“That woman is playing with fire,” Suze observes.
“And having the time of her life doing it,” Lily adds admiringly.
The crowd shifts, and I spot Niki weaving through partygoers with the determined expression of someone on a mission. And that mission, apparently, is dragging Loretta Salamander directly to me.
“Look who I found hiding by the dessert table,” Niki announces, clearly pleased with herself. My sister’s outfit—asilver mini-dress with candy cane striped tights and jingle bell earrings—makes her look like an elf who decided to hit the club after her North Pole shift ended. “I thought you two might want to chat.”
I make a face at my insane sister before switching my attention to Cooper’s equally insane sister.
Loretta’s dress can only be described as “weaponized holiday cheer”—a red sequined number with a neckline cut down to her navel, a slit up to her hip, and enough sparkle to cause a seizure. Her red hair is teased higher than an ’80s prom queen, and her makeup looks as if it was applied with the goal of using every product in the store.
She’s not so big on subtlety, but then neither is my own sister.
“Loretta.” I force a smile that probably looks more like a grimace. “Merry Christmas. How are you holding up?”
“As if you care,” she sniffs, clutching her champagne flute like she’s considering using it as a weapon. “I know you’ve got it out for me.”
More than she realizes.
“I’ve got questions, not a vendetta,” I clarify, although Uncle Jimmy might disagree. “I was wondering what other connections you might have had to Enzo or his brother.”
Loretta looks affronted by the thought. “I’m not into threesomes, if that’s what you’re implying.”
“I’m implying that you were somehow connected to them in a way that could, let’s just say, make certain people very, very angry.” Like my uncle, who presumably had reasons beyond just being a psychopath to put her on his hit list.
She gasps hard. “Listen here, you walking, talking bad luck charm.” Loretta pauses long enough to jab a scarlet fingernail in my direction. “Just because two men dropped dead aroundyou, doesn’t mean I had anything to do with it. Enzo loved me. Nicholas approved of our relationship. End of story.”
“And coincidentally the end of their lives,” Niki mutters, and Loretta glares her way as if she were about to cause yet a third homicide in Honey Hollow before the big present-laden day.
Loretta sniffs. “The only person who wasn’t thrilled was that busybody from the tree lot who was always hovering around them,” she continues, tossing her hair with enough force to disturb nearby orbiting satellites. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to stuff my face with cannoli and forget this conversation ever happened.”
She storms off toward the dessert table with the determined stride of a woman on a sugar mission.
“Those cannolis do look amazing,” Niki admits, already moving to follow her. “Don’t wait up, sis.”
I sigh as they both disappear into the crowd. I crane my neck into the crowd and spot both Holly Bellini and Stella Martinelli mingling among the who’s who of Honey Hollow. They’re both still on my suspect list, along with Gabe, but so far, everyone seems to have motive, means, and opportunity. It’s like playing a bad game of Clue because all the cards say, “It could be anyone, anywhere, with anything.” Although theanythingis most certainly the pheno-what’s-it-called.
“You look like you could use a dance partner,” a familiar voice says behind me, sending a pleasant shiver up my spine.
I turn to find Cooper looking criminally handsome in a black tux that makes his shoulders seem even broader and his wavy brown hair even more touchable. Watson sits obediently at his side, sporting a tiny red bow tie collar that coordinates with Cooper’s.
The event invitation had specifically mentioned “pets welcome,” and it seems half of Honey Hollow brought their furry companions, all decked out in holiday finery.
“You clean up nice, Detective,” I say, leaning in for a kiss that tastes like peppermint and more of those naughty promises we made to one another just a few short hours ago.
“Last night was wonderful,” Cooper murmurs against my lips before pulling back slightly.
Last night.
The memory brings heat to my cheeks despite the fact that we mostly just made out like love-sick teenagers, ate pizza straight from the box, and watched three shoot-’em-up flicks in a row. If there was more, I’ll never tell.
“We should do it again sometime,” I suggest, linking my arm through his. “Preferably when we’re not investigating a double homicide and I’m not being pressured to add to the body count.”
Cooper winces. “About that. Have you figured out why Jimmy’s targeting Loretta?”
“Not yet, but I’m working on it. My leading theory is that he’s just naturally homicidal and drew her name from a hat.”
“Very reassuring,” Cooper deadpans just as his phone buzzes. He checks the screen and his expression shifts. “I need to take this. Toxicology has more findings.”
