Chaos and Cranberries: A Piney FallsCharming Mysteries Christmas Crossover by Joann Keder

Author:Joann Keder [Keder, Joann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Purpleflower Press
Published: 2022-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five—Lanie

I stared at the box I'd just unwrapped, my body paralyzed with fear. The fact that it contained a reference to the deaths of all three authors—a copy of the horror Christmas anthology, a string of Christmas lights, cranberries on twine, and a piece of a Rudolph rooftop ornament, covered in blood was unsettling enough. But to include a threat to me—why?

I read it out loud, again.

Dear, Sweet Lanie,

Tik Tok, Tik Tok.

Your time is drawing near.

Enjoy your Christmas, my dear.

Were we getting too close?

When the doorbell rang, I jumped out of my skin. Logically, I knew the caterer was arriving, but the threat contained in this package was so unnerving, my brain wasn't ready to move back into holiday mode.

I looked through the peephole, twice, assuring myself that Bev's Catering was truly run by a master in the kitchen and not an evil murderess.

When I opened the door, she knitted her newly dyed black brows together and glared at me. "What's wrong, doll? Are you sick? If so, I'm afraid I'll have to leave everything by the door. I can't risk being ill when I have three grandkids to care for."

"Oh, no, it's—I'm fine." I put my hand on my forehead and paced the foyer. Should we go ahead with Christmas? What if I were endangering my guests?

"Guess I didn't need your front door code after all. You mentioned you might be gone when I arrived. Better change that thing right away. You never know who might get ahold of my phone and steal all of your Christmas goodies."

"Thanks, Bev. I'll get on that," I answered absently.

"Lanie? I'm going to unload now. Unless you've got something else to tell me. You know, some of the folks think I'm their drive-up shrink. Last week, I was serving steak and potatoes for fifty. That little gal has way too many relatives she doesn't like. I'm not so sure she didn't poison one of them after I left."

Bev had prepared all of this wonderful food. What was I going to do? Tell her to throw it away? No, it was going to be up to me to make the holiday as happy as possible.

"I'll open the garage door and you can come in that way. Thank you, Bev. When you catered the city council luncheon, everyone raved about your sides. I know my guests will do the same."

Bev's face creased with delight. "That sure is nice to hear, doll. I threw in one of my specialties for free. You hadn't ordered it, but my cranberry salad is always a hit. I always order extra cranberries, so I can string some for the tree."

The blood drained from my face. "What did you say?"

"My cran-berry sal-ad!" She mouthed.

It was pure coincidence. Nothing to worry about. You're being paranoid, Lanie.

"Thank you, Bev." I pivoted quickly and went to the garage. When I lifted the door, she had two assistants waiting patiently with our roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean salad, and pies. Of course, the completely innocent, no-connection-to-a-creepy-gift cranberries were included too.

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