After Noah came to—after he was taken to the E.R. and inspected for a concussion, which thankfully he did not have—after he and Everett went at it again, this time verbally—yes, Everett drove us to the E.R.—once we finally got home, Noah declined my offer to stay the night. He said he needed to think about the things that happened.

The next day the bakery is slow. The storm outside has the entire town crawling to a stop. I spend the afternoon sulking in the café, staring at my laptop, just trying to take my mind off my impending broken heart and hopefully get some info on Brenda Lee, the third and final child of Eve Hollister’s that I’ve yet to inspect.

Dutch came with me to the bakery this morning. His garnet red eyes are still a bit jarring, but the rest of him is all blond and beautiful, one hundred percent Golden Retriever. I assume he once belonged to Tanner Redwood since it was his body Dutch was determined to protect. And he did help me in trapping the killer. I garnered his name from his nametag, and I must admit, both he and his name have grown on me.

Dutch keeps placing his paw over my arm until I give his head a hearty scratch. Normally, I’d be weary of petting a dog that’s invisible to the rest of the free world, but seeing that the bakery is nearly empty, I indulge the fantastic phantasm.

Lily heads over and leans in from behind. “What do you keep staring at? Cat porn?”

I turn around and shoot her a look. “I don’t even know what that is. I’m not sure I want to know. I’m trying to figure out what Brenda Lee does for a living.”

“Brenda Lee Hollister?” Lily says it like she means it.

“You know her?”

“Everyone knows her down in Leeds.”

Good Lord, please don’t let her be a stripper. Keelie vowed she wasn’t coming along for the pasty riddled ride the next time I needed to head that way. And quite frankly, I’m not looking forward to watching Everett ogle anyone’s bazingas either.

Lily grunts, “She used to work out of a van, but I think she’s sharing office space somewhere down there now.”

“A van?” I give a slow blink. “Do I want to know what kind of services she offers out of a van? Is she one of those mobile lawyers? Like the kind you see in the movies?” Here’s hoping.

Lily belts out a laugh. “Hardly. Daphne is the criminal mind in the family. Brenda Lee is a personal masseuse.” She lifts her shoulders in turn. “In fact, I might head down there soon myself. I’ve had a bad kink in my neck since last week. Essex likes to do this thing where—”

“Stop!” I hold up a hand and somehow manage to silence her without dunking her head in the chocolate cake I finished frosting for a birthday party this afternoon. “A masseuse.” I do a little Google Kung Fu and, sure enough, her phone number pops up. “Brenda Lee Hollister, massages you will never forget. Experience happily ever after at my fingertips.” I snap my laptop shut and shudder. “Thanks, Lily. Would you mind closing this evening? I have an appointment that just came up.”

“Not a problem.” She starts to head back to the counter. “And, oh hey, Greer and Tinsley are stopping by in a bit. I told them I’d let them fool around with the coffee machine and show them how it works. They said they ordered the very same model for their shop.”

“Great.” I lay it thick with my sarcastic superpowers. “Why don’t you pull out my secret recipe book and teach them how to bake all of our bestselling cookies?”

Her mouth falls open. “Great idea. Do we have a secret recipe book?”

I growl at her, and she rolls her eyes.

“You were kidding, weren’t you?”

“You catch on fast,” I say as I collect my things. “Thanks for closing up. Don’t sell the farm while I’m gone!”

“What farm?” she calls out as I sail through the door.

“Never mind!” I give a friendly wave.

There won’t be a farm once Greer and Tinsley master my fancy coffee machine just in time to steal all my customers.

Confession: Outside of Noah, nobody has given me a massage before. And since I realize this is most likely done while bundled in a towel—far more accouterments than I have on while Noah rains his strong hands over my body, but I digress—it’s normally an event I’d want Keelie to participate in with me. Unfortunately for me, Keelie’s date with Hook went so well they’re already speeding toward date number two at this exact same moment. She was more than sorry she couldn’t join in on the fun but offered up her services for the next shenanigans on my list. Shenanigans. I’m not sure I’d call trying to solve a homicide investigation shenanigans, but Keelie has always been a straight shooter. And well, let’s face it, every last adventure we’ve had that’s been remotely tied to a murder investigation can be squarely categorized as a shenanigan.

