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

Candy belts out a throaty laugh while looking my way. “I think I like you.” She lifts a brow my way.

“Well, thank you,” I tell her. “That was quite an event at the Evergreen right up until misfortune struck. Did you know Gloria well?”

She takes a deep breath. “I knew her well enough. She was the chair of the Christmas Angels, so our paths crossed quite a bit. She really did have a heart for the organization.” She looks momentarily puzzled by the fact.

“You say that almost as if it was out of character for her.”

“Scissors, I win!” Carlotta shouts, and I glance over to find her playing rock, paper, scissors with the two featherheads across from us.

Kringle hops down onto the table, glowing like a blue flame while his belly jiggles every which way.

“Ask her why she killed my Glo?” he insists while twitching his nose into the rim of Cressida’s glass.

Candy lifts her shoulders a notch. “Gloria wasn’t the nicest person. She certainly had a way about her. But a person like that craves control and power. I don’t think the actual charity mattered so long as she was at the helm of it. I guess you could say she was a leader by nature.”

“Well, she was the chairman, you mentioned. I guess she found her niche,” I say. “I ran into Elodie Frost at my mother’s B&B yesterday and she said she knew Gloria.” I lean in a notch in hopes Candy here will know what secrets of Elodie’s Gloria was keeping. Elodie hinted to as much at that magical mishap at my mother’s B&B.

Candy nods. “Elodie is a part of the angels, too. They didn’t get along too well, though, she and Gloria. They had a past, I guess.”

Kringle hops my way. “Elodie mentioned they worked together.”

“That’s right,” I say. “Elodie said they worked together at a chocolate company.”

Kringle moans while holding his stomach. “How I wish we were at a chocolatiers.”

Me too.

“Aunt May’s.” Candy makes a face. “That’s right. I almost forgot about that.” She shrugs. “Gloria retired from the place. I’m not sure if Elodie still works there, though.”

“Candy”—I lean in another notch as Carlotta’s hand game gets ever more animated—“I saw Gloria outright slap Elodie over the face the night of the silent auction. Things must have been really heated between the two of them. Do you know what that was about?”

Her lips part, and she quickly gazes off behind me as if trying to piece it together.

“I knew things were getting heated between the two of them, but I had no idea they were getting physical.” She presses a hand to her chest. “Anyway, I’m sure it wasn’t that big of a deal. Just typical Gloria blowing her top over nothing. For the most part, Elodie and Gloria were friends.”

“Elodie implied Gloria had a secret of hers she was holding. I was just wondering if there was something Elodie didn’t want to get out.”

Kringle hops back and forth. “Good one, Lottie. I bet Elodie is the killer.”

Candy shakes her head. “Look, I like Elodie. And I can guarantee you she’s not the killer. She’s not capable of murder.” She sighs as she grazes her fingernails over the table. “Elodie is like your everyday mom. All she talks about is shopping and showing off the recent deals she’s gotten. That woman couldn’t hurt a fly. The real killer in my opinion is Eb.” She nods emphatically as if I should know who he is.

“Who’s Eb?”

“He was dressed as Santa that night. His name is Ebenezer Clement. And I think he and Gloria were engaged or dating. Who knows, who cares? All I know is that poor man was in way over his head.”

“What makes you think he killed her?”

Her lips twist as she glances side to side. “Gloria was a shrew to him toward the end. They weren’t getting along—something to do about honesty and money. They would argue loud enough at our meetings for anyone in the vicinity to hear. Apparently, some of the donations to the charity went missing and Eb caught it. I don’t know, maybe Gloria was stealing them? Maybe Gloria finally caught him running around with other women? Eb is a notorious flirt. He’s playing Santa everywhere you turn this month, and don’t think he’s not goosing all the gorgeous women.”

Carlotta grunts, “What I wouldn’t do to be goosed by a man in a Santa suit.”

Candy bubbles with a laugh. “Well, it’s your lucky night.”

The music changes tempo just as the waitress sets down a culinary architectural wonder in front of me.

“Holy Father Christmas!” I shout as I struggle to take in this tower of mac and cheese glory.

Candy laughs once again. “Didn’t I tell you the secret menu was the way to go? That’s mac and cheese on a bed of corn chips with burnt end ribs, pastrami crumble, bacon, and onion rings layered throughout. And it’s all topped off with a generous layer of nacho cheese.”

“I’m in heaven,” I whisper mostly to myself.

“I’m in heaven,” Kringle says, diving right into the middle of it, and I quickly dig my fork into the dish as it begins to shake and wobble. But I don’t care about the fact I’m splitting this deliciousness with a starving specter. Kringle and I make quick work of it. But before I can take the very last bite, Cormack plucks me out of my seat as the entire establishment gathers around the stage at the base of the dance floor.

A sultry version of “Santa Baby” begins to play as the lights spasm in shades of red and green. And floating down from the rafters, holding onto what appears to be thick red cables are four rather beefy looking men in Santa suits. The pulley system they’re holding onto raises and lowers them as they swing open their robes every now and again, flashing their