“All right, ladies,” I say. “Why don’t you both take a break? I think tensions are running high for all of us. Suze, Lyla Nell could be your grandchild. I don’t blame you for wanting to plow your way through a platter of cookies.” I don’t mind gaslighting her one bit. She’s been gaslighting me regarding her transmundane status for months.
“But”—her body straightens with a start—“I didn’t…” She tosses her arms up and groans as she and Lily go their separate ways.
A tiny laugh bumps through me.
“It was all Cluck Norris’ fault.” I wink at the clucky bird. “But in his feathered defense, the cookies are pretty irresistible if I say so myself.”
“I more than agree,” Noah says without missing a beat. “In fact”—he reaches over and snaps up a few—“I’m going to do my best to eat every cookie on this table.”
“Not if I beat you to it,” Everett says, snatching up a handful himself.
“Well, I’m not getting left out of the loop. Technically, I’m still eating for two.” I pick up a half a dozen cookies and turn back to the gorgeous men before me.
“Lottie”—Cluck Norris chirps—“the tension is coming off the three of you in waves. Why don’t you take your mind off things by discussing the case? Dare I say, every suspect is in the house.”
I take a quick breath. “Cluck Norris thinks we should take our minds off things by discussing the case.”
“He’s a wise bird.” Everett nods. “Who are we looking at, Lottie?”
I shrug over at Noah. “I’ll get right down to it. I think Kit’s the killer. Burt says she was trying to get Candace to do a special on her brother and Candace outright refused. I guess it was too painful for her, but Kit wouldn’t take no for an answer. Burt says they were arguing about it that very day. Not only that, she changed her shirt after the killing—from a white T-shirt to blue.”
“What about Fern?” Noah asks. “She has a history with Candace. Kit mentioned that things between Fern and Candace took a turn for the sinister—that they had their secrets.”
“Fern painted a dark picture of Kit,” I say, considering it. “Fern seemed to be one of Candace’s old friends. I mean, it’s no crime to have gone to college with the deceased. She did say Candace had a temper and not a lot of tolerance for friction in her relationships. Woody backed that up, as did Burt. I really think we need to double down on Kit.”
Noah nods. “I agree. Once this is over, I’ll ask her to come to the department for questioning. But not today.” He takes a deep breath. “I don’t think I can handle much more excitement.”
Fern strides our way with a smile appearing over her round face. “These cookies are calling my name, Lottie. I can’t believe how delicious they are.”
“Thank you,” I say, tempted to snap up another handful myself.
“I shouldn’t eat them,” she says, tucking a handful in a napkin and shoving them into the pocket of her jacket. “I’m trying to lose a little weight. I’ve put on at least forty pounds this year, and I don’t know where it’s come from. But mmm…” She takes another bite out of the cookie in her hand. “They’re so good, I might just write them into my next book. It’s called Death of a Talk Show Host.” She winks my way. “You know what they say. Write what you know. It’s sort of the way I process my feelings. Of course, I’ll change the names of everyone involved, but you might just recognize yourself in it, too.” She takes off as fast as she came, and before I can process my feelings on the matter, Cluck Norris gets his feathers ruffled.
“Buck-buck-buck.” The skittish specter flaps his wings in a manic state. “Killer alert! Killer alert!”
Kit comes this way in jeans and a white T-shirt, dressed exactly the way she was the day of the killing. She grins ear-to-ear at the three of us.
“All right, it’s almost showtime. Noah, Everett, hair and makeup is ready for you. Lottie, your team is running a bit behind, but we’ll get to you in about ten minutes.”
Everett offers me a quick kiss. “See you in a few minutes,” he says as they take off.
“Are you okay?” Kit leans in as if she can see the nerves dancing in my eyes. “You look worried to death.”
“I am.” For many reasons. “Everything is about to change in just a little while. I mean, it’s better to know the answers to these questions, but this isn’t exactly how I envisioned it.” I hug myself and rub my arms with my hands in a weak attempt to get the chill off me.
Kit touches my bare arm. “Oh, you’re freezing. My office is right next to the one Candace used. I’ve got a couple cardigans hanging behind my desk. Feel free to pick one up. No reason you can’t stay warm right up until we roll. I’ll catch up with you soon.” She takes off and my mouth falls opens, as I was about to reject her offer but think better of it.
“The killer’s office?” Cluck Norris purrs. “I don’t have to beg you to follow me, do I?”
“Not one bit,” I say as we zoom in the direction of Candace’s old office, but before we can get there, Woody steps in front of me with a clipboard in hand wearing his signature Western shirt. This one is forest green with orange whipstitching and there’s an orange handkerchief tucked into his lapel just like that red one he had on him the day of the murder—which was suspiciously found next to Candace’s desk. I never did get a chance to ask.
Cluck Norris plants
