Baby Bundt Cake Confusion (Murder in the Mix Book 31)

say goodnight and take off just as a familiar brunette with cobalt blue eyes comes this way.
“Oh my goodness!” Meghan Baxter, Everett’s sister, strides forward. “You two are here for less than five minutes and we’ve got a mountain of corpses in the back alley. Tell me it’s not true, Essex. You didn’t gun those people down, did you?” She pulls us into a double embrace, and I’m momentarily smothered by her flesh and sugary perfume.
“That you had to ask is an insult.” Everett pulls back. “Don’t breathe those words again, Meghan. This night has given me more than I can handle already.”
“So much for having a great reunion.” She makes a face as she looks out at the crowd. Meghan looks like Everett in female flesh, but she’s voluptuous where he’s rock hard, and her humor is a bit drier and biting. I like Meghan a lot. “I guess I missed all the fireworks. That’s what I get for showing up late.”
Evie comes up and hugs her aunt with ferocity. “If it isn’t the Marvelous Ms. Meghan,” Evie teases. They’ve grown pretty close, considering the fact they just met this past year, and I’m glad about it, too. Evie deserves to have a normal family life, especially after Cressida did her best to strip her of it.
“Evie, my favorite niece.” Meghan wraps the crook of her arm around Evie’s neck and gives her a noogie. “But you just might have to share that honor if your mom has a girl. I guess I’ll see you all tomorrow at that big—”
Evie all but tackles Meghan a good ten feet away and now she’s whispering into Meghan’s ear and the two of them are nodding frenetically.
“What was that about?” I ask while Lily and Everett exchange a quick glance.
“Who knows?” Everett wraps his arms around me. “My guess is boy trouble.”
“You’re probably right.” After narrowing her two boyfriends to one, Evie has had nothing but one drama after the next in her dating life. Not that Everett and I are thrilled with her dating at all.
My stomach squeezes tightly once again and I press my lips together, not wanting Everett to catch onto the amount of discomfort I’m in.
I’m positive this baby isn’t making its debut into the world tonight. And I certainly don’t want an unwarranted tour of the maternity ward any sooner than I have to have it.
I blow out a slow and steady breath just the way Serena taught me during those birthing classes she presided over, and soon the tight feeling subsides.
I spot Carlotta off in the corner of the room and gasp. In her arms is that white silky-haired pooch who came back from the other side to help us solve this murder.
But there were two suspects, and I get the feeling I should keep my eye out for another ghost to make itself known—and here’s hoping the killer makes himself or herself known, too.

Noah
Snow falls softly as I run into the Ashford County Sheriff’s Department.
It’s just about midnight, and after I dropped Ariella off at home, I thought I’d head out this way. At this point my jaunt to the station is more or less out of habit. But seeing that there was a double homicide tonight in Fallbrook, the victims of which were two of my old friends, I’d say I have more than a horse in the race and every right to be here.
Who knows? This might just be the catalyst to get myself off suspension and back behind my desk where I belong.
No sooner do I set foot into the warmth of the building than Everett cycles through my mind. He belongs back on his bench as much, if not more, than I belong back here.
Last January when Florenza Canelli, in her ghostly form, promised she would help me thwart a deadly mob war, I foolishly told Lottie to take the deal. Initially, I was going to be the only one stealing her body from the morgue. But Everett had to play the part of hero and joined in on the effort. In fact, he did just that last month, too, when he took the fall for the entire debacle. But, then again, it was his face that showed up clear as a bell on the security footage and his alone.
Let’s hope the sleepwalking stint he had during his adolescent years comes back to serve him well. If anyone can put enough doubt into that jury’s mind next month, it’s the shark he’s hired to defend himself, Fiona Dagmeyer.
I pull out my phone and quickly shoot a text to Lottie to make sure she’s safe and hopefully at home by now.
She texts right back. I’m fine! I’m home. Carlotta, Evie, Everett, and I are eating everything we can find in the kitchen. Come join the midnight madness. I’ll save a cruller for you.
My heart warms just knowing Lottie and the baby are safe.
My baby.
I’m convinced of it. Or at least I was up until I realized this baby will be here in just a few short weeks. I guess I can’t live in my delusions forever.
The truth will be here soon enough. And if that’s Everett’s child, I’ll have to accept it. But I know myself all too well. It’s going to be a tough pill to swallow. Usually I can put up a good front when I need to. I’m just not sure how I’ll fare in this scenario.
I let Lottie know I’m out in Ashford but that I’ll see her tomorrow.
Lottie has no idea about the big surprise set out for her in the afternoon. And considering it’s at her mother’s old B&B, I’m hoping there won’t be too much drama. But considering the fact Cormack and Cressida are at the helm of the crazy train, I don’t see how it can be avoided.
The station is buzzing. It’s far too bright in here for this late hour, but the bustle at the sheriff’s department never seems to die