Toxic Apple Turnovers: MURDER IN THE MIX 13

by Moore, Addison

  “I took care of Amanda?” Chrissy laughs as if he were taking umbrage with the thought. “You took care of Amanda. I was supposed to find the body.”

  “First, I didn’t kill her. Second, you didn’t find the body—that hot baker you’ve been lusting after stumbled upon her first.”

  Everett lifts a brow my way.

  Chrissy chokes on his response. “I’m not lusting after anyone but you, Connie. It’s always been you!”

  “Then you should have set Mark up better! Why the heck hasn’t that hot detective rummaged through his glove compartment yet?”

  My jaw roots to the ground as I give Everett’s hand a hard tug.

  Owlbert flails and hoots. “What am I hearing? Are they guilty or not?”

  I nod up at him, and he zooms their way.

  “Ouch,” Connie yelps. “Something just pegged the top of my head. Never mind, let’s get out of here. Tomorrow you’ll take the rest of that rat poison—and I don’t care if you have to litter his front lawn with it, you make him look guilty. I can’t sleep at night knowing the sheriff’s department is still fishing around.”

  They step out from the cover of the overgrown apple trees and come face to face with Everett and me.

  “Oh, for freak’s sake,” Connie tips her head back and groans.

  “Connie—Chrissy?” I swallow hard. “We were just headed off for some privacy.” I wrap my arms around Everett and nearly climb him in the process. “You know, just two lovebirds who can’t keep their hands off one another. This big boy’s got a gavel and he knows how to wield it, if you know what I mean.” It comes out throaty and undeniably silly because I would never in my right mind say that to anyone, let alone Connie and Chrissy.

  Connie exhales hard and pushes out a white fog from her lips. “She heard.”

  “No, no, I didn’t hear.” I bat my lashes up at Everett. “Did you hear? We didn’t hear.”

  “They heard, Chrissy!” she barks at him as Owlbert’s wings expand four feet before he lands back on top of her head. “Fix this right now,” she growls, grabbing a fruit picker off the ground as if she were arming herself.

  Chrissy shoots us a nervous glance. “I’m not fixing this, Connie. He’s a freaking judge.”

  Her eyes narrow in on Everett’s. “He’ll be a dead judge.”

  Everett grabs me by the waist and attempts to pull me past the trees to our right, but Chrissy reaches around his back and produces a pistol pointed at the two of us.

  “Drop her. Step forward or this gets messy fast,” Chrissy says it with a touch of boredom in his voice, but I’d like to think it’s his unwillingness to play along.

  “Hey.” Everett holds a hand up, the other still securely wrapped around my waist. “We’re not sure what’s going on. I don’t know who said what. I just want a little alone time with my girlfriend. It looks like you two hit the liquor hard, and I can’t blame you. So why don’t you go that way, and we’ll go this way and forget all about this little altercation?”

  Chrissy glances to Connie, and she cuts her hand through the air as if rejecting the offer.

  Owlbert swoops down and clamps his talons right over Chrissy’s hand, and the gun starts to slip between his fingers.

  In one svelte maneuver, Everett kicks the gun out of Chrissy’s grasp and it plummets to the ground. Everett lunges for it, but Connie swings that fruit picker at his head and strikes him over the temple, creating a horrible thumping sound.

  “Connie,” Chrissy thunders it out like a reprimand—either that or he’s cheering her on.

  Everett staggers back a moment before falling to the ground, a seam of blood erupting just over his cheek.

  “Everett?” I fall to his side and shake him until he gives a hard moan, his eyes fluttering open.

  “Geez,” he groans.

  “Geez is right,” I growl up at Connie. “You could have killed him!”

  “Then I’m off to a good start,” she pants, wielding that gun my way. “Why don’t you get on top of him one last time? I like an easy target.”

  Owlbert hoots four times fast. “What do I do, Lottie? I’ve never intervened in a homicide about to happen. Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

  And how I hate the thought that Everett and I are the homicide about to happen.

