Peppermint Fudge Killer: A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 13 by Kathleen Suzette (reading list txt) 📕

I nodded slowly. “Wasn’t Katrina hired on as the elf to replace Suzanne?”

He nodded. “She sure was. As soon as Suzanne died, I went down there and demanded that they hire Katrina.” As soon as it was out of his mouth, he gave me a surprised look. “Now, wait a minute, I know what you’re thinking now. You’re thinking I killed Suzanne so that Katrina could have her job. Right? Well, I didn’t do it!” His face was turning redder, and I was surprised at how emotional he was becoming.

I shook my head slowly as I went to the cash register to ring up his fudge. “I’m just asking about what happened.” There was no reason for him to get as upset as he was about this, but it made me wonder if there was a reason why he was so emotional about it. And that reason might be something that Ethan needed to look into.

He straightened his scarf and abruptly laid the mail on the front counter. “I can tell you Mia, I had nothing to do with Suzanne’s death. And I would appreciate you not spreading that around town.”

It was my turn to stare at him. “I have no intention of spreading anything around town. I don’t do that sort of thing.”

“Oh? That’s not the way I hear it. I hear that you’re sticking your nose into everyone’s business and asking personal questions. Well I’ll tell you Mia, I did not kill Suzanne Wilson. And I’m going to have a talk with Ethan. He needs to know that you’re sticking your nose into everybody’s business.”

My mouth dropped open. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said defensively. “I’m not sticking my nose into anyone’s business.”

He narrowed his eyes at me and nodded slowly. Clearly he didn’t believe what I was telling him. “Sure you don’t. That’s not the way I hear it.”

I wasn’t sure what his problem was, but I was definitely going to talk to Ethan about him. He was far too emotional about what I had asked, and it made me think it was because he was guilty. I finished his transaction, and he paid for his fudge and stomped angrily out of the store. I watched him go, wondering what all the bluster was about.

Chapter Fifteen

“All right, I want to know,” I said to Ethan as we began gathering snow to make a snow woman on my front lawn. “What’s going on with the investigation?”

He chuckled without looking at me. “What’s going on with the investigation? That’s it? No, how are you doing, Ethan? Aren’t you glad you have a couple of hours so you can help me make a snowman instead of going to work, Ethan? Isn’t it a lovely day, Ethan?”

I snorted. “How are you, Ethan? Aren’t you glad you have a couple of hours to help me make a snow woman before you go to work today?” I was pretty happy about the fact that we were able to make a snow woman. I suspected he was putting off going into work either because he was just exhausted, or he was about to do something that was unpleasant. And as much as I didn’t want him to have to do something he considered unpleasant, I hoped that that unpleasant thing was arresting the killer.

“I’m doing great,” he said, but his eyes looked tired. “And I’m thrilled to make a snow woman with you.”

“Ethan, are you going to make an arrest today?” I asked, deciding to be direct. Why beat around the bush?

“I hope to make an arrest soon,” he said noncommittally as he began building the bottom ball of the snow woman.

I sighed and nodded. “When we finish with the snow woman, I’ll make some hot cocoa and I just put cinnamon rolls into the oven.”

He looked at me and grinned. “Well, that makes all the cold worthwhile.”

“You bet it does,” I said.

“I heard something interesting today. A certain mailman told me that my girlfriend is extremely nosy and was sticking that cute little nose into other people’s business.” He eyed me.

I groaned. “I bet I can guess who that mailman is. And he’s lying. I am not sticking my nose into other people’s business.”

He looked at me. “A lying mailman? I can’t imagine it. Why would he do that?”

“Because he is a liar and his pants are on fire. He lied about not having an argument with Suzanne the night she was murdered. That puts him squarely at the top of the list of suspects,” I said, adding more snow to the snowball I was making.

“He did admit to lying about that, but claims he’s innocent, as I’m sure you know. Mia, I really need you to be careful when you talk to people. They’re going to think you know more about a case simply because you’re dating the investigator. They just are.”

He sounded frustrated, and I hated that I might be the cause of that frustration. “I know. And I am being careful. I always tell people that you don’t tell me everything about a case because you can’t.”

“And a lot of those people aren’t going to believe you,” he pointed out. “And maybe you should tell me when you have conversations that don’t go so well.”

“Let me start over. Ethan, I had a disturbing conversation with Lawrence Deal yesterday. He lied about the argument he had with Suzanne, and when I asked him about it, he became angry. It seemed like his anger was above and beyond what was warranted, therefore, I think he’s the murderer.”

He sat down on the snow and looked at me. “You confronted about him lying? Why would you do that?”

“I wouldn’t say confronted,” I said slowly as I began to build the head for the snow woman. “Everyone around town is talking