shop. And, apparently, she outright stiffed him.”
Willow blows out a breath. “And that’s not like her.”
“Maybe she didn’t have the money to pay him back right away?” I offer.
Willow shakes her head. “I do the books. Rhonda had plenty of money.”
I bite down over my lip hard for a moment, trying my hardest to resist the urge, but the words bubble right out of my throat instead. “Do you think I can take a look at those sometime? I mean, I admire her for being in the black. My own business is struggling. Heck, maybe I can finally figure out the formula on how to run a successful business right here on Main Street.”
Willow looks to Felicity. “I don’t mind if you don’t.”
Felicity waves it off. “Oh, go ahead. Besides, Lottie, you’re the best detective in all of Vermont as far as I’m concerned. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if you found the killer.”
Willow’s chest bounces with a soft laugh. “That’s right, Lottie. You’ve amassed quite the reputation around here—all good, of course. In fact, you can come by the shop and sweep it clean for all we care. We just want whoever did this behind bars.”
“And they will be,” I assure. “I cared about Rhonda. And I’m devastated that something terrible like that had to happen to her. I’ll make sure her killer is brought to justice if it’s the last thing I do.”
Willow winces. “I’d be careful what you say, Lottie. There is a very real killer on the loose.”
Macon tips his head back. “Killer on the loose! Killer on the loose!”
“There won’t be for long,” I assert.
Felicity groans, “I hope you’re right.”
“I am.”
Both women offer up apprehensive smiles.
Willow lifts her mug my way. “Watch your back, Lottie.”
Felicity closes her eyes a moment. “I echo that sentiment. Whatever you do, don’t get yourself killed.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”
But then, Rhonda didn’t think she was going anywhere either.
Chapter 7
To the most beautiful girl in the world. I miss you. Please take me back. I love you more than words can say.
I sigh as I read the note over again. This huge vase of long-stem roses must have cost a fortune, and, to be honest, I was a bit surprised to find it just sitting out here on the porch where the wind or an animal could easily knock it over, but I suppose a man in love doesn’t really consider those things.
I glance over toward Noah’s place across the street. It seemed like a great idea to move in such close proximity to the handsome detective I had a mad crush on at the time. And as fate would have it, Everett moved into the house next door to me. But Noah’s lights aren’t on and his truck is missing from his driveway. If he were home, I might have considered heading over and thanking him for the kind gesture. Plus, I haven’t given his Golden Retriever, Toby, the proper amount of affection yet this week. I can’t help myself. He’s almost the spitting image of Dutch, the ghost of Tanner Redwood’s dog that I accidentally claimed for myself and brought all kinds of chaos into my life. As my supersensual status would have it, claiming the spirit of a deceased animal or person can rain down all sorts of bad juju on one’s self. And it just so happens that one of those menacing misfortunes was discovering that my boyfriend, Noah Corbin Fox, was indeed very married.
I head in and place the vase on the kitchen counter and feed both Pancake and Waffles before freshening myself up a bit. It just so happens that I have a date tonight with my neighbor, the good judge.
Everett and I head out of our homes at the same time, and I meet him over by his expensive yet understated car with a box that contains an entire cheesecake for the occasion.
“Delicious.” The tips of Everett’s lips curve slightly, and his lids look heavy with desire.
“Oh, it is,” I’m quick to assure him. “In fact, I doused it with blueberry sauce and fresh berries. Carlotta isn’t going to care if we turn poor Rhonda’s house upside down and shake it so long as she can bury her face in this puppy.”
His cheek flickers. “I meant you.”
“Me?” I giggle like a schoolgirl at the implication. No man has ever made me blush as hard as Everett, not even Noah, and that man made me do all sorts of things I didn’t think were possible and in every single position.
I run my finger down Everett’s slick silver tie. “How about after we hit Rhonda’s place, you come in and I’ll build us a fire? I’ve been getting awfully cold at night.” There is nothing like a kiss from Everett Baxter to make all of my troubles disappear—even if Noah is one of them.
Everett lunges past me and opens the door to his sedan. “Let’s get in the car, Lemon. We need to make tracks. I have plans on how to warm you, and we won’t be needing a fire.”
And make tracks we do. Everett lands us in front of Rhonda Gilbert’s house at lightning speed. It doesn’t hurt that she lives just a few blocks away.
“Oh no,” I groan as I spot Noah heading up the walk.
Everett and I get out and meet him at the porch as the three of us indulge in an awkward exchange.
“Thank you for the roses.” It sounds far more sarcastic than I meant for it to, but after that nightcap stunt he pulled with Cormack, I can’t bring myself to take that note too seriously.
Noah looks to Everett, then back to me before lifting a brow. “Are you talking to me?”
I give an incredulous laugh. “Yes, I’m talking to you. That was a very sweet gesture. In fact, that was brave of you to leave it on my porch like that. The slightest breeze could have knocked that gorgeous vase over.” I give a brisk knock on the door, and we hear footsteps padding this way.
