Pecan Pie Predicament (Murder in the Mix #27) - Addison Moore Page 0,22
there’s some supernatural trivia for you.
“Here’s hoping.” I shrug over at Maizy. “So what do you think put you in such a financial pickle? I’m a compulsive shopper myself.” Not really, unless, of course, baking supplies are involved. Meg once accused me of getting a high off going to the restaurant supply store. She wasn’t wrong. But trust me when I say, there’s nothing as exhilarating as large tubs of sprinkles in every color and size. And I may have a tiny addiction when it comes to cake pans. Need one in the shape of a sand castle? I’ve got it. Christmas tree? Pumpkin? Dickens’ village? Triple check.
Maizy’s lips seal themselves shut as she cuts a hard look to the stage. “Let’s just say the booty biz wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it.” She knocks back the rest of her drink, and I can feel the window closing on this good time. Talk about a one-eighty. Her mood went from giddy to brooding in one fell swoop. But then, I guess financial trouble could do that to just about anyone.
Barry lifts a brow my way. “Maybe shift the focus back to the deceased. Hannah always did have trouble holding onto a nickel herself.”
“What about Hannah? Rumor had it, she always did have trouble holding onto a nickel.” And apparently her life.
Maizy laughs at the thought. “You got that right. She may have had a hard body, but she had a soft mind when it came to business. She wasn’t exactly the wizard of Wall Street. Let’s just say she had a way of using what she had to get what she wanted.”
A husky laugh gurgles from Barry. “You got that right, sister. Boy, do I miss her using what she had—to give me what I wanted.”
I make a face. “Sounds surprising. I mean, she seemed like a real go-getter. So you’re saying Hannah had financial troubles, too?”
Maizy shakes her head emphatically. “No way. Hannah was a snake charmer who was able to live pretty high on the hog because of it. She just didn’t manage things like she should have.”
The rest of the band hops back on stage, and the sound of the drums beating softly catches her attention.
“Looks like my break is over.” She shrugs my way. “I’d better run.”
“Oh right.” I tense up a moment as a thousand more questions beg to spill from me at once.
Barry ticks his head her way. “Maybe get to the point. Ask her if she clobbered Hannah over the head.”
“Maizy?” I take a step her way. “What do you think happened to Hannah yesterday?”
Her lips pull into a line. “From the looks of it, someone tainted something she ingested.”
I lean in. “Have they announced that it’s a homicide investigation?”
“I don’t need anyone to tell me that.” Her lids drop a notch. “Let’s just say I’ve got more than a feeling.”
“She did it.” Barry lands a ghostly pat on my back. “Wrap it up and take her in. I can be back in paradise for my next fitness session with Corinne. That’s my soulmate.” He gets moony-eyed just at the mention of her name.
The sound of an electric guitar cuing up sends Maizy twitching.
“I’m sorry to ask.” I wrinkle my nose her way. “But who do you think could have done something like that to poor Hannah?”
She takes a deep breath. “I wouldn’t call her poor Hannah, but if I were looking into the case, I’d go sniffing around Reese Underwood. That woman gave us more problems than you could shake a stick at. The way she was coming at us, you would think one of us stole her man from under her.” Her lips cinch with a knowing smile, and it makes me wonder if one of them did just that. “Gotta run. Get that hunky hubby of yours on the dance floor, girl, and shake your booty. It’s good for both you and the baby.” She takes off for the stage with a wink.
“I will,” I call out. “As soon as I have my fill of fried butter.”
“They’ve got fried butter?” Barry looks momentarily affronted.
“Right there.” I point to the table where Everett is swarmed with friendly, yet slightly felonious faces—most of them of the female persuasion—and Barry floats off like the poltergeist he is.
I attempt to do the same as I weave my way through the crowd already swaying to the song Maizy is belting out. Try as I might