  “Go for the eyes,” I say breathlessly, as he does just that, and I hop over the two of them just as Connie fires the gun into the air, screaming her head off as if she were being eaten alive. I latch onto Connie as we struggle for the weapon.

  Chrissy does his best to pluck me off, but I prove tenacious as I dig my fingers into Connie’s hair.

  “Freeze!” a female voice calls out from behind, but I can’t stop until I get that gun away from Connie.

  A hand clamps down over it just as a shot is fired, and the entire lot of us finally gets around to freezing.

  “Got it.” Everett pulls me back and holds the gun up victoriously, a trickle of blood running down the side of his quickly swelling face. Everett pushes Chrissy against the ground, and Connie decides to make a break for it.

  Without thinking, I extend my foot, and she goes sailing to the ground with a thud.

  Owlbert chuckles as his illumination grows dim. “Good work, Lottie. Good work indeed. Until we meet again… I’m afraid they’re calling me home. Oh, look! There’s my Amanda. And what an angel she is, Lottie. If you could only see her now.”

  My chest bucks with emotion as Detective Ivy Fairbanks tosses Everett a pair of cuffs, and she subdues Connie while he handles Chrissy.

  Soon they’re back on their feet. Both Connie and Chrissy are a little dirtier than they were before, but no worse for wear.

  “They tried to set up Mark Russo,” I pant as Everett navigates Chrissy over to Ivy. “If you look in his glove compartment, you’ll find the pills they used to poison Amanda.”

  Connie glares over at me. “I didn’t poison anyone. You can’t pin this on me and you won’t. Do you know who my brothers are?”

  A chill rides through me at the mention of her family. The Canellis are a notorious crime family that everyone in their right mind knows to steer clear of. I’d be a liar if I didn’t say the threat didn’t bother me.

  In a moment, we’re surrounded by sheriff’s deputies that Ivy called over, and both Chrissy and Connie are led off the premises.

  Ivy looks to the two of us, her lips twisted as if she were contemplating something.

  “You’re a good team.” She lifts her chin to Everett. “Get that cut checked out. I’ll need to speak to the both of you in a bit.”

  We nod as we make our way back to the festivities. The laughter of the crowd, the screams of delight from the people on those hayrides, the hustle and bustle of a beautiful fall night, it’s all unfazed, untouched by the horror of what just happened.

  Everett pulls me in under a silver moon as a sprinkling of stars shimmers above us. “She’s right, Lemon. We do make a good team.”

  “I’ve always suspected as much.” I lean up on my tiptoes and offer him a kiss on the cheek. “Oh! The party.”

  “Go. I’ll be fine.”

  “No. I’m getting you checked out. There’s a nurse’s station just outside the barn. Let’s get your sister before she wanders off again and sheds another article of clothing.”

  We do just that. We collect Meghan and head straight to the nurse who gives Everett a questionable bill of good health. She cautions me to watch him through the night and gives him an ice pack and a bandage. If anything looks amiss, she instructs us to go straight to the emergency room.

  But, upon Everett’s insistence, we head into the barn instead. The inside of this home to all things hay and horses looks amazing with a plethora of white balloons, a huge sign that reads Congratulations, Keelie and Bear, and Mason jars filled with tiny twinkle lights strewn about the refreshment tables. Dozens of crystal chandeliers hang from above that Hazel had installed for just this occasion. Each one illuminates the cavernous space with stu
nning brilliance. It’s perfectly magical for a perfectly magical couple.

  I text Lainey and Forest, and they’re kind enough to bring out the cake, a three-tiered whitewash of roses that looks impeccably delicious, impossibly elegant. And after all the guests are amassed under the canopy of twinkle lights and crystal chandeliers, Meg ushers in the guests of honor.

  The entire lot of us shouts SURPRISE at the top of our lungs and watch as my best friend bursts into tears—happy tears.

  I wrap my arms around her, and then pull Bear in close. “You two deserve the very best in life, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you get it.”

  A live band starts up, and soon everyone is dancing to the music.

  Naomi wrangles Alex to the dance floor, and Lily looks as if she’s after blood. But she joins them anyway.

