Chapter 19
The Nightmare Before Networking party is still going strong, though the crowd has gotten louder and the costumes more disheveled as the night wears on. “Monster Mash” has cycled through at least six times, and someone has already face-planted into the candy apple station. It’s a sticky situation.
I stand at the dessert table, watching my one and only suspect by the chocolate fountain as the woman I’m after chats with party guests like she doesn’t have a care in the world.
She’s laughing at someone’s joke about the murder being good for book sales, and I want to throw a pumpkin at her perfectly styled witch hat.
The witch smells like lies and expensive perfume, Fish mewls while sticking close.
Also, chocolate. Everything smells like chocolate here, Chip adds, still working his way through his third dessert, which by the way is not chocolate because I’ve lectured them a thousand times on the fact that animals and chocolate generally don’t get along. Also, the vet bills can be murder.
Focus, felines, Cupcake barks. We’re fixin’ to catch a killer.
My phone weighs heavy in my pocket with the evidence.
Willow Lovejoy knew exactly where the cameras were and weren’t. She’d studied the layout with the focus of someone who doesn’t leave things to chance.
Her brother’s dentist office… She was in charge for three weeks, which afforded her access to all sorts of medical supplies. It turns out, potassium cyanide is used in certain dental procedures.
The lipstick on Duffy’s collar that Crystal mentioned—Desperate Housewife Burgundy—just so happens to match her signature shade.
Her cool presence at the dessert table during the coffee chaos, the literal coffee chaos, giving her the perfect alibi of being the scorned ex-wife rather than someone’s secret lover.
And speaking of her ex, she set him up so perfectly in the process. She really is a genius.
Dexter appears at my elbow with a concerned expression. “The lab found something interesting about the poison.”
“Let me guess, it was medical-grade, more specifically, dental-grade potassium cyanide?”
His eyebrows rise. “How did you—”
“Lucky guess. Plus, I came across some security footage that I found very enlightening.”
Dexter’s phone buzzes again. He glances at the screen, then back at me. “Backup is here—they just pulled into the lot. This place is so packed they can’t find the entrance to this hollow.”
“Go get them,” I say. “I’ll wait right here.”
“Promise me you’ll stay put.” He levels me with a look that says he knows exactly what I’m thinking and doesn’t approve. “Don’t approach any suspects alone.”
“I promise. Scout’s honor.” I cross my heart and my fingers. Maybe a few toes, too.
His delicious blue eyes narrow on mine. “You were never a scout.”
“Fine. A regular person’s honor. I’ll stand right here by this dessert table and not move.”
He studies me for a moment, clearly debating whether to believe me, then nods. “Five minutes. I’ll be back in five minutes.”
“I’ll be here. Eating cake. Not solving murders.” I hope.
He gives me one last look, a half warning, and half something that makes my stomach flip, then disappears.
He takes off, and I grab another dessert, a slice of maple whiskey cake that could put hair on your chest, and make my way through the crowd.
Drunk guests in various states of costume disintegration create an obstacle course.
A zombie with a bright green face stumbles past me.
Three witches are doing shots at the bar.
“Thriller” starts to play through the speakers once again, and the crowd goes wild.
Josie, Fish all but hisses. Didn’t you just tell Detective Dreamboat you weren’t going to approach a suspect alone?
“I’m not alone,” I tell her without missing a beat. “I’ve got the three of you.” I wink down at the furry trio.
Darn tootin’, Chip yowls. And the best part? We don’t have to share our snacks with Detective Dreamboat either.
You’re missing the point! Fish growls.
Don’t you worry, Josie. Cupcake gives a sharp bark, and it’s as intimidating as a sneeze in a library. I may be fluffy, but I’ve got teeth and the element of surprise! Also, I can bite ankles like nobody’s business.
“Willow!” I call out cheerfully as I make my way over, cake in hand. I’m no fool. I might be speaking to a killer, but I’m not one to eschew carbs in the name of justice. “Great party! Heck, it’s been a great week despite, you know, that whole murder thing.”
Willow Lovejoy turns my way with that burgundy smile, looking perfectly composed in her designer witch costume, glossy black cape and all.
Her witch hat is sparkling with every turn.
“Josie! Yes, nothing like a little death to spice up a celebration.” She laughs as she says it and gives the wine in her hand a quick swill.
