Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

“ D id Virginia find out about the affair?” I ask Ember Jewel with shock, here at Candy Cane Lane where the entire town has gathered to ogle the over-the-top decorated houses in the neighborhood.

“She sure did.” Her eyes widen a moment. “Let’s just say the cookies really hit the fan. Anyway, it was over as soon as she learned of his indiscretion. He begged for her to take him back and apologized profusely with flowers, chocolate, jewelry—you name it, but Virginia’s affection couldn’t be bought.”

“Good for her,” I say, looking up at Jasper. “I wouldn’t tolerate cheating either.” And there’s a threat in my eyes as I say it.

He’s been warned before, but it’s always nice to offer up a refresher.

Yeah, Fish belts out a sharp meow. Take that, you big oaf. Get cheating and get lost. She straightens. Hey? Would it be bad if I rooted for the cheating? I mean, what if it made our lives easier and stress-free? No stress is good for the baby, right?

I shoot a look at my precocious kitty that all but says, no way . Rooting for cheating is bad. Stress or no stress, we’re staying on the high road.

Jasper’s brows furrow as I make my stance clear on infidelity. You don’t think that’s in my wheelhouse, do you?

I shake my head his way, inadvertently answering a question he never truly asked. Not verbally anyway. And he looks slightly relieved, nonetheless.

Good, he thinks to himself as his hand drifts to my lower back and curves enough to land on my belly.

I love the fact that Jasper is in protective daddy mode already.

“I’m sorry to hear things ended so badly between the two of them,” I tell her. “Ember, Nick gave you a gorgeous snow globe the night he was killed. But what he said about it sounded a little odd. Can I ask what he meant by that?”

Her lips tighten as she pulls her coat tight around her waist.

Her gaze gets lost in the holiday display behind me and she twists her lips a moment.

I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to out him now. He is dead after all.

I all but stop breathing.

This could be big. I’d hate to so much as sneeze and distract her from exposing all of the little secrets she may be harboring.

“Okay, I’ll tell you.” She steps in a notch. “When Tom Brighten died, he left a majority of the shares of the company to his daughter, Noel, and to his wife, Virginia. But there were still a lot of investors who held shares, too. But as the years have gone by, a mystery investor has been scooping up all of the errant shares. Rumor has it, they were looking to gobble up the shares that Virginia and Noel held, too.”

“Sounds like a hostile takeover was about to take place,” Jasper points out.

She gives a quick nod. “It was just a matter of time. I think it was set for after the holidays. If the Cider Cove Cookie Company is about anything, it’s about the holidays. And whoever was behind this was about to milk all the shares they could.”

“I can see why,” I say. “What goes better with Christmas than cookies and milk?”

“Make that eggnog,” Jasper says and Ember and I laugh.

Speaking of eggnog, Fish mewls. Can we speed things along? Not only are my paws threatening to freeze off, but I suddenly have a craving for that special Christmas milk .

I give her a quick nod because it’s the exact Christmas milk I’ve been craving, too. Something tells me Fish is going to make one great mama’s little helper.

“A hostile takeover?” I shake my head, trying to put it together. “That’s certainly something to give a person pause. Ember, you know who that person is, don’t you?”

She closes her eyes a moment. “The same person who gave me that globe. I found out about it and tried my best to stop him.”

“ Ah , I see.” I rock back on my heels. “So that’s why he told you the only thing you can control was the weather in that snow globe.”

“That’s exactly why.” She frowns at the holiday display behind me. “I was all set to rat him out, but he threatened to end my career. I love that company, I didn’t want to leave.”

Jasper tips his head to the side. “Why do you think the killer went after Chris? Do you think he was trying to scoop up shares as well?”

“I really have no idea.” She shrugs. “Chris was a nice guy, save for that affair business.”

“Who did he have an affair with?” I ask in hopes this might be the key.

She shrugs again. “I don’t know. But it was kept under wraps almost as if both Virginia and Chris were trying to protect someone—most likely themselves.”

“I agree,” I say.

Someone shouts for her and she holds a hand up their way. “I’d better get back,” she says. “Will I see you two at the inn for the town Christmas party?”

“We wouldn’t miss it,” I say.

“Great, see you then.” She takes off with a wave.

“Just our luck,” Jasper says as he looks at the crowd swelling near the booth. “The line is twice as long as it was ten minutes ago.”

Before I can respond, Ember comes back with a cup of hot cocoa for both Jasper and me, along with a bag of warm fresh baked cookies.

“It’s on the house,” she says.

“You’re officially my new best friend,” I tell her, rubbing my belly in delight. “Thank you—on behalf of the baby and me.”

She laughs. “I’ll see you on Christmas Eve!” she shouts as she disappears behind the crowd.

“How about we go find those dogs and nosh on some cookies?” I ask the handsome man by my side.

“Best plan I’ve heard all night.”

We migrate over to an empty sleigh sitting under a canopy of twinkle lights and take a seat inside.

“So what do you think, Detective Wilder?” he asks as we each take a sip of our cocoa and moan simultaneously.

“Wow,” I muse. “This really is the world’s best cocoa. The baby agrees as well.”

“I’m betting the cookies are right up there, too,” he says as we break into the bag.

Sure enough, he’s right.

“I think we should come back tomorrow night,” he says. “And try to squeeze the recipe out of them while we’re at it. This could be the start of a new family tradition.”

I wrinkle my nose at him. “You do realize I’m a catastrophe in the kitchen.”

Fish pokes her head out of the carrier. Tell him about the great fire of 2017. It’s infamous. If that doesn’t scare him off for good, nothing will.

I clamp my lips shut. Nothing can get me to talk about that traumatic day. I’m still penciling in my brows because of it.

“Never mind the kitchen,” he says, wrapping his arms around me and landing a kiss on my lips. “You shine in other rooms of the house.” He gives my stomach a sweet pat. “And soon enough, it’ll show.”

“You’re hilarious,” I say, mock socking him on the arm just as both Sherlock and Jingle show up barking with glee.

Did you catch the killer? Sherlock gives a soft woof.

“No killer yet, boys,” I say, giving them both a quick scratch behind the ears. “But we’re talking about suspects.” I look at Jasper. “I think Virginia might be the only one with a solid motive.”

He nods. “She’s looking pretty guilty.”

“I mean, she left that night before I found the body. She might have been making a getaway.”

“And she had an affair with both of the deceased.” He sighs. “Love is a potent emotion.”

“So is money,” I say. “Maybe she found out Nick was about to oust her from the company? I mean, he could have tried. It sounds as if he was about to make her life miserable. And Chris, well, he had already done that.”

“I should be getting the full forensic report on both men and the weaponry that was used. I’ll see if there’s a smoking gun. If not, I’ll call her down to the station and see if I can’t get a confession out of her.”

Jingle whimpers. Don’t tell me that you think Virginia did this. She’s one of my favorite people. She’s always sneaking me treats. She says I’m the best employee the cookie company has ever seen.

“ Aww , come here,” I say, patting the spot between Jasper and me as Jingle jumps up to take it. “We don’t know for sure if Virginia did this. But rest assured, whoever did this to Nick will be brought to justice. No one should get away with such heinous crimes.”

Jingle gives a sharp bark. I wouldn’t want them to. He whimpers once again. I just hope it’s not Virginia who has to pay.

I give the poor pooch a hug as we huddle together and watch the crowds marvel at the sights.

Jasper and I pick up their leashes once again and we walk slowly up and down the street as we ogle all of the cleverly decorated homes.

Christmas is almost here, I’ve got a baby on the way, and a killer is still on the loose.

And if they strike again, it will be the deadliest silent night Cider Cove has ever known.