Noah’s chest expands for a moment. “Lottie, I’m sorry to say this, but I didn’t leave those roses.” He swallows hard as he looks to his former stepbrother. “They must be from Everett.”
“It wasn’t me, Lemon. I prefer to deliver all of my flowers in person.”
Bleh. That narrows it down to one New York option, and now I’m wishing I left the flowers on the porch for the wind to have its way with them.
The door swings open, and my slightly older lookalike stands there gagging on a laugh.
“Well, if it isn’t Lottie Cakes and her two handsome beaus.” Carlotta wrinkles her nose at Noah. “Oh, that’s right. She dumped you.” A satisfied smile takes over.
A horrific scream erupts overhead as Macon swoops into the house, right thr
ough the roof, and lands in the living room onto the sofa.
Carlotta grunts at the sight of it. “I hate it when you bring your annoying friends, Lottie. Especially loud mouths that like to scream in my ear whenever they get the chance.”
My eyes widen at her. “Now, now, Carlotta. Noah isn’t all that annoying.” I give him a sly wink in a meager attempt to play it off.
She takes the box from me and lifts the lid.
“Ooh,” she squeals as she scuffles off to the kitchen. “Cheesecake—my favorite. I don’t have to share any of this with your horny boyfriends, do I?”
I cringe at her verbiage. “Nope. It’s all yours. Go ahead and shove as much into your pie hole as you wish.” And silence yourself in the process. “If you don’t mind, we’re going to poke around for a bit. But we’ll be out of your hair soon enough.”
Everett pumps a dry smile my way that lasts less than a nanosecond. “Lemon and I have a date afterwards.”
“A date?” Carlotta muses. “With Mr. Sexy, no less?” It’s true. Everett was dubbed such by his local barista, and the nickname took for a darn good reason.
I glance to Noah who looks morbidly wounded.
“We’re just building a fire at my place. We’re going to snuggle with the cats. Maybe catch up on a game.” Everett is a sports fanatic, and in an odd turn of events I don’t mind so much watching along with him. My father was a sports fanatic, too, but how I hated it when he hogged the television for hours at a time. Now I’d give anything to watch a lifetime of games just to have my father back. Maybe that’s why I’ve made such concessions for Everett’s obsession for everything that bounces, rattles, or rolls.
Noah nods my way, and that sober look on his face lets me know he’s not thrilled with the idea. “Sounds perfectly romantic.”
“It will be,” Everett says, picking up a few magazines from the coffee table.
Carlotta sticks a fork right smack-dab in the middle of the cheesecake and takes a bite.
“Mmm, this is real good, Lottie. Hey, you ought to open a bakery.” She slaps her knee hard while letting out a hoot.
“Where have I heard that before?” I head over to an antique secretary desk in the corner and pull the drawers open.
“Hey, hey!” Carlotta points hard my way. “Don’t the three of you need a license to snoop?”
She’s got us there.
I avert my eyes as if it were the silliest question on the planet. “He’s a detective, and he’s a judge. And I’m—”
Carlotta cuts me off, “The best darn crime fighter in all of the Eastern Seaboard.”
A chuckle bounces through me. “We don’t live on the Eastern Seaboard—not technically anyway, but thank you for the compliment.” I pull out a stack of bills from the back of the top drawer. They’re all bundled together with a rubber band, and I quickly free them. “That’s odd.” I turn the stack in my hand and inspect them at close range. “There must be thirty envelopes here and not one of them has been opened. This is her mail. Every one of these is addressed to Rhonda Gilbert. Why wouldn’t she open her mail?”
Carlotta’s chest bucks. “Maybe because she knew she was gonna die. If I knew I was gonna die, I wouldn’t pay my bills either.”
Macon screeches, “Gonna die! Gonna die!”
I shudder at the unwelcomed chorus.
I turn to see what Noah and Everett think about this, and they’re nowhere to be seen. The murmur of heated voices comes from down the hall, and it’s clear they’re having an argument.
Carlotta gives a wistful shake of the head. “Ten bucks to Tuesday says they’re fighting about you, Carlotta Lemon.”
“Just Lottie, please.” I scowl over at the feathered menace who is singlehandedly responsible for the screeching in my ears. “Hey, Macon? Why don’t you head over and listen in for me? God knows I’d love to be a fly on the wall in that room.”
Macon’s head juts back and forth like a chicken, and soon he’s gliding through the living room, through the wall that separates us from the hall, and I’m hoping he’s hit ground zero.
“Would you look at that?” Carlotta marvels with her eyes distended. “That thing actually listened to you. Maybe that’s a new addition to your powers? You can make that winged rat do your bidding. Like the Wicked Witch of the West and those flying monkeys of hers. You have a flying Macon. Close enough. Not to mention the fact monkeys have no problem pooping up a storm wherever they please. Be grateful for what you got.”
I make a face as I slip a finger through what appears to be a water bill.