  I spot Meghan shaking her body along with Holland himself.

  “Look at that,” I say as I pull Everett close. “I think she’s right back to having a good time.”

  “How about you?” Everett wraps his arms around me as the music slows to something more our speed. “Are you having a good time?” He sways our bodies to the rhythm and looks deep into my eyes with a look of adoration that I could definitely get used to.

  “I am. And thanks to you, it just keeps getting better and better.”

  “Good.” He presses out a rare smile. “Because it only goes up from here, Lemon.”

  “Life gets better?”

  “We get better.”

  He pulls me close, and we dance the night away.

  Everything feels better already.

  Chapter 19

  Seasons change. Time waits for no one.

  It’s a saying my father used to recite often. On the surface, those very words used to frighten me, and in a strange way, they now bring me comfort.

  Every last one of those thugs has been apprehended. Noah and Ivy have been hailed as the town heroes. Noah tried to correct the press and include me in on the fun, but honestly, I want nothing more to do with any of it. Most of the money and all of the jewelry were recovered—including Everett’s family ring. He tried to give it back to me, but I couldn’t take it. The responsibility alone was far too much. I asked him to return it to his mother and he agreed, but not before he promised he’d land another one on my finger one day. My heart melted in a puddle over that one.

  Connie never did admit to poisoning Amanda Wellington, but they found the Conium capsules in the glove compartment of one of Mark’s sports cars, just the way she and Chrissy discussed. They found a bottle of the toxin in Chrissy’s house and traces of it on the dress Connie wore to the party that night. I guess that right there is a good argument for getting your laundry done in a timely manner.

  Everett says they’ll both be going to trial.

  As for Pastor Gaines, Noah, Everett, and I are still keeping an eye on him. Noah is doing some digging, so am I, but neither of us has availed much. However, my mother and Pastor Whoever He Is are on the rocks, and nothing pleases me more.

  It’s a chilly Saturday at the tail end of September, and Everett stopped by the bakery after running a few errands, so I grab a platter of apple turnovers and a couple of cups of coffee and join him in the café.

  “What’s next on the agenda?” I ask as I set the goodies down.

  “Dinner with you tonight, if you’re up for it?”

  “I’m always up for dinner with you.”

  The bell on the door chimes, and we turn to find Mom, Carlotta, and Mayor Nash heading in.

  “Lottie!” Mom makes a beeline my way. “I just talked Mayor Nash into declaring all of October Haunted Honey Hollow month, and I managed to work both of our tours into the extravaganza. In fact, I’ll be having a haunted open house every weekend, and it’s going to be spectacular. I’ve already hired Hazel Wellington to oversee the festivities, and she’s determined that this will put Honey Hollow on the map. All of Main Street is about to get a haunted makeover. The tourists are going to eat it all up, I tell you. The big kickoff is next weekend. Why don’t you bake up a treat and we can give them to the passersby? It will be a great way to drum up business. I just know Mayor Nash will be fine with the expense.”

  “That sounds great. How about cupcakes? They’re easy enough to pass out, and they’re irresistibly delicious, if I do say so myself.”

  Everett reaches over and picks up my hand. “And I agree.”

  Mom links arms with Mayor Nash as the two of them head for the counter where Lily is ready to greet them, but Carlotta lingers.

  She frowns at the two of them. “Would you look at that? She’s making an open play for my man.”

  “Carlotta, the two of you have been bouncing Mayor Nash around like a ping pong ball.”

  She takes a breath and fluffs her caramel waves. “Nobody said it wasn’t fun.” She gives a sly wink. “May the best ghoul win.” She starts to trot off, then backtracks. “Speaking of ghouls, Greer wanted me to let you know she’s back and none the worse for wear.”

  “Oh, thank goodness.” For whatever reason, once the dead finish their task, they’re whisked away to paradise. But Greer has remained right here in Honey Hollow, happily haunting my mother’s B&B. “And just in time. It sounds like we’re going to need all haunted hands on deck to get through this next month.”

