Before I can respond, Matilda sweeps away with an air of dignity as if she just delivered a master class in suspect deflection,leaving me standing alone with significantly more questions than answers and the distinct feeling that I’ve just been outmaneuvered by someone carrying a six-month-old legal consultant.
Buffy appears beside me with the perfect timing that sisters develop for witnessing explosive conversations and social disasters.
“That looked intense,” she says, watching Matilda retreat into the crowd. “Is everything okay?”
“I think I just crossed Matilda off the suspect list with all the grace of a bulldozer in a china shop,” I admit, still processing the conversation and my apparent complete failure at interrogation techniques around children. “She had legal papers prepared to sue Balthasar, which suggests she was planning to handle their business dispute through proper channels rather than cyanide cocktails and Christmas Eve murder schemes.”
“Plus, that baby is scary smart,” Buffy says as she cringes slightly. “Did you hear her defending her grandmother? I’m pretty sure she comprehended everything, not to mention she was lecturing you about ethics. She holds on to details like a true detective. She basically has better investigative instincts than both of us combined.”
“Amen to that,” I say with a sigh.
“So, who else is on your rapidly shrinking list of potential holiday killers?” Buffy asks, pulling out her phone with investigative efficiency that suggests she’s actually good at this research thing and more than ready to conduct a serious digital investigation.
“Jennilee Holly and Cordelia Goldleaf,” I reply, reaching for my own phone like it might contain magical answers to my investigative incompetence. “And according to Matilda, there’s more to both of them than meets the eye. Although honestly, Jennilee seems too sweet and charming to hurt a fly, let alone poison someone with cyanide at a Christmas party.”
“Time for some research?” Buffy suggests with a newfound enthusiasm of a bookworm who’s discovered a new hobby.
“Time for some research,” I confirm, grateful to have a sister who’s willing to help me solve murders via a smartphone investigation on Christmas Eve.
After all, nothing says holiday family bonding quite like conducting joint background checks on potential killers while Christmas carols play in the background.
CHAPTER 21
The Starlight Christmas Eve Gala sparkles with sugar, spice, and everything over-the-top. The air is rich with the scent of buttery cookies, dark roast coffee, pine garlands, and just a hint of designer ego, while Christmas carols float through the glass-walled space.
Snow is still falling outside the massive windows, creating the kind of magical backdrop that makes you believe in Christmas miracles—or at least expensive event planning.
Buffy and I stand huddled over our phones like two women who’ve just discovered the secret to eternal youth—or more like eternaljustice. And I have to say, what I’m seeing on my screen is making me gasp loud enough to probably disturb the dead—as in the exact dead Santa whose case I’m desperately trying to solve.
“What is it?” Buffy asks, leaning in to peer at my phone with the kind of curiosity that suggests she’s expecting either breaking news or a really good book she’d love to get her hands on. Knowing my sister, it’s the latter.
She checks out my screen, and that’s when we both gasp simultaneously, because apparently, synchronized sister shock reactions are a thing we do now. Buried deep in some obscureSouthern newspaper is what looks to be a very Southern smoking gun.
The article headline reads like something from a crime drama,Local Financier David Holly Flees Country with Mystery Woman Ahead of Federal Hedge Fund Investigation. And there, in black and white digital print, is a photo of Jennilee Holly looking devastated and described as the abandoned wife left to face potential financial ruin.
“Holy cannoli on a cracker,” Buffy breathes while reading over my shoulder. “Her husband ditched her and the country right before the feds could question him about illegal financial activity.”
“Which means she’s probably broke and desperate,” I add as the pieces click together. “And she’s working here because she needs the money, not because she’s a bored socialite with some time to kill.”
This explains so much,Fish mewls as she slinks onto the scene.Hoomans do terrible things when their resources disappear.
Like when they forget to fill the treat jar,Sherlock adds helpfully while jogging by her side.Desperation makes everyone dangerous.
Fish nods in agreement.Especially when those resources supplied a steady diet of diamonds!
We spot Jennilee across the room near one of the massive chocolate fountains, surrounded by a cluster of admirers who are probably complimenting her hostess skills without realizing they’re chatting with a potential killer. She’s shining in that stunning gold gown that shimmers under the Christmas lights like liquid treasure—which, given her current financial situation, was probably purchased with money she couldn’t afford to spend.
She’s putting on quite the performance.Skittles gives a soft woof as she glides in next to Buffy.All that charm is just a costume.
Jennilee excuses herself from the group with perfect Southern grace and heads toward the back near the gift shop displays.
Perfect—fewer witnesses for what’s about to be either a confession or a complete denial that ends with us looking like paranoid amateur detectives. It wouldn’t be the first time. And something tells me it won’t be the last.
“Time to make our move,” I whisper to Buffy, and we start walking with the casual determination of two sisters who’ve decided to confront a killer on Christmas Eve.
Fish, Sherlock, Skittles, and Fudge fall into step with us like a furry investigation unit, apparently having appointed themselves as backup for whatever’s about to go down. And if I’m right, we just might need them.
This feels important,Fudge yips with typical Westie seriousness.The hoomans are doing their serious walking thing. Should I get little Matilda? She always seems to know what to do in just about every situation.
