Murder in the Mix Boxed Set 28-30: Cozy Mystery by Addison Moore (books for 7th graders .txt) 📗

“That would be me.” Carlotta’s chest widens with pride. “When I see a handsome man, I don’t let anything stand between us. There wasn’t a soul in that room that stood a chance to outbid me.”

Cormack raises a drink her way. “Sounds as if we have a lot in common, Carlotta.”

I roll my eyes at the thought. And don’t think I didn’t note the fact Cormack addressed Carlotta by her proper moniker. I knew she wasn’t hard of hearing.

Cressida snickers my way. “I’m all about landing what’s mine as well.” Her knife-sharp fingernails flicker in my direction. “I don’t let anyone stand in my way.”

Oh dear Lord, why do I get the feeling I’ve stepped into a honey trap?

Candy nods to Carlotta as her eyes widen. “Just know that every dime you paid went straight to the Christmas fund to help the needy. A lot of struggling families are going to have a great Christmas because of you.”

Keelie wiggles in her seat. “I don’t know, I think you should get rid of that thing. There’s something creepy about having a haunted painting hanging in your living room.”

“You hung it in your living room?” Candy looks more than a little amused by this, as she should be.

No one in their right mind would hang that atrocity anywhere—least of all the room they’re in the most.

“That’s right.” Carlotta doubles down on her pride. “And I can’t wait for that tall, dark, and handsome steed to pay me a visit in the night. I’ve got my candles lit, my naughty Mrs. Claus nightie raring to go, and I even kicked my boyfriend out early last night hoping that gorgeous ghost would haunt my doorway, but no such luck.”

Kringle’s chubby cheeks twitch. “I showed up instead, and we split the rest of that pizza.” He gives his belly a squeeze. “Don’t worry, Carlotta. I’ll be there with jingle bells on to do the same tonight.”

Candy offers Carlotta a miffed glance. “I’m sorry you’re disappointed. Personally, I’m shocked he’s not doing a lot more haunting.”

“It sounds as if you knew him,” I say.

A small laugh bounces through her, and Kringle bounces right along with her.

“Let’s just say there’s something about him that does seem rather familiar to me.”

“Woo hoo!” Keelie honks out the words. “Speaking of familiar.” She taps me on the arm, and I turn to find Otis Bear Fisher looking like a sharp dressed man in that dark inky suit of Everett’s. He’s wearing a pale silver tie I’m sure he pilfered from Everett’s closet as well.

I’m not sure who Everett is going to kill first for letting this atrocity happen. Bear, for stealing the suit—or Noah, for giving him the keys to do it. One thing is for sure, Noah might just get another shiner to match the one he already has.

“Well, butter my biscuit,” Carlotta howls at the sight of him.

I must admit, this new clean-shaven, hair slicked back version of the scruffy man I know is a marked improvement. Bear’s usual wardrobe consists of overalls splotched with paint that are shredded and threadbare from overuse. If I were him, I’d invest in a good suit and take Keelie out on the regular in it. Judging by the moony look in her eyes, he’s about to get a lot of mileage out of it. But before Keelie can make her kinky move, four different women get up from the table and quickly glom onto Bear while ushering him to the bar.

“Hey!” Keelie growls. “That’s my heartless big city executive! Nobody touches a hair on the stubborn man’s head but me. She bolts on after them, and Carlotta scoots into the empty seat next to me.

“What I wouldn’t do to find me a hot man in a suit tonight,” she gravels it out like a threat.

“We can call Harry and see if he’ll oblige you,” I suggest while giving her the side-eye. Carlotta knows I don’t approve of their open door policy when it comes to the bedroom. It’s bizarre, and unhealthy, and come to think of it, taking place far too often under my roof. Or at least it was under my last roof. I’ll have to set some ground rules with her for the new house.

Cormack titters. “Don’t you worry, Carlotta. You might just get your wish for a man in a suit.” She bumps her shoulder to Cormack’s, and the two of them break out into a fit of giggles.

What a bunch of airheads. Which almost begs the question—

“Candy, how do you know Cormack and Cressida? Through the Christmas Angels?” Ha! How’s that for killing two birds with one stone. The Christmas Angels are a perfect segue to Gloria Abner.

“Heavens no.” Candy waves her glittery green nails my way. “Corrie, Cressie, and I go way back. We ran in the same social circles and went to all the right parties together. As soon as they saw what a great time I was having with the Christmas Angels, of course, they wanted in. We’re all at that stage in our lives where we need to submit ourselves to volunteer efforts. To help out an organization with your time is a grand contribution to society. And the Christmas Angels really are a fun bunch. I’m involved with a slew of other organizations as well, but there’s something about the Angels that’s so very down-to-earth. They don’t bog you down with galas and yacht tours through the French Riviera, not to mention the endless banquets and ritzy charity events that the others tend to do.”

Cormack grunts as she swills the glowing pink drink in her hand, “I live for those.”

Cressida shakes her head. “Candy is right. It’s too much. It’s like serving hard time in a ritzy detention camp. If I get invited to another grand holiday ball, I’m going to gag myself to death with mistletoe.”

“Promise?” I mutter under my breath.

Come to think of it, that would be a grand exit for her. And