Raspberry Tart Terror (Murder in the Mix #30) - Addison Moore Page 0,2
Noah and me a while back, so Noah thought he’d return the relationship favor. But now that Everett and I are still going strong, Noah has been in deep regret over his decision.
Although now that I’ve blown our lives into oblivion, I’m sure neither of them will want anything to do with me ever again. I certainly don’t.
Everett and Noah are led behind another set of closed doors, and Ivy snatches me from the crowd and leads me in that direction.
“Keep quiet in there,” Ivy hisses. “Don’t muck up the waters any more than you already have.”
“Out of my way!” a sharp female voice shouts from behind, and I turn to see Fiona Dagmeyer, a polished brunette with dainty features, large dark eyes, and a crimson snarl heading our way. She’s donned a navy power suit and has a leather briefcase in hand. Fiona is fierce as a bulldog, ready to take down anyone who stands in her way, and she just so happens to be the defense attorney Everett had me call right after he and Noah were arrested this afternoon at my mother’s B&B.
Ivy hustles us to the door. “You’ll have less than five minutes with them. They’re getting their room ready.” Her lips twitch because by room she means cell.
Good grief, this is getting all too real now.
The door opens, and I’m thrust into what looks to be an expansive office as the door shuts with a violent slam behind us.
The hush of the room feels like a relief to my ears, and I charge forward in an effort to grab onto Noah or Everett with a firm embrace, but one of the beefy deputies standing guard pulls me back.
“Take a seat,” he says it low like a growl, and I take a seat on the end of an elongated table that has Everett and Noah next to one another, with Fiona taking the helm at the other end. There are only a handful of deputies in here, and I’m glad about it, too. The fewer people to witness our misery, the better.
“I’m so sorry,” my voice warbles as I get the words out.
“Lemon,” Everett says it sweetly, and yet with a touch of remorse, as he closes his eyes.
“Lottie, don’t worry.” Noah blows out a breath as if he were very much worried himself.
“You don’t get to speak.” Fiona holds a finger my way, but her attention is on the two men before her. “Essex, we have less than a minute before they haul you off. There are men in this room. You know the rules. We don’t get down to business until we’re alone. I’m here as your acting attorney.” She blinks to Noah. “Are you interested in my representation?”
“Yes,” Everett answers for him with an aggressive bite to his voice. “But he won’t need you for long.” Everett snaps his gaze my way and there’s a tension between us like never before. Everett is doing his best to press an entire conversation into my mind. The muscles in his jaw redefine themselves as he stares me down hard. He is imploring me not to speak, not to ruin the terrifying momentum he has going, and to be truthful, I’m afraid to. I’ve already ruined so much more.
The door opens up again and in walks Jack Turner—Sheriff Jack Turner. I grew up with his daughter, Keelie, and she happens to be my best friend. Jack has been like a second father to me.
“Lottie.” He nods my way, acknowledging my presence, but his eyes stray to Everett then Noah. “Detective Fox, what the hell is going on?”
Noah has been the lead homicide investigator here at the department for over two years. He has a spotless record, and now I’ve caused a blemish as large and destructive as a wildfire.
“He has nothing to do with this.” Everett pulls his chin up, and the dark scruff on his cheeks only makes his eyes illuminate like the blue flames they are. “I did it.”
Both Noah and Fiona groan in unison.
The door opens as a couple more deputies stream on in and one of them whispers something to Jack.
“We’ve got a cell ready for you.” Jack sighs, looking at the two of them. “For the both of you. We’ll get to the bottom of this one way or the other.”
“Essex,” Fiona snips as she rises to her feet. “I’ll speak with you in private, and until then, you will not utter a single word.”