it counts—on the bottom line. And I’m not thrilled about it either. If only I could figure out a way to boot you out of Honey Hollow for good.”
“Hey?” My mouth falls open. “I was here first.”
“Who cares?” She makes a face. “I’m sure the entire town would breathe easier if you moved.”
“Well, my house burned down, and I’m still not budging. I don’t care if the town comes at me with pitchforks. Honey Hollow is my home.”
Brit huffs, “The town should start a petition to oust you. If I wasn’t so bogged down with trying to restart my life, I’d lead the charge.”
Carlotta chuckles. “You could always get Cormack to pinch-hit for you. That girl has wanted Lot Lot to boot scoot out of town for the last two years.”
Cormack Featherby is Noah’s favorite stalker—or more to the point, only stalker. She’s stalked Everett plenty, too. That’s where the stalking game started, but once Noah stole her from under him she’s been a devout worshipper at the altar of Noah Corbin Fox.
Brit turns her way. “Not a bad idea. I think I’ll pay her a visit this afternoon.”
“Carlotta,” I grouse. “Now look what your featherheaded idea has done.”
Britney waves me off. “Don’t listen to her, Carlotta. You’re a brilliant woman. And by the way, those chin hairs look fab on you. Way to show the whole town that women want equal rights in every way.”
“Hear that, Lot?” Carlotta gives her whiskers a quick scratch. “I’m doing this for all womankind. I might just have to take this beyond No-Shave November. My facial scruff might just change the world.”
“It’s changing my appetite,” I mutter.
Brit nods my way. “We’ll talk soon.” She zips out of the bakery, and I’m quick to follow along.
“Wait a minute,” I say. “What about this Reese woman? How well do you know her? She could be the killer for all we know.”
Brit twists her lips as she considers this, and an icy breeze chills me to the bone.
“Reese had her issues with Hannah, but who in the fitness industry didn’t? And before you point your witchy wand my way, I didn’t do it either.”
“Great. Let me prove it. I’ll get your gym working again and you won’t have to worry about your bottom line anymore. Just whatever you do, don’t say a word to Cormack about starting some petition to oust me from town. I promise, I’m not cursed.”
A cackle of a scream goes off behind me, and I turn to find the blonde featherhead herself looking as if she just won the petition-based lottery.
“Why didn’t I think of that?” Cormack shrieks as she turns and bolts to do her dirty work.
“Great,” I say, turning back toward Brit, but she’s already across the street.
The door to Fanatical Fitness opens and out steps a man in a coat with a fedora on his head, and I gasp at the sight.
It’s him! The man who was roughing up Hot Hannah just before she bit the big one. He darts into a red sedan and speeds off before I can catch his license plate.
Wait a minute… He was coming out of Fanatical Fitness. That means Reese must know him. Britney just mentioned that Reese had issues with Hannah.
Huh.
It looks as if I just narrowed down the field of which suspect to question next.
Reese Underwood, you can be as fanatically fit as you want.
I’m coming for you.
Chapter 7
Reese Underwood left her gym, Fanatical Fitness, at precisely three in the afternoon to head to Hollyhock. Her uncle is one of the farmers who runs the Sweet Corn and Cow Chip Festival, and she does her part to help out. How very benevolent of her.
I didn’t glean this information on my own. Once Lily Swanson heard me trying to scheme my way over to Fanatical Fitness with a platter of my deep-fried butter patties, she told me not to bother. It turns out, Lily is a Fanatical Fitness member and overheard Reese talking about the festival this morning.
As soon as I saw Reese take off for cow chip-laden pastures, I knew where I was destined to spend the rest of the afternoon. Believe me, I didn’t have to say cow chip twice before Carlotta was ready and raring to go. And since it coincided with the time to pick Evie up from school, my sweet daughter asked if she could tag along and bring her best friend, Dash. Of course, I said the more the merrier.
Hollyhock is the next town over, and