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

them to poison Verity’s food. And to think they’re still on the loose. I don’t know about you, but I can’t sleep at night knowing there’s a killer out there.”

Says the killer.

Teddy moans, “Lottie, she’s genuinely afraid. I know my sweet Sugar, and what she’s saying is true.”

Sugar plucks off her bangles and puts them back on over and over again.

“Sorry.” She holds one up. “It’s a nervous habit. I tend to put them down and walk away from them, too. Thankfully, they’re just costume jewelry. I don’t trust myself with the real deal.”

“Hear that?” Teddy’s voice pitches with an ounce of hope. “She could have set one down and the killer could have picked it up and framed her.”

I shake my head at the adorable little cutie.

In fact, I’ll put an end to that theory right now.

“Sugar, the night Verity died, I saw you step out the back door of the conservatory to have a word with her. Can I ask what that final conversation was about?”

She inches back. “I didn’t go out to speak with her. It was freezing out that night.”

“Yes, you did. You were right behind the building with her.”

She shakes her head. “That wasn’t me. But you’re right, I did see Verity head outside. I think I saw Juliet go with her.”

“Juliet?” both Teddy and I say in unison.

She nods. “Juliet was fuming. Something about the Craft Emporium and the risk of an internal review.” She shrugs. “I never could figure out why Verity kept that job. You’d think after the celebrity status she was achieving, a job as tech support at a craft shop would be small potatoes.”

“Did you hear anything else between them?”

She takes a breath as she looks to the ceiling. “No, but I was in the Craft Emporium 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.”