Pecan Pie Predicament (Murder in the Mix #27) - Addison Moore Page 0,6
and his eyes are darting around the crowd as if he couldn’t take in the scene fast enough. “I’m going to case every inch of this place for anything that looks suspicious.” He glances to Everett. “Don’t you dare let her out of your sight. Do not screw this up, buddy. She’s carrying my child.”
Everett’s chest widens. “Are you telling me not to screw this up? How about you actually intercept a homicide before it happens for once? Every time Lemon has one of these ghostly sightings, you managed to get lost until the deed is done. And after that? She has to put on her thinking cap and drill down the suspects until she lands the killer at your feet. So how about this, Noah. How about you don’t screw this up for once? Because there is a very good possibility my wife is carrying my child.”
About ten different people turn our way and I pull a tight smile.
“Well, I’m a hundred percent sure I’m carrying my child,” I tell the two of them. “Noah, do what you have to do. Everett and I will do a little ghost hunting.” I thread my arm through my handsome husband’s. “Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, off to find a ghost we go.”
We make a beeline for the Bootyful Booty booth and muscle our way to the front where I spot Autumn and Hot Hannah in what looks to be some sort of a standoff.
“Hannah?” I do my best to manufacture a bright smile since my natural inclination is to frown at the woman. I can’t help it. I’ve seen more of her rock-solid rump in the past few months than I have mine, and, sadly, so have Noah and Everett. “Congratulations on all the success.”
Hannah Beckham’s dark hair is swept back into its requisite wisp of a ponytail. Her skin glows a deep olive color and her eyes are clear and alert. She’s pretty in an obvious way, and that mischievous aura about her only adds to her intrigue.
“Thanks, Lottie.” She winks over at Everett. “Judge Baxter, so nice to see you here today.” She hands him a clear plastic cup filled with pink goo. “You’re a hero for storming back into that burning building to look for Noah. This one’s on me.”
“Thank you.” He takes a sip and moans. “Wow, this is delicious.”
I can’t help but scowl up at him, and his lips flex my way with a silent apology.
“Yes,” I say, wrapping an arm around him tightly. “My husband is quite the hero.” And you can bet your last bootylicious dollar I put the emphasis on the words my husband.
Hannah shakes her head in disbelief. “What are the two of you going to do now that your homes have burned down to the ground?”
Autumn gasps. “Are you serious?”
Hannah gives a quick nod. “We’re neighbors over on Country Cottage Road, and on Halloween night both of their homes went up in flames. And they both burned down to rubble in hours. It was amazing to witness.” She gives a nervous glance our way. “I mean, horrific, of course. I heard it was a lightning strike to the electrical wires that caused the blaze. A lightning strike. What are the odds of that happening?”
Pretty high when you throw in that whole horrible Hearst curse nightmare I was embroiled in these past few weeks. And as much as I want to say that I don’t believe in curses, I’ve got a mountain of ash that could contest it.
Autumn presses a hand to her chest. “I’m so sorry, Lottie. I’ll tell you what. In addition to the article I’m writing on the street fair, I’ll do one that spotlights your business in particular. It’s the least I can do to help you.”
“Really? I’m blown away. Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“Judge Baxter?” Hannah reaches over and runs her finger over Everett’s arm, and my eyes bulge twice their size at the sight. There’s going to be a homicide, all right, and I’m going to play the part of the killer. “If you need a place to stay, I have several empty bedrooms. It’s just me, all alone in that great big house.” She twirls her ponytail with her fingers. “I get so lonely after dark. I could really use some company.”
Autumn gags and chokes as if she were affronted for me.
She looks my way. “Aren’t the two of you married?”
Before I can answer, Hannah’s blonde counterpart bops over in her equally revealing short short everything. She’s the