Ornamental Danger: a holiday short story (Working Stiff Mysteries) by Nelson Kerri

Author:Nelson, Kerri [Nelson, Kerri]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing
Published: 2015-06-07T04:00:00+00:00

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My evening shift at What's-Worth Tree Farm was full of nosy customers and last minute decoration shoppers. I stayed away from gossiping about Coach Mulder and dreaded going back to the Hoots with the revelation that I'd failed to chat with him before he'd been nabbed by the cops.

Of course, the good news was that maybe the case would be solved easily. Although usually that wasn't the case around here. And the whole thing was more than a little sad. We'd thought that Ms. Strength's death might have been an accident, but could it have really been a murder? And would Coach Mulder have killed her over an ornamental trophy given for simple decorations?

After my shift I returned home with an aching back and a new appetite. I stood at the refrigerator door staring in at all the bribery goodies that had been left for me earlier. How would I choose a winner? Well, that was something to worry about tomorrow. For now I just needed to choose a late night snack.

Paget had decided to sleep over at Ms. Lanier's house after dinner, and I had only Pickles to keep me company tonight. I looked down at him, and he gave me the puppy-dog-eyed stare as I perused our choices.

"Should I have some divinity?" He barked.

"Or some chocolate covered peanut butter balls?" He barked.

"Or some candy cane bark?" He barked.

"Or some roasted pecans?" He barked.

"Or…some turkey jerky?" He barked twice.

I laughed. "Turkey jerky for you it is." I pulled some out of the Ziploc and broke it into pieces for him in his bowl. He turned his back on me and began chowing down.

I chose the roasted pecans and two peanut butter balls instead. As I opened the balls that were sealed with an outrageously gorgeous ribbon, I took a moment to read the attached card.

It was from Suzette Granger. I tried to remember exactly what it had been about her that had given me a bad vibe, but her attached message both intrigued both me and my appetite. The card read, Join us tomorrow afternoon for my Annual Nog & Nibbles Tea Party to be held at the Smith-Byrd House Tea Room. Snacks and treats for all. Come have fun, it will be a ball.

Attached to the peanut butter balls, the invite was quite clever. Despite my misgivings about her, I had a feeling that this was something I didn't want to miss.

"Pickles, this sounds like the perfect way to spend my afternoon." He growled something in response as he took more slobbery bites from the bowl.

I'd call Ms. Lanier and Ms. Maimie and see if they wanted to attend with me and Paget. It might be nice to have a little holiday cheer amidst all the drama. Plus, I'd always wanted to visit that historic Smith-Byrd house.

Feeling a little better about the upcoming day—knowing that tomorrow night would be difficult when I had to do my judging and wear my Glitter crown in the parade—I headed down the hall to collapse on the bed.

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