Murder in the Mix Boxed Set 28-30: Cozy Mystery Addison Moore (the reading strategies book .txt) 📖

And it will.

Cosmic justice demands it.

Chapter 9

The Ashford County Courthouse is quickly becoming the bane of my existence.

The irony in that being it’s the very nexus of what Everett loves, or at least in part.

Everett and I clear security and head in the general direction of his courtroom. He came in a little later than usual so I wouldn’t have to sit around for hours waiting for the trial to start. He usually likes to pour over his cases, and any briefings he may have, but he did it all remotely from home this morning. He says he plans on doing a lot of that once he gets back to work after the baby is born.

Both Noah and Everett have told me they plan on taking paternal time off regardless of whose baby it turns out to be. When I think back to last June, a part of me wants to cry despite the fact it’s sponsored what will be one of the greatest joys in my life.

Back in June, I had just told Noah that I was going to give Everett and me another shot—upon his insistence, but it was ultimately my decision. Let’s just say Noah and I shared a rather heated goodbye.

And well, Everett and I shared a rather heated hello all within a very short span of time. And now, in just a little over two months, I’ll be a mother. As excited as I am to finally meet my little sugar cookie, I’m terrified of what the outcome of those paternal results will do to one of those men. Both Noah and Everett already love this child so much. They have spent nights reading children’s books right to my belly. They’re emotionally invested, and the last thing I want to do is emotionally devastate one of them.

Everett pulls me to the side and takes up both my hands in his. His dark coat makes his eyes sing an electric blue, and that smile flirting on his lips is all for me.

“You’re going to do amazing, Lemon.” He lands a kiss to my lips and lingers. “I’m not going to lie, having you in my courtroom is the first treat of the year.”

I make a face. “Everett, you know I’ve been nothing but a curse to you.”

“Don’t go dark on me.”

“Dark? You and I both saw the news this morning.”

Right there on our television set, with Evie in the room no less, we watched as a crowd gathered around the mortuary in Leeds due to the disappearance of the body belonging to mafia princess, Angel Face Flo. To make matters worse, they showed Noah and his partner down at the homicide division, Ivy Fairbanks, as they were headed inside to inspect the scene. Ivy is a leggy redhead who isn’t so hot on me, but I’m still willing to bet money is very hot for Noah.

“How do you like that?” I whisper. “Noah is investigating the very crime he perpetrated. It’s all coming to a very dark full circle. I’m cursed, I tell you.”

Everett shakes his head. “I’m going to chalk that cursed talk up to all those hormones going haywire inside of you. You have been nothing but a blessing. You’re my wife. I jumped in with both feet and I’m still in. I’ll always be in. Court will be fun, interesting in the least. How about afterwards I take you somewhere nice?”

A spray of hot pink stars erupts to our left, and Florenza Canelli appears in all her bubblegum pink glory.

“How about you take your wife out to a nice place in Scooter Springs?” She bumps her ghostly hip to his. “I think it’s high time we pin down Nicky and show him our knuckles.”

“Florenza?” Everett turns to his right. “Maybe I’ll do that.”

“You will?” The words swim from me with a tiny laugh embedded in them.

“Only because I have a feeling you’re already headed that way.” His brows bounce.

“Essex?” a female voice pitches from behind, and we spot Fiona Dagmeyer speeding this way, briefcase in hand. Her dark hair is pulled back into a low bun and holds a mirror shine. She’s donned a blue blazer and matching pencil skirt, and her red-rimmed glasses match her crimson lips. “What’s this I hear you may not be the father of this child?” She scoffs as if she was just let in on this little bit of gossip. “Sounds like Lolita Lemon strikes again.”

“Watch your step, Fiona. She’s my wife,” Everett says it with an edge. “And, regardless of the genetics of this baby, it’s fully mine. Is there anything else counsel would like clarification on?”

“I’ll admit, I’m mystified.” She hikes a brow and examines the two of us. “For as long as I’ve known you, Essex, I’ve yet to see you so smitten. I suppose congratulations are in order.” She squints my way. “And if I’m not mistaken, you’ve been involved in more than one homicide investigation out in Honey Hollow. Something tells me you’re going to need a defense attorney in your future. Just know I’m only a phone call away.” She sheds a wicked smile to Everett. “Or perhaps it’s you who will need my services.” She takes off with a spring in her step.

“Well”—I take a deep breath—“she may not be wrong. At least we have counsel lined up.”

“We won’t need her.” He dots my forehead with a kiss. “See you inside. It’s going to be a wild one.”

A wild one.

It seems to be we’re always involved in something wild.

An hour later, I’m locked in that jury box seated next to Annie Steal Your Man with her bright low-cut red dress and blonde hair teased so high she’s genuinely closer to God. And to my right is a man with thick glasses—we’re talking Coke bottoms that make you dizzy just glancing at them. He’s thin, wearing a baggy suit, looks mid-forties at most, and has a halo worth of hair and lots of facial