Sugar cookie slaughter, p.11
Sugar Cookie Slaughter, page 11
part #18 of Murder in the Mix Series
No sooner do I find a spot in the parking lot out back than my phone bleats. It’s a text from Everett.
Leeds? Lemon, you know it’s dangerous there. Do you have Ethel with you?
I cringe at the phone. “It’s Everett,” I say to Princess and Taffy. “He wants to know if I have my gun.”
I text right back. Wait a minute—you’re having me followed! It’s that wall of muscles you hired to sit around my bakery all day, isn’t it?
My phone bleats again. Just talked to Seven. Be there in less than ten minutes. I’d ask you to stay in your car, but I know better. I’ll meet you inside. Stay out of trouble.
“Seven?” I say, glancing around until I spot that same black Mustang that’s been parked in front of my shop for the last week solid. “Apparently, that’s the name of the muscle man who’s been keeping an eye on me. What kind of a person goes through life as a number?”
Princess purrs as if partaking in the greatest pleasure. “The kind of man who has two lives to go. Sounds like Seven enjoys a bit of danger. I’ve been keeping an eye out on him, and I do approve of every one of those muscles.”
“Ignore her, Lottie,” Taffy grunts. “She’s got a thing for men who have numbers for names. Let’s get inside so I can find a glass of water to douse her with. It’s clear this Seven person wants to keep his anonymity.”
“Don’t worry, Taffy. I plan on giving it to him.” I collect my purse and both Taffy and Princess float along as we walk the shoveled path that leads to the front.
Inside of Diamonds, it’s warm, toasty even. There’s a reception area where they check my coat, and after examining the other patrons, I quickly realize I’m sorely underdressed.
“Oh, Lottie!” Princess scampers forward and cranes her neck into the main seating area. “Everyone is so beautiful. I want to live here. Surely, this is where I’ve been destined to be all along. My Whitney would have loved it here. She had a penchant for luxury.”
“And judges,” I say. But I couldn’t help the quip. Apparently, Whitney and Everett spent many a summers together in the lap of luxury. I guess I can’t fault them for how they grew up, but it doesn’t mean I have to like the idea of them summering in the same bed.
A tall woman with dark, wavy hair, delicately pointed nose, almond-shaped eyes, and an all-around familiarity about her steps up and gasps when she sees me.
It’s Larissa Miller.
Oh dear Lord, the last thing I expected was to bump into her so quickly.
“Lottie Lemon.” Her shoulders pull back as she tips her chin up. “I guess my secret is out.” She gives a little wink. “I work here, evenings.” She shrugs as if she were indifferent to it. “Some of us need all the cash we can get our hands on.”
A light laugh strums from me. “That would be all of us.”
Taffy slithers over my shoulders, and I can feel his heft. Larissa’s eyes widen as she seemingly looks his way.
Taffy jerks his head up. “I think she sees me.”
Larissa gives a quick blink, and her eyes meet with mine. “I’ll be your waitress tonight. Are you meeting someone here?” She points to the grand dining room behind her.
“Yes, actually. But I’m the first to arrive. A table for two will be perfect.”
“Sure thing.” She motions for me to follow as she navigates us into a gorgeous dimly lit room with white walls that sparkle and shimmer. Bistro tables are set out, each one draped in a black cloth with a candle dotting the center. There’s a dance floor and a large prominent bar, and the sound of classical music flows from the speakers. But it’s the men and women who populate this place that deserve an honorable mention. Each one of them is dressed to the nines—the women in cocktail dresses and the men in dark suits.
We’re about to pass a well-coifed couple when I take a better look at the blonde before me and I stop dead in my tracks.
“Aspen?”
Aspen Nash is one of my three half-siblings. She’s a blonde version of Betty Boop with her sassy shoulder-length bob, her big pouty lips, and heavily drawn-in eyes. She’s got that va-va-voom figure and a black velvet dress that intends on showing every inch of it off.
