Page 14 of Christmas Fudge Fatality
Everett and I share an amused smile.
“Ixnay to the wolves,” I say. “I like life outside of prison just fine.”
Everett nods. “And I quite like my view in the courtroom. So what’s next with the investigation?”
“I think maybe Keelie and I need to think about getting in shape before the man in the red suit tries to fill my stocking.”
A naughty gleam takes over Everett’s eyes. “I’ve got something to put in your stocking.”
“Everett.” I laugh while swatting him on the chest.
“What? I happen to have a gift for you.” A sly grin glides up one side of his face. “And technically, it could easily fit in the smallest of stockings. But you’ll have to wait until Christmas morning to open it.”
“Everett.” My voice is far less abrasive, and instead of swatting him, I hug his arm. “You really are the sweetest.”
He shrugs. “I’ll keep the red suit on standby that night in the event you don’t get what you want. I’ve got a bag of treats you can dip into anytime you want.”
“Why do I get the feeling this bag of treats is in your bedroom?”
“Because you know me well, and you happen to have a very dirty mind.”
“Why do I get the feeling that’s the part of me you like best?”
“Because you’re intuitive.”
I laugh into the night as Everett and I head back to his car and back to Honey Hollow.
But I can’t seem to get my mind off Tamara—and the mounting number of people who might have wanted her dead.
Chapter 6
The Swerve and Curve Gym in Hollyhock just so happens to be the exact place where I was able to track down Joyce Calypso.
Okay, so a bit of cyberstalking might have been involved. It took less than a day to follow all of her social media pages, only to figure out that she was regularly checking in her locations. And it turns out, she’s spending the afternoon teaching a class at this location. A class that both Keelie and I loathe to participate in.
“Why are we doing this again?” Keelie asks as she struggles to take her thick down jacket off.
“Because we care about Tamara,” I whisper as the rest of the class files into the small boxy gym filled with a smattering of dumbbells and elliptical equipment.
Noel appears, gliding through the air like the fantastic phantasm he is.
“I’m so lucky I’ll never need to torment myself that way. Might I add, it’s a delight to be floating as effortlessly as a cloud.”
“Showoff,” I hiss and a couple of women running on nearby treadmills glance my way, affronted.
Joyce strides in with her dark hair swept up into a bun, skintight yoga pants, and a matching tank top despite the deep freeze going on outside. Keelie and I donned our sweats, and evidently nothing screams novice at the gym like elastic lined fleece.
“Keelie? Lottie?” Joyce wraps her arms around us both. “I’m so thrilled to see you here! To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Oh”—I look to Keelie in a mild panic—“we’ve decided not to wait until after the new year to start working on our bikini bodies.”
“That’s right.” Keelie pushes up the sleeves on her old Honey Hollow High sweatshirt. “Lottie keeps shoveling those delicious desserts she bakes into both of our mouths—and we’ve got waistlines to preserve, judges and homicide detectives to attract.”
I make a face at her for that one.
Noel howls a laugh. “She’s got you there, Lottie!”
Joyce chortles at the thought herself. “From what I hear, Lottie already has their attention. Sure wish I had two hotties at my side whenever I wanted them. What’s your secret?”