Pecan Pie Predicament (Murder in the Mix #27) - Addison Moore Page 0,20
speed. It’s a good gig. But I guess I’m here now to help bring down Hannah’s killer. And no thanks to your abilities, it’s been nothing but a buffet ever since. I’ll have to thank Hannah for choosing November to bite the big one. The food this time of year is phenomenal.”
“Well, she didn’t come by it naturally. She was murdered,” I point out. “Which brings me to this seedy bar. I’m here to question a suspect. See that singer on stage? You wouldn’t happen to recognize her, would you?”
He gives a deliberate nod without looking over. “Maizy Burton. Met her about a month before that rogue workout sent me to the other side. Hannah and I had just called it quits, and I was thinking about asking Maizy out on a date.”
“Sorry to hear it.”
“Don’t be.” He glances over at the stage and shrugs. “I’m seeing a woman who used to joust in the original Olympics—Greece circa 776 B.C. It turns out, she’s my soulmate after all.”
“Wow,” I marvel. “I guess there was no way you could have met her during your stay on Earth.”
“Nope.” He laughs at the thought. “I guess you could say our timing was way off. And that’s actually true for those people who never seem to meet the right person. Their timing is off by a century or two. As it stands, every person has a soulmate.”
Carlotta nods. “Lot Lot’s got two, and they’re both here at the very same time. You should have seen them in the bedroom last night.”
I close my eyes a moment because I can’t quite refute it.
He cringes. “I can only surmise that’s causing a problem or two. But don’t worry. I’ve heard good things from others who have experienced similar circumstances. And don’t forget, there’s always a reason for everything.”
A reason for having both Everett and Noah in my life? In my heart? Now this I’d love to hear. When my Grandma Nell came back to give me a special visit from beyond the veil last June, she let me know that’s what Everett and Noah were for me, my two soulmates.
I’m about to drill Barry on the ins and outs of having two soulmates when Carlotta spikes up in her seat before I can ask a single heart-shaped question.
“And there’s my hot date.” She irons out her clothes with her hands. “He’s less soulmate and more cellmate, but I don’t discriminate against the soon-to-be incarcerated.” She nods to the door, and I look over to see Mayor Harry Nash, aka my biological father, bouncing from foot to foot, already dancing to the music. Every last part of me exhales with relief at the sight of him. It’s a known fact Carlotta and Harry have done this role-playing bit in the past, but seeing that they also have an open relationship, Lefty could have just as easily been the real deal.
She jumps out of her seat to greet him. “Don’t blow our cover, Lot.”
Mayor Nash has gray stubble for hair with a prominent bald spot in the middle of his scalp, light eyes with a mischievous twinkle in them, and an equally naughty smile. He’s handsome without a doubt, but there is definitely a boyishness about him, and all of the above works in concert to land him in hot water time and time again.
He makes his way over and offers me a warm embrace before winking over at Carlotta.
“Chee Chee.” He nods her way. “I see you’ve brought your daughter along. I suppose doing ten years in solitary confinement would warrant a visit or two.”
“Chee Chee?” I smack my lips over at Carlotta. “Never mind,” I say, looking back at Mayor Nash. “I’m here with Everett. You kids stay safe.” Mayor Nash has no idea about the fact that Carlotta and I can spot a ghost with the best of them. Outside of Carlotta, only Everett and Noah are in on our transmundane secret. There are a few others, but they’re not in town, or in the state for that matter. I’m about to make a beeline back to the table when Maizy’s song comes to a conclusion and the music filtering through the speakers isn’t coming from the live band anymore.
Maizy steps down and heads for the bar with her cheeks piqued with color, and a laugh caught in her mouth as if she’s just had the best time on a wild rollercoaster. Her blonde hair is teased and curled, but her bangs are still fringing