“Your book sales must be going through the roof.” I try my best to sound congratulatory. “I would think the murder really boosted publicity.”
Another laugh bubbles from her. “You know, there’s always a silver lining, no matter how dire the circumstances.
And let’s be honest, all the secrets I spilled helped to sell the books.
The juicier the secrets, the better the sales.
My publisher is already asking for a sequel—My Ex-Husband is a Killer.
It has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? ”
Chip yowls, She’s still trying to set him up!
Some women never give up, Cupcake says with a soft woof.
I have a feeling she’d frame her own grandmother if it came with a book deal, Fish says flatly.
“Speaking of secrets, funny how Duffy seemed to have so many of them,” I continue, taking a bite of cake. Wow. Savvy really knows how to wield her whiskey—and her whisk. “Did you know he documented everything?” I ask Willow. “The man was obsessive about keeping records.”
Chip tips his furry ear my way. He was?
Oh, who cares. Fish gives a quick meow. As long as the killer believes it.
If she is the killer. Cupcake sniffs. The woman hasn’t admitted to anything yet.
“Really?” Willow lifts her chin. “How thorough of him.”
I nod. “His breakfast meetings, his private dinners, right down to the women he was seeing. The man even rated their kisses.”
She gasps hard. “He did not!”
And there it is. The crack in her facade.
Georgie and Ree stumble over with Georgie’s costume now decorated with candy corn and someone’s lost hair extension. And judging by the way that Ree is trying to keep upright, I’d say there was a lot of spinning involved with those dance moves, and perhaps something a lot stronger.
Hey? Maybe we shouldn’t be serving cake infused with a bottle of whiskey. I’ll have to take the whole supply home with me tonight—for the safety of the guests, that is.
“Josie!” Georgie shouts. “Did you know love and murder have the same number of letters? That can’t be a coincidence!”
“That’s not even true,” Ree corrects while trying to maintain her balance. “Love has four; murder has six.”
Georgie is quick to scoff at her bestie. “Well, they feel like they should have the same number!”
Their drunken philosophy provides perfect cover as I continue my interrogation.
“It looks like the whiskey cake went straight to their heads. In fact, I may have had a little too much myself.” I hold up the evidence.
“I’m going to need to schedule a dental appointment after all this sugar,” I say, stepping in close to Willow.
“Your brother has his own practice, right? You were just there last month?”
Willow’s grip on her wine glass tightens. “Yes, I was covering for his office manager.”
“Must be nice having access to all that professional equipment,” I muse. “So many interesting chemicals in a dental office.”
“Did you try out the laughing gas?” Georgie howls with laughter herself, and Ree rolls her eyes. “You wouldn’t be able to get me off that stuff!”
Cupcake barks. I think she’s on it now.
“I’d go for the meds and find myself something relaxing,” Ree says as she tries to point at Willow and nearly slaps me in the face.
“No more cake for you,” I say. “Either of you.”
“I’d love some cake,” Willow tries to walk past me, but I shift casually, blocking her path.
“Not so fast,” I say.
“Pardon?” The witch looks genuinely confused.
“The Storytime Bake Shop has great coffee,” I say. “Especially at 6:15 in the morning.”
Her expression hardens to stone. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Sure, you do. You and Duffy seemed pretty cozy there that morning.”
“I was getting coffee. That’s hardly a crime.”
“You’re right,” I tell her. “But what happened next was very much a crime.”
“This is ridiculous—”
“You studied the park layout like you were planning a heist. You knew where every camera was. Where the coffee station would be. And more importantly, who would be standing where. You knew Duffy would have more than one cup of coffee that morning. He always did.”
“I don’t know what you’re implying.” She tries to sidestep me again, and this time all three furry wonders block her path. She jumps back in haste. “You should really watch those beasts! One of them is going to lose a tail one day!”
Threat alert! Chip yowls. Threat alert, DEFCON TAIL!
There is no DEFCON TAIL, Fish growls. But there is a woman who just threatened adorable animals in front of multiple witnesses. That’s Villain 101: never threaten the cute ones.
Cupcake growls at the woman. This is amateur hour.
“You took the poison from your brother’s practice.”
“You’re insane!” Her voice rises above the music. “It was obviously Clyde. Why else would he wear those latex gloves? Or Cooter! He threatened Duffy constantly! I was just another one of Cooter’s victims!”