Killer Christmas Cozies Page 10

  That kind of anguish and emotion couldn’t be faked.

  “Are you girls still leaving in the morning?” Sheriff Morgan asked me.

  I looked at Ophelia and nodded my head. I didn’t even want to stay the night tonight, but I knew it wouldn’t make sense to leave out for Missouri now in the dead of night.

  Someone cleared their throat and we all turned to see Clive Wilkinson standing behind us. He looked like he’d aged ten years in the last few hours. Not only had his sister lost her best friend, but he’d lost his on-again and off-again girlfriend. “I have a room available for you two ladies if you’d like to pack and move to the chateau. In fact, I can actually give you the room at no charge for another two days if you’d like to stay on. Chloe will be joining me in my suite for the evening. There’s no way I’d leave her alone.”

  I looked over expectantly at Ophelia. There was nothing I wanted more than to get my stuff and get out of that condo. The fact we could stay two more days free and clear at the chateau was almost more than I could take.

  Ophelia smiled at me before turning to Clive. “Thank you, Clive. We’ll get our stuff when we can and take you up on your offer.”

  An hour later, Ophelia and I were finishing up the last of our packing. Deputy Swanson had taken Bitsie to the station, the EMTs were all gone, and the forensics team was almost finished processing the scene. Sheriff Morgan said he’d stick around and accompany Ophelia and me to the chateau before heading back to the station.

  “Is it weird to say that even though this was a crazy vacation,” I said as I zipped up my suitcase, “that I really enjoyed it. I mean, I’m sorry Andrew and Margot died, and that Helen lost someone she thought was her best friend…but if you get past that, I honestly loved waking up Christmas morning here, overlooking the mountain.”

  Ophelia plunked her suitcase down on the rollers and grinned. “I totally get it. It was relaxing and peaceful—something teachers rarely get in their lives!”

  I laughed as we trudged up the stairs together, ready to finish our vacation in the exquisite chateau. No doubt about it, Ophelia and I would have plenty of pictures and stories to tell our students when we went back to school after Christmas vacation.

  Minus the dead bodies, of course.

  Christmas Trees & Felonies

  Jenna St. James

  Copyright © 2018 by Jenna St. James.

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names and characters are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Jenna St. James Books

  Ryli Sinclair Mystery Series (cozy)

  Picture Perfect Murder Bachelorettes and Bodies

  Girls’ Night Out Murder Rings, Veils, and Murder

  Old-Fashioned Murder Next Stop Murder

  Bed, Breakfast & Murder Gold, Frankincense & a Merry Murder

  Veiled in Murder Heartache, Hustle, & Homicide

  Sullivan Sisters Mystery Series (cozy)

  Murder on the Vine Tea Leaves, Jealousy, & Murder

  Burning Hot Murder Flames, Frames, & Murder

  PrePEAR to Die

  Copper Cove Mystery Series (cozy)

  Seaside & Homicide

  A Witch in Time Series (paranormal)

  Time After Time

  Runaway Bride Time (novella)

  Toy Time Tragedy (novella)

  A Trinity Falls Series (romantic comedy)

  Blazing Trouble

  Cougar Trouble

  Chapter 1

  I yanked my gloves over my frozen fingertips and watched as my big brother, Zane, pushed open the wrought iron gate. Kellerman’s Christmas Tree Farm was ready for another day of business. Standing in the pre-cut section of trees, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.

  “I have a feeling this Christmas will be a memorable one.”

  I smiled, opened my eyes, and turned to the person standing behind me…Nicholas Claus.

  Also known as Santa Claus, Saint Nic, Kris Kringle, and countless other aliases around the world. Nic had miraculously shown up last week at my Christmas tree farm asking for work. I considered it a miracle because last year’s Santa, Boyd Booker, up and moved to Vegas twelve days before Christmas. Leaving me holding an empty bag—or in this case an empty Santa sack.

