Baby Bundt Cake Confusion (Murder in the Mix Book 31) by Unknown (reading eggs books .txt) 📗

“No, actually, she was just one of the reoccurring guests. Both her and Owen were. Slater and I were regulars. Jen was for a time, but then she got a wild hair and decided it was time to open up that fried chicken place.” She’s back to rolling her eyes.

“Ooh,” I moan hard without meaning to. No matter what transpires here today, I’m checking out that chicken place next. In the name of the investigation, of course. “So why were you in the captain’s quarters with Slater? Is it true? Were you having an affair with the man?”

“No,” she says it quickly and with such aggression in the way only the truth can sponsor. “Slater wasn’t my type.” She reaches over and grazes her nails over Noah’s hand. “I’m more into the smart as a whip, gun-wielding type.” She reaches over and gives Everett twice the graze with her claws. “Or the bedroom-eyed legal eagle type.” She winks his way. “Slater was nothing but a snake. He grew up spoiled just like the rest of us. His parents dabbled in international investments. He traveled a lot. He was a year older than us, and a grade higher in school. But Slater made his own fortune in the record industry up until his label dried up. I’ll be honest, that’s why Jazzy was plotting to leave him. She heard about the cheating rumors, and I won’t lie, she was pretty miffed. But she never accused me of being the other woman. The tabloids did, and it was that very episode that sponsored the character assassination.” She points to Carlotta.

Lil’ Mama barks. “Ask her why she was alone with the man in the first place—in the captain’s quarters no less. I highly doubt either of them was qualified to steer a wagon, let alone a big beautiful boat like that.”

I nod. “Then why were you in the captain’s quarters with him?”

“He lured me in there.” Her eyes widen a notch. “He said he lost his wedding ring of all things. His wedding ring. As if he cared at all about it. Anyway, I looked for it, and let’s just say he was enjoying the show as I bent over every which way to see if I could find it. I knew he was a pig long before that. But we ran into Ariella on the way out and she made it seem as if she caught us doing something naughty. I know, I know my hair was mussed, but that’s because I was really looking for that stupid ring. When the rumors came out about Slater and me having an affair, Jazzy asked me to go along with it.”

Everett ticks his head to the side. “Why would she do that?”

Stassi shrugs. “To get the real other woman to feel as if she could let down her guard. Or at least that’s what I assumed. But I didn’t go along with it. I wouldn’t. It’s a matter of principle, and despite what people think of me, I still have some of those. And then guess what happened?”

Noah nods. “I know what happened. Jasmine did an interview with Pulse magazine and said she caught the two of you herself.”

Stassi nods right back. “Because she was a little witch.”

Lil’ Mama gives a sharp bark. “Only her brother was allowed to call her that.” She looks my way. “You’ll have to give your child a sibling, Lottie. Maybe next time a few more pups will take. Four at a time, like me, would be best. And if you did that six times in a row, we would be just about even. I don’t buy for a minute you’re just having the one pup. Do be prepared for a few more to make a surprise arrival. It happened to me a time or two.”

I make the decision to tune her out from this point on. I don’t need anyone else hexing me, thank you very much. I’m up to my eyeballs in hexes.

Hey? Maybe Serena could get the Canellis off Everett’s tail with a good old-fashioned pox? God knows I talked to Jimmy just a few weeks ago and it didn’t do squat.

Everett’s chest expands. “Stassi, why do you think Jasmine propagated the rumor herself?”

“It was a setup.” Her jaw tenses when she says it. “I don’t think Jazzy could figure out who the other woman was, so she took control of the situation. Jazzy always had to be in control. She was going to take Slater for all he was worth in court for humiliating her like that, and she didn’t mind throwing me under the bus to do it. Not to mention our friendship. Jazzy was making a concerted effort to ruin my life. I can’t even get a job. No one wants anything to do with a homewrecker. Needless to say, I cut ties with her after that.”

Noah shakes his head. “I’m sorry it all went south for you. Who do you think wanted to put a bullet in her?”

“That’s easy.” She cradles her wine with her hand. “Jen hated her. Jen’s chicken shack was actually turning a dollar, and until Jazzy’s divorce settlement could come in, her cash supply was quickly dwindling. She hired Ariella to rebrand her.” She says rebrand in air quotes. “And that’s when they came up with Door-to-Door Gourmet. Only Jazzy couldn’t afford to hire the space needed to prep the food, so she talked Jen into letting her use her restaurant. Jen was livid. Something to do with eating up her profits. I have no idea what she was rattling on about. But I can tell you that’s what ended the friendship she had with Jazzy. Jazzy was losing friends as fast as she was the money in her checking account. And from what I hear, that little rebranding stunt of Jazzy’s was killing Jen’s business.” Her phone buzzes and she squeals as she looks at the screen. “You’ll have to excuse