Dog Days of Murder
Page 17
I thread my way through the room just as Emmie heads this way balancing a couple of platters brimming with her pumpkin spice mini muffins. She’s dressed as a flapper in a short black dress with elongated fringes that bounce to life with her every step. She’s donned a long pearl necklace that loops tightly around her neck just once and the rest of it dangles to her belly. There’s a feathered headband strapped to her head that sparkles and catches the light and gives her an overall enchanted feel.
“I’ll get these to the dessert table,” she calls out as we pass one another. “You make an adorable Tink!”
“Says the sexy flapper! You can teach me to do the Charleston in an hour.”
I speed to the foyer where the noise level is dampened, but the excitement is just as high. Last night, Grady and I stayed late, stretching spider webs all over the reception counter and adding even more pumpkins and ghosts to the mix.
Sherlock and Peanut are seated right up front, looking beyond adorable in their costumes. Sherlock is dressed as a giant goldfish—a sight that Fish has not stopped laughing at. And I bought Peanut a penguin costume that actually makes him look as if he’s a standing upright and waddling when you look at him from the front. They’re both so hilarious people haven’t stopped snapping pictures of them all day.
Sherlock bounds my way. Bizzy, next year I’d like to be a superhero. The kind Jasper watches on TV.
I can’t help but laugh. “I think you’re already a superhero, Sherlock.”
Grady does a double take this way. He’s dressed as Spiderman sans the face mask and he looks adorable as if he’s in his pj’s. “Have I ever told you I think it’s cute the way you talk to the animals as if they can understand you?”
“I can’t help it. A part of me really does believe they can.”
Peanut barks as if acknowledging this. I like my costume, Bizzy. It makes people smile. Georgie laughed so hard she said she needed to wear a diaper around me.
I grimace at the thought. “Georgie is one step away from wearing one all the time.”
Fish hops up onto the granite counter and lets out a yodeling meow. Bizzy Baker, you get this ridiculous hat off of me, right this minute.
I bite down hard on my lower lip to keep from laughing.
“Fish, you make the cutest pirate on the face of the planet,” I say, adjusting the miniature black pirate’s hat I’ve strapped to her head. She’s wearing a costume that drapes down the front and secures to her front paws, a red and white striped shirt attached to a pair of stuffed jeans. There’s a pair of stuffed arms poking out of the shirt portion, and in one hand she’s holding a tiny sword as if she were readying to attack. It’s so comical to look at her. Everyone who has seen her has done a double take before bursting out with laughter.
I’m only wearing this for you, Bizzy, Fish growls. Just remember, you promised an extra helping of my Fancy Beast dinner.
“And I plan on rewarding all three of you for being such good sports,” I say just as an all too familiar witch and scarecrow head this way.
“Dad?” My eyes enlarge at the sight of his hand caressing Gwyneth’s back.
She’s wearing a loose black dress with a large pointy hat planted over her head and a sparkly wand in her hand.
Why do I get the feeling this is a familiar uniform for her that she’s worn before on a far less celebrated occasion—say, a full moon in the presence of her coven?
Dad, however, looks as if he went hog wild at the Montgomerys’ pumpkin patch and stuffed his jeans and flannel with hay. He’s donned a ratty old wicker hat and painted his nose a cheery shade of orange.
“Bizzy Bizzy.” He gives Sherlock a quick scratch. “This is one good-looking crew. We’ll catch you inside.”
Gwyneth sneers at me as she leads the way and, just like that, they’re off.
“That might be the scariest thing I see all night,” I say to Grady just as Macy trots over in a pair of sky-high heels, her hair done in tight kinky curls, and she’s wearing a low-cut, tight-fitted red dress. “Well, if it isn’t the devil herself,” I tease.
“Oh, hush.” Macy pauses a moment to adjust her burgeoning décolleté. “I’m not wearing a costume.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
She offers a wry smile before leaning in. “I’d gift you a special finger, but there’s a gentleman in our midst.” She nods his way. “Hello, Grady. I’ll see you both inside. Ta-ta for now.” She scampers off, and Grady gives a dark gurgle of a laugh.
