Raspberry Tart Terror (Murder in the Mix Book 30) Unknown (christmas read aloud .TXT) 📖

charm to convince the guards to let me speak to my brother. Yes, I very much played the family card just so I could get through those iron doors, and before I know it, I’m back in a cell with him, a far smaller cell with a single bed.

Everett looks like a deconstructed version of himself in his government-issued tan jumpsuit. He surrendered his Italian tailored suit to Lottie a few days ago, citing it was too good for this place. I happen to think he’s too good for this place as well.

“What do you want?” he grunts as he slowly brings himself to a sitting position.

“Don’t get up on my account. The bed looks cozy.”

“Yeah? Well, I’m not inviting you to join me.” Everett slings his legs over the side of mattress as he glares at me with those violently blue eyes. That scruff on his face is so dark and furry he looks like a feral version of himself.

“There was another murder.”

“What?” he barks it out. “Is Lemon okay? Evie?”

“Yes, they’re both fine.” I quickly fill him in on the details I know.

Everett takes a deep breath as he lands his elbows on his knees. “I take it you’re not on the case.”

“Nope. But I’m hoping that will change.”

“With your luck it will.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I’ve never been lucky, and you know it.”

Everett shoots me a look. “When you step outside of this cell in five minutes, I’d ask you to reevaluate. In fact, the pity visit ends now. Go walk your dog, or watch a basketball game, or hang out at the bakery. There’s nothing you can do here.”

“I know. I just—I want you to know you won’t be going through any of this alone. I talked to Fiona, and she said she’d try again to press the right buttons to get you out on bail.”

“Bail buys time.” His lips pull back a notch, and the look of fury in his eyes is unmistakable. “If this keeps going in the trajectory it is, then I won’t have much of that left on the outside.”

“It’s going to get better, Everett. This entire mess is going to somehow miraculously go away. I’m going to make sure that happens.”

“Noah,” he says it quietly as if he pitied me on some level. “I’m getting a trial by jury. They’re going to see my face on the security footage, and it’s going to erase any shadow of a doubt that I did this.”

I turn my head for a moment because I can’t stand to look him in the eye.

He’s right. I don’t see why I’m here trying to rain sunshine down over him while he drowns in a river I unleashed.

“I’m fixing this,” the words grit through my teeth as I struggle to stifle my emotions. “I made a promise to you, and I’m going to keep it. You don’t take the fall for me. And don’t give me that I was there crap. We both know I got the ball rolling. I was there, too. It was me who did this. It should be me sitting in this cell, on that bed.”

His chest pumps with a quiet laugh. “You were in Lemon’s bed last night, weren’t you?”

My lips part to contest the idea, but I know better. Everett is a human lie detector. It’s useless to even try.

“I was reading to the baby and Lottie fell asleep,” I tell him. “I may have fallen asleep, too.”

“Thought so.” He’s right back to slaughtering me with that look in his eyes, and then with his next breath he softens. “Don’t worry. I’m not holding it against you. What’s on the agenda tonight? Candles? Lobster dinner? Maybe you’ll throw in a foot rub and roses?”

“I’m taking her to the hospital at five-thirty. It’s night one of her birthing class, and she’ll need at least one of her coaches there with her.”

A deep groan comes from him before he lets out a hard breath.

“Okay,” he says it low as if it wasn’t for my ears at all. “Get out of here, Noah.”

I rise to my feet and signal for the guard.

“I’ll be back,” I tell him.

“Thanks for the warning,” he growls. “Noah?” he calls out and I turn around. “Thank you for taking care of Lemon and Evie. I owe you one.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I, on the other hand, owe you everything.”

I take off and bump into Ivy on my way out. She has her hair in the perennial topknot, with that decidedly annoyed look on her face that seems ever present as she leans against the counter that leads to our offices.

“You paid him a visit, I suppose?” She fans herself with the papers in her hand and stretches a sinister smile.

“I sure did. And I wish I could take his place.” He’s taking mine.

“Don’t be so torn up about it. I’m sure a little fancy footwork with the legal team he’s procured will land him on this side of bars once again. I’d think you’d be thrilled to take advantage of your time with Lottie.” She frowns when she says her name. “That is what you want, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I want. But not like this. Not with him locked up in a cage.” I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment. “Lottie is still in a relationship with him.”

She nods. “And you’re on the sidelines.” Ivy takes a step in and purses her lips up at me.

I’ve only ever seen Ivy as my co-worker, and I have no plans on changing that in any way. Lottie let me know plenty of times that she thinks Ivy has a thing for me, and I’m hoping to God that’s not the case. The last thing I want is for things to be weird between Ivy and me. I spend more time with Ivy during the day than I do with anyone.

“Noah,” she whispers my name low in a throaty register I’m not all that familiar with. “I think