Page 16 of Christmas Fudge Fatality
Joyce pins those dark eyes right over mine. “Bonnie,” she says it plain as day and my mouth is right back to falling open again. “I know what you’re thinking. Who in their right mind would implicate Bonnie in a murder investigation of all things, but I don’t think it needs to be that dramatic. Bonnie and Tamara were having it out on the car ride over to the lot. I should know. We drove out together. In fact, I had to tell them to settle down.” She holds herself as if reliving a bad memory. “You probably don’t know this, but Bonnie is a compulsive gambler. Scott and Tamara found out two weeks ago that she was pilfering funds from the farm to support her habit.”
Both Noel and I suck in an audible breath.
Keelie clasps her neck. “That’s terrible!”
“It is.” Joyce looks out at the rest of the women in the room. “We had no idea it had gotten that bad. As soon as Scott and Tamara discovered what was happening, they suspended her. It didn’t help that Tamara threatened her in the car that day.”
A threat?
I take a step in. “What did she say?”
Joyce nods my way. “She said as soon as the holidays were over, it was prison for Bonnie.”
“Prison?” I gasp. “That’s terrifying. I can see why Bonnie would feel threatened. They were such good friends. I would guess Bonnie was hoping to maybe pay them back or something along those lines.”
“It wasn’t going to happen.” Joyce looks from Keelie to me. “The weird thing is, the only reason I left Bonnie in the woods with Tamara that night was because I thought you were with them.”
“Me?” I bury a finger in my chest and she’s quick to nod.
“I heard her talking to you, Lottie.”
Keelie looks equally baffled. “Maybe she was mentioning Lottie? Like in a conversation?”
“No.” Joyce shakes her head. “I specifically heard her carrying on a conversation with you. Trust me. Her tone was a lot curter when dealing with Bonnie these days. And with you, she was perky and chipper.” A slew of women walk through the door and Joyce greets them. “I’d better start up the class. Oh, and if you can’t keep up, don’t worry. No one thinks much of the first-timers.” She gives a sly wink, leaving Keelie and me to huff in her wake.
“I’m not a first-timer in a gym,” I say. “I just delivered a platter of sugar cookies to Boom Fitness in Ashford for their holiday party.”
Keelie bucks with a laugh. But as soon as the class begins, neither of us is laughing.
Afterwards, I invite Joyce to my mother’s speed dating party before Keelie and I hobble on out of there and straight back to Honey Hollow.
Joyce could have been the one to push Tamara off the embankment that day.
And for that matter, it could have been Bonnie.
But one thing is for sure—it wasn’t me.
Chapter 7
There is something special about living in a cozy small town, especially at the holidays—especially when everyone you know comes out to partake in the tree lighting ceremony in the town square.
All of Main Street is bustling with bodies as townspeople and tourists alike congregate in the park that houses the behemoth evergreen that gets lit up like the glorious wonder it is every single year. The snow has stopped falling as if taking a respite just for the event at hand, and the air is permeated with the scent of fresh baked cookies and melted chocolate from the hot cocoa stand.
My mother is here with her friends, and my sisters, Lainey and Meg, stand bundled in wool coats, sipping on hot cocoa. The Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery has a booth set up right next to the cider and cocoa stand, and already we’re selling out of iced sugar cookies and my walnut chocolate fudge.
“Lottie,” Meg moans through a bite. Meg is gorgeous with her jet-black hair and icy blue eyes. One might think that Meg’s days as a female wrestler might have toughened her up, but the truth is, she came out of the womb as tough as a nail. She’s never been one to shy away from conflict, nor does she shy away from what she’s really thinking. “This fudge is amazing. What are you putting in it to make it so addictive? I’m betting it’s not legal.”
I laugh at the thought. “That’s one bet you’ll lose,” I say, stealing a cube of fudge out of her bag and popping it into my mouth. “Mmm. I can vouch for the addictive part. Each night when I head home, I bring a box of fudge along with me.”
Lainey giggles at the thought. “I bet you share them with your handsome neighbors, too.”
Meg howls, “Among other things she freely gives away.”
“Would the two of you stop?” I swat them both on the arm. “Yes, it’s a plus living near both Everett and Noah, but believe me, I’m not giving anything away.”
“That’s right.” Keelie comes up and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Lottie makes them work for any affection she doles out.”
“As it should be!” Lily shouts from behind.