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

“We do not need to get into their good graces. They’re glorified prostitutes,” I tell her. “And there might be more juice in the case. I have a feeling Fiona is just getting started. I’ll let you know what I glean.”

Everett’s eyes grow wild once again. “Lemon,” he says my name so fast it’s alarming. “I’m the judge in the case. And as a juror in my courtroom, I can find a way to silence you.”

A husky laugh belts from Carlotta as she wags the pickle in my face, and Noah groans at the sight.

“I’m with Everett.” Noah blows out a breath. “I vote we change the subject. You’ve got a doctor’s appointment later this week, Lot. I’m hoping for another ultrasound. What do you think it is? A boy or a girl? I’m betting you have an inkling.”

“I think it’s a”—a blonde ditz walking this way catches my attention—“Cormack?”

“Mmm, no thanks,” Noah says. “Don’t have one of those.”

Everett takes a breath. “Unfortunately we’re about to.”

Cormack gives a scrutinizing look to the crowd before she spots us and trots on over in her sky-high heels. Her blonde curls bob like springs over her shoulders, and that short silver dress is refracting the light with all of the charm of a nuclear detonation.

“Big Boss!” She steals a chair from the table next to us just as a man with a goatee was about to sit in it. “Isn’t this exciting? I just spoke to Lorena Lazzari, and she pointed me right in this direction to hunt down the killer.” She shoots a sour look my way. “I’d tell you who my suspect is, but Lucille here is liable to cramp my criminal stopping style.” She paws at Noah’s arm. “This night has the potential to be downright dangerous. I won’t lie, No-No. I feel a heck of a lot safer now that I know you’re here to make the arrest. We make quite the team, don’t we?”

“No-No?” I muse as Noah squeezes his eyes shut a moment. I think I prefer Big Boss.

“Cormack, you’re right.” He sighs. “This night does have the potential to be downright dangerous. And that’s why both you and Lottie need to stay put right here. If anyone questions this guy, it’s going to be me.”

A squeaking noise emits from her, and judging by the look on her face, she doesn’t plan on staying put for long.

She glances over to Everett. “Essex.” She frowns. “It’s nice seeing you as always. I suppose you take the same Neanderthal position as your brother.”

“We’re not brothers,” he’s quick to correct. “And I don’t agree with him on a lot of things, with the exception of this topic.” He looks my way. “Neither of you should be hunting down a dangerous mobster. This guy comes from another state altogether. He’s already on the edge from hanging out in hostile enemy territory. And he’s probably trigger-happy. Things can go sideways pretty darn quick. And if he did kill Flo, he’s not going to look too kindly on anyone who’s looking to turn him in to the sheriff’s department. So for the sake of the three of you—and I’m counting the unwilling participant in all of this, the baby—I implore you not to do it.”

“Lottie Lemon!” Flo trots over, clip-clopping in her stilettos as if she had to, her dark crunchy hair bobbing back and forth. “I got him, and he’s alone!” She waves me over, and I quickly jump out of my seat.

“Where is he?” I give a quick look around as she points to a white leather sofa near the back where the pink and blue lights swirl just past the dance floor.

Both Carlotta and Cormack trot up next to me like a pair of unwanted bookends.

Carlotta chuckles. “You should have seen the look on Sexy’s face when you bolted right after he gave his trigger-happy speech. Don’t worry. I told him God tests us all in different ways and it takes an unruly woman like you to test a man like him. Foxy’s trying to convince him to leave you by the wayside and to go find a woman he can control with his gavel.”

I roll my eyes at that one just as Cormack jabs me on the arm with her elbow.

“There he is on the sofa,” Cormack whispers. “The one with the dark sunglasses and glass of whiskey in his hand. Stay back, Linda. I’m the pro here.” She scoots on ahead, and I yank her back by the wrist.

“What do you mean you’re the pro?” I snip. “I’m the one with the track record here, not you. I’ve got over two dozen homicide cases under my belt. All you have is the hours your father paid someone to overlook. You and I both know you never put in the time to earn that PI license of yours. You’re dangerous, Cormack. You’re going to get yourself killed.”

Carlotta nods. “And you can get the rest of us killed, too. Why don’t you go sit in Foxy’s lap and nosh on Romano cheese and prosciutto while Lot Lot dances with the devil?”

My stomach rumbles at the thought of stepping away from perfectly good Romano and prosciutto, and for a moment it’s like Sofie’s Choice trying to figure out which direction to go in.

That aura around Flo ignites a fiery shade of red. “Get a move on, Lottie. He’s getting twitchy. I know that greasy smile budding on his lips. He’s getting hungry, and it’s not for prosciutto.”

She takes me by the hand and pulls me along until I’m seated right next to Nicky Knuckles and those dark shades that hide his sly eyes. He smells nice, thick spiced cologne, his hair is short and spikey, he’s dressed in all white, white jeans, white jean jacket, white shirt peeking out from underneath—and sitting on this white sofa gives him sort