Page 55 of Donut Disaster
“What’s all the whispering about?” He frowns as he says it. I’m guessing he’s assuming the worst. And byworst, I mean Everett’s specialty, sweet nothings that border on dirty talk.
“We were just talking shop.” Sort of. “Did you ever get anywhere as far as determining if the hospital had a rash of medication missing?”
“They don’t.” Noah’s dimples press in. “There was no breach in their system that that the chief of staff could see. Ivy’s helping me dig a little deeper.”
“Good,” I say, scanning the vicinity. “Everyone is going to be here tonight. I suppose there’s a chance our killer will, too. How could poor Morgan have so many suspects with such strong motives?”
“Beats me.” Everett shakes his head. “But I’ve presided over cases where the motive was weaker than water. The fact is, Morgan is dead.”
I shudder as he says it. “Okay, let’s go over what we’ve got one more time. There’s Cassie.”
Noah nods. “We know she can get the drugs.”
Everett takes a breath. “She could have resented him for cheating on her. Or she could have been obsessed with him. I’m sorry to say I’ve got personal experience in that arena.” It’s true. Just last month, a woman morbidly obsessed with Everett took off with him at gunpoint.
Noah tilts his head. “Anika. She could have kept her true identity from Morgan and took revenge on him for the death of her parents. She could have gotten the drug from Cassie.”
“Or she could be trying to set Cassie up,” Everett points out.
I bite down on my lip. “Then there’s Dr. Colin Drake, the biggest liar on earth.”
A woman screams with delight and waves her way over, and I recognize that wild banshee howl as none other than my mother.
“Excuse me,” I say as I head in her direction. “What in the world is the emergency?” I pant as I scuttle over as fast as the sand will allow.
“Oh, Lottie, you have to help. Pastor Gaines is dying to try one of your famed snickerdoodles and I just know they’re here somewhere, but there must be a hundred different platters.”
The sun takes its final bow, and the twinkle lights strung up over the entire venue give the scene a romantic appeal. The live band in the distance starts up, and it feels as if the entire human population just poured onto the sand.
“Don’t worry,” I say, glancing back at Everett and Noah who have already been swallowed by the crowd. “I know just where they are.” I lead my mother straight to the picnic table on the far end, and we find that Pastor Gaines has already beat us to the punch—or should I say thecrunch.
“These are marvelous, Lottie.” He squints it out with that eerie grin. “There’s no doubt you’re capable of miracles in the kitchen.”
Mom purrs like a cat on a hot tin roof. “Do you hear that, Lottie? You’re practically a saint. I bet you’ll be canonized as the patron saint of baking one day. Can you just see it now?”
I spot Carlotta and Mayor Nash hip grinding to the music. “I can see it. Would you excuse me?” I look to Pastor Gaines. “Please eat as many as you like. I have enough to feed all of Vermont stored in my van.” I’m about to walk away when Mom pulls me back.
“Don’t forget. Lainey and Forest have invited us over tomorrow night. It’s their very first dinner party at their new house. Do you think they’ll announce they’re having a baby?” My mother shoves her fingertips into her mouth, but I’m betting she wishes it was a brand new baby’s foot she were gnawing on instead. My mother has been salivating for grandchildren as soon as my sisters and I got out of puberty.
“No. And for the love of family sanity, don’t utter those words.”
I take off toward Carlotta and Mayor Nash, but she’s since dismounted, and he’s done a disappearing act. Instead, Carlotta stands chatting away with Greer Giles.
“Good Lord,” I say as I come upon them. “Carlotta, the men in white coats with the big scary net are more than likely watching you. Hello, Greer. You look wonderful tonight.” Greer always looks wonderful—always the same, but always wonderful.
She pats her cheek. “Britney has a new blusher, and she generously leaves it out for me.”
I doubt she realizes a ghost is whittling down her pricey cosmetics, but, if it makes Greer happy to believe it, who am I to pop her rosy bubble?
“Where are Lea and Winslow?” I ask, glancing around—left, right, and up in the air because it is certainly a possibility.
“On the lake. Lea is riding on Cookie’s back while he runs from one end to the other. He’s racing with Winslow, and Lea is getting the biggest kick out of it.”
I glance over and spot two silver streaks running along the length of the lake.
“Looks like fun.” I hike my voice up over the ever-increasing music and overall noise from the growing crowd.
Meg and Hook pop up hand in hand.