Everett and I pull up to the Happy Hands Massage Parlor in Leeds at the very same time. After Noah refused my company last night, I called Everett and told him all about my conversation with Nell and my transmundane standing. He seemed both intrigued and grateful that I shared it with him. And oddly enough, I felt a bit of relief just getting to tell someone, which only broke my heart all the more for Noah because it wasn’t him.

“Lemon,” he says while glaring up at the oversized neon sign, which depicts a couple of hands caressing a woman’s back—only the neon sort of distorts the image, and it doesn’t quite look like a woman’s back. In fact, it looks a lot like a man’s—

I clear my throat. “Nice to see it took zero prodding to get you to come out this way. It looks like a happy hand was just what you needed this evening.” I’m glaring, too, but it’s not at the sign.

A dull laugh pumps from his chest. “I’ll have you know I would never set foot in an establishment like this. You’re lucky I consider you a good friend.”

“A good girlfriend.” I nod, corroborating our story.

“Fiancée,” he counters as he gets the door for me.

“That’s the script,” I say under my breath. “Now let’s stick to it.”

Inside, it’s claustrophobically small. There’s a statue of a cat waving at us, a series of incense sticks poking from a foggy glass bud vase, and the whole place reeks of cheap patchouli. A teenager sits behind a chipped Formica counter with a set of earphones plugged into her head. She doesn’t bother to ask a single question, just points to the closed door so Everett and I proceed with caution. Another labyrinth of hallways emerge, and the setting suddenly feels clinical. I spot a familiar shock of long, chemically dyed silver hair and squeeze Everett’s arm with excitement.

Brenda Lee looks up from her phone.

“Are you here together?” She blinks a few times our way. “Wait, we’ve met!” She bounces over to Everett, and I mean literal braless bouncing is taking place under that thin white T-shirt of hers—never mind the fact it’s less than zero outside. She’s so perky and scantily clad you’d think she were working for tips. Oh, wait.

She really is pretty, and something about this whole scenario screams regret to me. I can easily see Brenda Lee climbing her way up Mount Baxter to become one of his coveted exes.

She bats her long lashes at Everett. “I wondered when you’d come to see me. I’ve got a special room for you, way in the back.” She grabs him by the hand, and I quickly pull them apart.

“Actually, this is a couple’s massage.” I blink a smile at the silver-haired nymph.

She offers Everett a forlorn look that says better luck next time. “All the good ones are taken, I guess. This way.” We follow her into a relatively clean room, brightly lit with two vinyl pink beds. “Clothes off. On your stomach. I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Clothes off?” I balk. Although, to be fair, I had envisioned myself swaddled in a towel. “Can’t you just work through our shirts?”

Brenda Lee rolls her eyes with all of the angst of a thirteen-year-old. “These are full body massages that involve scented oils. Trust me, you won’t want any of that on your clothes.” She tries to leave, and I block the exit.

“But what about robes?” I look to Everett in a panic, and I can practically see two little devils of delight dancing in his eyes. “Heck, I’ll take a hand towel.”

And that’s just what I get. I make Everett turn around while I disrobe at lightning speed in fear Brenda Lee will waltz back in and observe all my bits and pieces before her time. Then carefully, I land that pocket square she gifted me over my bare bottom.

Everett wrestles off his clothes—and I suspect it’s not a good thing that I’m getting used to the clinking of his belt and his pants unzipping, the subtle sound of clothing being removed achingly slow. Clearly, Everett does not fear Brenda Lee walking in and observing his spare appendage. He lies next to me, and I keep my head firmly turned to the opposite wall.

The door creaks open, and Brenda Lee bops back in, whistling a tune before turning on the music from her phone. I must admit, it’s a nice and relaxing instrumental that under normal circumstances might have the power to lull me to sleep. But under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have a very naked Judge Baxter next to me. Ironic, since last week I did manage to nod off in a bed where he also happened to be gracing it with his naked body. I’m sensing a theme here—one I’m guessing Noah wouldn’t be too pleased with.

“I’ll start with you, big boy, if you don’t mind,” Brenda Lee trills, and I hear a nice loud slap.

My head turns that way and, sure enough, she just landed a firm hand over his rock-hard bottom.

Oh my dear God. Everett Baxter has a finely formed—

“My eyes are up here, Cupcake.”