  “October has always been my favorite.” She wrinkles her nose at Everett. “I was arrested once in October, and I had a heck of a good time with my defense lawyer. You legal eagles are pretty eager to please. He’s a keeper, Lot.”

  Noah strides in just as Carlotta finishes singing Everett’s praises. “He’s a keeper, too. Do me a favor. Once you make a decision, chuck your leftovers my way.” She leans in toward the two of them. “I bet you boys can teach me a thing or two about crime and punishment.”

  “Hello, Noah,” I say, choosing to ignore Carlotta as she scuttles to the counter to load up on treats right alongside my mother. “What brings you this way?”

  He flexes a quick smile. “Just wondering if you were up for heading to Hollyhock to check out that lodge I’m hoping to purchase.”

  My mouth opens, eager to say yes, just as Keelie and my sisters walk in.

  “There she is.” Keelie points an accusing finger my way. “The best friend a girl could ever ask for.”

  I flash a smile up at them. “What are you three up to?”

  Keelie shrugs. “I just wrapped up lunch with Bear, and I’m back to finish my shift.”

  Lainey raises a hand. “I thought I’d get an early jump on Christmas presents and dragged Meg out with me.” She frowns over at me. “Are you ever going to have a Saturday off?”

  “No. And I hope you got me something good.” I give a sly wink before cringing. “You’re not still afraid of me, are you?”

  She twists her lips as she shuffles my way, and I rise as she hugs me.

  “You’re my baby sister, Lottie. I want to protect you, but I can’t.”

  Meg belts out a laugh. “She’s got two beefy boyfriends who can’t protect her. Join the club, Lainey.”

  “Sit down and I’ll get everyone something hot to drink.”

  “I’ll help,” Keelie offers.

  We’re just about to take a step in that direction when Hazel Wellington strides in with a smile on her face. Her red hair is heaped on top of her head in a bun, and she’s wearing a cozy red sweater and long suede boots that are to die for. She looks so much like her sister, it sends a pang of grief over my heart.

  “Here you are!” She waves a large white envelope my way. “I bet you’ve been waiting for this. Or not.” She shrugs as she hands it to me. “I guess the actual marriage is a lot more exciting than staring at a piece of paper. But you’re all legal now. I guess you could frame it or put it in a safe.”

  “What is it?” I say as I pull it out, and my mouth falls open.

  “It’s your marriage license. It came to the rectory, and I said I’d hand-deliver it to you. I’m the town clerk,
so when you and Noah signed the paperwork, I took it in to be filed and certified. I called the bakery to get the other information I needed, and Keelie gave it to me.”

  A bustle of words gets locked in my throat. “But we didn’t get—I didn’t think…”

  Everett hops to my side, as does Noah, and Everett takes the paper and examines it.

  His blue eyes flit to mine. “Lemon, this is legal.”

  Meg breaks out into a cackle. “I guess it’s Fox, then, isn’t it?”

  “What?” I look up at Everett. “Wait, there were no witnesses. We were investigating Pastor Gaines,” I practically whisper that last part.

  Everett takes a breath, his chest expanding for miles. “You don’t need a witness in Vermont. I’m sorry to break it to you, but this marriage is legally binding.”

  I gasp as I look to Noah, and his dimples press in. That disbelieving look on his face quickly dissipates as he quickly acquiesces to the idea.

  “Legally binding?” I say absentmindedly. “That must mean…”

  Noah nods. “You’re my wife.”

  Pick up the next book in the series, Killer Cupcakes (Murder in the Mix 14) TODAY!

  *New to the series? Start at the beginning! Cutie Pies and Deadly Lies (Murder in the Mix 1) has you covered! Happy reading!

  A Note from the Author

  Pick up the next book in the series, Killer Cupcakes (Murder in the Mix 14) TODAY!

  *New to the series? Start at the beginning! Cutie Pies and Deadly Lies (Murder in the Mix 1) has you covered! Happy reading!

  Thank you for reading Toxic Apple Turnovers (Murder in the Mix 13). If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review at your point of purchase. Even a sentence or two makes a difference to an author. Thank you so very much in advance! Your effort is very much appreciated.

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