Baby Bundt Cake Confusion (Murder in the Mix Book 31) by Unknown (best way to read books .TXT) 📕

bodies have parted in just the right way, and I have a clear shot out into the parking lot where a woman with caramel-colored hair, just a touch darker than my own, and a startlingly familiar face stares back at me.

Wait a minute. Is that…me?

A chill runs through my body. I’ve seen that face before. Last month on Valentine’s Day, I saw that face, my face, in the mirror at the B&B. Maybe that is me—a silly reflection. I flap my arms harder, but she’s not moving a muscle. The rest of her looks to be a bit murky, and I can’t tell if it’s because the bottom of the window is frosted or—she’s a ghost.

Wait a minute… My legs slow to a crawl. Those ominous words Nell said to me last month come crashing to the forefront of my mind. Could this woman, this ghost, be trying to tell me something? Hey? Maybe she is a ghost and she’s come back to help solve Owen’s case?

Stranger things have happened, but none as strange as this.

The room breaks out into wild cheers, and I feel the chicken slip from my neck right onto the floor. Everett and Carlotta appear before me.

“Lemon, are you okay?” Everett pulls me into his arms, his eyes searching my features, rife with worry.

“Five second rule,” Carlotta shouts before snatching up that chicken leg I just dropped and chomping away at it. “Don’t judge me, Lot,” she mumbles through a mouthful of food. “I can’t let a good chicken leg go to waste.” She takes off toward Keelie and Bear, and I see Jen crowning them each with a fluffy white chicken hat complete with feathers, a balloon-like body, and a cartoon face.

“I’m fine,” I say, panting as I try my best to see out the window once again, but the crowd has blocked my view.

Noah comes up with a wad of napkins in his hand. “Here, Lot. Are you all right? Is it the baby?”

“No.” I take them from him and wipe down my neck. “The baby’s fine. I saw that woman. The same woman I saw a few weeks back. She looks—she looks just like—” Before I can finish, Noah takes off in the direction I’m pointing in.

Everett struggles to garner my attention once again. “Lemon, did you get a good look at her?”

“Yes,” I say. “She looks exactly like me. I mean, that’s silly, right? I must have caught my reflection in the glass. It’s dark out. And the lighting in here—you could light up a football field with it.”

Everett’s eyes harden a moment as if he were angry with this woman.

“If it wasn’t my reflection, it was a ghost,” I tell him. “That might explain why we haven’t met the ghost that’ll help with Owen’s case. Maybe it’s her?”

He shakes his head as he glares in the direction Noah took off in. “I suppose anything is possible, even a ghost that looks just like you.”

A spray of tiny white stars appears and Lil’ Mama materializes, floating right by my side. She lets out a furtive bark, and I take up Everett’s hand so he can hear her as well.

“Speaking of ghosts,” I say.

“Lottie!” Lil’ Mama yips my name out. “I just had the most delectable chicken out back. Oh, my Jazzy used to love fried chicken. She used to force her friends to make it from scratch and she would sneak me a bite or two as well. Mmm, if I’m not mistaken, this tastes just like that old recipe. So very delicious. But Mrs. Albright frowned upon me having any at all. She said an expectant mother should only eat the most nutritious fare. I’m afraid you shouldn’t indulge in this mouthwatering goodness either.”

“Pfft, I hardly listen to my own mother,” I whisper. “Why would I listen to hers?”

A couple darkens our path, and I look up to see both Jen Olsen and Slater Sutton standing before us.

“Hey, you two.” Everett is quick to pull Jen in for a quick embrace and offers Slater one of those half man-hugs. “I’m so sorry, Slater. How are you holding up?”

The man looks ragged, I’ll admit that. He’s dressed well, dark coat, thick scarf. His dark hair is slicked back, but gone is the neatly trimmed goatee and in its place a face full of stubble. His eyes look clear yet serious.

“I’m doing the best I can. I wasn’t going to come, but Jen insisted. I thought I might see Ariella here. I know she’s been in bed since it’s happened.”

Jen nods. “It’s too soon for her. But I’m glad to see you here.” She pulls him in. “I know we haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, but we’re family, Slater.”

“Thank you,” he says while nodding to Everett. “What’s new with the case? Why did they gun down Owen, too?”

My head ticks back. Owen too? As in the hit was only meant for Jasmine?

Jen shakes her head over at him. “I think you have it backward. It was probably someone who ended up on the wrong end of Owen’s courtroom. Isn’t that right, Everett?”

Lil’ Mama belts out a sharp bark. “I think that sounds more like it. Who would want my Jazzy dead? Why, without her, who is going to boss all of her friends around, or pick on her brother, or defy her mother? Jazzy often said the world wouldn’t know how to spin without her.”

Everett and I exchange a glance before he nods over to Jen.

“Yes, there is a very real possibility someone who crossed paths with him in the courtroom didn’t agree with his ruling. I’m afraid it’s a hazard of the job.” He looks to Slater. “Jasmine could have very well been a victim.”

Noah appears again and gives Everett a slight shake of his head.

“Noah!” Jen pulls him in. “We were just talking about the case. What about the gun they found on the grounds? Do they know if the killer used it?”

“Yes,” he says, offering Slater a sorrowful smile. “My condolences,