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

“I get room and board in exchange for my services. Are you off suspension yet?”

“No, but it’s looking like a matter of time. And believe me, I’m anxious to get things back to the way they were. Speaking of getting things back to the way they were, this nightmare needs to come to an end.”

That old-fashioned typewriter starts clicking away on its own and Lottie and I exchange a glance.

“Never mind that.” Miranda waves it off. “It’s just the ghosts again. They’ve been logging one complaint after another with that thing. And the worst part? Cormack and Cressida have accused me of doing it!”

Wily chuckles. “Oh, they’ve been jotting down a little dirt on the girls, too. Cressida mostly.” He looks my way. “Did you know she’s a part of an insider trading club? I’m telling you, a girl like that would not fare well in prison.” He shudders at the prospect.

“Interesting.” I hike my brows at Lottie before we both get back to the prospective conversations at hand. “All right, Dad. Where do you have that money parked that you fleeced from Miranda when you tricked her into selling this place?”

He takes a moment to scowl my way. It’s odd enough seeing an older version of yourself, let alone one that’s glaring at you.

“Look…” He glances back at Lot and her mother. “I need the money. And the publishing company is actually thriving.” He blinks off in the distance as if this news stumped him as much as it does me. My father doesn’t exactly have what you’d call the Midas touch. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. “I’m making a buck or two.”

“What did you need the money for?” I whisper so Lottie won’t hear. “And where did it go? You published three of Miranda’s books before you decided to rob her blind. You didn’t need that money for the publishing business, did you?” My stomach turns because this is the first time this theory has occurred to me. And I’d bet money this has been the right theory all along.

His shoulders tense, and that action alone tells me everything I need to know.

I glance over at Lottie before pulling my father an inch my way. “Who did you need to pay back?”

His lips contort. “You always were the smart one.”

“And you always weren’t. How could you do this? You cost that woman everything. This B&B was purchased with the money from the death of her husband. And you came along and swept it up into a dustpan as if it was yours to begin with. You stole that woman’s livelihood right from under her, and when she finds out, she’s not going to stick around for whatever else you might have planned.”

“She’s not going to find out.” He narrows his eyes my way. “She already knows.”

“What?” I bark a little too loud.

“Would you keep it down?” He pulls me over a few more feet. “If you haven’t noticed, her daughter is in a delicate state. Miranda doesn’t want Lottie getting any wind of it. Got it? Besides, there’s no use in telling her. I’ve just about got everything straightened out.”

“I want details, and I want them now.”

He offers me a stern look. “Not here, Noah.”

“Not here because I have a feeling Miranda doesn’t know the whole story.”

“Nobody knows the whole story, not even me, son. Just know I’m still breathing. That’s the important part.”

My blood boils just thinking about the ways this man has destroyed and endangered lives for years.

“I don’t know how,” I grit the words through my teeth. “And God knows I don’t know when, but you are going to find a way to pay that woman back every dime you stole from her. We’re getting together soon, and you’re going to tell me what you know. You’re in over your head, and this time you’ve dragged the wrong people down with you. That woman loves you. She’d do anything for you and clearly she has.”

“She does love me.” He flashes a cheesy smile. “And I want it to stay that way. Don’t worry, son. Between her and Carlotta, the book business is holding its own. I think I may have accidentally stumbled into making an honest living. As soon as I pay off my debts, Miranda and I can start over again.”

I close my eyes a good long while. “Okay. I can’t fix this and I have a baby on the way.” I shake my head at him. “You do realize that your life took one wrong turn after another once you left Mom. You should have stayed put.”

“Have you met your mother?”

“Not funny.”

“I’m not teasing, Noah. It’s bad enough she refuses to leave the B&B. But on the bright side, we ignore each other for the most part. Come to think of it, not much has changed since the marriage.”

“Speaking of Mom…” She’s the reason I’m here, but I don’t want to come right out and say it. “I was just thinking back to when I was a kid. She always had a way of getting one of us to bend to her will.”

“That’s called nagging, son. All women get to it eventually. Don’t worry. Once that baby is born, Lottie will give you plenty to do. And forget about watching sports all day on Sunday. If she’s staring down the barrel of a sink full of dirty dishes, she’ll rain down her wrath on you until you’re right there with her.”

“Sounds like Mom needed a hand. And that’s not what I’m talking about. Did she ever, you know, make you feel as if she was controlling your every move?”

He straightens. “So you have met your mother.”

“I can see this is going nowhere.”

He taps my arm. “I can tell you’re skirting the issue, Noah. Just come out and ask. Is your mother too much of a burden for you? You want me to run her out of town? I’ve got connections.”

“What? No. Keep your connections to yourself.