Macaron massacre, p.13
Macaron Massacre, page 13
part #10 of Murder in the Mix Series
Of course, everything is already running smoothly because Lainey’s fabulous wedding planner, Jana March, is a perfectionist who has left no detail unattended to. She’s the oil that keeps the cogs spinning in this wheel headed straight for wedded bliss.
I head back to the refrigerated van that Everett gifted the bakery last fall. It’s a white cargo van with the words Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery, Fine confections, coffee and more! emblazed on either side of it. I have to admit, it makes me smile each time I see it.
No sooner do I lock up the van than I hear the murmur of voices. Probably reporters or volunteers from one of the candidates for the mayoral race.
My mother had the bright idea to hold a mini debate between Mayor Nash and his opponent, Scott Dushane, which will be shown live on local television. Since the B&B isn’t all that big, the event is open to the press and about fifty ticketed constituents, mostly PTA and city council members who will ask the tough questions and hopefully winnow out the best man for the job.
Just because Mayor Nash holds the post doesn’t necessarily convince me he’s the best man for any job. I’ve seen how he drove his marriage into the ground by way of his serial cheating. What’s to stop him from cheating on Honey Hollow behind its back? What if he’s using the campaign funds to fuel some twisted addiction? Or maybe he’s got his hand in the treasury box? What if he is the killer? If poor Chrissy Nash couldn’t trust the scoundrel, why should we?
I’m about to ignore the humming voices coming from the evergreen belt that surrounds the B&B when I spot a familiar shimmering light coming from that direction and decide to head on over instead.
Nell floats happily between Greer Giles and Winston Decker. Nell is grinning from ear to ear, as is Greer, and I’m suddenly suspicious as to why. Greer Giles was killed a few months back, but she’s since decided to eschew paradise and hang out and haunt the B&B with her ancient boy toy Winslow Decker, a farmer who never could figure out how to leave Honey Hollow. Greer looks beautiful per usual with her long dark hair straight as a pin as if she just had a blowout, and Winslow looks dapper in a suit I’ve yet to see him in and a shoestring tie that sings of an era gone by.
“Lottie.” He nods my way. Winslow has always reminded me of an outdoorsy Mathew McConaughey with his dimples and dark blond curly hair. “Nice to see you this fine afternoon. If you’ll excuse me, I have a mayoral race to haunt.”
“Ooh, fun! Go easy on Mayor Nash. The media has pinned Rich Dallas’ murder on him without the benefit of evidence or a trial, and his opponent is eating up every homicidal minute of it.”
He chuckles as he floats in that direction. “Maybe it’s time to even up the score?”
I turn to the ethereal beauties beside me. “So, what’s new?”
Greer flits her eyes to Nell, and the two of them share a conspiring look.
“What?” I suck in a quick breath. “Oh my goodness, the two of you are hiding things from me, aren’t you?”
“No, no,” Greer is quick to deny, shaking her head in a frenetic manner that only leads me to believe the opposite. I’d like to think I know Greer plenty by now, and if I’m right, Greer Giles just spouted a little white lie.
“Fine.” Greer does her best to stomp her foot but to no avail. “Nell was just giving me a little snippet into your future.”
“Nell, you know the future? I can’t believe this. So, that’s how you knew I’d be a mother someday?”
“You will be, but I didn’t need to pry too deep to know that. I was simply telling Greer a few things I overheard.” Her wrinkles smooth out as she glances nervously to the B&B, and I can tell Nell is hesitant to fill me in on all the dirty details of what lies in wait for me.
“What things?”
Nell takes a deep yet unnecessary breath. “I hung around Claret the other night. That man she’s obsessed with is into some pretty dirty dealings.”
“He’s a mob boss,” I add quickly. “Can you believe it? Those people are dangerous. I’m so relieved my mother has nothing at all to do with Rich Dallas or his twisted family. And, believe me, I know how horrible that sounds.”
“Oh, I agree.” Nell shudders at the thought of my mother leashing herself to Rich for life. “Do you think the mob might be involved in Richie’s death?”
