6. Hattie

HATTIE

A choir of screams goes off in the night—mine and the killer’s as I try my best to evade the knife-wielding maniac.

Rookie barks like mad, Cricket hisses and does her best to swipe at my would-be attacker like a miniature ferocious tiger, and I bounce up on my feet ready and willing to run for my life. Which is more than Silas Woods can do. The poor man won’t be running anywhere with the exception of the morgue.

I’m about to dash into the night, screaming my head off, when I catch a glimpse of the killer’s face.

“Venetta?” I can hardly believe the woman’s name as it trips from my lips. Sure enough, the redhead stands before me brandishing a knife with a red tint to the blade. “What the heck are you doing?”

Venetta looks down at the body, and soon the both of us are screaming our lungs off once again, adding to Halloween Hollow’s cacophony of horror.

The illuminations from the jack-o’-lanterns lining the faux graveyard flicker away and make everything look like a horror movie come to life.

And right about now it feels every bit like a horror movie—one I’m inadvertently starring in.

“What’s going on?” a deep voice thunders as Killion bursts onto the scene with his eyes wide with alarm. “Hattie! Venetta?”

Rookie barks near the body as if to alert him.

“ Geez .” Killion kneels next to the man and quickly checks Silas for a pulse before shaking his head. “He’s gone,” he mutters, whipping out his phone. “I need backup at Willoughby Hall, aka Halloween Hollow. We have a body. And send an ambulance. On second thought, send the coroner.”

Almost instantly sirens wail in the distance, adding an extra layer of horror to the already horrific night.

Killion gets back on his feet and heads this way. “Hattie, what happened?” Before I can answer, he tips his head at Venetta. “And why the heck are you holding that knife?”

Cricket belts out a sharp meow from below, He’s not too bright, is he?

“I tripped over Silas”—I stammer—“and then Venetta showed up with that bloody butcher knife. And she was just standing there like a deranged Halloween prop.” I’d like to add a cheap one at that, but in truth, Venetta looks as if she belongs to a rather posh coven.

“I didn’t kill him,” Venetta screeches as her eyes grow wild. “I found him like this, and I plucked the knife out of his chest as soon as I saw it!”

Killion’s eyes narrow. “You’re telling me you thought it was a good idea to pick up the murder weapon?”

“I don’t know anything about a murder. I panicked ,” Venetta snaps as her voice climbs a few octaves. “I obviously wasn’t thinking!”

That’s sort of her MO , Cricket muses.

“Clearly,” Killion says dryly.

The sirens grow louder, and within moments the area is flooded with red and blue flashing lights. Officers swarm the scene, sealing it off with that familiar yellow tape that screams, Step right up and see the horror show!

And boy, do they ever. Within seconds, throngs of people are ogling the scene, and most of them are wearing some sort of Halloween costume. In fact, the entire front row is made up of zombies. It’s a disconcerting sight.

Both Winnie and Fitz run up, and Killion quickly briefs them.

I glance at Venetta who just finished being grilled by an officer. She looks furious with her eyes blazing as she holds herself.

“I didn’t do anything,” she keeps insisting like a broken record. “I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time!”

Winnie covers her mouth in horror. “It looks as if poor Silas was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Indeed.” Fitz nods, dressed as a pirate. Fitz is a gentleman through and through, born and bred in the upper crust, but he had a rough go of it since his parents died when he was young. The aunt who raised him wasn’t all that great with him, but he turned out pretty great despite the fact. He’s got light brown hair and a sparkle in his eyes just for my sister. He frowns over at Venetta and glowers. And by the looks of it, they’ve already nabbed the killer.

Killion’s buddy, Banister Grimm, walks over to her and wraps an arm around Venetta before dotting her cheek with a kiss.

Huh . I inch back at the sight. That looked intimate.

Winnie follows my gaze and sighs. Oh, thank goodness. I could have sworn that man had been hitting on me all night. And here it was all in my imagination. Clearly, he’s seeing Venetta. She touches a hand to her chest. I bet Hattie is relieved, too. I saw the way he was checking her out. She takes a moment to nod my way.

And I nod back as if to silently acknowledge this.

Banister’s character may be all right, but I don’t trust Venetta as far as I can throw her and her glossy red locks.

Out of nowhere, Clarabelle and Peggy burst onto the scene, all hopped up on something, most likely fun-size candy bars and booze.

“Another body, Hattie?” Clarabelle’s eyes widen as she takes in the sight. “And you planted it in the cemetery? You’ve really outdone yourself this time!”

“Would you keep it down?” I bring my finger to my lips as I traipse over to them.

Peggy cranes her neck past me and gasps. “Oh, Hattie. He looks like he was a hottie, too. Could you aim at someone homelier next time? It’s been slim pickins out here as of late.”

My eyes close a moment too long. “Believe me, I had nothing to do with this.” I cast a quick glance over my shoulder. “But Venetta Brandt can’t boast the same.”

“Well, hot dog! ” Clarabelle clasps her hands together with a touch too much glee. “Looks as if we’ve got a social climber to land a couple of silver cuffs on. The only things she’ll be climbing from here on out are prison bars.”

Peggy flicks her wrist at the thought. “Oh hon, of all the things I’ve climbed in my life, prison bars were the easiest of them all. Of course, I had a muscular prison guard there to give me a boost.”

I cock my head a moment. “I’m pretty sure you can’t escape that way.”

“Who says I was tryin’ to escape?” Peggy fluffs the back of her crimson locks. “I said the words climbing and muscular prison guard in the same sentence. Don’t you have an imagination?”

I shake my head, totally befuddled by where we just went. “Never mind that. I think this might be an open and shut case.” I hitch my head back at Venetta still ranting away in protest.

“Then we’d better get on it before our number one suspect gets away,” Clarabelle practically sings out the words. “I saw the gals from our murder club inside the mansion. I’m going to let them know we’re back in business!”

“Good idea,” Peggy says. “And I’ll cozy up to the bartenders for a little liquid courage.” And if I’m lucky, a few phone numbers to go along with it.

Both she and Peggy take off to rally the troops for yet another impromptu murder investigation.

Cricket hops back into my arms and her eyes glow in this dim light. Looks like your social calendar just got booked solid.

Count me and Jolly in. Rookie trots over while wagging his tail. I know for a fact there will be snacks at those murder meetings of yours.

I bend down and give him a quick pat over the back. “Leave it to you to find the delicious silver lining.”

What’s done is done, a nebulous voice calls out and I turn back toward the crowd, but I can’t tell if it came from a woman or a man.

Unless I’m right in front of someone, their voices can sound a little androgynous to me.

Bodies have flooded the scene and I can’t find Venetta anymore, or Killion for that matter.

It’s all over now, the voice continues. Silas Moon is dead. Never again will I have to worry about him exposing my secrets.

And just like that, I have a motive.

Venetta pops back into view as she glowers at the body.

Perhaps I have my killer, too.