  Nic looked exactly like you’d think Santa Claus would…long white hair beneath a red velvet hat, thick full beard the same color as his hair, warm and caring eyes that highlighted crow’s feet when he gave big belly laughs, and a generous lap for the little ones to snuggle on.

  “I hope you’re right,” I said to Nic. “I’m thrilled Zane is finally home, but I’m also worried about how he’s really doing. He doesn’t talk much, I can hear him pacing at night, and he just doesn’t seem like himself anymore.”

  My big brother, Zane, had returned home a month earlier after being discharged from the military after eight years. I was ecstatic for his return…not only did it mean he was safe and sound, but I really needed the help on the family tree farm.

  My mom and dad decided five years previous that Iowa life was no longer for them and that Florida is where they wanted to be. That left me all alone in Iowa, looking after the Christmas tree farm that had been in our family for generations. I had no desire to leave the small town I was born and raised in. But running the Christmas tree farm alone was taking its toll on me. I couldn’t deny it.

  Meow!

  Nic and I glanced down at the red and white longhaired cat demanding attention. Nic had brought the cat with him when he arrived last week. He reached down, picked up the cat, and rubbed her neck. The cat let out a huge purr and nuzzled Nic’s hand.

  “It seems Miss Claws agrees with my assessment of a memorable Christmas,” Nic chuckled.

  Nic claimed the cat was given to him by his wife, Mrs. Claus, so he wouldn’t get lonely while he was here helping me. I didn’t care how crazy it sounded…I needed Nic and Miss Claws this year.

  “Hey, sis,” Zane called out and jogged over to where Nic and I stood. “Gate’s open. Want me to take the evening delivery today?”

  “That would be great,” I said. “I’ll do the afternoon run.”

  We usually tried to keep our deliveries down to two a day. There were a lot of people who bought trees, garland, and wreaths and then had no way of hauling them back to their house. If a customer was local, home delivery was a service Kellerman’s Christmas Tree Farm provided.

  “Look at you two,” Nic chuckled as he set Miss Claws on the ground. “Getting along so well.” He turned his twinkling eyes on both of us. “It wasn’t always like that. I remember when you were both much younger…oh, there were so many fights.”

  Nic turned and walked away, Miss Claws following close on his heels.

  “What exactly do you know about that guy?” Zane asked.

  I blinked at him in surprise. “Whaddya mean?”

  Zane crossed his arms over his expansive chest. “What do I mean? I mean he’s a little odd, don’t you think? And don’t you find it strange he suddenly shows up out of nowhere offering to help ten days before Christmas?”

  I sighed. “Zane, I really need him this year. I know you just got here so you don’t know what it’s been like, but with Mom and Dad gone, I’ve been left here to do everything all by myself. Nic is helping us out for free. Which is a good thing, because I can’t even afford to pay for extra help this year.” I glanced over to where Nic had lowered himself onto his Santa chair. He was stroking, talking, and laughing jovially with Miss Claws. “Nope. I don’t care how weird he seems, I consider you both my Christmas miracles this year.”

  Zane shook his head. “Okay, Gracie. Whatever you say.”

  ***

  By eleven o’clock the Christmas tree farm was in full swing. Kellerman’s offers trees i
n Fraser Fir, Scotch Pine, Blue Spruce, and White Pine. Customers can either find and cut the tree themselves or they can simply buy a pre-cut tree. Once the customer finds the perfect tree, he or she can browse for wreaths, garland, swags, tree stands, and various homemade goodies like candy, jelly, and cookies that my best friend, Evie Watson, and I make.

  Evie is an elementary school teacher, but she also helps out by working as an elf during her time off on Christmas break. Having to deal with kids during her time away from school isn’t exactly Evie’s idea of a restful vacation, but she knows I always need the extra help right before the Christmas rush.

  I glanced around the tree lot and caught Evie’s eye. Waving, she leaned down to say something to Santa before scurrying over to me, the bells on her green, floppy shoes jingling.