“Lottie?” She squints as she leans forward. Taffy hisses her way. I’m guessing that’s his go-to greeting. “Hey!” She glances to her date, an older gentleman who looks as if he could be her grandfather, and Princess is quick to hop in his lap.
The coitally prone kitten purrs. “Ooh, he’s nice, Lottie. Can we keep him? Can we?” I shake my head over at her just enough to get my point across. He’s on the phone chatting away, so Aspen stands and offers me a quick embrace.
Her mouth rounds out with surprise. “Are you working the floor tonight, too?”
“What?” I lean back and spot Larissa at a vacant table patiently waiting for me. “No, I’m meeting Everett for dinner.”
Princess hops up on the table. “Ooh, Everett for dinner. Now there’s a meal I wouldn’t mind sinking my teeth into.”
Heaven help me.
I turn my body just enough to where I’m giving Aspen my full attention.
Aspen cocks her head to the side. “Dinner, huh? I guess you don’t know. Diamonds is a virtual playground for the Elite Entourage.”
I gasp as I do a quick inventory of its patrons with a whole new set of eyes. The Elite Entourage is basically a high-class call girl service. I happen to know that not only do both of my half-sisters, Aspen and Kelleth, participate in the perverse organization but so does Keelie’s sister, Naomi. And each one of them swears they’re not doing the hanky panky—they’re simply traipsing all the way to the bank in their sparkly high heels.
Aspen glowers. “And before you get judgmental, I’m only keeping the men company. I look at it as dinner and a bonus.” She hitches her brows playfully. “I better get back.” She points to her date who just put his phone into his pocket. “Kelleth is here somewhere, too. I’ll talk to you later.”
“For sure,” I say as I quickly catch up to Larissa. “That was my half-sister.” I shrug up at her and her mouth falls open.
“You’re related to Aspen and Kelleth?” Larissa looks stymied by this as she lands a couple of menus down onto the table.
I nod over at her. “I just found out not too long ago.”
Larissa cocks her head to the side. “And you know why they’re here?”
Taffy slithers into my peripheral vision. “And I have a feeling we know why our suspect is here as well.”
I shoot the wily snake a quick look before reverting my attention to Larissa. “You mean, do I know they belong to the EE, aka the Elite Entourage? Unfortunately.” My fingers quickly fly to my lips in the event the staff is in on the naughty gig themselves. “Not that I’m judging. Hey, if that’s what you’re comfortable with, I’ve got no problem with it.”
“Me?” Larissa digs a finger into her chest and laughs. “Oh heavens, not me, Lottie. Not that I haven’t considered it.” She chuckles as if she were joking. “That would be the Samson option. Right now I’m keeping my head above water—just barely. And believe me when I say I’ve resorted to dicey measures, but I guess you could say I haven’t hit rock bottom yet.” She blinks back. “I’m sorry. You’re not a part of the EE, are you?”
A quick laugh percolates from me. “No. Definitely not. I guess my date and I chose the wrong establishment.”
“You didn’t if he’s a good tipper. That’s exactly why I’m here. These sugar daddies, as they call them, are generous to a fault. I could pay my rent alone off my tips. Personally, I think the reason they tip so much is to impress the dates they purchase.” She averts her eyes. “Not that I care what their motives are. And don’t worry about the place. Every now and again we get nice people like you. The food is great here and so is the ambience. So long as your date doesn’t have a wandering eye, you should be good to go. We seem to have an abundance of attractive ladies. Oh, and word to the wise, the EE has about three of these stomping grounds. I’d check with your sisters if you didn’t want to get caught up in this nonsense.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
Larissa heads off and I take a seat as Taffy slithers out onto the table before me.
“We need to question her, Lottie. Patricia is dead. And if I find out that woman had anything to do with it, I’ll make sure she ends up that way, too.” He hisses each word out like the threat it was meant to be.
I give a quick glance around as I lean in. “That’s not how this works. We solve the case and that’s it. The law takes it from there, and the two of you get whisked off to paradise. You’re welcome.” I blink a quick smile as Princess hops to the other side of the table.
“Ignore him, Lottie,” she mewls. “He was born and bred to kill. He just wants the homicidal spotlight to himself.”
