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

“Juror fifteen, have you ever been in a relationship with a man that’s ended on less than savory terms?”

Annie snorts. “Which one of us hasn’t?” She glances to Everett then the prosecutor. “But I’ve never held it against the male population. I would never let one bad apple ruin the bunch.”

Fiona cocks her head. “Let’s say your sister wanted to date the man. Would you feel protective over her in that situation?”

“You bet your one thousand dollar stilettoes I would. There’s no way I’d let that louse get anywhere near my baby sister.”

Fiona’s blood red lips stretch tightly. “That’s all.” She clip-clops her way back to her seat, and a breath hitches in my throat.

“Wait,” I call after her, and she turns around. “What about me? I mean, don’t you want to ask me any questions?”

Fiona’s brows hike as her face fills with amusement. “No, I don’t. Judge Baxter vouched for you himself. Who am I to contest wise counsel?” Her lips curve as if she took pleasure in the fact she was cementing my fate for God knows how long.

Poop. The window is closing on my opportunity to get out of this potential month-long legal debacle. I need to start clawing at my neck, at Annie’s neck, at everyone’s neck, or eating potted plants at random to get myself out of this mess. And just my luck, there’s not a potted plant in sight.

Fiona and Mr. Wolfe confer before walking up to Everett, and the three of them hem and haw while sneaking glances our way.

Mr. Wolfe steps this way and dismisses about half of the jury pool before Everett taps his gavel lightly over the marble counter in front of him as he nods our way.

“I’ll see the rest of you bright and early tomorrow for opening statements.” Everett offers me the same stern expression as he gives everyone else. “Once the trial begins, you’re not to speak to anyone regarding what’s said inside this courtroom. Don’t pass any judgments until you’ve been instructed to do so. And defer your right to weigh the evidence until you have all of the information. You are dismissed for the day.” He sounds his gavel once again, and the jurors begin to file out.

Annie gives both Everett and Mr. Wolfe a cheeky wave before heading on out while shaking her hips so hard you’d think her legs were disjointing with every step.

Mr. Wolfe shakes his head at Everett. “I’ve got to give it to you, Judge Baxter. You could have dismissed your wife.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Everett says without missing a beat.

Mr. Wolfe chuckles. “Believe me, I was only following your lead. I’ll see you both in the morning. And congratulations on the baby.” He takes off, and it’s Fiona alone with Everett and me.

“Well, well, Essex”—she muses—“it looks as if you finally found the right flavor lollipop.”

“It’s Lottie.” I don’t mind getting snippy with her since she’s just as culpable for me remaining in the jury pool as Everett is.

“As far as I’m concerned, you’re juror number twenty-three.” She grins over at Everett. “We’ll have drinks when this is all over. It’ll be just like old times.” She winks as she takes off and I scoff in her wake.

“What does she mean ‘just like old times’?” I’m still choking on a river of words as Everett steps down and takes me by the hand.

“I’m not interested in old times.” His lids hood low as his lips curve with wicked intent. “Besides, I had a first happen today. I had very naughty fantasies about a juror sitting in my courtroom. I should be ashamed.” That budding smile widens because clearly he is not.

“You should be punished.” I glide my hand down the front of his chest. “And disrobed. Now take me to your chambers so I can do both.”

Everett does just that, and I make good on both of those threats.

Everett Baxter is going to rue the day he locked me into a month-long sentence in the confines of his courtroom, but for now he’s very much enjoying himself.

I never said I was going to make him suffer.

But someone has to pay.

And whoever killed Angel Face Flo is as good a candidate as any.

Chapter 6

“You got picked for jury duty?” Carlotta riots as if it were the greatest offense, and in a way it is.

Everett and I stopped off at the bakery on the way home, and he’s seated at a table noshing on a stack of waffles while going over plans for our new home with Bear while I regale Keelie, Carlotta, Evie, and Flo by default, with tales from the legal eagle’s nest.

Keelie clucks her tongue. “I’m sorry, Lottie. You should have squawked like a chicken or started taking your clothes off. Or puking. You are with child. You’ve gotta learn to use this sort of thing to your advantage.”

Carlotta shakes her head as she looks over at Everett. “I can’t believe Sexy is holding you against your will. I think it’s high time you withhold something yourself.”

“That’s gross,” Evie says as she cuts off a piece of that golden waffle in front of her, doused in fresh Vermont maple syrup. “But if Dad tried to pull a stunt like that with me, I’d never speak to him again. We all know he had the power to send you back to the bakery.”

“No way, Lot.” Flo breaks off a piece of Evie’s waffle, and to my horror pops it into her mouth, so I quickly mimic the motion before both Keelie and Evie realize that jury duty is the least of my problems. “You keep that man satisfied. In fact, you’d better work double time at it. When you’ve got a hot commodity like that, you have to work twice as hard to keep him from straying.”

“Mom.” Evie looks as if she wants to kick me. “Get your own waffle. I’m half-starved after the day