Page 11 of Twice Baked Risky Whiskey Cakes (MURDER IN THE MIX #53)

LOTTIE

T he moment I cross the threshold into the Honey Pot Diner, the temperature drops a few degrees.

Not the usual someone left the door open chill, but the unmistakable icy fingerprint of the otherworldly. And oddly enough, this is the first time that icy fingerprint has made itself known.

I scan the room, my eyes following the trail of glimmering stars floating like radioactive dust through the cozy establishment.

The Honey Pot Diner is already brimming with customers, mostly those enjoying eggs and bacon with a side of the Honey Pot’s famous red velvet waffles—made to order in my bakery. And boy, the scent of bacon is calling me like a salty, sizzling siren song.

It’s bright inside from the morning light pouring in through the giant bay window, and the sound of easy-listening music coming from the speakers puts just about everyone in a jovial mood.

Everyone except for me.

There—next to the oak tree centerpiece—that adorable furry fox sits patiently with its luminescent eyes fixed on me as if I’m late for an appointment. Its translucent fur shimmers with an internal glow that trails with pink and blue stars that quickly dissolve into nothing.

I speed that way and nearly bump right into my sister.

“ Charlie ,” I say, gripping my belly and inching back, just about losing my balance.

“Whoa, sister,” she says with a laugh as she does her best to keep me from tipping backward.

“Why don’t we get you a seat? What are you in such a hurry for, anyway?

If you’re looking for Keelie, she took the afternoon off.

Apparently, there’s some ritzy birthday party for a three-year-old today.

All the who’s who of Honey Hollow under five will be there, or so I’m told. ” She wrinkles her nose at the thought.

And that nose wrinkling is pretty much Charlie’s take on motherhood, too.

Charlie and I are nearly identical in every way—same hair, face, eyes, and ability to see right through to the other side, but I’m older by a year.

It turns out, we’re something called transmundane, further classified as supersensual, which means we can see the dead. But not all the dead, mostly just those the man upstairs sends back to help solve a crime or two.

Mostly.

And by mostly , I mean just me. Charlie has yet to have a supernatural sidekick sent her way.

I guess you could say I’m the unlucky one in the family who fate seems to have tapped as a supernatural sleuth.

But there are other ghosts we see on the regular, too—like the happy family of ghosts taking up residence in my mother’s B&B.

Charlie wasn’t raised by the Lemons like I was, but pretty much my mother, Meg, and Lainey have all adopted her by proxy, too.

“I’m not here for Keelie,” I tell her. Even though I so have some serious tea to spill with her. She will never believe what Everett’s mother, of all people, has managed to tangle herself up in.

Keelie has been my bestie ever since preschool.

We’ve shared all of our secrets with one another, with the exception of the fact I can see the dead.

I couldn’t tell her. The girl is afraid of the dark.

The last thing I wanted was for her to be afraid of me .

“I’m here for that cute little thing.” I nod to the precious white fox with ears almost the same size as its body.

Charlie gasps and takes me by the hand straight to a table for two right next to where the wily fox sits, shimmering away like a miniature galaxy of stars.

“Does this have something to do with that man Eliza hacked down last night?” Charlie asks as we quickly take a seat across from one another.

I shoot her a look for even thinking it, let alone saying it out loud in a public establishment.

“Never you mind,” I whisper her way before leaning toward the tiny specter in question. Upon closer examination, it not only has snow-white fur, but a cute little snout, and little pink lips that curve into what I swear is a smile. “What’s your name, sweetie?”

The tiny fox bounces from the trunk of the tree right onto our table, facing both Charlie and me.

“My name is Sebastian, but you can call me Sebby ,” he says in the cutest little masculine voice you ever did hear.

“ Aww ,” both Charlie and I coo in unison.

“Wait.” I shake my head at it. “Are you telling me that Sebastian named you after himself?”

The little cutie pie gives a quick nod. “And why not? A perfect name from one perfect gentleman to another. He always called me Sebby. After all, that’s what his own family called him.”

“Interesting.” I lean back and lift a brow at Charlie.

She shakes her head. “He named his pet after himself? That says everything I need to know about the man.”

“Oh, I was no pet.” The tiny thing inches back as if he were affronted.

“I was family myself. Once Sebby took me in, well, his family took me in as well. What Sebby wanted Sebby got. And when he was a teenager, he wanted me as his friend.” He glances toward the window and sighs.

“Of course, that meant never seeing my own family and friends ever again, but it was worth it in the end. I ate steak and French fries, along with Mama’s chocolate silk whiskey pie.

The meals were plentiful and we stayed up far too late each night watching questionable television. ”

Charlie perks up. “ Ooh, that chocolate silk whiskey pie does sound good.”

“I am definitely putting it on the menu,” I tell him. “Sebby, you know you’re here to help solve Sebastian’s homicide, right?”

“That I do,” he practically sings. “And the sooner we land the killer behind bars, the sooner I can hit the bar with Sebastian in the sky.”

I make a face. “This is the first time I’ve heard anything about a bar up there.”

“Oh, there is one,” he insists. “In fact, there are several. And the wine most certainly does not taste like water, if you know what I mean. Miracles still abound.”

“Good to know,” Charlie says, looking as amused as I do.

“One more thing, Sebby,” I say, leaning in his way. “There’s a woman who is currently sitting at the top of the suspect list. Her name is Eliza Baxter.”