“Macy is gunning for one of those rich men, isn’t she?”
“I don’t know what she’s gunning for,” I say. “And my guess is, neither does she.”
Chelsea Ashley steps in with a rather dapper looking man by her side, and my stomach sinks a moment at the sight of them.
“Chelsea”—I say, trying my best to sound bright and cheery—“and Carter O’Riley.”
Chelsea is dressed as a vamped-up Little Red Riding Hood, and Carter has a light smattering of face makeup on that gives him the appearance of a furry yet comely wolf.
She’s staring at us. Chelsea frowns for a moment. I knew we’d be judged for it. But Shelby is gone. That means all girl code is off the table and it’s open season on Carter. Besides, someone has to help him get over poor Shelby. Not that he ever will. And not that I ever will—but that’s the one commonality we’ll have. How much we loved her.
I head over and offer a friendly smile. “The two of you look spectacular!”
“Really?” Chelsea’s face fills with relief.
“Yes, really. I wish I would have thought of that. I don’t even know what my own boyfriend will show up as.” I cringe for a moment since I all but accused them of dating.
Carter gives a cheery laugh. “Well, Chels and I are new. We’re sort of feeling our way around to see where things might lead. Right now, it’s grief that’s bonding us.” And it’s a hell of a bond. My heart aches, but Chelsea somehow makes things better.
“I think that’s very sweet,” I say.
A group of men walk in and give a howl of approval to their fearless leader.
“I’d better brief these guys on how to behave.” Carter offers a quick wave my way. “I’ll see you both inside.”
He stalks off in their direction just as Chelsea coos at the sight of Fish.
“I had a cat just like this when I was a kid.” She gives Fish a gentle pat on the back before snapping a picture of her. Chelsea looks my way. “Any word on Nessa?” She winces. “I can’t believe she’d do something like that.”
“I don’t think she did, but the wrap is sticking and I don’t like it.” It takes all of my effort not to clap my hand over my mouth, but it’s too late. The words have already spilled out. I’m pretty sure if I went to detective school, the first thing they’d teach would be not to let all your cards show. “Chelsea, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” She glances past me as the crowd grows increasingly boisterous, and I can feel my window with her quickly closing. “I heard you were arrested for shoplifting a few years back.” I offer a guilty shrug. “I also heard you took the blame for something you didn’t do.”
Her eyes widen in horror. “Who told you that?”
“A little bird.” Called the internet. “Anyway, I just thought something like that would weigh heavy on a person, and I wanted to say I’m sorry you went through it.”
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “Thank you, Bizzy. It was hell. It was the darkest time in my life. I was raised to follow every single law in the book. I would never even think of doing something like that. So when I was busted for something I didn’t do, it stung all the more.” Her lips quiver like she might cry. And now Shelby is dead and I’ll have to bear the weight of her sins forever. I wish Shelby were still here. I know eventually I could have convinced her to tell the truth. But now I can’t. I guess you could say, that in a sense, the killer has hurt me, too.
“I’d better get in.” She nods to the ballroom. “I�
�ll see you inside, Bizzy.”
And just like that, Chelsea Ashley is wiped off my suspect list.
Scout Pratt bounds over with her body squeezed into a rather sultry, fitted green velvet skirt with a shiny tail attached to it. She’s wearing a bra made of twin oversized seashells and her hair is dyed a shocking shade of red.
“Well, aren’t you the merry mermaid,” I say as I take her in. “You look fabulous.”
She makes a face. “I don’t feel so fabulous. Ginger wants me to head into the room and make sure the DJ gives her a proper welcome.” She pauses a moment to give Peanut and Sherlock a quick pat. “You’re so lucky that your co-workers are cute and have very little to say.”
I give a warm laugh. “They have more to say than you think.”