“I didn’t think of that, but it would be a perfect way for someone else to keep their hands clean. Hire the mob for a hit.”
Greer clutches at her neck. “But who would put a hit on the poor soul?”
“Who wouldn’t? His wife couldn’t stand him. Both of his daughters had a beef with him. His third daughter might still be an enigma to me, but I have a feeling she’ll be singing a familiar song. Even Meg wanted to slaughter him. And let’s not forget that Mayor Nash and my mother are being expertly pinned with the crime by the voting public. This is just such a nightmare.”
Nell nods as if she’s trying to convince me of something. “Good, Lottie. You’re thinking it through. Now who’s left in your pool of suspects?”
“Rich’s third daughter, Dawn.” I glance back to the B&B as a mass of bodies file in. “I suppose Mayor Nash. Hey? Maybe I can talk to Louie the Lion?” I shake my head. “Scratch that. If he put a hit on somebody, there’s no way he’d confess to it.”
Nell tips her head my way. “Killers rarely do.”
“Lottie?” a male voice shouts from behind, and I turn to see Noah Fox looking every bit as foxy as his surname suggests, and I hate that the thought just flitted through my mind.
“Go on.” Nell ushers me away. “I’ll be roving the premises seeing what I can glean.”
Greer rises a good ten feet into the air. “And I’ll be in the conservatory! I love me a good party!”
I take off for Noah, and he greets me with a warm embrace.
“Are you crashing my sister’s bridal shower?”
“No, I’m crashing the mayoral debate. Only I’m technically not crashing. I’m paid to keep the peace, along with a few deputies.”
“Probably a good idea, all things considering.”
He nods to the woods. “Were you speaking with Nell?”
“And Greer.”
“Greer?” His brows hike into his forehead.
“I may have forgotten to mention that she and her two-hundred-year-old boyfriend are haunting the B&B.”
A laugh barks from him. “So it is haunted.” He slings an arm around my waist as we head into the bed and breakfast. Noah presses his warm eyes into mine before we part ways. “You haunt me, Lottie. In the very best way.” He gives my shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll catch up with you before I leave.”
My heart aches just hearing his words. I watch as he takes off before I stride over to the conservatory. It’s an explosion of lavender and pink flowers, which perfume the room with a scent only heaven could dream up.
At the door sits an easel with a framed wooden chalkboard, about the size of a cutting board, that reads Welcome! Help us celebrate the future Mrs. Donovan!
Bodies swirl inside, well coifed and well perfumed. Every woman here is wearing a summer dress, or a colorful pantsuit, the click of heels persists throughout. In the back, a rose gold Mylar balloon spells out love in fancy cursive letters.
“Well, look who’s here?” Meg shouts my way as she threads her arm through Lainey’s, and they head on over.
“Lottie?” Lainey looks a touched stunned to see me. She crimps her lips a moment and offers Meg a barely-there shake of the head.
“What?” I ask, clearly apprised of the fact Lainey is trying to keep something from me. First Nell and Greer and now Meg and Lainey? I’m not liking this variation on a theme.
Meg barks out a laugh. “I may have told Lainey that your gift to the happy couple was to keep your distance. And guess what, Lot? She looked relieved!”
My mouth falls open as I look to my older questionably wiser sister. “Lainey? Do you want me to leave?”
“Leave? What! No.” She takes up my hand and moves us as far away from Meg as possible. “Did you see all of these beautiful gifts?” She walks us briskly by a wall of boxes wrapped in every shade of pastel. “And how can I not love these macaron towers? Lottie? Six? You really outdid yourself.” She lunges over me with a firm embrace.
“It was the least I could do. You didn’t want a cake. Oh, and speaking of the cake, I drew some sketches last night I’d love to go over with you for the wedding.”
“You bet.” She wrinkles her nose at the door. “I’d better mingle. Forest’s sisters just showed up. Let’s just say they want to sink their paws into my wedding. Jana and I have been trying to bat them away with my proverbial bouquet for two weeks now. I’d better say hello or I’ll hear about it.”
