I quickly relay it to Jasper, and my mouth twitches to the side. I think we both know she may have used another word outside of beetle.
Jasper scoops up Rudolph as he tries to jump onto the couch and I pull him onto my lap.
“What else do you remember, Rudolph?” I ask, playing with his silky soft ears. “Did you hear Quinn say anything back to her? Did he call for help or for her to stop?”
Rudolph gives another sharp bark. I do remember something! She said, ‘Next time I’ll triple your dose,’ and she walked away.
I translate for Jasper. “Maybe she walked away to get the axe?”
He nods. “Maybe she did. I bet she’s reeling with anger tonight.” He tightens his arms around me, and Rudolph jumps to the floor once again and is back to chasing Sherlock. “How about we ditch work for the rest of the afternoon? I’ll order in an early dinner to celebrate the inn, and we can decorate the tree and look up every bit of cyber information on the suspects at hand. I think if we put our heads together we can crack this case wide open.”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Fish mewls, Now that I’ve got an inn to run, I need to make sure my guests are safe, and that starts with catching whoever thought it was a good idea to commit a homicide right here on the grounds. I’m investigating with you.
Sherlock barks. I’ll watch Rudolph. Bizzy, can you leave that animal channel on TV again? It really calms the little guy down.
“You bet,” I say, as I do just that. Jasper orders some Chinese food for us, and we get straight to the serious business of decorating that tree. A little mistletoe leads to a little kissing, and soon we’re decorating each other with affection.
Suffice it to say, we choose to celebrate the right way.
Chapter 15
The Cider Cove Christmas Spectacular has drawn in more residents and tourists alike than Cider Cove knows what to do with.
I’d bet good money all of Maine has drained into our cozy little town, with the exception of my handsome plus one. Jasper is still at the station, but as soon as he gets done, he’s hightailing it this way. And I can’t wait to take a sleigh ride with him. Kissing Jasper while gliding through the snow on a sleigh is exactly how I want this night to end. Hopefully, we’ll have a little justice to go with it on the side.
It’s a little after six in the evening, and the festivities are just getting underway. The overgrown tree at the end of Main Street is gleaming with thousands of twinkle lights and oversized ruby red ornaments strapped to its boughs. Garland and more twinkle lights are strung all up and down Main Street. There are cheerful wreaths with bright red bows dotted here and there while carolers stroll up and down the street belting out those cheery tunes we can’t get enough of this time of year.
A couple of refreshment tables are set out laden with hot cocoa, an assortment of cookies, and peppermint bark. We have Santa and his elves, along with a mile long line of kids all waiting for a turn on the big guy’s lap, but the star of the show is the snow. A fresh dusting fell over our world last night, which makes for the perfect backdrop for this Christmas Spectacular.
I’ve got Fish with me in the baby sling that she loves to nestle in whenever she’s in it, and I’m glad about it, because on a night like tonight, I can use all the warmth this little inferno is willing to give me. Both Sherlock and Rudolph are with me as well, and I’ve spent the better part of an hour trying to detangle myself from the literal binds that Rudolph has caused with his enthusiasm to walk on the white stuff. It’s safe to say we’ve still got some work to do with leash training.
The shops are brimming with customers—some more than others, and I can’t help but hold Fish a little bit tighter as I see Macy storm out of Lather and Light with a look of fury.
“Bizzy Baker”—she snips as she pulls her coat tightly—“was that quilt chop shop your big idea?”
“No to both. I’m Bizzy Baker Wilder. And I don’t think they’re actually making quilts in there, so the phrase chop shop doesn’t quite work either. But good effort on your part.”
“Do you know what else is a good effort on my part? Running my business. Do you know what’s not a good effort on my part? Sales. Those two old broads have stolen all of my customers. And don’t for a second buy that dumb luck spiel they’ve been trying to feed me all week. This is a strategic takedown of my finances, one sale at a time.” She storms in the direction of their business, and I follow along as we narrowly miss getting run over by one of the many sleighs that has been giving people a holiday thrill as they ride up and down the street. But just as Macy sails through the bright red doors, a familiar scowl is shed my way by none other than the woman of the hour.
“Mayor Woods.” I offer a nod her way. “You really know how to throw a party. Everything is amazing.”
She waves the idea off. “Never mind this ice spectacle. I have a proposal to tend to tomorrow night. I just picked up a titanium band at the jewelers and gave your mother back his class ring. So what have you come up with?”
“A bar brawl?” I tease. Although it is a play on Juni’s fight night idea.
“A bar brawl?” She gives a lone blink. “Wait a minute…”
“No,” I say emphatically. “No brawls. I’m hosting dinner at the inn.”
Her lips crimp. “Your shiny new inn. I’d be a smidge
