Page 17 of Christmas Fudge Fatality
Lily Swanson offered to help man the booth for me tonight along with a few other employees from the bakery. I told her there was a certain man I wanted to question about Tamara’s death, and rumor has it he’ll be here tonight.
Scott Gray hasn’t been formally charged, but from what Noah says, it’s just a matter of time.
Lainey spoke with Stacy this morning, and she mentioned that both she and Scott would be here tonight. Some might say it’s crass to come to such a festive event just days after Tamara’s death, but I’m not against it in the least. I remember after my father died I tried desperately to erase the grief, if only for a moment. Not that either Stacy or Scott is truly grieving her—especially not if one of them is responsible for her death to begin with.
Meg takes a sip of her cocoa. “So who’s going to Mom’s one-stop jingle hop?”
“Are you talking about that speed dating thing?” I glance over my shoulder to find Mom and Chrissy Nash cavorting with Mayor Nash near the tree we’re all here to set ablaze with a million white-hot twinkle lights. “I don’t know what she’s thinking.”
Lainey huffs, “She’s thinking she’s going to get lucky—in love.”
Meg snarls, “More like dumped a hundred times in a single night.”
“Meg!” I say her name in protest with a laugh in my mouth. “We would be so lucky. The sad truth is, all one hundred creeps will want her number. Every man she meets seems to magnetize to her, and they’ll be wanting a conversation in the least.”
Lainey nods at something behind me. “Speaking of wanting to have a conversation with someone. Here’s your chance.”
I look back and a breath hitches in my throat. “They’re here.” Scott and Stacy hold hands near the forty-foot noble just as if they were any other couple. “So weird. Why are they holding hands? I’m not even sure why Stacy is here with him to begin with. She made it sound as if they were over.” Stacy glances this way and does a double take once she spots me staring. “I’d better go say hello.”
Lainey latches onto my arm. “I’ll go with you.”
We head on over as an icy breeze picks up, causing everyone to pull their coats just a little bit tighter. It’s dark out, save for the streetlamps, and each one of them is entwined in garland and dotted with a big red bow. The holidays are the most festive times of the year, and it saddens me that Tamara isn’t around to enjoy them.
“Stacy, Scott,” I say as we come upon them.
Scott offers a meager smile but Stacy all out scowls.
“Lainey, I could use some cocoa. Would you mind coming with me?” Stacy speeds off with my sister before I can blink, and soon enough it’s just Scott and me standing here awkwardly.
I wince over at him. I’ve known Scott forever it seems. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m not holding up, Lottie.” He lifts his chin toward the overgrown tree in our midst, and I can see the scruff on his cheeks. Scott has always been clean-shaven, so I suppose this isn’t a purposeful disheveled look, more like a genuine one. “It’s been hell.” He cranes his neck just past me. “And something tells me it’s about to get a little bit hotter in my corner of the universe.”
I glance back, only to find Noah popping up in our midst. “Lottie.” His voice is curt, and that wide look in his eyes lets me know he’s not pleased with the fact I’m standing here with a suspect he’s about to book for murder. “Hello, Scott.”
He reaches over and shakes his hand. Noah has on his dark wool jacket and his hands covered in thick leather gloves. His green eyes catch the light and look as if someone turned a flashlight on in his skull—they’re just that bright tonight. Too bad they’re not liking what they see.
Scott frowns over at him. “What’s going on? Did you bring those silver bracelets everyone in town thinks I should be wearing?”
Noah gives a long blink. “No, Scott. I’m here for the tree lighting with everyone else.”
“Sorry.” He takes a step back. “I probably shouldn’t be here at all. Stacy talked me into it.”
Something doesn’t settle well with me about that. “How are you and Stacy doing, anyway?”
“Not good,” he’s quick to answer. “But then, things aren’t generally good in my life, so I don’t see why that would be any different. She thinks I pushed Tamara. She wants me to confess. She thinks I can cut a deal with the prosecutor or something.” He ticks his head back in a fit of frustration. “But I don’t want a deal. Heck, I don’t want to be prosecuted for something I didn’t do.”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, pained by his palpable agony. “Scott, can I ask what happened that night in the woods?”
He inches back and stares at me as if I just sprouted another head. “You shouldn’t have to ask. You were the last to speak with her.” He looks to Noah. “Sorry, Lottie. I don’t mean to out you in front of the homicide detective. My head is all over the place, and I just want to get to the truth.”
Noah shoots me a look. “Lottie? Did you speak with her in the woods that night?” His forehead creases, thick with worry.
“No. It’s news to me. I saw Bonnie and Joyce head in that direction.” I look to Scott. “And you and Stacy, of course.” A thought comes to me. “But you know what? You’re not that first person to tell me that.” My mouth falls open as I look to Noah. “Joyce mentioned it the other day.” My fingers fly to my lips as Noah gives me an accusatory look. “Keelie and I happened to try out her new gym. We’re looking to stay ahead of the caloric curve this holiday season. Anyway, Joyce said she distinctly heard Tamara having a conversation with me.” I shrug. “I don’t get it.”
Noah sighs as he looks to Scott. “You don’t have to answer without an attorney present, but I am curious as to what you saw.”
“I don’t need an attorney, Detective. Tamara and I exchanged a few more words regarding the land we share. I told Stacy I needed to get out of there before my blood boiled over and I left.”