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

And well, I meddled, because I apparently don’t have a stitch of common sense. But in my defense, I have an unquenchable thirst for justice that just had to get quenched.

Grandma Nell told me all about the Hearst curse and why the woman who set the curse on that family gave it to them. She was also transmundane and her powers fell under the category of a beguiler, a person who has the ability to charm, as in the ability to charm a whirlwind to come forth, objects to move at will, people to bend to your will, earthquakes, fires, and I’m sure an entire slew of things I’m not that familiar with.

“Anyway, I’m finally ready to admit I’m just plain unlucky. I’m my own walking curse.” I hold my belly as I sniff back tears. “I bet if I left Honey Hollow, it would break this horrible homicide streak we’re having. Thank God it’s just once a month and not once a week. I don’t think my sanity could handle it if the frequency increased.”

“You mean your bakery couldn’t handle it. Way to space ’em out, Lot. I’ll get Lily on the horn and tell her to start ordering more supplies for those tarts of terror. I have a feeling this will be your best seller yet. They look as if they’re smeared with blood.”

I take a moment to glower at her as she speeds off with her phone in hand.

Lily, the woman she’s talking about, is my right-hand gal at the bakery. And it’s true, she does like to be notified right away when one of these carnal catastrophes takes place so she can accommodate the anticipated orders, and sadly it will be a boon for the bakery.

Cormack and Cressida run up, both clad in the same obnoxious hue they dared to color the floor in.

“Do something, Lisa,” Cormack growls.

Fun fact: for as long as I can remember, neither of these nitwits has cared to get my name straight.

Cressida leans in with her pale eyes squinted over at me. Both women are blonde, petite, tall, and far too wealthy for their own obnoxious britches.

“You did this, didn’t you?” Cressida snips. “You did this just to spite us because you can’t stand the fact your mother handed over the reins to this dump to a couple of competent businesswomen and not you.”

My mouth falls open and I gag on a river of words I can’t seem to get out.

“You stole this place from my mother,” I seethe. I choose to leave out the fact I’m a competent businesswoman myself. “And I’m here to buy it back. Name your price, I’ll make sure you get it.” When Grandma Nell passed away, she left me half of Honey Hollow and then some. I have plenty of money to throw at these two nitwits. And believe me, I’d love to wrap that money around a brick as I toss it at them.

Cormack pushes Cressida back. “It’s not for sale.” She flashes a greedy grin my way. “This is our baby now. And your mother works for us.”

“As do I,” a rather deep female voice chirps as Suze Fox, Noah’s peach of a mother, steps up between Cormack and Cressida.

She has donned some sort of a pink frock, too, and that sinister smile on her face lets me know she’s very much on their side. Suze is a large-boned woman with short vanilla-colored hair that swoops across her eyes in the front.

Back in December, I discovered that Suze might be transmundane. However, she doesn’t seem to be supersensual like me. Instead, I think she might be the aforementioned beguiler with the supernatural ability to charm. Not that Suze has any charm. Regardless, the beguiler’s charm has more to do with charming objects and forces of nature to work in his or her favor. I really don’t know much about it, though. Suze won’t admit to anything.

Suffice it to say, she doesn’t care for me too much in general.

I spot Noah glancing this way before leaving the man in the ill-fitting suit and making a beeline my way.

The man in the suit, Chad, has his hands deep in his pockets as he looks over at Verity’s body with tears swelling in his eyes. Interesting how he’s gone from heckler to mourner all in a single bound. But I can’t judge him. I’ve been angry with people before, too. Although I’ve never been that big of a jerk. At least I hope I haven’t.

Noah nods to his mother and the two blonde nitwits.

“What did I miss?” His words come out rough as he wraps an arm around what’s left of my waist.

Suze gives a quick sniff. “I think you’re missing the point of all these lessons the universe is trying to show you, son. This woman has been nothing but a lemon indeed in your life. She’s burned her life to the ground, and that of poor Essex’s. And don’t get me started on the killing spree you’ve allowed her to carry on with. But now that she’s cost you your job at the force, I’m sure she’ll be behind bars soon enough herself.” She narrows her eyes on me. “Your homicidal free ride is over, Lottie. Once you have that baby, I’m sure the proper father won’t mind raising it on his own. That is, if he isn’t doing time right along with you.”

“Enough, Mother.” Noah pulls me in close. “I won’t have you disparaging Lottie that way. In fact, if any of you have something demeaning to say to her, I’m warning you now to stay away or you’ll have to deal with me.” He looks to Cormack and Cressida. “And her name is Lottie. Get it straight.”

Both Cormack and Cressida choke and sputter—mostly Cormack because she’s got the hots for Noah something fierce, and I truly can’t blame her. Cressida is still pining for Everett, and Lord knows I can’t blame her either.

Noah whisks me away a few steps as we observe