Pecan Pie Predicament (Murder in the Mix #27) - Addison Moore Page 0,71
the crowd for signs of Everett. He said he needed to meet up with someone at the site of his old house. He’s been dealing with people all month concerning those piles of rubble we once called home. I know he was working to get a debris removal company to come out and clear up the charred mess left behind.
“Come here.” Noah softens, and he takes up my hand. “I just want you safe, Lot. If you would have alerted me to what you were up to, I would have gone up with you.”
“Really?”
He winces. “Maybe.”
We share a quick laugh.
Noah examines me a moment. “So you really think Reese did this?”
“Don’t you?” I ask, amazed he had to pose the question. “I mean, I don’t think the Mad Hatter did this.”
He makes a face. “No, but he might be working on a homicide as we speak. I saw him here not too long ago.”
My hand covers my mouth. “I will fix this for you, Noah, I promise.”
A dull chuckle comes from him. “Do not attempt anything. I have Ivy combing the area. As soon as she spots him, I’m going to have a talk with him myself. Don’t worry. I won’t turn the tables on you.”
I wrap my arm over my belly. “You had better not. Anyway, he’s off my list as far as being the killer goes. I’m pretty sure of it. There’s Maizy. She said she all but lost her shirt while investing in the Bootyful shakes. I know she wasn’t thrilled with Hannah’s lack of business acumen, but then she did follow her lead.”
Noah nods. “So her motive is clear. She was angry about the financial pickle Hannah put her in. What about Brit? Are we letting her off the hook?” He winks as if to dismiss the question entirely.
“Yes. But to be truthful, if Reese didn’t have so much physical evidence lying around, I don’t think I’d be so quick to take her off the hook. As for why the Mad Hatter pretended not to know of Reese, well, I’m guessing it’s against his policy to divulge such sensitive information. But I saw him go into her gym, twice.”
“Okay, how about Autumn? She knew Hannah.”
I shrug. “She said they were friends. It was one of the first things she said to me right after she introduced herself. I know she’s here on assignment. And she just got a divorce. Oh, and she mentioned she and her husband used to stay up at our lodge.”
His left cheek hikes a notch. “We should stay at our lodge. What do you say, Lot? A babymoon, just you and me. You know, like a honeymoon before the baby comes. I read all about it in one of those books.”
“A babymoon? Just you and me? I think my husband would have a thing or two to say about it.”
“He’s always getting in the way, isn’t he? Maybe I should pay the Mad Hatter a visit.” His phone rings, and he frowns down at the screen. “That’s Ivy. I’d better take this.”
“You know where to find me.” I step back into the sea of people, and before I know it, I’ve drifted over to the Fanatical Fitness booth. I take a deep breath a moment, debating whether or not I should talk to Reese. Britney is busy with a few prospective customers as they go over a pricing sheet for her gym, but Reese is busy pouring the contents of a blender into small sample size cups. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and those pink streaks of hers are heavily pronounced.
She glances my way. “Want one?” She holds out a small cup full of a pink frothy smoothie, and I head over and take it.
“Thank you,” I say. “Your hair looks great. I was just looking at it. Is it hard to maintain?”
“This mop?” She gives her ponytail and wiggle. “Nah. I hit the salon every three weeks like clockwork. It’s my way of spoiling myself. I’m thinking of dyeing it back to my natural color for Christmas. My mother would be thrilled. Sort of my gift to her. My mother’s side of the family is a bit stuffy, and she’s not looking forward to the ridicule.” She gives an eye roll as if she couldn’t care less.
“Couldn’t you just take them out? I’ve never had extensions, but I’m guessing you could have them removed.”
“I’ve never had extensions either. This is my hair. It took my poor stylist forever