“I—uh, oh hell. I couldn’t help it. Sorry.” My cheeks burn with heat as I do my best to keep focused on those ocean blue eyes—trying my hardest not to pay attention to the fact a part of my brain is drinking down everything my peripheral vision has to offer.

“I was just making sure you were safe,” I whisper. “You never know with these kinds of places.” 

“I heard that,” Brenda Lee chirps as she begins to pummel Everett below the belt. 

A low growl emits from the ornery judge. “Just keep up the good work. My fiancée has one mean jealous streak. It’s one of her many adorable quirks.”

“Many?” I mouth the word over to him, completely unamused. 

Brenda Lee scoffs. “You think she’s bad. I just had another couple in before you. That detective from my mother’s birthday party and his wife.” 

“Wife?” My entire body rises off the table a solid foot, and the girls spring free. “Shit!” I fall hard and fast, flat on my belly before slowly stealing a glance Everett’s way. “Enjoy the show?”

“Nothing I haven’t seen before, darlin’.”

“It’s nice to know I have the power to bring out the country boy in you whenever I want.” I glance back at Brenda Lee who is currently kneading her elbow into his upper thigh and casually bumping his bare bottom with each up-stroke. 

Something tells me she was just as touchy-feely with Noah. 

“I had no idea Detective Fox and his fiancée tied the knot so quickly,” I grit the words through my teeth.

Everett’s lips twitch smugly. “We’ll be sure to send them a fruit basket.”

“Oh, I’ll definitely give them something.”

Brenda Lee laughs. “I’m just glad I passed my business card out that day. Just to the men, of course. I don’t usually do women. Men are so tough, and strong, and I just love digging in deep and getting down into—”

My phone bleats, and I gladly pick up the incoming FaceTime with Meg. 

My sister takes one look at far too much of my flesh.

“What in the hell?” she bleats. Her jet-black hair is teased to the ceiling, and she has a neon yellow contact in her left eye and a bright red one in her right. 

I can’t help but offer a quick smile down to the ghostly pooch by my side, Dutch. You’re not alone, buddy. You are not alone. 

“Are you naked?” Her wild eyes squint into the camera. 

“Just about. I’m in the middle of a couple’s massage.”

“Ooh, who’s the lucky guy? The hot Fox or Mr. Sexy?” 

“Mr. Sexy,” Brenda Lee pipes up just as I point the phone toward Mr. Sexy himself. Lucky guess on Brenda Lee’s part, but honestly, it’s so very obvious with Everett.

Everett’s face smooths out as if he were about to offer an affable smile, then just as quickly he recoils a good foot. 

“Geez.”

The level of alarm in his face is priceless. Meg laughs herself into a wheezing fit. 

“It’s her favorite reaction,” I’m quick to inform him. “I’m guessing she’s heading into the ring soon.” I turn to Brenda Lee. “My sister is a wrestler in Vegas.” I look back to the screen. “Am I ever going to see you again?”

“In haunted Honey Hollow? I heard they killed that old battle-ax—” 

I tap my finger over the little red button and cringe. Sorry, Meg.

“No skin off my nose,” Brenda Lee snarks while digging her hands dangerously low on Everett’s back. “If you looked up battle-ax in the dictionary, you’d see my mother’s face. You heard someone did her in, right?”

“What?” I feign surprise in hopes she’ll spill all the dirty details. “Who did this? How? In Honey Hollow of all places?”

“That’s right.” She starts karate chopping Everett’s back, and he closes his eyes a moment as if lost in bliss. “Cops told us someone spiked her Kool-Aid.”

“My God, who do you think did it?”

“Could have been anyone. To know her was to hate her. My brother’s wife just left him because they can’t make ends meet. If he had his trust fund in play, he’d still have his family together. My sister, the big-shot lawyer”—she gives Everett’s back three hard slaps, and he bucks—“she’s not the Ms. Goody Two-Shoes she wants the world to believe. You think she put herself through law school waiting tables? She graduated without a single student loan to her name. Some might say she was a stellar businesswoman before she ever got her hands on a degree. And people laugh at what I do. At least it’s a respectable way to earn a living.” She works her hands lower over Everett’s body until she hits—

“And we’re done.” Everett holds a hand up, and she makes her way to me.

