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

to blink away the tears. Everett can’t go to prison. I’d leave the country with him if I had to.

How do you like that? I’d have mercy on Everett all day long, but I’ve spent the last couple of years mercilessly handing killers over to the sheriff’s department. But in Everett’s defense, he certainly didn’t kill anybody.

The only person I want to see behind bars any time soon is the person who thought it was a good idea to poison Verity Prescott—and the monster who is threatening my family via those wicked messages they’re sending to Evie.

And prison is exactly where they’ll be sooner than later.

Everett

Fiona called again and scheduled another meet-up at the bakery.

I didn’t tell Lemon why she was stopping by. There’s so much already spinning through her mind, I hate to redirect the focus on me and the looming legal debacle I’ve found myself in. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. She should focus on something positive like that. Definitely not me or whatever is about to transpire this afternoon. But I know exactly what Fiona is going to want to discuss.

Seeing that she’s not here yet, I’m seated right up front at the counter with Lemon, while her mother and sisters sit to my right ordering decorations for the Valentine’s Day spectacle Cormack and Cressida are throwing. And whenever Lemon takes off to tend to the customers, Miranda and her daughters quickly add in a few decorations for the surprise baby shower they’re throwing Lemon next month. I’ll admit, it warms my heart to see them so excited about the baby.

Miranda turns my way. “Has Lottie even hinted at what kind of a crib she’d like?”

“Not yet,” I tell her. “But I can have her look at a few. Don’t worry about the crib, though. I don’t mind picking that up for her.”

“Thank goodness that’s all you’ll have to buy.” Lainey shakes her head at the screen. “You won’t believe how fast this baby stuff can add up.”

“Oh”—Miranda looks my way again—“have you painted the nursery?”

“Not yet.” I wince. “But I’m on it. We’ve already narrowed down the color.”

Meg scowls over at me. “Don’t wait until the last minute. Knowing my sister, she’ll freak out if the house smells like fumes when it’s time to bring the baby home. She might run away to Noah’s if you pull a stunt like that.”

“Good point.” And God knows I wouldn’t want that.

I toast Meg with my coffee as a show of appreciation.

“Don’t forget”—Lainey swipes a raspberry tart off the tray before her—“we’ve got class tonight at the hospital. We’ll be getting down to the nitty-gritty, so you won’t want to miss this one.”

“There’s no way I’m missing it.”

But will I be missing a majority of this baby’s childhood? That I cannot promise.

A slew of customers walk in and along with them is Juliet Jackowski from the knitting shop across the street.

Lemon waves her over. “Hey, Juliet. How about some coffee and a few raspberry tarts?” She cringes as the words speed from her mouth. “Sorry. You probably don’t want anything to do with those.”

“I would love those.” The kind brunette brushes it off. “I know there’s nothing wrong with your baking, Lottie.” She catches a glimpse of the laptop in front of Meg. “Ah, I see you’re visiting the Craft Emporium. That’s like my second home.”

“Mine, too,” Lainey chimes. “Have you seen the Valentine’s Day display in their store? It made me want to buy it all up and redecorate my house in little pink hearts.”

The woman laughs. “Actually, I haven’t seen the display. I spend my mornings doing troubleshooting for the tech department. It’s funny because the knitting shop doesn’t feel nearly as much mine as that place does. But then, I’ve been with the Craft Emporium for the last eight years.”

Miranda shakes her head. “I don’t blame you for not wanting to leave. I bet you get a nifty little discount. If that were me, I’d end up turning in my paycheck right back to them at the end of the week.”

Juliet laughs at the thought. “Oh, I do enough damage online. Believe me.”

Lainey turns her way. “And I bet with that employee discount, on top of their eighty percent off sales, it practically feels as if you’re stealing from them.”

“That is exactly what it feels like I’m doing.”

Lemon hands the woman a cup of coffee and a small bag full of treats. “Are you heading to the Rendezvous tomorrow night for their big Valentine’s Day bash?”

Juliet nods. “It’s a tribute to one of my best friends in the world. I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I’ll see you all there.”

She takes off, letting in an icy breeze, and a woman with an equally icy heart steps inside, but then, that icy heart is exactly why I’ve selected her to represent me.

“Essex,” she calls my name out and nods to a table by the window, and I dutifully follow her over. Fiona has her hair, lips, and demeanor in a knot.

“Well?” she asks as we take a seat. “I need to let the DA know if you’re going to accept the deal. We have two hours left, Essex. I don’t appreciate working this close to the wire. But for you, it appears, I make concessions.”

Lemon shows up with a plate full of raspberry tarts and a cup of coffee for each of us.

“What’s happening?” She takes a seat next to me, and I take in her sugary scent.

I’ve been memorizing everything about her these last few weeks—her scent, her different smiles, the way she looks up at me as if I were an immovable boulder she found safety in. I might need to remember it in the event they cart me off one day soon.

“Well?” Her eyes enlarge as she looks my way. “One of you, tell me what’s happening?”

I take a deep breath. “Today is the deadline to give the DA his answer.”

Her lips part, and I can see them trembling. “For the deal?”

Fiona nods.