Pecan Pie Predicament (Murder in the Mix #27) - Addison Moore Page 0,76

sure Reese was caught?”

A dull laugh rattles her chest. “Oh, Lottie. You are almost as brilliant as I am. I did hire a hitman, but not to kill Hannah. That was going to be the fun part for me. I just wanted him to slow her down enough where I could get her alone. He was supposed to injure her weeks ago. I was going to pay her a visit in the hospital, make it look as if she got a lethal dose of her pain meds. It would have been so much neater that way. And yes, I had him visit Reese at her place of business. This town is laced with security cameras. I had to make it look good. But the Mad Hatter likes to take his time. Let’s just say I wasn’t nearly as patient as he was. He showed up the day of the street fair and told me he wasn’t going through with it. I told him that was fine, I’d take care of things myself. I just needed him to visit that stupid gym a couple of times. Walk in and walk out was all he needed to do, and he did it.” She shrugs. “And I did what I needed to do, just like I did with my husband.”

Barry howls. “She killed the poor guy, too!”

More like poor louse.

My mouth falls open as I inch my way toward the door in the back.

“You killed him,” I pant. “And you killed her. You really are having the last laugh, aren’t you?”

She snatches a knife off the counter and spikes it down near her thigh. Her jaw is tight, her eyes set to mine.

“I’m not laughing, Lottie. I can’t until I know you won’t say a thing. I didn’t want to do this, but you’ve left me no choice.”

She makes a dash in my direction, and I stumble toward the edge of the island and end up pinning myself to the wall in an effort to keep from falling.

Autumn raises the knife over her head as an anguished cry escapes her throat.

“Why?” she cries right into my face. “Why did you make me do this to you?”

“Barry,” I hiss. “Do something.”

Barry lets out a hard moan. “Lottie, if I intervene, I’ll miss out on saying goodbye to Greer.”

If looks could kill, Barry Honeycutt would have just died a thousand painful deaths.

“Do the right thing,” I hiss his way. “Or I’ll find a way to make you suffer.”

Autumn shakes her head. “Are you talking to me?”

The trampling of footsteps heads this way as two husky voices shout my name at once.

“Freeze!” Noah thunders as he points his gun our way.

But Everett doesn’t freeze. He swipes Autumn away from me as quick as lightning and tosses the knife from her hand.

Noah lets out a primal howl as he sinks to the floor. He pulls out his cuffs and glides them to Everett before clutching at his stomach and rolling around in agony.

Detective Ivy Fairbanks runs into the kitchen, gun drawn and panting.

“What the hell?” She looks down at Noah as Everett cuffs Autumn with her hands behind her back. “Was he shot?”

“No,” I say, falling to the side. “I think he might have been poisoned.”

Chapter 18

Poisoned.

Noah Corbin Fox was whisked away to Honey Hollow General Hospital and had to have his stomach pumped just to get the toxins out. The Mad Hatter, I’m presuming, laced Noah’s coffee with fentanyl. He was very good at following orders, even though I didn’t actually give them. Luckily for Noah, he wasn’t given a lethal dose. It also turns out, the Mad Hatter’s poisoning skills are still a little rusty.

But Everett’s handcuffing skills were not. Autumn Nelson nee Frasier was arrested and booked for the murders of both Charles Nelson and Hannah Beckham. And now all of Honey Hollow can breathe a sigh of relief and focus on the holiday at hand.

Thanksgiving Day is filled with all the culinary hustle and bustle we could hope for. Mom invited us all down to the B&B, where we took over the grand dining room and filled it to the brim with friends and family. Mom invited Keelie’s mother, Becca, and Keelie’s twin, Naomi. Of course, Keelie, Bear, and their little baby Bear are here. Lainey, Forest, and Josie, Meg, Mayor Nash, Suze, Alex, and Wiley. Eliza and Meghan came out as well, and Noah, Everett, Evie, Carlotta, and I are front and center.

I’ve had other tasty Thanksgiving dinners before where I ate