Page 63 of Poison Apple Crisp

Noah tips his head. “A lot like the Meadows’ case, don’t you think?”

“Yup,” I say. “Too much so. Anyway, I don’t know. I guess she could have poisoned Brenda. She was angry that night. They had a fight.” I steal a cookie out of the bakery shelf right along with Noah. “And then there’s Rachelle. She was being humiliated left and right by Brenda. Martin said he didn’t know what dirt Brenda had on her. I guess I can ask Rachelle. I feel like we’re genuinely friends now. But if I do, the poor thing will probably think I’m going to play the same game Brenda did.”

Carlotta waddles up with that broom tucked beneath her once again.

“What about Martin, Lot?” She comes shy of winking and inadvertently does a great impression of an ornery witch. “He seemed awfully glad to be rid of her.”

“I agree,” I say. “I guess the thrill was gone after he was no longer cheating on Cokie. For some men, it’s all about the thrill of the chase.”

Noah twitches his brows my way. “For the record, I’m not chasing any other girls, Lottie. You’re it for me.” He brushes his thumb over my cheek. “And I want you to know I’m content with it. I mean it, too.” His verdant eyes float over my features. “I’m just happy I get to be in your life.”

His gaze dips down to my belly, and I know what he’s thinking.

I pull his hand over and kiss it.

“Hey?” I whisper as I make him look me in the eyes. “No matter how this turns out, no matter what, you’re always going to be in my life, Noah.”

He gives a slow blink. “Thank you, Lottie. That means everything to me.”

Carlotta tosses the broom down and takes off her apron.

“All right, Ginger, get your boyfriend’s face out of that cream pie. It’s time to take a ride to Honey Hollow High.”

I bite down on my lip and nod in agreement.

“Lottie?” Noah shakes his head. “No way. This worries me.”

I give a little shrug as I take off my own apron. “Then come along, Detective Fox, and you won’t have to worry.”

* * *

The large,white, rectangular buildings that make up Honey Hollow High are backlit with blue lights, giving the place an ethereal feel. I take a breath as I soak in the sight of my old alma mater after dark.

A deep, husky howl emits from the left, and I turn my head that way as I spot a large shadow over by the woods that line the street. It looks to be a creature with red glowing eyes, a body at least as tall as I am, but I can tell from here it’s seated on its hind legs. It lets out another otherworldly howl and a bone-chilling shiver rides through every molecule in my body. I step out that way, but just like that, the shadow disappears and it makes me wonder what it was that I just saw.

“This is a bad idea,” Noah says, mostly to himself, as we walk boldly into the back service entrance. Carlotta used her crooked know-how to pick the lock. And apparently, there are no security cameras because it’s a public school. How I wish I were kidding.

We walk the dimly lit halls until we reach Principal Hickman’s office.

“Here it is,” Noah whispers. The only reason he agreed to come was because he wanted to ensure Carlotta and I didn’t end up arrested or shot. He says he’s our cover. If we get caught, he’ll pull rank and say he’s conducting a late night search of the property. He let us know Cokie gave him full permission and access to search the school whenever he wanted. It will still look dicey if we’re spotted, but I like Noah’s willingness to accept the fact my lunacy can’t be stopped.

Carlotta picks the lock to the office as well, and soon we’re in the holy land, or the devil’s playground—take your pick.

“I’ll search the filing cabinet,” Carlotta says.

Noah nods. “And I’ll check out the computer.”

“I’ll snoop the bookshelf for any more autographed crime novels,” I say as the three of us get to work.

Carlotta fires up the flashlight on her phone as she pilfers through the filing cabinet, and I use mine to examine the plethora of books lining the shelves.

I cluck my tongue. “Every one of these books is geared toward education, parenting, families, being a leader, and different learning strategies. There’s not a fiction book in the bunch.” I head toward the window and trip over a small yet heavy box. “Whoa.”

“Lottie?” Noah zips over. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I almost”—I don’t dare saytrippedor Noah is liable to have me put under house arrest—“almost lost my place.” I offer a short-lived smile before shining the light down on the box. The slit in the lid is partially pulled back and I can see the metallic green cover of a book.

Noah picks the box up and lands it on the desk, and we quickly discover it’s filled to the brim with nothing but paperbacks.