Taffy lifts his head in the air in a threatening manner. “Ignore her, Lottie. She was born and bred to breed, thus the constant yearning for attention.”
Before I say a thing, a tall, dark, and vexingly handsome judge falls in the seat across from me.
“Lemon.” Everett’s lids hood low and his lips curve just enough as he reaches over and kisses the back of my hand. “You look exquisite.”
“You do realize I’m the only girl here in jeans and a sweater.”
“The right jeans and the right sweater on the right girl. Now, why isn’t Noah here with you?”
“Because he thinks it’s too dangerous for me to be anywhere apparently—thus he wouldn’t have let me come. And don’t play innocent. I happen to know you feel the same.”
His lids hood another notch. “That’s because it’s true.”
I lean in. “Are you really having that wall of muscles—Seven follow me everywhere I go? Everywhere?”
“Everywhere.”
“Well then.” I lean back in my seat, more than slightly incensed. “I guess I’ll have to check my shower curtain at night before I use the restroom.”
His lips twitch. “How’s it going with Carlotta? Any more hot wax incidences?”
I make a face. “If there are, I don’t want to know about it. Speaking of things I don’t want to know about…” I lean in and tell him about the nefarious underpinnings about this place.
Everett scours the vicinity. “I knew that, Lemon.”
“What?”
“Yup. It’s not uncommon for the girls who work in the EE to filter through the judicial system. They’ve named the place before.”
I suck in a quick breath. “Everett, this can’t be good for your reputation.”
“It’s fine. I’m here with my wife, remember?”
Princess moans as she pretends to faint. “Lottie, he’s perfect. Just purrfect! Oh, take him home right this minute. I’m sure Carlotta will share her hot wax with you. I can’t take the heat from this man. I just can’t take it.”
Everett’s chest bounces with a laugh, and it’s only then I note we’re still holding hands.
Taffy coils his body around the votive candle in the middle of the table. “Wake me when this nightmare is over, would you?”
Everett nods past me and I turn to see Larissa talking to a tall, dark, and handsome homicide detective before leading him this way.
She giggles as she seats him. “Two dates, Lottie? I think you could teach every one of the girls here a lesson.”
I wrinkle my nose at the thought. “Something tells me some of the girls here are far too familiar with having to handle two men.”
Larissa laughs as she takes off.
But I’m not laughing. In fact, I’m not all that happy with the two men before me.
“You both realize I could have questioned her far more efficiently on my own.”
Noah tips his head to the side. “You do realize that you could have gotten killed on your own as well the night of the murders, or any other night that’s since followed.”
Everett’s brows peak. “You’re being stalked all on your own as well.”
“Fine.” I wave them off. “What’s new with the case, Noah? Any leads on who could have done this?”
Noah’s eyes flit in the direction Larissa took off in. “After you told me about the fact both Jodie and Ruthie claimed to see Larissa speaking to Patricia and Whitney, I decided to seize the security tapes from their bakeries.”
“You did?” I scoot my chair close to his and Princess wedges her fluffy self between us.
“Knowledge is such an aphrodisiac, Lottie,” she purrs. “I bet Carlotta has enough hot wax to go around. Let’s invite the dashing detective to the after-party as well. You know what they say—two’s company, three’s a night to remember.”
My lips twist to the side as I shoot the pesky poltergeist a look.
“Go on, Noah,” I say.
Noah glances to both Everett and me. “Two days before the murders, Larissa was seen paying a visit to both bakeries. She had what looked to be a tense conversation with both Whitney and Patricia in a private area—and it looks as if both women slipped her some cash.”
“What?” I squawk so loud half the restaurant turns our way for a moment, and I hold my breath until the attention subsides. “Oh my goodness, Noah. Do you think she was taking bribes to influence the contest? And if so, why not hit up all the bakers?”
Noah shakes his head. “I don’t know. And I don’t know why she took the money. We’re still investigating. So I would appreciate it if you went easy on any questions you might have for her.”
