Pumpkin Spice Lies: A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 16

get roped into helping him move heavy boxes into his apartment and there is no way I was going to do that.”
I chuckled and sealed the box of pumpkin spice fudge I had just packed. “I wonder why he was moving into an apartment? I would think at his age he would have had his own house by now.”
“He did. Remember, he used to live next door to John and me when we were first married. He and his wife made themselves scarce during the day so we didn’t talk much, but we’d wave as we passed one another on the way in or out.”
“That’s interesting,” I said thoughtfully. “What about his wife? Was she moving in, too? Or was it just him?”
“If his wife was with him, I didn’t see her. She could have been at their old house packing things.”
“Did he see you? I wonder if he would remember who you were?”
She shook her head. “No, I was peeking through the curtains so he didn’t see me.”
“Well, I think we need to have a little chat with him. I wonder if he has anything to say about Hailey’s death. Or if he even knows.”
She nodded and wrapped a gift tin of fudge with bubble wrap.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he has a lot to say about it. Not that he’d be saying it to us, of course. But I have a sneaking suspicion he might know something.”
I thought my sister might be right. And I had to wonder if there might be trouble in paradise with his marriage. Maybe that was why he was moving into an apartment by himself.
When we had finished packing all the orders, we got to work in the front of the store straightening, dusting, and refilling shelves. Pumpkin Hollow Days was a smashing success so far, and I couldn’t be happier.
When Christy and I finished our shift at the candy store, I drove her back to her apartment. I parked my car, and we walked slowly up the sidewalk, keeping an eye on Frank Gillespie’s apartment. There was a car parked under the carport marked with his apartment number so he had to be home, but there was no one outside.
“Now what do we do?” Christy asked as we stood there and stared a hole through his apartment door.
I looked at her. “We need to bring him a welcome to the apartment complex gift. Got anything lying around your apartment we could give him?”
She narrowed her eyes at me for a moment and then brightened. “I just happen to have something.”
We headed to her apartment, and she unlocked the door and let us in.
“What is it? You can’t give him something used.”
She chuckled. “It’s not used. Not yet, anyway.” She picked up a small gift tin from the candy store. “There was some leftover pumpkin spice fudge yesterday. I accidentally packed up a half-pound tin instead of a one-pound tin. I didn’t have any more orders for a half-pound, so I brought it home. It got too late to snack on something this sweet late last night, so I never opened it up.”
“Well, thank goodness. That’s the perfect welcome gift,” I said. “Let’s go see how Mr. Gillespie is doing.”
She nodded, and we headed back out the door and over to his apartment, and she knocked on his door. While we waited, she held up the tin and sniffed it. “I really hate to give this away.”
“You can make more tomorrow. This one is needed right now.”
She nodded, and the apartment door opened. Frank Gillespie looked at us, perplexed. “Can I help you?”
Christy grinned. “Hello, Frank. How are you doing today?”
Frank still looked puzzled. His eyes went to the tin in Christy’s hand, then back to her face. “I’m fine. I’m sorry, do I know you?” He glanced at me.
Christy nodded. “Yes, we were neighbors six or seven years ago. Over on Autumn Avenue.”
His eyes went wide as recognition dawned. “Of course. You are—I’m sorry your name escapes me. My memory isn’t what it used to be.”
“That’s okay, I’m Christy Jordan, back then I was Christy Green. This is my sister, Mia Jordan. Our parents own the candy store over on Spooky Lane, and I noticed you moving in yesterday, so we decided to bring you a tin of pumpkin spice fudge. I hope you like pumpkin spice. And fudge.”
His eyes went to the tin again, and he smiled. “Well, that’s kind of you. I love the fudge at your candy store. I just don’t get over there often enough to get some.”
Christy handed the tin to him. “Our mother makes the best fudge in the world.”
He nodded, looking the tin over. “Pumpkin spice, did you say?”
She nodded. “Yes, pumpkin spice. We only make it during Pumpkin Hollow Days and for fall, during the Halloween season.”
“This is a nice apartment complex,” I added. “I’m sure you’ll be happy here.”
He looked at me and smiled. “Yeah well, I’m afraid I came under not so happy circumstances. My wife and I split up.” He shrugged. “This place will do until I figure out what I want to do with myself.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Christy said. “My husband and I got divorced, too.”
He smiled now. “Oh? So you’re single?”
I didn’t like how he jumped to that question so quickly, and I sensed that Mr. Gillespie might have an eye for younger women.
Christy shook her head. “No, I’ve been seeing someone for quite some time now.”
Frank looked disappointed. “Figures. The pretty ones are always taken.” Then he looked at me. “How about you? You single?”
The question surprised me. I shook my head. “No, I’m getting married in a few months.”
He frowned. “Oh. Figures.”
Christy crossed her arms in front of herself. “So, are you still teaching