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  Lambert sipped some more bourbon, then studied the remaining liquid in his cup. “Like an egg.”

  Jaxon swirled the wine in his glass. “So, did you also confirm the money came from Emery? I am guessing you did from the confidence and relief I hear in your voice.”

  Lambert cocked his head. “And don’t forget gratitude. I’m also grateful this all worked out. And you are right about the money. It is another piece of evidence that will be hard for the defense to address. Emery was tired of being blackmailed by Holly. It’s a strong motive. I can’t believe you found out about it.”

  I groaned and Jaxon stopped me from speaking about the gray area by saying, “Let’s just say after a while, a good P.I. learns to grow and tend to relationships that can be useful.”

  Lambert snorted. “Are you trying to say it is good to have friends?”

  Jaxon nodded yes.

  I sighed. “I never knew the food critic world was so brutal. It seemed bad to me when I heard about how Holly messed with Oliver’s career in that food battle show, but...”

  Lambert cut me off. “...Sorry to interrupt, but I should tell you. Oliver Reid is now working at The Gilded Nickle. The Gordon Ramsey wannabe that runs the kitchen found out about Oliver and hired him. I was surprised because we were ready to throw Matt in jail just for having a bad disposition. But seems there is a heart under the gruff exterior after all.”

  Jaxon choked on his wine. “You're kidding. Right?”

  “Nope. And they get along. Matt is thrilled to have a real chef working with him. And Oliver is happy to be working again.”

  Jaxon shook his head. “Never assume.”

  Lambert countered. “The first rule of investigation.”

  I laughed and toasted the good work by the police. The group raised their glasses and Lambert added, “Don’t forget Daisy, she was the star today.”

  Daisy came running over when she heard the detective say her name. She checked his pockets for another banana. Grandma hurried over to retrieve her, but Daisy turned her head and gave her a raspberry. Grandma huffed at her. “Well, that will not do, young lady.”

  I chuckled. “You still thinking of teaching her sign language? Wonder what she would have said just now.”

  Jessica laughed. “I’m not sure, but if I had to guess I would say you're jealous of Daisy, Rose.”

  Grandma and Lambert both blushed like teenagers discovered by a parent playing spin the bottle in a basement. Grandma retreated to safe ground. “Would you like a cranberry cornbread bite? They are quite good.”

  Lambert scouted the buffet we laid out along one wall with all the food. “I actually would love to try one of those pigs in a blanket.”

  Grandma radiated. “There is quite a bit to choose from. Come on I will show what we have.”

  She and Lambert made for the food. Twain had been quiet but came over chuckling. “Mabel gets flowers. Rose is plying a man with food. I would say it’s a party now.” He took a sip from his cup. “And that detective did bring some good bourbon. Life is good.”

  Jessica snickered. “It is kind of cute. I’m glad to see Rose let her hair down and live a little at her age.”

  Twain quipped, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

  Andrew laughed. “Mr. Twain, you know that is an actual quote.”

  Twain nodded. “Of course. Why mess with the genius when the message fits so well.”

  We all smiled and Jaxon offered, “You know, we did work well together. We had this thing pretty much figured out and evidence to back much of it up. And it only took a few days. That’s amazing.”

  I nodded in agreement. “Thank you, Jaxon, for coming to help. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

  He laughed. “I don’t know, you were tearing it up on your own after the first day.” He motioned with his glass to indicate the group: Jessica, Mike, Andrew, and me. “This was a good team. And we got our man.”

  There was an awkward pause till Jessica declared, “Now, we’ll see if Rose and Mabel get their man.”

  We all groaned and Mike rolled his eyes at her. I went over to Daisy and the kids. Susan and Dennis were now trying to teach Daisy the finer points of patty cake. It was a good day.

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  Catalog of Books

  The Grumpy Chicken Irish Pub Series

  A Frosty Mug of Murder

  Treachery on Tap

  A Highball and a Low Blow

  Cursed With a Twist

  THE CHRONICLES OF AGNES Astor Smith

  The Peculiar Case of Agnes Astor Smith

  The Peculiar Case of the Red Tide

  The Peculiar Case of the Lost Colony

  OLD SCHOOL DINER COZY Mysteries

  Murder at Stake

  Murder Well Done

  A Side Order of Deception

  Murder, Basted and Barbecued

  THE CURIOSITY SHOP Cozy Mysteries

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Spectacles

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Dice

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Dagger

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Looking Glass

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Crucible

  THE WE’RE NOT DEAD Yet Club

  Fetch a Pail of Murder

  Wedding Bells and Death Knells

  Murder or Bust

  Pinched, Pilfered and a Pitchfork

  A Hot Spot of Murder

  WITCHY WOMEN OF COVEN Grove Series

  THE WITCHING ON THE Wall

  A Witching Well of Magic

  Witching the Night Away

  Witching There’s Another Way

  Witching Your Life Away

  Witching You Wouldn’t Go

  Witching for a Miracle

  TEASEN & PLEASEN HAIR Salon Series

  A Hair Raising Blowout

  Wash, Rinse, Die

  Holiday Hooligans

  Color Me Dead

  False Nails & Tall Tales

  CAESAR’S CREEK SERIES

  A FROZEN SCOOP OF MURDER (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book One)

  Death by Chocolate Sundae (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Two)

  Soft Serve Secrets (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Three)

  Ice Cream You Scream (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Four)

  Double Dip Dilemma (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Five)

  Melted Memories (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Six)

  Triple Dip Debacle(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Seven)

  Whipped Wedding Woes(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Eight)

  A Sprinkle of Tropical Trouble(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Nine)

  A Drizzle of Deception(Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book Ten)

  SWEET HOME MYSTERY Series

  Creamed at the Coffee Cabana (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book One)

  A Caffeinated Crunch (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Two)

  A Frothy Fiasco (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Three)

  Punked by the Pumpkin(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Four)

  Peppermint Pandemonium(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Five)

  Expresso Messo(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Six)

  A Cuppa Cruise Conundrum(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Seven)

  The
Brewing Bride(Sweet Home Mystery Series Book Eight)

  WHISPERING PINES MYSTERY Series

  A Sinister Slice of Murder

  Sanctum of Shadows (Whispering Pines Mystery Series)

  Curse of the Bloodstone Arrow (Whispering Pines Mystery Series)

  Fright Night at the Haunted Inn (Whispering Pines Mystery Series)

  MAD RIVER MYSTERY SERIES

  A Wicked Whack

  A Prickly Predicament

  A Malevolent Menace