by Sonia Parin
What if she forced her to work for the mob?
Eve Lloyd, mobster’s lackey. Her inn could be turned into a holiday retreat for mobsters. Her worst fears…
What if it spread, one threat leading to another and another until they were all working for the mob? Everyone, including Jack.
It would all be her fault.
Jill had been right. Setting up a business in town had been asking for trouble.
“You won’t get away with this,” Eve warned.
“I have been getting away with it for as long as I can remember,” Lauren said.
“Really? You’ve killed before?”
Lauren chirped, “I must have been about seven when I picked up my first revolver. Nanny thought she knew better, so I showed her who the real boss was.”
Eve drew the book out and removed the dust jacket.
The ledger had been in Mira’s house all along.
“Hand it over.” Lauren’s eyes brightened. “Just wait until I show daddy what I have. Here I am stuck in this dead-end island when I could be the queen of the East Coast.”
Eve handed her the ledger and stepped back. “Do you have everything you need?” Eve asked.
Lauren held the book against her chest. “What else do you think I want?”
“Oh, I wasn’t talking to you,” Eve said. “I was talking to Detective Jack Bradford who is standing right behind you, listening to your confession.”
Lauren’s eyes narrowed. “W-what?” before she could turn, Jack had his handcuffs out and was reading Lauren her Miranda rights.
Despite seeing him peering around a corner several minutes before, Eve only now managed to draw a calming breath.
The phone tree had worked.
She hadn’t been sure if she’d hit the right call button.
But she had…
Sinking back against the bookshelf, she savored her triumph. But it lasted only a second. It was all the time it took for her parents to appear behind Jack.
Eve held her phone up and looked at the screen.
She hadn’t called the phone tree. She’d hit her mom’s number.
Epilogue
Her parents had been left speechless.
They’d heard the entire conversation Eve had held with Lauren Wright. Insisting they stick to their plans and go out to dinner, Eve had decided to go with the flow by putting an end to all her pretenses.
That night, she became the fabulous, the courageous Eve Lloyd, regaling them with tales of all her close calls during the previous year. She’d never realized the truth could be so liberating.
“Oh, and remember Charlotte McLain? She was my childhood nemesis at that boarding school you insisted I attend. Well, she ended up saving me by using her Birkin bag to stop a bullet. I can’t claim to now be her best friend, but we share a newfound admiration for one another.”
Mira nudged her under the table and winked at her.
Jill set her fork down and asked Jack, “So, why did Nick “the Lynch” Cooper confess to killing Phillip Manningham?”
“The mob found out about his family,” Jack explained. “He’d been hiding them in Maine. Lauren’s father promised no harm would come to them if Nick Cooper took the fall and confessed to killing Phillip Manningham. Before that, Nick had hoped to cash in by selling his exclusive story to Derek Tucker. That’s why he’d been meeting with him on a regular basis.”
“Do you have enough to put away the Wright family?” Eve asked.
“We sure do. That ledger is pure gold. It has names of everyone involved in the family business and all the lackeys on the payroll. A few heads are going to roll.”
Eve tried to not think about the enemy she’d made for life. “I guess this means Derek Tucker has his scoop, after all.” Eve took a moment to enjoy her sip of wine. “To think, the answer was right there all along. The key to the store.”
Jill nodded. “You kept talking about the killer having easy access to the store. I guess you were right.” She turned to Josh. “I hope you listened carefully. Stick close to Eve and you’ll learn a thing or two about suspecting people and thinking outside the square.”
Eve glanced at her parents and thought about the danger they’d faced. Without even realizing it, they’d come close to working for the mob.
“I’m sorry you had to find out about my life the way you did. Fact is, I tried to trigger the island’s phone tree but ended up calling you.” Eve looked at Jill. She considered asking her if she’d been taken off probation but decided against it. If Jill felt responsible for sponsoring Eve, then the decision would be hers to make when she saw fit to do so.
“It’s a pity about your store, Eve.” Jill gave her an impish smile.
Eve took a long sip of her drink. She’d been trying to forget about the bad news that had nearly ruined her night. The store was one of hundreds of buildings owned by the Wright family and used to launder money. Palmer Robinson had been a smokescreen. A name invented to cover their tracks and as a proxy for all activities.
“Oh, well. Who knows what will happen to it now… After they are all convicted, I’m guessing the property will be disposed off. Mira? How would you like to invest in a little venture?”
Her parents surprised Eve by saying, “If Mira doesn’t want to go in on it, we’ll be happy to help out.”
In business, with her parents?
“We… Your father and I could be silent partners.” Her mom made a zipping motion across her mouth.
How had she earned their approval?
Mira whispered, “Just smile and say thank you.”
Eve raised her glass to them. “Thank, mom. That’d be good.”
Her mom brightened. “Oh, we can iron out the details later. Your father and I have decided to extend our stay for a while. We’ve made bookings at this charming little inn right here on the island.”
Jack took Eve’s hand and gave it a light squeeze.