  “If I have to lift another kid up on Santa’s lap,” Evie said, “my arms are gonna fall off.”

  “And it’s not even lunch time,” I said.

  Evie groaned. “Don’t remind me, Gracie.”

  “I’m going to make my first delivery around one-thirty to the nursing home. Think you can hold down the fort and run the cash register?”

  “You bet.” Evie waved goodbye and jogged back over to where Santa was helping another kid onto his lap.

  By one o’clock I had my emerald green, 1949 Chevy pickup truck loaded down with three trees and two wreaths for the local nursing home. The snow had stopped falling by the time I turned on to the main highway and headed into town.

  Springdale, Iowa had a population just over seven thousand, but I think that was after they count all the livestock and pets. There are two stoplights and a four-way stop to help guide people along the gently rolling roads through town. Like most midwestern small towns, the houses were modest, and nearly all had decent-sized yards. There were also plenty of stores, banks, churches, and a public school in Springdale.

  I pulled the ’49 Chevy into the rutted parking lot of Sunset Nursing Home and shut off the truck. Stanley Wallace, one of the orderlies, was standing outside waiting for me.

  “I saw you coming down the road, Miss Gracie,” Stanley said. “Thought I’d come out and see what help you needed.”

  With Stanley’s help, it only took half the time I’d expected to unload the truck. Since I had some time to kill, I decided to treat myself to a coffee from the local café. As I parked and hopped out of the Chevy, I couldn’t help worry about Zane and how he was truly dealing with his integration back into civilian life.

  In true Gracie fashion, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going and ran smack dab into a body. We both cried out in surprise.

  “I’m sorry,” I automatically said. “I didn’t see you there.”

  “It’s okay,” Lillian Candace said softly. “I suppose I shouldn’t have been stopped here looking at the bulletin board.”

  Lillian Candace had been a few years younger than me in school and painfully shy. In all the years I’d known her I’d never once heard her raise her voice in anger. She had thin, straight brown hair that hung limply down her back, owlish oval glasses, and even though she was tall, her body was almost too thin and angular. She reminded me of a broken ballerina. But I’d always liked Lillian and didn’t want to scare her away.

  “What caught your eye?” I asked. “Anything good?”

  Lillian shook her head wildly. One hand strayed to the center of her black, double-breasted wool coat. “No. I wasn’t really looking at anything. I was just waiting on Bert. We had a late lunch.”

  Lillian’s step-brother, Bert Candace, was a Class A jerk. You know the kind…high school bully who never grew up. I’d always went out of my way to avoid him. But now that he was recently been made bank president at one of the local banks, the power had gone straight to his head. Since I bank there, and he technically holds my loan, I try and be polite to him.

  Lillian’s mom had married Bert’s dad when I was in junior high and Bert was in high school. Unfortunately, a few years back the parents were both killed in a freak accident when a tanker truck carrying milk overturned and ran into their vehicle. Now Bert was the only family Lillian had left.

  Lillian glanced one more time at the bulletin board, bit her lip, and slowly backed up. “I guess I’ll just wait inside for Bert to—”

  The front door of the café flew open and out strolled Bert Candace buttoning his winter coat. “Well, well. If it isn’t Gracie Kellerman.” He slicked back his oily hair and swaggered over to where Lillian and I stood. “How’re you today, honey?”

  Honey?

  I bristled at his words and tone. No one but my immediate family and friends were allowed to be that familiar with me. I plastered on a fake smile. “I’m fine, Bert. Just going inside the café for a coffee.”

  “Let me buy you a cup,” Bert offered.

  Not if you were the last person on earth and that was the last cup of coffee.

  “No, thanks.” I turned to Lillian and genuinely smiled. “It was nice talking with you, Lillian. Hope to see you around.”

  Bert’s cheesy smile fell from his face and his eyes turned hard. “Hope your Christmas tree business is doing well, Gracie. Hate to have to call in that note on your farm.”

  Lillian and I both gasped.

