“Likewise,” I say as she steps away. “I guess I’ll see you again at the library with Shep.”
She looks momentarily confused before squeezing her eyes shut. “That’s right. I’ll see you then.” She takes off, but her head is still turned toward the deceased, and I can’t help but note that cold look in her eyes.
I’m about to make my way back to the booth when I spot Santa, aka Mayor Wright, and the man in the dark wool coat in an alcove next to the bank across the street, having what looks to be a heated conversation. And as much as I want to scout the scene of the crime for evidence, my feet work quickly to land me within earshot of those two squabbling men.
“Next time you feel the need to make things better for me, try disappearing instead.” The mayor gives the man a hard shove. “Don’t call me. I’m not your fixer.”
Not his fixer?
He stalks past me like the angry Santa he is, and I jump back just in time to see the mud caked on his right boot.
The footprint! Not to mention the fact Carol said she saw the mayor and his ex feuding in the exact spot where she lies. I’m afraid this isn’t going to be such a jolly holiday season for the head elf after all.
Pixie squirms, and I grip her a little tighter as we come upon the man in the dark coat.
“Forgive me in advance,” I whisper into my sweet cat’s ear. “Whoa! Pixie, no!” I shout as I all but toss the poor kitty at the man. “I’m so sorry. She’s been grumpy all night,” I say, patting the imaginary fur off his lapel. “I take it you know Santa?” I nod back in the direction the mayor took off in.
The man steps back, glancing from his coat to me again. He’s older, maybe sixty. His hair is shorn to stubble. He has a broad forehead, heavyset dimples that seem to have created permanent fissures in his cheeks with age, and an otherwise grumpy disposition himself.
“I should say I do.” He sighs. “He’s my brother.”
The brother! Didn’t Holly make some snide remark about Mayor Wright’s brother? I believe Mayor Wright said you’re not worth my time, and she came back with your brother didn’t think so.
That’s when you know things have really gone south. An affair in general is a death knell, but an affair with the sibling of your significant other is a nuclear obliteration that there is no coming back from. The siblings’ relationship is pretty much dunzo, too.
“Well, lucky for you,” I say as he looks intently over my shoulder at the throngs gathered around the scene of the despicable crime. “But I guess my sweet cat and I won’t be getting our picture with Santa this year.”
He shrugs. “You can try the tree lot up the street,” he says as he takes off toward the melee. “That’s the only gig they’ve got for him this time of year.”
“Tree lot,” I whisper to Pixie, and she belts out a mewl. “Somebody killed a very inebriated Mrs. Claus tonight, and right about now, I bet they think they’ve gotten away with murder.”
Pixie rubs her head against my neck.
“That’s right, girl. And we’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
It’s my first Christmas here in Starry Falls, and I’m not ushering it in with a killer on the loose.
At least I hope not.
Chapter 4
A snowstorm blew through last night and dumped a few more inches onto Starry Falls.
I’m half a zombie today from staying up all night to keep the flames of love stoking. And I’m not talking about having my cookies frosted by Shepherd Wexler. I’m talking about the love I have for not freezing to death.
Stephanie and I were supposed to take turns keeping watch over the fire so we could each get a half a night’s sleep, but she conked out solid and I didn’t have it in me to wake her—and I didn’t have it in me to wake up frozen solid either.
The Manor Café has been pumping and jumping all morning and well into the afternoon, on this the very next day after that Christmas tree lighting catastrophe.
People have been flocking into the café, and it’s not just for the love of my Nana Rose’s famous lasagna—although it’s nearly a sellout. It might not be her recipe, but it’s as darn close as Stephanie and I could get it.
We’re selling more pizza than ever before, too, ever since Steph had the brainstorm to add all sorts of crazy toppings to them. The prosciutto and capicola seems to be a hit, but the clear winner is the tried-and-true pepperoni. And this month we’ve debuted one of our most treasured culinary memories, knockoffs of Nana Rose’s arancini. Basically, it’s a deep fried rice ball the size of a fist, made extra delicious with all the cheesy goodness we have hiding inside. That, along with a spicy version of our house tomato sauce, and it’s comfort food heaven in Starry Falls.
Tilly comes back from the kitchen and begins to spruce up the garland trimming the area around the register. We’ve gone full Christmas assault on the place where the decorations are concerned.
Back before the facelift, the Manor Café was a black and white checkered cozy little nook, albeit more than a little rundown with its ripped red vinyl booths, but that Naugahyde nightmare is a thing of the past. The old dark and depressing floors have been sanded down and stained a sandy blond. The red and white checkered racetrack pattern is thankfully no more, and in its place are white subway tiled walls that gleam and actually look clean and sanitary. Round wooden tables and warm, toned, comfortable wooden chairs have been dotted around