“Go on,” I say as she takes off, and another familiar face comes my way—my own.
“Hello, Carlotta. You’ve been keeping a low profile. I suspect Mayor Nash’s campaign has kept you good and busy?” And I for one am thankful. Not that Carlotta and I don’t get along, but Carlotta has a way of, well, complicating things. Hey? Maybe we’re more alike than I realize?
She scowls as she looks to the door. “I’ve had it with Mayor Nash. Let it be known I loathe that man. I hope he nosedives in the debate this afternoon.”
“Wow, what did he ever do to you? Let me guess. No donuts in the volunteer room?”
“Oh, he’s got those. And whatever else you’re selling. Your mother has furnished us with enough sweet treats to line Honey Lake with. He’s just, I don’t know—not good for your mother.”
My mouth falls open. “Is he hitting on you? I knew he was no good. Once a cad, always a cad. That man is the next to be evicted out of my mother’s life.”
“You guessed it.” She gives a wistful shake of the head. “And if he thinks he’s getting something out of me, he’s got another thing coming.” She snatches a macaron off one of the many colorful cookie towers strewn around the room and takes off for mayoral pastures.
Mom bops up, dancing away to the soft rock playing lightly over the speakers.
“Isn’t everything just perfect?” She wraps an arm around my shoulders as we take it all in. “Oh, I just can’t wait for you and Meg to experience this as well. I’m so ready for this next phase of your lives and for my grandchildren.” She lands a hand over my tummy. “I know you’ve decried the rumors, but how I wish they were true. Could you please get that kind judge to gift me a grandbaby or two? Ooh—I know! You can have twins. Double the pleasure for half the time in maternity clothes,” she sings that last part as if trying to entice me.
“Not happening any time soon. I think I’ll let Lainey blaze a trail in the baby department. And who knows? Maybe Hook will propose and you’ll have two married daughters within a year? He and Meg are getting pretty serious.”
“And how about you? Are you and Noah getting serious? Ooh, sorry.” She catches herself as her fingers cover her lips. “I meant Everett.”
“We are definitely about as serious as you can get.” I flash my bling her way, and a primal cry rips from her as if I just plucked a kidney out of her back with a butter knife.
“Carlotta Lemon!” She yanks my hand forward. “How dare you spring this on me as if it were no big deal? My God, look at the size of that rock! Oh, Lottie, this is an antique platinum setting. I can tell. I’m very good at these things.”
“You are gifted. But I’m pulling your leg, sort of. It’s a long story, but I’m just holding onto this for his mother. And as soon as I figure out a way to give it back, I will.”
A slew of reporters swarm the room, and Meg is quick to redirect them, but not before they blind us with a barrage of flashes all directed at my mother.
The tallest in the bunch cranes his neck our way. “How does it feel to be dating a killer?”
And just like that, Meg employs her wrestling moves, and it looks as if she’s taking him all the way to the front door. Good for her. I hope Noah looks the other way when she assaults the guy.
“The nerve!” I say. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes.” My mother closes her eyes as she waves it off. “I’ve been putting up with this ever since that tragic day. Oh, Lottie, we need to find the killer before voting day. Numbers are really beginning to dwindle for Harry. I just hate that Rich had to go and die right there at the rally.”
“Mother! Do you realize how heartless that sounds? Whatever you do, don’t repeat any of that to another human being. And I can promise you—I’m going to get to the bottom of this. I don’t want anyone putting you through more turmoil.”
“Thank you.” She dabs the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. “I didn’t mean to sound so cold. A part of me misses him just as deeply as I missed your father.”
“Is there anything at all you can think of that might help with the case? Did Rich have enemies? Scratch that.” I know the answer. Did he have friends would have been more to the point. “Why did he stop paying his ex and cut off finances to his daughters abruptly after all these years? I mean, I know it was time—his daughters are grown, after all, but I just wondered if maybe he had money problems.”