She had survived being run off the road and having a gun pointed at her. She could survive her parents staying at her inn…
* * *
Yuletide Murder
A Deadline Cozy Mystery - Book 10
About Yuletide Murder
Christmas with Eve Lloyd. What could possibly go wrong?
Eve Lloyd has closed the Seabreeze Inn for the holidays. She is all set to entertain her friends and hold her first Christmas party at the now empty inn. She has even written a note to herself: Make this the best Christmas ever!
Embracing the spirit of Christmas, she is singing Christmas carols and decking the halls… But then, her aunt Mira receives bad news. Determined to cheer her up, Eve goes in search of the tiny marshmallows her aunt loves. This is nothing but a slight detour… Or so she thinks.
Her first Christmas at her inn, in her idyllic little island town is about to be derailed when a body is found floating face down, practically on her doorstep.
Chapter One
“Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la la! Eve Lloyd, this will be a Christmas to remember.” Eve smiled. Her first Christmas at the Seabreeze Inn and they would have the place to themselves. She had made the executive decision a few weeks ago.
There had been a tentative booking from a couple wishing to get away from their family and when they had called to confirm, she had offered them a package deal with a considerable discount for the following year. The couple had complained and had accused her of dishing out unsolicited advice. How dare she suggest they should be nicer to their family!
“Ho hum,” Eve said under her breath and stepped back to admire the boughs of holly she’d intertwined around the banister.
She wanted the festive season to be about gratitude, family and friends. She had a lot to be grateful for. Mostly, she had set her mind on finally relaxing and spending some time gearing herself up for a bright new year full of optimism and fresh starts.
On her last visit to Rock-Maine Island, she had only intended staying long enough to get her act together a
nd her life back on track. Then her aunt, Mira, had suggested she stay on for a while. Several months down the track, and despite a few glitches, she had become the proud owner of her own inn.
“I think that’s one la too many,” Mira said from the bottom of the stairs.
“Are you sure?” Eve ran the tune through her mind. Unconvinced, she sang the first line again, holding up a finger for each la. “My count is correct. Are you about to suggest I’m singing out of tune?” Eve thought she heard Mira murmuring something about decking something other than the halls.
“What’s the point of decorating the house when we’ll be having Christmas at the inn?”
“It wouldn’t be Christmas without a few baubles around,” Eve said. “This puts us in warm-up mode. That reminds me, I need to take a box of ornaments to the inn.”
Mira grumbled under her breath.
“Mira! Is your book giving you trouble?” She knew Mira had extended the deadline for her current historical romance book because she’d been having trouble with her mad innkeeper, a character, more or less, inspired by Eve.
In her youth, Eve had spent all her holidays with Mira and she’d never noticed her being a Grinch.
“Don’t mind me. I’m… I’m…”
Eve strode down the stairs, one slow step at a time. When she reached the bottom, she sat down on the entrance hall bench and patted the space beside her. “Sit down and tell me what’s wrong.”
She really wanted this to be the best Christmas ever. That morning, she had turned the page on her calendar and had read the underlined message she’d written several month’s back.
Make this the best Christmas ever!!
She must have had a reason for writing down the reminder. Although, it actually sounded more like a command. She’d even underlined it. Heavens, she’d actually added several exclamation marks; something she knew Mira would frown upon. She had no trouble hearing Mira scolding her and saying there were other ways of conveying the idea of a character speaking with emotion.
Mira sat down and clasped her hands together. “If you must know, I’m cross with David.”
Ah! David Bergstrom, the retired detective they had met on a cruise a few months back and her aunt’s love interest.
“I thought he sent you a basket full of apologies for not being able to join us for Christmas.” David hadn’t skimped. The basket had been filled with exclusive gourmet treats, including Mira’s favorite peppermint flavored candy canes.
Mira sat back and fumbled inside her pocket. “This is so unlike me, I’m actually more upset with myself for making such a fuss.” Drawing out an envelope, she handed it to Eve.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
A feeling of trepidation swept through Eve. Drawing in a breath for courage, she lifted the flap on the envelope. “It’s a Christmas card.” Eve put her thinking cap on. Since meeting David, she’d found him to be quite considerate and attentive, an old-fashioned gentleman, but he was a man. What could he have written on the card to make Mira so upset? Her stomach tightened with worry. Mira only ever grumbled about her fictional characters, while real people who caused her trouble were dealt with a suffer no fools attitude or at least a certain degree of indifference.
Eve drew the card out and read it.
Not from David.
The card had been sent by his daughter. She wished Mira a warm Christmas and expressed her regret for not being able to finally meet her as planned because…
Eve’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, I see.”
“Yes. His daughter is staying on in London and spending Christmas there.”
London…
David’s daughter worked there but she always came home for the holidays. And David had told Mira he couldn’t make it to their Christmas lunch on the island because his daughter had made plans to fly him down to Georgia so they could spend the holidays with her husband’s family.
David had lied.
“I’m sure there’s a mistake,” Eve suggested. “Perhaps this is a last-minute change. Maybe he’s flying to London.”
