“Oh, those.” She rolls her eyes. “Yup. Holly was posting some lewd things that made very little sense these last few weeks. Serves her right to have her level of crazy exposed for all to see.”
“What sites were those on?”
“Insta Pictures. She was always chronicling her food or showing off her latest hairstyle, or making pouting faces at the camera. Holly was all about me, me, me. Meanwhile, she tried to skewer those around her.” She shudders.
“She tried to skewer you, didn’t she?” I say the words carefully and measured as if trying to prove to her that I’m on her side, that I sympathize with her.
Her eyes flash like fire as she looks over at me. “What makes you think that?”
“You look a little shaken.”
“Trust me, we’re all shaken. There’s a killer on the loose. For all we know, she could be targeting innocent people.”
“She?” A part of me wonders if that was a slipup.
“Or he.” She shrugs it off. “God knows, Holly had enemies across gender lines.”
“Yeah, I guess. Just like the mayor.”
“Or his brother.” She grabs a book off the cart and studies it. “She ruined Ford’s life as much as she ruined anyone else’s.”
“Why’s that?”
She glances past me a moment once again as if she’s half-expecting Holly herself to show up.
“The affair, of course. Ford and his parents aren’t speaking. Ford and Gus are only exchanging threats and barbs. That woman nuked an entire family. Holly Wright was a terrible, terrible person.”
“But doesn’t it take two to tango?”
“You don’t know Ford. He’s a gentle soul. She took advantage of him.” Her jaw redefines itself with what looks to be anger. “And she didn’t do it for the obvious reasons. It wasn’t just to stick a dagger in her ex’s craw, she wanted to stick a dagger in the heart of the woman he was interested in, too.”
“What woman?”
She startles. “Oh, I don’t know. Just some things I heard.” Her demeanor shifts, and I can tell she smells blood.
I’d better make nice.
“You mentioned dogs. I’m a big dog lover myself. What breeds do you have?”
“Golden retrievers and a few others.” She pulls out her phone and holds out a picture on the screen of a few chubby well-loved furry four-legged creatures, and I note it’s coming from her own Insta Pictures account. In the upper right-hand corner there’s a thumbnail picture of a red and white mug.
“Oh wow, they’re beautiful.” I lean in while inspecting the cute pooches. “Hey? Is that a fox in the background?”
She pulls the phone to herself before shutting it down and putting it away.
“That was a toy. Looks real, though, I know.” She offers a tight smile my way. “I’d better get back to work. Now that Holly isn’t here, I’m pulling double duty.”
“And I’d better get to the steamy book section before those two gobble up all the good stuff.”
She chortles at the thought.
“Kaila? Certainly you knew Holly best. Who do you think could have done something like this to her?”
“I’m not sure.” Kaila’s eyes shift from side to side. “I mean, I know the mayor’s brother was upset, but I’ve known Ford all my life. He’s not a killer no matter how bad his brother might make him sound.” She sniffs at the thought.
“I ran into Holly’s friend Carol yesterday, and she didn’t know either.”
But Carol was certain Kaila had a motive.
“Carol?” Her eyes enlarge. “Carol and Holly weren’t friends. Not anymore. In fact, they were outright enemies toward the end.”
Knew it.
“Oh? I heard they were solid.” I heard no such thing, but I have a feeling this woman is holding out on me big time.
“Solid in a feud. When Holly got the boot from the distillery, she wanted Carol to leave with her, and when she didn’t listen to the merciless self-appointed monarch, things got tense between them. Holly actually accused Carol of getting her ousted from the distillery. She wanted Carol to leave with her, but she refused to go—Holly felt betrayed. There was so much drama brewing up—pardon the pun—Carol got demoted in the process. Holly was so ticked she was determined to ruin Carol’s life. She went as far as having an affair with Carol’s brother. Broke up his marriage, too. Personally, I think he was primed for an affair.”
“Oh wow, things really got dirty between them.”
She nods. “Hey? Maybe Carol killed Holly? And here I thought Holly would beat her to the punch.” She shakes her head. “If Carol did do it, I’d like to see the judge go easy on her. After all, she did this entire town a favor.” She rolls her cart past me, and my blood runs cold at that last comment.
Everyone seems to think Holly Wright had it coming.
And not one person so far is all that sorry she’s gone. Maybe I should listen to Mayor Wright and enjoy my holidays instead of trying to put together this murderous puzzle.
Stephanie and Tilly check out about half a dozen bawdy books each.
“I know what I’m doing tonight,” Steph says, perusing her selections as soon as we get back into my car.
“Me, too.” Tilly wags a cover in my face with a shirtless man sprawled across it. “How about you, Bowie? You wanna borrow a book?”
“No thanks. I have a hot date tonight at seven.”
“Ooh.” Steph leans in. “Where’s Sexy Wexy taking us tonight?”
Tilly moans, “I hope it’s surf and turf. I’ve been craving lobster.”
“Somewhere quiet and private with seating for two,” I say, hoping they’ll take the hint.
The two of them talk about their steamy new reads all the way home, and my mind is cluttered up with the fact a killer is lurking about in my cozy new town.
Someone out there is most definitely on the naughty list.
And I’m betting we’ll discover the killer has been under our nose all along.
Four suspects were all seen arguing with Holly Wright that night.
Now to winnow out the killer.
Mayor Wright, his brother Ford,