Scout picks up Peanut and gives him a kiss. “I bet this poor guy misses his mama.”
That I do, Peanut whimpers.
“That he does,” I’m quick to translate for him.
“Poor Shelby.” Scout’s expression falls flat. “I mean, we definitely had our troubles.” She was an outright witch to me, but I would never disparage her in front of this cute little guy. Scout kisses Peanut on the forehead before placing him back down.
“Believe me, I get it. I have people in my life that I don’t get along with, but that doesn’t mean I want to see them dead.”
No sooner do the words leave my lips than Camila traipses down the stairs in a black latex bustier, a pair of black fishnets, and a sexy mask slipped over her eyes that gives her that cat’s eye effect. Come to think of it, that’s probably why she’s wearing the long black tail and tiny pink triangular ears. Camila has dressed herself like the sex kitten she is, and I can’t help but frown.
She looks stunning. She looks beyond stunning.
And with her perfectly pouty features and wavy long hair, she looks as if she belongs in a calendar. A greasy calendar for men. One that I have a feeling every breathing male on the planet would approve of once that calendar comes out.
She averts her eyes once she spots me and heads out front. Most likely to pounce on Jasper.
I sigh as I look to Scout. “Do you think now that Shelby is gone, you can find it in you to forgive her for whatever misgivings the two of you had?”
Scout glances past me. “I can forgive her. Now that she’s gone, it all almost seems trivial.” Almost. Shelby could be wicked to the bone when she wanted to be. Lord knows I had every reason to want her gone. But then, Nessa did the dirty work for me, and I get to breathe a sigh of relief and go on with the rest of my life.
My mouth opens and I take a quick breath. Scout didn’t do it. But she had a strong motive. It could have easily been her.
Scout leans in. “One thing that I learned from Shelby is that you should curate who you bring into your life. Not everyone is looking out for your best intentions.” A crowd bustles by and we scoot out of the way. “I better get inside before Ginger shows up.” She looks to the door and shudders. Now, if only the killer would come back and aim for Ginger. She makes a face. A terrible thought, I know. But she is a monster. There is no doubt about it.
Scout takes off and I take a few steps toward the front, admiring the silk maple leaves enwreathing the double door entry lit up with tiny orange lights. Jordy stacked pumpkins to the right and left of the entry, along with a couple of witches’ brooms dipped in cinnamon oil that adds a heavenly scent to the entire inn. It’s all so homey, it makes me wish October would last forever.
A shockingly handsome vampire steps into view and sends my heart ratcheting up to unsafe levels. I’m about to wrap arms around him and offer up a big, juicy kiss when I see my mother strapped to his side looking every bit the naughty nurse. Her face is powdered bone white, and she has a trail of blood dripping from the seam of her lip.
“Mom? Max!” My heart lurches as if it were still unsure if it should be thumping so hard for this Jasper look-alike. “You both look downright frightening. I can honestly say you scared me.” For far different reasons than they imagine.
I will never get used to seeing my mother with a knockoff of my very own boyfriend. My stomach sinks because I’m still holding out hope that Jasper and I will solidify that teeny, tiny, all-important detail sometime soon.
Max laughs, exposing a pair of fangs that look as if they’re bona fide extensions of his real teeth. “Ree showed up at my restaurant today and passed out candy to all the little kids. Her, they loved. Me? Let’s just say they were twitching for the nearest crucifix.”
Mom pulls him in close. “Oh, hush.” She shakes her head my way. “He’s a hot vampire and he knows it.”
Max waggles his brows. “A hot vampire looking to get lucky with an even hotter nurse.”
They share a sharp cackle as they head over toward the ballroom.
I have a feeling if those two stick, it will make for a very long life filled with blatant innuendos that happen to involve my mother.
At least she’s got good taste in men.
I turn back toward the peachy glow of the entry when my heart stops cold.
