Page 29 of Toxic Apple Turnovers

Connie’s dark hair is curled and sprayed into crunchy submission, she’s chewing her gum at a million miles an hour, and I’m beginning to think it’s a nervous habit. She’s donned a black skirt, a matching blazer, and there’s a pop of pink coming from her tank top underneath. As far as I can tell, the perky hue is her calling card.

Connie leans in. “What are you gonna do? You can’t bring the dead back.”

“Yoo hoo!” a warbling voice calls to me from the left, and I spot Nell waving my way.

We may not be able to bring back the dead, but sometimes they pop back all on their own. I give a quick wave back and then motion for her to stay put. Carlotta makes a beeline for her, and it offers me a sense of security. Carlotta has been known to yap her mother’s ear off, so hopefully I won’t miss a minute with Nell because of this investigation.

Fiona huffs, “My ex-husband died years ago, and I don’t mind one bit that he’s trapped on the other side.”

“I didn’t know that about you,” I say just as it occurs to me it may not be entirely true. Everett did say he would fill her in on the fact we’re trying to pump Connie for information.

Connie gasps, “I didn’t know that either.” She smacks her lips like she might be sick. “What did the louse do to end up on the outs with you?”

“Cheated.” Fiona shoots me the side-eye, and I sincerely hope it’s to tip me off that she’s trying to shake Connie down for details, and not because she thinks I’m cheating on Everett. I would never do that to him.

Noah bounces through my mind, and I bounce him right back out.

Connie’s eyes flare with rage. “I hate cheats.”

Fiona nods. “To make things worse, he cheated with my very best friend.”

Connie gasps, and the veins in her neck pop as her agitation grows. “I hate best friend boyfriend stealers even more.” She gives a quick glance around. “There is no greater betrayal in my book. I’ve had to handle one or two of those myself.”

Handle? Why do I get the feelinghandlecan easily translate into kill?

Fiona grunts, “When you’re up for it, tell me how to handle it. She’s still hanging around trying to annoy me.”

Connie’s face smooths out. “Tell me her name, and I’ll take care of the rest.” Someone whistles our way and she waves. “I’d better mingle.”

“Mingle.” Owlbert shudders. “She did it, Lottie. She poisoned poor Amanda. I demand you arrest her immediately.”

“It doesn’t work that way,” I say it lower than a whisper.

Mingle?

Everett and I exchange a glance.

Fiona steps in. “What do you think?”

“What do you think?” Everett throws it right back at her.

“Listen, Essex”—her heavily drawn in eyes look up at him—“I’ve come to be very good friends with Connie. And I certainly don’t need to tell you how dangerous her family can be. Let’s just say if Connie wanted Amanda out of the picture, we would most certainly be standing here today.” She glances my way with a look of disdain on her face. “But that doesn’t mean she did it. Everyone deserves due process. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I see my favorite chunky peanut butter bars waiting for me.”

She takes off and leaves us with a trail of her lavender-scented perfume.

“Everett.” I pull him in close by the hand. “She sounds terribly guilty.”

“She is!” Owlbert screeches right into Everett’s ear and causes poor Everett to groan as if he were shot.

“Not officially.” Everett gives his shoulder a dirty look before reverting to me. “Let’s make use of the venue. Where’s her friend? The one Connie implicated?”

“I haven’t seen Janelle.” I do another scan of the vicinity. “I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t be here today. Maybe it’s too hard? Maybe she’s not feeling well?”

I spot Hazel in the corner having what looks to be a heated conversation with her brother.

“Do you see that?”

“Yes. But I also see something else. Follow me.” He leads us through the crowd, and soon enough we come upon two men, Chrissy Castaneda and Mark Russo, the billionaire who dumped Connie for Amanda. Talk about brass cookies. He’s luckyhe’salive.