I wrinkle my nose at him. Way to ruin a winning streak confessional—of sorts.

“So, Brenda Lee”—my voice vibrates as she chops her way over my back—“what did your sister do to put herself through school? I mean, it couldn’t be as bad as my sister who runs around in less than a bikini for a living.” I totally think female wrestling is a commendable career choice, but have no problem throwing Meg and her cronies under the wrestling bus in order to catch a killer.

“Let’s just say, for a lawyer, she sure thinks she’s above the law.”

“Thinks?” I glance to Everett whose eyes seem to be roving freely over my mostly naked form. “As in present tense? She’s still doing it? Like a side gig?”

“It ain’t no side gig. She pulls in more than she does with her day job. She’s not giving it up for nothing. It makes what I rake in look like peanuts.”

“Well, you could go into that line of work, couldn’t you? I’m sure your sister would pull a few strings for you.” Come to think of it, when we met with Daphne, she alluded to the fact she had a dark side. Something about the things she had to resort to…

“It’s not for me.” Brenda Lee slaps me over the derriere as if punishing me for even mentioning the idea. “I’m choosier than my sister. But she’s brought others in. The girl who worked for my mother is one of them. Daphne helped her with some legal trouble, and I guess she felt sorry for her. Who wouldn’t? She worked for Eve Hollister.”

“Eve’s live-in maid?” I lift my torso, just shy of flashing Everett with my boobs again. “Valerie Vernon?”

“That’s the girl.”

I glance to Everett, and he gives a slight nod. Dutch rouses to life and begins spinning in circles anxiously, his red glowing eyes turning on and off like a beacon. “Do you think Valerie could have killed your mother?” I don’t take my eyes off that spinning pooch. I’m determined to believe he has a purpose for sticking around. And, dear Lord, am I ever glad it’s not that fifty-foot bear. I don’t think Pancake nor I could have handled the trauma.

“Maybe so,” Brenda Lee chirps. “Either her or that witch that’s had it in for my mother for years. The one that works at the hospital. They were peas in a pod until they weren’t.” She huffs at the thought. “They were constantly sabotaging one another.”

Everett turns his head her way. “How do you know? You made it sound like you weren’t that close to your mother.”

“Oh, I wasn’t in the traditional sense. But I called once a week on Sunday. Every now and again I’d head over and fall on my hands and knees and beg for her to reinstate my trust fund.” An easy smile glides over her face. “And now all I have to do is wait until that fateful day.”

“The reading of the will,” I say as I look to Everett.

Brenda Lee slaps me silly, up and down my torso, and manages to smack me over the bottom once again before heading out the door. I make Everett turn his head while I dress myself, and I do the same for him.

We step out into the frozen January night and head to our cars.

“Well, Lemon?”

“I think you got far too much action tonight.”

The hint of a dark smile flickers on his lips. “Don’t worry, Cupcake. You’re still the one for me.” We pause a moment before heading back to Honey Hollow. “Valerie Vernon and Connie Chutney. Two mysteries within the mystery.”

“And don’t forget Daphne’s dark side.” A thought comes to me. “Hey? See if you can figure out what her moonlighting gig is.”

“I bet it involves Leeds.” His brows waggle as if he approved.

“I bet it doesn’t. She’s desperately fancy despite her financial rough patch. Ever hear that saying you can take the kid out of the street, but you can’t take the street out of the kid? Same theory works in reverse.”

“You want to bet, huh?” His voice hums with amusement. “Loser cooks the winner’s dinner. I think that’s fair.”

“Ha!” I can’t help but laugh. “I’d like to put in my order for chicken piccata.”

His cheek twitches. “I like my steak rare.”

“I wonder if Noah likes his steak rare? I’m pretty sure I should know that about him. We are definitely not seeing enough of one another. All these murders keep getting in the way.”

“Maybe you should ask his wife.”

And on that sour note, we take off in our respective cars, and all the way home I try to distract myself from Noah and his newly minted wife by trying to solve Eve Hollister’s murder. Two more suspects remain—that I know of. Certainly a lot of people wanted Eve dead.

I glance out the window as the snow-covered evergreens whiz by in a blur.

Somewhere out there, roaming free, there’s a killer on the loose.

But I’m determined to find justice for Eve. The killer won’t be free for long.

No, in fact, their days are very much numbered.