Halloween Hi-Jinx: Holiday Pet Sleuth Mysteries by Annee Jones

Author:Annee Jones [Jones, Annee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Clarissa

The party was in full swing and Clarissa stood at the door taking tickets. She couldn’t believe the turnout. Half of New Haven must be there tonight, and more were still arriving. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” played from the loudspeakers as costumed partygoers laughed and nibbled on the delectable treats laid out on the long buffet table against the far wall. Harriet had outdone herself, Clarissa thought, admiring the assortment of edible delights. Not only were there cupcakes and cookies featuring ghosts, pumpkins, and other Halloween scenes made out of icing and sugar work, but spookier goodies as well such as the popular “witches’ fingers” and “eyeballs” crafted from rice crispies, almonds, raisins, and other everyday foods. An extra-large glass bowl in the center of the arrangement was filled with bright green punch and dry ice, sending swirling fog into the air like a bubbling cauldron.

The staff of Paws-N-Pastries had agreed to dress up like the characters from The Wizard of Oz. Velma wore a giant lion onesie, and thanks to the theater makeup she’d applied, appeared the spitting image of the Cowardly Lion. She stood talking with Professor Squiggly who had come dressed as Dumbledore from the Harry Potter franchise. Harriet passed a cookie to a child in a firefighter’s outfit. She had chosen to be the Scarecrow, wearing a flannel shirt and overalls with hay sticking out from the neck and sleeves. Fletcher, meanwhile, was dressed all in silver as the Tin Man.

Clarissa smiled, watching him lean closer to Glinda the Good Witch. Of all of them, Darcy’s costume was the most stunning transformation from her everyday self. She’d washed the black dye out of her hair, revealing it to be naturally cornsilk blonde. And she’d scrubbed the makeup off her face and removed her ear piercings. Clarissa would never have suspected that underneath the outer garb was a very pretty woman who appeared even younger than her actual age. Judging from the way Fletcher was looking at her, she bet he was thinking the same thing. Perhaps Darcy held the key to his heart after all.

“You look great, Dorothy,” called a male voice approaching the café’s entrance.

Turning, she saw Cody in his police uniform.

She gave him a playful punch on the arm. “I don’t think your costume counts,” she laughed as he passed her his ticket.

He chuckled. “I know,” he said ruefully. “I’ve been working so much lately I didn’t have time to pick up something else, but I wanted to stop by tonight and say hello.”

“I’m glad,” she replied.

He stepped inside as a mother with three children dressed as fairytale princesses walked up behind him.

“I’m so sorry,” the woman said. “I just noticed the sign saying that you’re accepting only credit or debit cards to pay for tickets at the door. I completely forgot to purchase tickets this week and all I brought with me is cash. I’d need change for a $50 though.”

“Hm,” said Clarissa. She didn’t want to disappoint the children, all of whom had worried expressions on their faces.

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