Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

T he pale blue cast from the moon has the entire courtyard, and all of Cider Cove, glowing like an ethereal dream.

Snow glitters on the ground and over the trees that surround the courtyard right here next to the ballroom, adding an enchanting appeal to an already enchanted evening.

I spot the woman I’m tracking as she heads over to the makeshift memorial right over the spot where Nick Bell lost his life a week ago.

Bizzy, Fish screeches and I turn to see her racing this way. Don’t you dare leave the building without me. And you shouldn’t be chasing murderers in your condition. You know as much as I do there’s a dangerous killer on the loose, and you’re growing my future belly warmer, she yowls as she jumps straight into my arms. Her ears tip back a notch once she spots the woman not too far from us. Don’t tell me that’s her.

“I’m afraid it might be,” I whisper. “Let’s go find out.”

The snow crunches under my shoes as Fish and I make our way over.

“Jasper isn’t going to be thrilled with this,” I mutter. “Virginia?” I call out the woman’s name softly and she turns my way with a startled look on her face.

“Oh, Bizzy.” A weak laugh strums from her as she holds herself tight. Her blonde hair is coiled to perfection, and she’s donned a long golden dress that shines in this dim light like a star. It’s a gorgeous gown, and sadly this might be one of the last nights she’ll have to don anything of her own choosing.

A pang of nausea hits me, but whether it’s from the pregnancy or the thought of what’s coming for Virginia, I can’t be sure.

“You scared the daylights out of me.” She chortles as she brings her hand to her neck. “I was just looking for a little peace and solace.” She glances toward the ballroom. “Everyone is so jovial—and rightly so.” She shudders. “But I’ll admit, I can’t stop thinking about the awful thing that happened to both Nick and Chris.”

“It was awful,” I tell her. “Those men hurt you, didn’t they, Virginia?”

Her chin tips up a notch. “Yes, they did. I guess you could say we took turns hurting each other. But I suppose we’re all human. That’s what we do, isn’t it? We hurt one another’s feelings with reckless abandon.”

“It seems so.”

Fish sits up in my arms. If she’s the killer, she hurt more than their feelings. She hurt them with a knife.

True, but emotional pain can feel like a knife to the heart, too.

“Virginia? Your husband Tom, was he close to Nick?”

“Very close.” She closes her eyes a moment as she nods. “Not a lot of people know this, but Tom and Nick were best friends. They started the cookie company together.”

“Together?”

“That’s right. But some things happened. Nick had a serious gambling problem, so Tom was forced to cut him off and had him removed as an owner. Nick was angry, but he agreed to stay on as an investor. He lost everything way back when, and it’s taken him years to rebuild.”

“I didn’t realize that.” I think on it for a moment. “Was Nick resentful that he lost so much?”

“Oh, he was,” she’s quick to say. “Tom was convinced he was bent on revenge. Some say he got it.” I refuse to let my own indiscretions of the past come to light. It’s Christmas for goodness’ sake. I can’t do this . She glances down at my belly and shakes her head. “You’ve got your hands full, Bizzy. Shouldn’t you be resting?”

“Resting isn’t exactly my forte these days.” Besides , I want to say, my baby enjoys a good mystery as much as I do . “Did you get your revenge, too?” I shrug a little when I ask the loaded question.

The woman’s eyes widen, and if I’m not mistaken, there’s a fire brewing in each of them.

“Bizzy, are you implying that I had something to do with the death of those two men?” She sighs hard. “I’m sorry, I realize I’m an easy target here, but I didn’t do this.” Believe me, I may have wanted them both out of my life for good, but I wouldn’t stoop to murder. If I wanted revenge, I would have done it in the courtroom where I could have really stuck it to him and inflicted far more pain than any blade was capable of.

I gasp as she gives the thought.

What’s wrong, Bizzy? Fish asks, tapping my chest with her paw. Did she just admit to murder?

“Quite the opposite,” I whisper for her ears only.

Back to square one, Fish groans.

And believe me, I’m moved to groan right along with her.

“I’m sorry,” I say to the woman without warrant—or perhaps it was very much warranted since I all but accused her of murdering two men. “Virginia, I heard whispers earlier this week that you and Chris were an item.”

“We were.” She casts a cold glance toward the parking lot.

“I heard he had an affair, and that’s what ended things between the two of you.”

Her chest bucks as I say it. “That’s exactly what happened.”

I take a step in close to her. “I’m sorry to pry, but can I ask who he had that affair with? I know it’s painful to relive, but it might shed some light on the case.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t say.” She shakes her head. I may not have birthed that girl, but I love her as if she were my own. And I’ll protect my stepdaughter to the end. She gives a pointed glance to my stomach. Bizzy will understand soon enough. “Excuse me,” she says, making her way past me. “So many of my employees showed up tonight. I should be with them.”

I place a hand protectively on my stomach because Virginia’s thoughts are certainly not lost on me.

She takes off back into the building and I blow out a breath.

Fish mewls, She said something to herself that’s making your wheels spin, didn’t she?

Before I can answer, two happy-go-lucky pooches run out from the building and bolt this way.

There you are, Bizzy , Sherlock barks. Jasper told me not to let you out of my sight tonight.

Same here, Jingle barks along with him. He says Santa would leave us both a little extra if we stuck to you like stripes on a candy cane.

That’s funny, Fish mewls. Jasper didn’t say a single word to me. Most likely because he knew he’d have to make good on his promise.

Don’t worry , Jingle. Sherlock gives a soft woof. Jasper will keep his promise to us. Fish is just jealous she’s not getting a bone. And the bones that Jasper gives aren’t meant to clean our teeth. We’ll actually enjoy these.

Jingle gives a happy bark and wags his tail like mad.

“Say, Jingle?” I whisper as I lean his way. “Do you remember Nick saying anything about Virginia? I know they had an affair while she was with Chris.”

That’s odd that Chris stayed with her despite the affair, but as soon as Chris had one, Virginia was out the door, Fish meows.

I nod. “I thought the same thing, but maybe she realized they were better apart.”

Jingle gives a quick bark. Virginia didn’t have an affair with Nick while she was with Chris. That happened when she was still with her husband, Tom.

A breath hitches in my throat and I can’t seem to let it go. Did I get the details wrong?

Before I can process the implications of what that means, a shadow appears behind the three of them as someone heads this way from the ballroom.

“Hello?” I call out just as they come out of the shadows and into the moonlight. “Noel,” I say as my adrenaline picks up and then it hits me.

Noel is Virginia’s stepdaughter!

She’s the one that had the affair with Chris?

Oh my word, I don’t know why that didn’t click as soon as Virginia had the thought. No wonder Virginia dropped him like a bad egg.

Scenes from the last week come crashing to my mind, one after another, and my heart races trying to keep up with them all.

“Hey, Bizzy,” the redhead says, giving both dogs a quick pat, her purse swinging down to her waist from the heft of it. “Don’t you two look spiffy tonight.”

Fish leans close to my chest. I’m getting a bad feeling, Bizzy.

So am I.