Chocolate Chip Cookie Conundrum (Murder in the Mix Book 32) by Unknown (the lemonade war series .TXT) 📕

looks like a pyramid more than it does anything else. It was the exact same penmanship used to sign that copy of Death of a Cheater.”

“Give me that!” She reaches for it and I drop it through the slotted grate I’m standing over and watch as it floats to the bottom before resting there, face up like the harbinger it is.

She takes in a deep breath, eyes wide, mouth open with shock, and that’s all I need to confirm my theory.

“She did it!” squawks Cluck Norris. “She’s the killer!”

I nod. “The old boyfriend of Candace’s who died back in college? The case that was ruled an accident? It wasn’t one. That old boyfriend was cheating on Candace, wasn’t he?”

“So what? She dated a cheat. We all have.”

“Maybe so, but I’m willing to bet you were the other woman.”

A laugh begins to initiate in her throat and then quickly dies down.

“And who cares?” she says a touch too loud like maybe she does. “It was a million years ago.”

“Candace cared. She cared so much she pushed him, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she did.” Her words come out caustic, her eyes shooting daggers my way. “She killed Ben just like she killed Zack. She pushed them both. It was her forte, pushing people away emotionally and physically.”

“She pushed Ben, and that’s what you held over her head all these years. That’s why she didn’t care for you. The only reason you were able to showcase your latest novels on her show was because you blackmailed your way there. And my guess is, she recently announced she was through with you. Is that the reason you killed her?”

Fern Cranston stares at the ground a moment too long.

“You don’t understand, Lottie.” Her gaze meets with mine as she takes a bold step forward. “I had to do it. She left me no choice. She was going to turn the tables and say it was me who pushed Ben off the rooftop all those years ago. There was no party. I heard voices from the game room in the frat house and I went up there because that was their special place. I knew she found out about Ben and me. It was late, and they were loud. They never noticed how close I had gotten. And that’s when I saw her push him. Yes, he was drinking, and using, and who knows what—but Ben did not want to die that day.”

“Why didn’t you turn her in then? Zack Ross would have still been alive if you did.”

“She said it was an accident and begged me not to ruin her life. She said that they both were. She said she’d find a way to make it up to me and she did. But she made no secret that she hated me after that. If it was one thing Candace couldn’t stand, it was feeling out of control. And I guess you could say after booking me one too many times, she felt she wanted to be back in the driver’s seat. She was going to start rumors, Lottie—that I killed Ben! She knew she didn’t need evidence to ruin me. A rumor would do just fine. She was going to ruin my career over something she did. You’re right, I should have turned her in ages ago. But I didn’t. And now it’s you who has the power to ruin me.”

She bends over and comes up swinging a two-by-four in my direction, missing my midsection by a hair.

“Lottie!” Cluck Norris rolls right off her head and hurtles my way.

I jump back and she swings yet again, this time knocking Cluck Norris right into the sky like a rolling, feathered missile.

“Lottttieee!” he calls as he floats ever so much higher, growing smaller than a baseball from my vantage point. A part of me wonders if he went along with the inertia just for fun. If he can walk through a wall, he could have let that board swing right on through him.

“Lot Lot?” Carlotta calls from behind.

“Carlotta!” I turn and that two-by-four comes just shy of whacking me over the nose. “A fine time the two of you choose to play a little softball. Now get on in there. Foxy and Sexy are just about losing their minds looking for you. Sheesh.”

She turns around and heads back just as that board comes swinging my way once again.

“Lottie Lemon!” Cluck Norris thunders, and I turn around to see that plank of wood zooming right at me. And then with a strong jerk, it’s pulled right back.

Cluck Norris buries his talons over Fern’s scalp and she howls as if her hair was on fire. But that’s not the reason she’s staggering backward. A woman has grabbed her from behind, and soon enough, that woman tosses Fern to the ground as well.

“Run!” the woman shouts as she takes off running herself down the alleyway and I recognize that hair, although a touch darker, and that profile of hers that I got a brief look at before she turned away—it belongs to me.

“Hey! Wait!” I shout for her to stop, but it’s too late. The mystery woman has ducked around the corner, and I can’t risk losing the killer.

Fern rolls over and does her best to grab that plank once again and Cluck Norris does his best to peck her hand to death.

A horrible moan comes from her as she retracts her arm and Cluck Norris begins to float into the sky as he slowly dissipates.

“I’m leaving now! I’m free again! No longer caged by this earth for a second time around. Goodbye, Lottie Lemon! Until we meet again. Oh, and could you bring some of those chocolate chip cookies when you show up? I’m afraid I can’t seem to get enough!” And with that, he disappears in a puff of red and yellow stars.

Fern swipes for the plank once again, but I pick it up and hold it over her body like a baseball bat.

“Freeze!” a deep voice shouts from behind