“Scandalous,” I say.
Everett takes a breath. “Something like this isn’t only scandalous, it’s illegal.”
I bite down on my lower lip as I glance her way. “But is it motive for murder?”
Larissa comes back and we order dinner and drinks. Everett and Noah actually have a real conversation about police procedurals and something to do with budget cuts down at the precinct. Just as their conversation wanders off into sports, I excuse myself for the restroom.
Taffy glides over my shoulders for the ride.
“We’re not headed to the loo, are we, Lottie?”
“Maybe, maybe not. But first, there’s a certain suspect I’d like to question a little further.”
I head to the foyer and Larissa spots me.
“Can I help you, Lottie?” She offers an affable smile.
“Just looking for the restroom.”
“To your right. If anyone asks for a recommendation, just say no. The girls are forever going in there exchanging info on their dates.” Her gaze darts to the ceiling.
“I will. Can I ask if everything’s still on for the Vermont’s Best Baker competition? I mean, two bakers were taken out pretty brutally.”
Her chest depresses with a sigh. “I know it. Isn’t it horrible? I can’t imagine why anyone would want those girls dead.”
Taffy rears his head and hisses at her as if he were about to strike and Larissa jumps a good foot back.
My mouth falls open as does hers, and her eyes are wide with fright as she looks to me.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. “You can see him.”
She shakes her head just barely. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She takes a quick breath and composes herself in an instant. Gone is the frazzled exterior and it’s quickly replaced with the rigid bravado she’s known for. “If you’re speculating the killer is a man, I would have to agree with you. Women don’t typically resort to such violence.”
I shrug a little. “Unless it was a hit.” I decide to go along with it for now. “You know, maybe either Whitney and Patricia made someone angry—maybe they owed someone money.”
Her left cheek flinches as if I struck her.
“I guess anything is possible.” She swallows hard. “The competition is still on, Lottie. We look forward to seeing what you’ll bring to the table.”
My shoulders sag and Taffy nearly slides right off. “Larissa, is there anything at all you could think of that might have been suspicious the night of the murders? Whitney and Patricia were warring it out over cookies. But someone else did this to them. I’ve racked my brain for any idea of what might have gone wrong, but I can’t figure it out. I’d sure sleep better if I knew.”
She glances to Taffy briefly before looking me in the eye. “You and me both.”
My heart thumps wildly because I’m almost certain Larissa is supersensual—unless, of course, my powers are growing, and in doing so giving the rest of the world an opportunity to see the dead as well. Now that would be a disastrously deadly plot twist I have no desire to see come to fruition.
Larissa leans in. “I did see Whitney talking to a dark-haired man. They looked as if they were having a heated discussion about something.” She shrugs. “I spotted the same man talking to Patricia as well.”
That night comes back in snatches. As soon as I came in, I spotted a man with his arms around both their shoulders before taking off and speaking to the other contestants. They sure looked chummy. A thought comes to me.
“Was that Ian Gardner?” I ask. “The accountant?”
She snaps her fingers at me. “That’s the guy. I guess a bunch of bakers use him.” She shrugs. “He seemed sweet, though. I didn’t get any dark vibes about him. I’m generally able to read people pretty well.”
“What did you think of Whitney and Patricia?”
Larissa takes a deep breath, her eyes set to some invisible horizon.
“Whitney was a bit uptight, but she warmed up to me eventually. Patricia was goal-oriented, I’ll give her that.”
Warmed up? Goal-oriented? Something tells me Larissa here was an expert at shaking them both down. But why?
I clear my throat. “I hope you don’t think it’s crass of me to ask, but why the two jobs? I know you’re a celebrated pastry chef.”
She closes her eyes briefly. “If I told you, I’m afraid you’d think it were ridiculous and unbelievable.” She gives a sorrowful chuckle. “Come to think of it, my entire life as of late has become quite unbelievable and not in any good way.” She nods to the kitchen. “I’d better get back to work.” She glances at Taffy before dragging her eyes slowly to mine. “I’ll be by your table shortly to see about dessert.”
