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

“I’m doing surprisingly well.” Her own happy-go-lucky demeanor does a disappearing act. “You know it comes in waves, the grief. But things like this have a way of taking my mind off of it for at least five minutes at a time. It’s like the fact that Owen is gone completely slips my mind, and I’m as content as can be. And then it hits me all over again like an avalanche of bricks and I’m pulled under again.” She closes her eyes for a good long while. “So what’s new with the case?” She looks to Noah as she asks the question. “You mentioned there was a new development.”

I had asked Noah that very same question when he came home last night, but he said he wanted to save the big reveal for when we had Ariella with us.

He pulls his beer forward. “It turns out, Jasmine was trying to secure a bad loan. And she just might have. We have footage of her visiting a place down in Leeds. She was talking to a finance company run by mobsters.”

Ariella nearly chokes as she takes in a sharp breath.

Personally, I’m not so shocked. My investigations have taken me down to that thorny investment shack buried in the armpit of Red Satin. But I’m not sure I’m buying the fact the mob would put a hit out on a woman who owed them money. That is, if that’s what Noah is getting at. Surely there were other ways of getting her attention outside of death.

A waitress pops a cast iron pot filled with orange goo and lined with pigs in a blanket and every last bit of me gasps.

But Ariella shakes her head at Noah as if she didn’t even see the treat that just materialized before us.

Lil’ Mama yips my way. “What are we waiting for, Lottie? Let’s dive in. You take a bite and I’ll take a bite. It’s only fair.”

I shake my head at the hungry apparition. “It’s every girl for herself.”

“Suit yourself.” She drops down to the table and begins licking up the cheesy dip at record speeds.

“Gah!” Ariella cries as she looks to the dish that seems to be diminishing all by its lonesome.

So I do the only thing I can think of. I dive in with both hands and shovel in as much cheese as I can before scooping up a couple of hot dogs to go along with it. My hands, my face, my new beard are all covered with orange bliss.

Lil’ Mama looks like a hot cheesy mess herself.

“So good.” She staggers around the table before floating into the air and heading straight for the ceiling. It’s almost as if she’s drunk off the cheese, and honestly? Same here.

“Lottie?” Ariella says my name with a touch of apprehension, as if she’s afraid I might reach across the table and start noshing on her arm. “Is everything okay? Please be careful. I’d hate for you to choke.”

“Don’t pay her any mind,” Carlotta is quick to dismiss my erratic, albeit ravenous behavior. “Lot’s been double fisting wieners for so long, she’s an old pro at it.”

I stop cold just to stare Carlotta down before taking a rather aggressive bite out of the wiener in my hand.

“Okay.” Everett takes a breath. “Let’s stay focused. Ariella, outside of Jasmine and her dirty dealings, I really want to know if Owen had someone who was angry with him, maybe someone who was stalking him? I’ve had a few disgruntled defendants who didn’t exactly appreciate their day in court. I’m afraid it’s a hazard of the job.”

She glances to the ceiling, to the exact spot where Lil’ Mama is moaning and groaning while getting walloped by a couple of Mylar balloons in the shape of four-leaf clovers.

“Not that I know of.” Ariella shrugs back his way just as her eyes enlarge a notch. “But, you know what? I bet that could have happened. It’s as plain as the nose on my face. Owen had a way of infuriating everyone, but for some reason, everyone was always extra nice to him in the courtroom. I used to think it was that black robe that garnered him a little respect. But as time went on, I started to believe the rumors.” A sheepish look crosses her face. “I guess you’ve heard them, too.”

Both Noah and Everett give a subtle nod. It’s not a secret, I guess, that Owen took bribes and racked up enemies.

“Wow.” Ariella hugs herself as she stares off in a daze. “I guess that must be what happened. I suppose the sheriff’s department will have to dig in and see who could have turned on him this way. I’m sure the courthouse will be more than cooperative with you, Noah.”

“I know they will,” he tells her. His evergreen eyes never leave hers. I know that look on Noah’s face. He suspects something else is afoot. So do I.

I clear my throat. “So what’s going to happen to Jasmine’s food business? Are you taking it under your wings?”

“Jazzy could only wish.” She rolls her eyes. “Door-to-Door Gourmet is just as dead as she is. Sorry to sound so harsh. But the company was struggling. Like most restaurants, the only thing Door-to-Door Gourmet was good at is closing. I’m not too sad over it. I was about five minutes from suggesting that Jazzy give up on the endeavor.”

“That’s too bad,” I say. “I mean, it sounds like a good idea. I’m so busy that I would love to have a meal delivery service. Especially at this point in my life.” I pat my belly. “And on another note, I can’t imagine how you feel. You not only lost your husband, but you lost a good friend, too.”

“That’s right.” Her lips crimp for a moment. “Jazzy and I go way back.”

“So you knew her well.” I lean forward. “Jen mentioned that Jasmine knew how to make people do her bidding.