Pecan Pie Predicament (Murder in the Mix #27) - Addison Moore Page 0,70
that thrilled to hear how I went about obtaining my evidence. Come to think of it, neither was Everett.
It’s the very next day, the last day of the Taste of Honey Hollow Street Fair, and it seems the entire Eastern Seaboard has swamped the area. The brisk fall air has everyone bundled in coats and scarves, and the air holds the scent of sugar and vanilla competing with the tangy scent of pizza from Mangias and the thick scent of turkey from the Honey Pot Diner. The trees are all but skeletal as the wind picks up, and you can hear the crunch of leaves going off in a steady rhythm as the crowd moves along Main Street.
I’ve set up a booth right outside of my shop, and despite the fact I have a myriad of mouthwatering sweet treats set about, it seems the only baked goods anyone is interested in purchasing are my pecan pies. They’re going quick, whole and by the slice, even though Carlotta is here with her questionable fliers trying to drum up business for her massage mishap.
“A Whole Lotta Touchin’!” she bellows at the unsuspecting crowd before shoving a flier into the hand of a surly looking man who just stepped up to my booth. “Buy a slice of pie and get a free rubdown in my van!”
His face brightens as he takes it from her, but the woman he’s with snaps it out of his hand and beats him over the arm with it before tossing it back at Carlotta and hauling him away.
Lily chuckles. “That’s three men in a row that have gotten a beatdown because of you, Carlotta.”
“That’s funny,” I say. “I feel like doing a beatdown of my own.” I glower over at my older look-alike. “Carlotta, I’m going to have to ask you to take your flyer someplace else. My customers are being assaulted because of them.”
“Fine,” she snips. “I’ll go stand over at the Honey Pot Diner’s booth. Meg and Keelie appreciate my company. I think rubdowns go better with a turkey platter anyway.”
Autumn steps up with a laugh caught in her throat. “I thought she was very colorful.”
A laugh of my own rumbles through my chest. “That’s a very nice way to put it. Pie?”
“Yes, please—pecan. I can’t get enough. Do you think you’ll be free in about twenty minutes to do that interview? I can do it right here while you’re serving the customers, I don’t mind. I had a blast observing these past few weeks.”
“You bet. And I’m glad you had a good time.” I hand a slice of pecan pie to her just as someone across the way shouts the words everything half off into a bullhorn.
Autumn and I look that way and find Maizy behind the Bootyful Booty booth with a giant red slash over the prices.
“I guess she’s looking to get rid of inventory.” I sigh at the thought.
“Looks that way.” Autumn takes a few steps in that direction. “I should go over and help her. Things are so hard for her right now. Hannah dying actually might put her in the black again.”
A moment of stunned silence crops up as I turn back to look at her.
“Forgive my horrible humor.” She shudders. “I think all these sweet treats I’ve been drowning in are eating my brain cells. I’ll catch up with you in a little bit.”
I spot Noah watching me pensively from across the street, and I ask Lily to keep an eye on the booth while I head his way.
“Keeping an eye on yours truly.” I bat my lashes at him. “You’re not really going to have me arrested, are you?”
His dimples dig in, but there’s not a smile in sight. “No, but I should. Lottie, you do realize breaking and entering is an illegal offense.”
“That’s the thing, I didn’t break in. I’m practically an owner of the B&B, and I may or may not have heard the water running. The place could have flooded.” I take a breath. “Okay, so none of that is true, but if I was caught, that would have been my cover.”
“It’s a good one.” He does a quick sweep of my body. “Do you have Ethel with you?”
“Nope. I knew you’d be here, and I have no plans on leaving my booth with the exception of speaking to you.”
“I’m flattered,” he says, but that less than amused look on his face tells me he’s not all that impressed.
“Okay, fine.” I apologize again while looking into