Fudgy Fatality: A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 10 by Kathleen Suzette (good books for high schoolers .txt) 📗

“Threatened her how? Did she say?” I went back to weighing his fudge.

He shook his head. “No, I just figured it was one of those things where she warned her to stay away from her sales accounts. Why? Do you think Carla might have had something to do with Olivia’s death?”

I smiled at him. “No, I was just wondering is all. I’m like you, I can’t imagine who would want to harm Olivia.”

I wrapped up his fudge for him and put it in a cute Halloween bag and folded over the top. “Will this be all for you?”

He reached into the basket of hard candy and picked out a jack-o’-lantern and two vanilla ghosts and placed them on the counter. “I guess I’d like these too.”

“You got it.”

I rang up his purchases for the candy and he paid for the candy. He stopped and looked at me. “I hope they catch Olivia’s killer and put them away for life. Whoever it was, they deserve it.”

“I know the police are doing everything they can to do exactly that.”

He nodded “Good. I just hope they get them. I’ve got to get going. I’ll see the two of you later.”

“Bye, Bryce,” Christy said from across the room. She had been quiet while Bryce spoke, and now she was staring after him, her brow furrowed in thought.

I glanced at the door as it closed behind him. Was the job at Storage Inc really as cut throat as Olivia made it out to be? It seemed like a lot of people knew about her work troubles, and I didn’t know if that meant the trouble was real or if it meant she just liked to complain.

Chapter Fifteen

“Do you have the day off?” I asked Ethan. We were leaning against his truck parked out in front of the candy store. It was the third weekend of the Halloween season and Pumpkin Hollow was packed. People walked up and down the sidewalks, shopping and enjoying the sights. It was a wonderful sight to see. I knew attractions like the haunted house and the haunted farmhouse had to be packed today.

“Nope. I just thought I’d stop by on the way to work. I feel like I don’t get to see you much these days.” He leaned over and kissed me.

I smiled and leaned against his chest. “That’s because you don’t. But it’s okay, I understand. After you find Olivia’s killer, we can do something together.”

“I’m glad you’re so understanding,” he said, and he wrapped his arms around me.

“Did you take a look at the photos that Gayle Anderson took at the parade?”

“I did. She captured some interesting pictures, so I borrowed them to look through.”

“All of them?” I asked him.

“All of them. I’m not sure there’s anything that will help at this point, but time will tell. We’ll see.”

I hoped the photos would help. I already knew the main suspects were there at the parade. The photos could be used in a court case if one of them was arrested.

I nodded, deciding not to ask him more about the photos and what he had seen in them. “I bet you want some fudge.”

He grinned. “Well, I’d say yes, but by the looks of all those people in the candy store, I really don’t have time to wait in line right now. But a good girlfriend would bring some fudge home tonight.”

“Oh? And where would this good girlfriend be found?”

He chuckled. “I was hoping this good girlfriend is the one right here in my arms.”

I sighed dramatically. “Okay, that good girlfriend just might be right here. I’ll bring some home tonight if you promise to come over to my house when you get off work. I might make you some dinner, too.”

“I can’t pass up an offer like that. I’m hoping to get off at a decent time tonight, but I can’t swear to it.”

“That’s okay. I’ll keep dinner waiting for you. Did you get the lab results back on the skin under Olivia’s fingernails?”

“Not yet. You’re impatient, aren’t you?” He looked down at me and smiled.

I nodded. “I am. It makes me angry that someone killed her. They deserve to be put away for a very long time.”

“No disagreement there.” He squeezed me tight and then released me. “I better get going. The chief is going to be wondering where I’m at.”

I nodded. “Okay, if you must. I can’t wait to see you later tonight.”

“Me too,” he said and got into his truck.

I headed back into the shop. I was dressed in my Little Red Riding Hood costume and I stopped in the doorway and looked at all the people. There were nearly a dozen customers inside the small shop, and I wove in between them to get to the kitchen. Everyone was working today. They had to. We wouldn’t have been able to handle all the customers without everyone working.

Christy and I had been coming in early in the mornings with Mom to make candy. With the busy Halloween season and the Internet orders, it was just too much work for her alone. I didn’t know if I would ever enjoy coming to work at four o’clock in the morning, but I was going to do it for the Halloween season.

Christy looked up at me as I walked into the kitchen and picked up an apron. “Mom and I were just talking about hiring more people again.”

I looked at Mom and she nodded. “I’ve still got some applications left over from when I hired Stephanie and Missy. We’re going to need at least a couple more during the Halloween season.”

“The Halloween season and the Christmas season,” I corrected. “I doubt things will slow down much until after Christmas is over.”

“I’m sure you’re right,” she said,