Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

W atson jumps and dances at my feet and I quickly scoop him up.

"What did you find out?" Cooper cuts right to the chase with his blue eyes locked onto mine.

"Oh, who cares what she found out." Naomi does her best to pull him into the crowd. "Now that we've got a sitter for that hairball, we should probably take advantage of it. How about we head to my place? I've got a cheesecake you won't be able to resist."

"Hey, that's my line," I snip without meaning to and Cooper lifts a brow. "Naomi, why don't you go home and dive into that cheesecake. Detective Knox and I have more pressing issues at hand—like manifesting a killer who might just show up and share that cheesecake with you."

Naomi grunts, "You would wish death upon me. And seeing your track record, I take that as a threat." She tugs Cooper close by the arm. "I'd like to file formal charges."

"Naomi, there's a killer out there that I'd like to catch before Thanksgiving. I need to get some real work done here."

She growls right at me and inspires Watson to growl right back.

"You know, I'm starting to think everyone who works at that bakery is cursed." She glowers my way. "Everywhere you or Lottie goes, there seems to be another dead body. Honey Hollow was once a quiet little town. And the two of you have all but turned it into one of those true crime shows—right along with a circus." She huffs at Cooper, "Are you coming with me or not?"

"I've got to glean a thing or two for the investigation." He tips his head my way and she gives an exasperated sigh.

"Fine," she growls once again. "You finish up here. I've got a sword swallower to see. And if all goes well, I'll glean a thing or two from them too." She leans in and gives his tie a tug. "And if you're lucky, I'll demonstrate exactly what I've learned."

She takes off and Cooper pulls me in without so much as pausing to digest her words.

I knew I liked him.

"All right, Eff, what did Harmony say?"

"She mentioned that Peter had a lot of enemies, and she pointed me in the direction of Fiona Harper. She said that this Fiona woman would be able to tell me more. Apparently, Fiona had a recent falling-out with Peter over something, but she wasn't sure what."

"It looks like I know who I'll be speaking to next." He offers me a firm nod. "As in me. I don't need your help on this one, Effie. I want you to lay off the case."

"Am I still a suspect?" both Watson and I wait for a response.

"Everyone present that night is a viable suspect."

Watson gives a sharp bark.

"That goes double for me," I say and Cooper gives a mournful laugh.

"Don't worry," he says, giving Watson a quick scratch. "I'll keep digging, and I'll get to the bottom of this—one way or another. But right now, I need to manifest myself some of that turkey. If I'm going to solve this murder, I need some serious sustenance."

"Can't argue with that. Let's grab some food before it's all gone."

We head back out to the festival and make a beeline for the smoked turkey legs and pick up three without hesitation—Watson needs a little sustenance, too.

I'm about to dive in when I notice Aunt Cat and Carlotta near that infamous sword swallower, eagerly watching him perform his act. And, sure enough, both Naomi and Niki are front and center, too.

"Looks as if school is in session," I say. "And ironically, this might be the only class my sister has paid attention to. I'm guessing she's looking to impress someone with her new tricks."

"Maybe so," Coop says. "But in this town, it's less about impressing and more about surviving." He lifts his turkey leg my way as if to toast me. "To survival."

"To tracking down a killer," I counter as I touch my leg to his before we dive in.

Whoever killed Peter Honeycutt may be thankful they haven't been arrested for his murder, but they're about to get their just desserts.

This Thanksgiving, the only thing I'll be stuffing is the truth, and I won't stop until I've basted every last detail.

Mark my words, this mystery is about to be gobbled up and served on a silver platter.