  The audacity of the little weasel!

  I narrowed my eyes at Bert. “It’s doing great. Especially now that Zane’s back and helping out.”

  I knew that would get him. Bert and Zane were actually in the same class and had always been at odds with each other. Mainly because Bert was a bully and Zane couldn’t stand that. The two had been in more than one scuffle before Zane finally left for the military.

  “I heard he was back,” Bert sneered. “Couldn’t tough it out in the Army, huh?”

  I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind, but Lillian stopped me.

  “Bert, I think I’ve been standing outside too long.” Lillian gathered her coat around her. “I’m pretty cold. Could we get in the car?”

  Bert’s angry gaze landed on his step-sister and he rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

  He grabbed her roughly by the elbow and marched her over to his vehicle. Without another word, Bert all but threw Lillian in the front seat, turned around and glared at me. “See ya around, Gracie.”

  I didn’t say anything, just watched as he backed out of his space and squealed down the road. Curious, I wandered over to the bulletin board to see what had caught Lillian’s attention.

  Either she was on the lookout for a great supplemental vitamin to help her and thousands like her lose weight…or Lillian was interested in a one-bedroom house for rent. Knowing Lillian’s situation, it wasn’t hard to figure out which one would benefit her more.

  Chapter 2

  “Thanks for covering for me,” I said.

  “No problem,” Evie winked. “Glad for the break from lifting kids.”

  Usually I had more helpers on the lot…high school kids home on Christmas break looking to make a quick buck. Unfortunately, this year I couldn’t afford the luxury of extra help. That meant Evie had to cover me when I wasn’t on the pre-cut lot since Zane was down helping customers cut trees.

  “How’s Nic holding up?” I asked Evie.

  Evie groaned. “I don’t know how he does it. The man could play Santa all day and not need a break. I don’t think he’s human.”

  I grinned. “Zane pretty much said the same thing to me this morning.”

  We laughed and Evie scampered off to go play elf once again. I rang up a few more sales before heading over to help a customer. I’d just rounded a nice Fraser Fir when I overheard harsh voices hissing at each other.

  “If you even think of raising my rent,” an angry female said, “I’ll make sure you regret it!”

  I gasped and crouched inside the Fraser Fir. I wasn’t sure who was talking, but I didn’t want to embarrass them or have them think I was eavesdropping.

  “I wouldn’t threaten me if I were you, Gretchen.”

  No
w that voice I recognized…Bert Candace!

  “I’m not threatening,” Gretchen replied. “I’m promising. You try and go toe-to-toe with me, Bert, and I’ll make you regret it. I don’t care who you think you are in this town. I have just as much pull as you do. Remember that.”

  I was dying to see who this Gretchen was that had the nerve to stand up to Bert. Slowly I leaned out of the branches and stuck my neck out as far as I could…peeking around the tree.

  Gretchen Smith!

  Gretchen was a physical education teacher at the local high school. She also coached a number of girls’ sports. She was an intimidating woman who was built like a MAC truck. Nearly six feet tall, wide thick body, and looked like she could bench press a building.

  “It’s my house, and I’ll do what I want,” Bert said. “You don’t like it, get out.”

  Movement in my peripheral kept me from hearing Gretchen’s reply. I squinted and saw Lillian Candace biting her nail and looking scared to death.

  I crept over to where she was standing, careful not to be seen by Gretchen or Bert.

  “Are you okay?” I whispered.

  Lillian nodded but didn’t say anything more. Instead, her attention was glued to Gretchen and Bert. Awkwardly, I just stood there and watched as Gretchen pointed a sausage-like finger at Bert’s chest. He narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger back at Gretchen, hitting her in the center of her military-style coat. Lillian whimpered next to me

  Deciding enough was enough, I plastered on a bright smile and leaped forward. “Hi there. Can I help you guys find a tree?”

  The two sprang back, but I could still feel the anger sizzling in the cold, winter air.