Carlotta gasps, “Lottie Kenzie Lemon! You’re lucky those legal eagles you’ve put under your spell are in another room. You’re committing a federal offense.”
“Let the government come after me. I dare them. I’ll be opening every single one of these if I feel like it, thank you very much.” And I quickly do just that.
A pattern quickly emerges, and a breath gets locked in my throat as Everett and Noah enter back into the room.
“None of these bills have been paid in months. In fact, all of these bills are way past due. Carlotta, you should really consider moving out of here unless you like living in the dark.”
Macon flies into the room once again, quickly landing on my shoulder, and I just as quickly bounce him right off in an effort to save my back from going out. He must weigh twenty pounds easy—and for some reason, I feel every ounce of it. Goodness.
“Lemon is mine! Lemon is mine!” he screeches, sounding suspiciously like Everett, and I can’t help but smile over at the wily judge.
“Hands off my girlfriend, buddy. Or I’ll end you!” Macon repeats the sentiment, and my mouth squares off in horror as I look to Noah.
Noah nods as if admitting to the verbal malfeasance. “It sounds as if Rhonda had some trouble with money.”
“I guess so. Willow says the shop is well in the black, so it’s obvious she put all of her finances in it to make it the success it is and left the house to suffer. I’m sure she was hoping to rectify this as soon as possible.”
A thought comes to me, and I look to the fine-feathered poltergeist with a new sense of wonder. “You can eavesdrop,” I say it lower than a whisper.
“What’s that?” Noah leans in.
“Oh, nothing. I think I’m ready to wrap up this party. Um—why don’t we do one more quick sweep?”
Everett heads for the hall once again. “I’ll check out her bedroom. If there’s anything in there, I’ll find it.”
Carlotta belts out a hearty chuckle. “Honey, I think everyone in this room can attest to the fact you know your way around a woman’s bedroom.”
Everett turns and offers the hint of a sly grin at this older version of me before disappearing.
Noah steps in, his eyes morbidly set on mine. “I’ll inspect the office once again.” He takes off, and I make a beeline for that winged phantasm.
“You!” I take a staggering step toward Macon. “You listened in on their conversation and reported it right back to me.”
Macon’s furry little head rocks side to side as a giggle rips out of his throat that sounds decidedly like Rhonda Gilbert.
Carlotta heads over and shudders. “Now that is just creepy.”
Macon juts his head back. “Why is this creepy? My entire intent and purpose while on Earth was to mimic the sounds I heard and relay them back to you.”
I suck in a lungful of air and perhaps a feather or two.
Carlotta gags. “Winner, winner, macaw dinner!”
“I so agree.” I point hard at the door. “Outside, Macon. Right now. You and I have a lot of things we need to discuss.”
No sooner do I spew the command than the bird glides effortlessly through the air, through the wall, and beats me to the porch before I can get there.
“Come here.” I hop down the stairs and over to a rosebush near the street. “Macon! You can talk!” I look up at the beautiful bird who seems to be suspended in animation just a few feet above me. “And more
importantly—you can listen! And relay it all back to me.” I tip my head his way, acknowledging that the conversation is in his feathered court.
Macon jerks, his feathers puffing up before settling over his ghostly form once again. “Of course, I can talk. And since I’ve long since passed to the other side, I have no earthly restraints to keep from expressing myself.”
“Good! That means you can help me with the case! I’ll give you a list of people to spy on and you come back and tell me what they said.”
He lets out an earsplitting caw. “That’s not how this works. I’m afraid. I can, however, follow along with you, and if I happen to be in the vicinity of something that might be helpful, I will most certainly relay it.”
“So I have to be there? In the vicinity?”
“In the least.”
“Fine. I’ll carry on this investigation like I usually would, and you’ll be right there with me. I’m certain I’ll be able to utilize your wonderful, insightful superpowers.”
“Lottie?” an all too familiar male voice calls out from behind, and I cringe before spinning slowly on my heels.
Noah stands just feet away from me, that horrified look on his face. Behind him Everett hustles his way down the walk as Carlotta watches from the door, shoveling cheesecake into her face as if it were popcorn.
My mouth opens, and not a single thing comes out.
Everett unlocks his car as he looks to the two of us. “What’s going on?”
Noah pants as if he just ran to Ashford and back. And I’m sure he would have rather done so than witness the spectacle.
“Lottie?” Noah shakes his head. “You were having a full-blown conversation with that bush.”
I glance to the rosebush in question and openly frown at it. Of course, Noah thinks I was talking to the bush since there’s not another living thing in the vicinity.
Everett tips his head back as if he’s suddenly apprised of what’s happening. “Lemon likes to process things out loud. No harm there. It’s the litigator in her.” He tips his head toward the car as if suggesting we should leave now, and I wholeheartedly agree.
I take a step in that direction, and Noah blocks my path.
New York Cheesecake Chaos (MURDER IN THE MIX Book 8) Page 7