Clad in black with a long leather jacket, a rather ornate buckle over his dark jeans, and a puffy black dress shirt with equally ornate silver buttons is a heart-stoppingly handsome homicide detective from the Seaview Sheriff’s Department.
“I don’t know who you are, but if you still happen to have a pair of handcuffs on you, please arrest me and drag me off to your place.”
A growl of a laugh comes from Jasper as he pulls me in. He lifts his left hand to reveal a stump with a hook attached to it.
“Argh,” I say. “You’re Captain Hook.”
His eyes ride up and down my lime green dress. “And I do believe I’ve found my Tinker Bell. Peter Pan doesn’t stand a chance.” He steals a quick kiss just as a hurricane of a redhead stampedes her way inside the foyer, effectively dislodging me from Jasper.
“Oh, good. It’s you, Bizzy.” Ginger rushes to the reception area and I dutifully follow along. “Please put my things below the counter for me.” She shoves her purse and a tote bag my way.
“Sure thing,” I say, handing them to Grady and he does just that. I give the panting diva a quick once-over. “Wow, Ginger. You look like a million dollars.” And she does. Ginger has on a gold sequin gown that catches the light and glitters with her every move. Her hair is styled in tight little ringlets around her neck, her makeup is glammed up and perfectly vampy with bright red lipstick, and there’s even a dark mole colored in on her left cheek. And in one hand she has a bouquet of ruby red roses that, for some reason, pulls her entire over-the-top glamorous look together.
“I should look like a millions dollars.” She sniffs the flowers in her hand and makes a face. “This dress is a Verragamo original and it costs more than my first car. I’m an A-lister, tonight and every night.” She gives a little wink. “I’m supposed to be a movie star.” She wags the bouquet my way.
“Well, you’re set to shine tonight,” I say. “All of your books were delivered yesterday and I had them stacked around your table. Scout is there now, taking care of everything for you.”
She rolls her eyes. There’s another idiot I have to deal with. “Hopefully, she didn’t give any copies away like she did last time. That girl costs me more money than she’s worth. In fact, don’t ruin her surprise, but tonight is her last night. I can’t take any more of her buffoonery. Hey”—her eyes widen my way—“you’re not looking for another job, are you?”
“Not yet. But thank you for the offer.” I think. I’m about to say something else when I spot a certain sultry sex kitten cozying up with a drop-dead gorgeous pirate who just so happens to belong to me.
Ginger follows my gaze and growls, “As if she stands a chance. I’ll hook that man by the end of the night.” Her lips bleed a wicked smile. “Just you wait and see.”
She takes off for the ballroom while I openly scowl at Jasper and the all too friendly feline attempting to use his body like a scratching post.
Sherlock growls, Should I bite him, Bizzy? Should I?
“Maybe.” I whisper, only half-teasing.
“Bizzy.” Jasper sheds his signature grin as he examines me from head to foot. “You are gorgeous beyond belief. Have I ever told you I have a thing for green fairies?”
A wry smile breaks free on my lips. “No, but lucky for you, I have a very real thing for pirates.”
“I hope you don’t mind.” Jasper closes his eyes a moment. “But I think this is the perfect time.”
I suck in a quick breath. “To break things off with me?” The words leave my lips before I have the chance to process them.
“No.” His head inches back in dismay. “To have that talk with Camila. You know, the one that makes it clear that I’m off the market and we will never be anything more than friends.” He winces. “And to be honest, friends is a very strong word.”
“Oh, right.” I can feel my cheeks heat. So Jasper is unavailable? A silly grin floats to my lips. “Take all the time you need. I’ve got my hands full for the next few hours anyway. I’ll catch you inside.”
Jasper nods as he heads her way, and together they leave through the front door. They look perfectly suited for one another. A beautiful yin to his handsome yang, and it sours my stomach for a second. I know for a fact Camila isn’t going down without a fight.
But before I can dwell on it too long, a real monster arrives to the party.
And I’d bet all the candy corn in Cider Cove that I’m looking right at the killer.
Chapter 18