“At the top of the suspect list?” he practically squeals so loud both babies jump at once in my belly.

I’m not sure if my twins will be transmundane like Lyla Nell is—and believe me, that’s been sort of a problem already.

Or if they heard the little guy squeak because they’re touching me, or rather residing in me.

As it stands, if anyone touches my flesh, they can hear straight through to the other side, too.

“Why, let’s arrest the wealthy little fiend and be done with it.” Sebby floats up a few inches along with his insolence. “Wait until I get my paws on her. How dare she shove a knife into the man who was my brother from another mother.”

I shoot him a wry look. “We are definitely not arresting Eliza,” I practically hiss.

“She’s innocent. I think . Anyway. No matter what anyone says—no matter what evidence we stumble upon…

” I pause a moment to glance over at Charlie whose eyebrows have crested into her forehead.

“Eliza Baxter is innocent. There’s a real killer out there and it’s our job to find them, and fast.” I place my hands on my belly. “Like very fast.”

Sebby salutes me with his paw. “I’m on it, Lolita.”

I inch back. I don’t remember telling him my name.

“My name is Lottie ,” I correct, enunciating it for his benefit.

“That’s not what Carlotta told me,” he counters.

“Wait…you met Carlotta?” I squint his way. “Never mind. It’s Lottie. Carlotta is seldom right about anything.”

“But she’s fun, much like my Sebastian was,” he’s quick to tell me.

“And besides, I like Lolita. It has a nice ring to it.” He begins to float toward the ceiling once more.

“I’ll see you soon enough. I hear there’s an entire forest of little foxes out beyond the lake.

If you’ll excuse me, I have a little catching up to do with my kind.

Ta-ta for now!” And with that, he floats right out of sight.

“Wonderful.” I frown in his wake. I go to stand and Charlie grabs me by the wrist.

“Hey, did you get the invite to Vegas?”

I give a quick nod. “But as much as I love Meg, I don’t think I can swing it.”

She looks momentarily confused. “Is Meg participating in the Vegas Flavor Frenzy, too?”

I gasp a little at the mention of the event. “I forgot all about that. Is that coming up? I mean, Meg will be in Las Vegas for a wrestling match, but I doubt it’s at the very same time.”

“The Flavor Frenzy is in a month,” she tells me. “I’ve already committed to the Savory Sizzle in Sin City. You should sign up for the Sin City Sugar Showdown.”

“Oh, Charlie,” I moan. “The Vegas Flavor Frenzy is huge.” The event itself is parceled off into two different events, the Savory Sizzle for the savory culinary lovers and the Sin City Sugar Showdown for those of us with a sweet tooth.

“I’m so glad you’re competing. It’s been a dream of mine forever to compete myself.

But as much as I’d love to come along”—I place my hand over my belly—“I’m sort of cooking up a little something with my husband.

You know I can’t travel with the twins. Maybe next year—or in eighteen years more likely. ”

“Bummer,” she says, leaning in and giving me a hug. “But I understand. And just for the record, you would have slayed the competition.”

“ Aww , thank you.”

“No, I mean it.” She winks. “Vegas should pen you a thank you note for narrowly avoiding a tragedy or two.” She slinks back to the kitchen before a reply can work its way up my throat.

“ Haha , I’m not laughing,” I mutter as I walk back to my bakery and right into another one of my favorite blondes and nearly knock a box of my sweet treats right out of her arms.

“ Venus ,” I say with a laugh. “Sorry. I seem to lead with my belly these days whether I want to or not. And what did you pick up?” I try to peer into the corner of the box, but I have no clue what deliciousness lurks beneath the cardboard.

“Cookies and cupcakes,” she says with a laugh.

“I’m on my way to my niece’s birthday party.

My sister-in-law called this morning and requested that I bring the desserts, but I was instructed not to bring them from my bakery.

She said she didn’t want this to be all about me on her daughter’s special day. ”

“ Oh ,” I wince as I say it. “Well, I appreciate the business. How about I give you a couple more boxes? On me.”

“I’ll take them.” She laughs again. “But only under one circumstance. You come along with me. As much as I love my sister-in-law, she and her friends can be a bit much. Bring Lyla Nell! It’s going to be quite the party.”

Carlotta materializes as if she were a ghost herself. But face it, I’m not that lucky.

“Did someone say party?” Carlotta perks up at the thought.

“I sure did.” Venus nods. “And you should come along, too, Carlotta. The food is being catered by six different restaurants, and there’s going to be an open bar.”

“I’ll grab my coat.” Carlotta takes off to do just that and I frown in her direction.

“Venus, you really don’t have to extend the invite our way. It’s my pleasure to gift you the desserts.”

“Believe me, you’ll be doing me a bigger favor by showing up.

Have I mentioned my niece is turning three?

” She rolls her eyes. “And yes, you heard me right. An open bar at a party for a three-year-old. Trust me when I say, this will be a birthday party to end all birthday parties. My sister-in-law and her friends are all about one-upping each other. It’s sort of a blood sport at this point. ”

A thought comes to me.

“A birthday party for your niece? I guess your mother will be there—I mean, Carlotta could say hello to her as well.”

“Oh, she will. And she already loves Carlotta!”

“In that case, you’ve got yourself a few tagalong guests.”

It turns out, I’ve got a party to cater, and my very first suspect to question.

Bring on the cake, and the interrogation.