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

yesterday picking up some last-minute Valentine’s Day decorations for my shop, and I overheard the manager telling the cashier that they’re shutting down their internet sales. Too many returns. I guess Juliet will be losing her job. Good thing she picked up that knit shop just in time. She never was into working at her family’s canning business.”

“Canning business?”

She nods. “Jax Farms. I suppose if the Social Knitwork bites the dust, she’ll still have a fallback.”

“I’m glad she’ll be okay.” I frown over at Sugar. She’s really working overtime trying to pull the wool over my eyes. “Sugar, how is the internet connection at the bookstore for you?” Maybe that will jar her a little. Lord knows I want to see her stumble. Sugar has to be the killer. I’ve all but cleared everyone else. The IP address that was threatening Evie was coming right from her shop.

“It’s great.” Her expression softens. “Are you having glitches with yours, too?

Just log onto my Wi-Fi. It’s listed under Head over Heels. The password is Teddy and then the number nine.” She chuckles, and Teddy coos at the thought. “I know what you’re thinking. Juliet asked me the very same thing when I gave her the password. No, Teddy wasn’t some hot guy I’m still pining after. That was the name of the koala bear Verity took from me. But I’ve probably mentioned that to you already. What I wouldn’t do to kiss that furry little face once again.”

“I can arrange that,” Teddy says, swinging from my neck to hers. “Let me lay one on you. It’s been a long time, my old friend.” Teddy presses her face to Sugar’s cheek and her ghostly frame glows an enchanting shade of pink.

Sugar gasps as she presses a hand to her chest. “You know, I must be getting tired. I could swear I just felt that same fuzzy feeling against my cheek that I used to when Teddy kissed me. I’d better get something to drink. I’ll see you later, Lottie.”

She takes off, and I stare after her a moment too long.

“What is it, Lottie?” Teddy floats back into my arms.

“Sugar just said that Juliet knew the password,” I whisper mostly to myself. “Her family owns a canning company…and the technical support center for Craft Emporium is shutting down. Something is rotten here.”

I pull out my phone and dig up the picture I took the night of the murder of the gold bangle and the unfinished tart that did Verity in.

I enlarge the picture of the tart as far as my phone will allow and note the coloring of the filling isn’t a cheery bright red like it is in the baker’s jam I use. It’s not only dark, but there are whole raspberries embedded in the dessert as well.

“This isn’t baker’s jam at all,” I pant. “It’s a preserve.”

I look up and spot Juliet heading for the exit with a handful of my raspberry tarts, and I suddenly have a few questions to ask her.

Lottie

The air is frigid as I step out in front of what was once my mother’s B&B. The flashing pink lights that surround the signage blinds me momentarily as I give a quick sweep of the vicinity, and then I spot her.

“There she is, Lottie,” Teddy says as we stare out at the parking lot. “I’d best find Carlotta before we proceed. Don’t do a thing until I get back. I have a feeling we need to leave this to the professionals.” She floats right through the mahogany doors behind me and back into the B&B, but I don’t dare take my eyes off that woman.

The car in front of Juliet blinks to life, and a surge of panic fills me.

“Juliet,” I call out, waddling my way through the snowy night as I head her way. The parking lot is scraped clean of any snow or ice, so I speed it along until I make it over to the front of the lot nearest the entry to the B&B.

“Lottie?” She studies me a moment with concern. “What’s the matter? Is it the baby? Do you need a ride to the hospital?”

“Oh no.” A small laugh bumps from me. “The baby’s fine.” Sugar Cookie gives me a swift kick as if to assert just that.

“I think I just saw your stomach jump,” she coos. “That was the sweetest thing. You’re very lucky, Lottie.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” I look at the brunette before me. She’s so thin she’s almost frail, so very unassuming. “Juliet.” I sigh. “I heard the internet was getting glitchy on Main Street.”

“What’s that?” She turns her ear my way. “Maybe a squirrel has chewed through a few of your wires? I’m not having any problems with the internet.”

“I didn’t think you were,” I say with a note of disappointment. “You’ve been logging into Sugar’s Wi-Fi because you wanted to set her up.” My blood begins to boil. My adrenaline surges. “It was you. How dare you mess with my family.” The overpowering urge to shake her grips me. “You were the one who slipped Verity’s phone into Evie’s purse that night. And then you pretended to be Verity while you slipped her messages, giving her instructions on what to do. Why? Why would you do that to her?”

A car drives up to us a little too quickly and parks in haste just shy of where we’re standing.

“Lemon?” Everett runs out and wraps his arms around me. “What’s going on?”

“I’m fine,” I say, pulling myself out of his grasp. “She did it, Everett. Juliet is the one who’s been texting Evie. She sent those threats.”

She shakes her head. “You have no proof.”

“Lemon?” Everett whispers for my ears only.

I pump a short-lived smile her way. “Your family owns a canning company. Jax Farms. You must know a thing or two about botulism.”

Her mouth falls open as she looks from me to Everett.

“Judge Baxter, I think your wife isn’t feeling well. Maybe you should take her home.”

“I