Mom’s lips twitch as she gives the room a sideways glance. “I didn’t want to say anything—you know, embarrass him posthumously, but Rich Dallas was living off fumes for the last solid year.” Her face crumbles as she clutches onto my hands. “Rich had a terrible gambling problem. Underground poker,” she mouths the words. “But just a week or so before he was brutally murdered, he bragged about some big win that was going to change his world. He thought I was leaving him because he was broke. You know I would never do that, Lottie. I would never.” She offers a sullen smile before excusing herself and disappearing into the crowd.
So, Rich gambled away all of his earnings. And he recently won big? Very, very interesting.
I’m about to dive into the crowd myself when Nell crops up, her forehead wrinkled with concern. “I just heard the strangest thing in the other room.”
“What was it?” I hiss, pulling her in by the hand, not at all concerned of what it might look like that I’m speaking to thin air.
“Mayor Nash and his opponent, Scott something or other, had a private chat before the debate began, and Winslow and I thought it best we listen in. Of course, they mentioned the deadly incident.”
“What did they say?”
“Mayor Nash said something or the other about it. Taking a guess that it could have been a robbery gone wrong. And Scott said that he heard that the killer asked Louie the Lion and his men to put a hit out on Richie.”
“I knew it!”
Nell’s body ignites in sparks, and she shakes her head. “Scott said he heard Louie said no. Whoever put in the request was left to their own devices.”
“Either they found someone else or they did it themselves. Or Louie was lying. Interesting. I’ll try to speak with Scott Dushane myself. And I’ll share that with Noah as soon as I can. Thank you, Nell.” I pull her in for a brief embrace and soak in the feel of her body—even if she’s more of an idea than a corporal frame, she still feels very much real.
Nell sticks around and watches as we have a big lunch catered by her very own restaurant, the Honey Pot Diner. She watches as we eat macarons, and I sit with Keelie, soaking in every moment of my sister’s shining moment. I cry with Lainey as she opens a gift from my mother, my sister, and me—a tiny blue heart made from the fabric of our father’s favorite dress shirt.
“Thank you,” she weeps over us. “It will be my something blue at the wedding. I’ll tuck it into my bouquet.” She brushes the tears from her glowing hazel eyes. “This day was perfect. Thank you to you all.” She looks to Meg and me and takes a deep breath. “And now I ask the two of you to give me one more gift for my wedding. Will the two of you please be my matrons of honor?”
Meg and I burst into tears ourselves as we enthusiastically accept the offer.
“Group hug!” Mom sings as she embraces the three of us and pulls us into a holy huddle.
Lainey tips her mouth toward my ear and whispers, “Nothing can go wrong for my wedding, Lottie. Please. Nothing must go wrong.”
I know what she means. I realize that my invitation comes with great apprehension.
I pull back and nod to my beautiful sister. “It won’t. I promise.”
And how I hope I didn’t just shed a lie.
Chapter 15
The bridal shower was an outrageous success. Lainey’s condo is a virtual maze of boxes that snakes from the living room to the kitchen as evidenced by the pictures she’s showing Keelie, Bear, and me. The bakery is at a lull. It’s almost closing time. Lainey stopped by after a full day at the library, and she’s still glowing from the first in a string of memorable events in her life.
“Lainey”—I shake my head in wonder as I stare at the endless packages piled in her foyer—“where are you going to put all this stuff?”
“Oh”—she flicks her wrist as if it were no big deal—“it’s out with the old and in with the new.”
Bear grunts, “So, Forest is moving in with you?”
“Nope. I’m selling my condo, and he’s selling his cabin, his spare truck, and the dingy he calls a boat. We’re buying a house.”
Keelie gasps. “Please tell me you’re not leaving Honey Hollow.”
“No way,” she says to my relief. “We’re house-hunting right here in town. Forest and I are hoping to buy a starter before the wedding. I mean, I realize the timing might not be perfect, with escrow and everything that can go wrong with that—but at or around the time of our wedding, we should be able to move into our very first home!”
The three of us break out into congratulatory cheers.
“That’s wonderful.” I lunge over the counter and pull her in for a quick embrace. “So much is happening for you. I honestly couldn’t be happier if it were me.”
