Hollis shows up as the girls film themselves holding up the cookies, photographing the cookies in front of the tree, taking a single bite of each cookie, and making orgasm noises.
“I raised the prices on the cookies,” Hollis whispers to me and winks. “Christmas surcharge.”
“Oh! I couldn’t figure out if something was wrong with the system!”
“We need to fix that roof, right?” Hollis grins.
The tourists chuck the cookies, each of which has a single bite taken out of it, into the trash can.
I want to scream then keel over in the snow and not wake up until after Valentine’s Day.
Hollis must have seen something on my face because she whispers, “Why don’t you take a breather? I’ll deal with things here.”
I try to emotionally reregulate as I meander through the stalls. The jewelry stalls tend to cluster near the historic city hallbuilding. I head slowly in that direction, taking a few moments to stop and survey the Christmas stalls.
Two men on horseback—the Christmas market security—are parked right outside one of the stalls. A horse snorts and turns his head toward me.
“On behalf of the Christmas market committee, we are issuing a citation,” one of the men states.
“You’re what?” the stall owner complains. “I have a right to sell my products!”
“You can’t sell candles. You’ve only been permitted to sell fine jewelry and some jewelry-inspired ornaments, Ruby. The Christmas committee doesn’t want the market flooded with people selling candles. We need variety in the Christmas market.”
“I could sell candles last year,” Ruby complains as one of the Christmas cops hands her a box and she starts packing away the candles. “As long as it’s Christmas themed, we’re allowed to sell it. Those were the rules last year.”
“We’re tightening things up.”
“It’s because of Jonah, isn’t it?” Ruby demands.
“RIP, but the mayor agrees with him on this.”
Hmm. Another suspect?
Seems no one except Taylor Grace liked Jonah.
I duck into a random jewelry stall nearby and almost crash into—
Yup.
Hughes.
His dark eyes narrow when he sees me. “I thought you were working.”
“Shopping for your girlfriend?” I counter.
“You have a girlfriend?” the woman behind the counter squeals. “Oh, Mary Lou will be so excited. Is this her?” She points at me. “You’re dating Willow?”
“Barf. God, no.” I make a face.
“Aw, you’d make a cute couple.” She giggles. “And Willow is a minor town celebrity.”
“Thanks to the murder?” Hughes raises an eyebrow.
I kick him.
“Oh!” The jeweler giggles. “You two are so cute. Willow’s going to win the town baking competition. You should have won last year, dear. Those chocolate-covered marshmallow caramel bites were divine. That sprinkle of sea salt. Better than sex. You should give him one.”
Hughes looks down at me.