Mira gave a slow shake of her head. “No mistake and no change. His daughter posted the card a month ago. I spoke with David last night and he said he’d be out of phone range until he arrived in Georgia. He’s pretending he’s going away and he’s spent a whole month lying to me about it.”
“Oh… I see.” Eve had a good mind to wring David’s neck.
Mira gave a slow shake of her head. “I can’t help feeling disappointed. He seemed… He was…” Mira surged to her feet. “I should get back to my writing.”
“Cookies and hot chocolate?” Eve offered.
Mira stopped.
Eve saw her shoulders ease down a notch.
“Hot chocolate with tiny pink and white marshmallows?” Mira asked in a small, vulnerable voice.
“Yes. Of course.”
“That would be lovely. Thank you.”
Yes, she would definitely wring David’s neck. Eve waited until Mira closed the door to her study to mutter a few colorful words under her breath, all of them with exclamation marks!
* * *
“The halls are decked with boughs of holly. One way or another, we are having a happy Christmas,” Eve murmured and searched inside the kitchen cupboard for the mini marshmallows Mira enjoyed so much.
She had made the hot chocolate from scratch, pouring hot milk over fine Belgian velvety smooth dark chocolate. After a few minutes, she stirred it to make sure the chocolate had melted. Before adding the marshmallows, she poured her secret ingredient. “One teaspoon of brandy for the mug and… one for me.”
Savoring the brandy, she wondered if she should contact Jack.
Detective Jack Bradford had been working hard to clear his workload for Christmas. He might know a single police officer facing Christmas alone. Being the festive season, one needed to be openhearted and inclusive, sharing goodwill and love with all creatures great and small, or some such thing...
Eve gave a firm nod. Yes, indeed. Having a new face around might take Mira’s mind off David so she would do everything possible to make it happen.
After a few moments of quiet reflection, Eve shook her head. Knowing Mira, she would throw herself back into work and eventually emerge from her writing cave feeling refreshed and ready to put it all behind her.
She set the mug down on a tray and arranged some cinnamon cookies on a festive plate decorated with Christmas garlands. Noticing only a few marshmallows left in the packet, Eve searched the cupboard for more but they were all out.
They were bound to need the instant comfort treats over the next few days, Eve thought as she took the tray into Mira’s study.
She found Mira stooped over her desk twirling a pen, her eyes not blinking as she stared at the computer screen.
Eve set the tray down. “I’m going into town to do some shopping. Is there something I can get for you?”
Mira dropped her pen and sat back. “I have to be honest with you. A part of me wants to ask you to cancel Christmas but that is nothing but self-indulgent nonsense.”
Yes, and it would have been a big ask, Eve thought.
Mira snapped her fingers. “There. I’m over it. Bring back some cheer. That’s all I want.”
“Okay. I can do that.” Eve cocooned herself in her winter coat and boots and set out to find some cheer to bring back as well as some tiny pink and white marshmallows.
* * *
“What do you mean you’re all out of marshmallows?” Eve stared at the empty shelf space which should have been overflowing with packets of marshmallow. After all, they were in the midst of marshmallow and hot chocolate season.
The store owner, Bert Carlton said, “They sold out.”
“When?”
“Half an hour after the bridge collapsed. News spread like wildfire and people rushed into town to stock up on anything they could get their hands on. As you can see, the locusts could not have done a more thorough job of clearing
out the place.”
Eve gaped at him. “The bridge? Collapsed?”
“Eve!”
Swinging around, Eve saw Jill heading toward her, her Labradors, Mischief and Mr. Magoo, sitting patiently by the door. “Jill. Who’s looking after the inn?”
“We don’t have any guests,” Jill said. “I left Samantha working on the website.”
Samantha Beckett had previously worked at the local bookstore, Tinkerbelle’s, once owned by Abby Larkin who had also owned the house Eve had turned into an inn. When Abby Larkin had decided to sell her bookstore, Mira had snatched it up as an investment. When Eve had opened her inn, she had headhunted Samantha to work as her front desk manager, but Samantha still picked up a few hours here and there at the bookstore to help Mira out.
She’d launched her career as a front desk manager during an impromptu lunch at Eve’s inn when Eve had been forced to entertain a newcomer to the island. When one of the guests had suddenly died, Samantha had shown her true mettle by remaining calm. They might be closed for the holiday season, but Eve liked having someone onboard all the time. If not Jill, then Samantha.
“Have you heard the news?” Jill asked. “Of course, you have. Otherwise, you would not have come into town. I was heading out to Mira’s house but thought I’d see the bridge for myself first. At least, what’s left of it.”
Eve snatched her woolen hat off her head. “Would someone please explain?”
“The Stevensons are putting on a big shindig for Christmas,” Bert informed her. “They have a massive tree. Bigger than the one at Rockefeller Center.”
Jill nodded. “Everyone’s been talking about it.”
And yet, Eve hadn’t heard the news. Then again, she’d been so busy at home and at the inn… “Wait. The Stevensons? I thought they were cash poor.” A while back, her childhood nemesis, Charlotte McLain, had hired the Stevenson’s house to hold her wedding which had turned into quite a disaster.