Page 65 of Twice Baked Risky Whiskey Cakes

Glinda lifts her chin. “Why don’t you ask your mother-in-law how well it worked out for her?” She gives a crooked smile. “After all, she was married to the cad.”

The three of us gasp in unison. Even Sebby’s transparent jaw drops.

“She was?” I tip my ear toward the woman. I’m positive I’ve misheard.

“That’s right,” Glinda doubles down. “And the monster stole all he could from her before leaving town.”

“Seems like Wiley’s actions were on trend,” Carlotta quips. “Stealing from women and disappearing was the hot new thing for men back then. Sort of like bellbottoms, but more financially explosive.”

I agree, after all, Noah’s father pulled the exact same vanishing act later on poor Eliza.

“Sebastian truly was the lowest form of human,” Sebby says with a spectral shudder and tiny stars spray all around him. “He made mud look like a good thing. I’m not surprised to say he really did take after his father in the worst possible ways.”

“So that’s why Eliza was so livid when she spoke to him,” I say, mostly to myself. “It all makes sense now.”

“Yes,” Glinda agrees, a bit too eagerly. “It makes sense why she chose to kill him. Of course, she was caught up in the passion of the moment. I’m sure her son will make certain she spends a minimal amount of time behind bars, if any. They have so many cushy women’s prisons these days. She’ll feel as if she’s away on a spa trip.”

“Is that how you felt, Maggie?” I ask, and the woman’s eyes nearly dislodge from her skull.

A loud air horn cuts through the tension. Mayor Nash’s voice booms over a loudspeaker as he congratulates everyone on another fantastic St. Patrick’s Day parade. “And now, folks, I have a surprise for the entire town of Honey Hollow!”

He waves a green flag, and all of a sudden dozens of boats begin to speed around the lake, leaving a trail of dark liquid in their wake. In seconds, all of Honey Lake transforms into a glittering shade of emerald.

The crowd goes wild with cheers and applause. I’ll admit, it’s a mesmerizing sight, but I can’t focus on that now.

Glinda tries to step around me, but Carlotta blocks her path.

“Hold it right there, Red. Or should I say Blondie?” Carlotta plants herself firmly in front of the woman. “You’re not going anywhere until Lot gets to the bottom of this sticky, risky whiskey business. And speaking of sticky, that lake is calling me. Swimming in green waters is at the top of my bucket list, Lot. Wrap it up, would you?”

I roll my eyes. Carlotta’s bucket list needs a serious revision.

But I revert my attention where it should be.

“Glinda Van Jance?” I shake my head at the woman. “I should have known when you said you were a hugeWizard of Ozfan that something was up. And Van Jance? As invengeance?” I nod. “You practically wanted to be caught.”

She shakes her head vigorously. “No, don’t you see? Eliza did it. She had the motive! She took one of the vintage knives from the Fallbrook Sourdough Society. Eliza is the killer, not me.”

“So that’s where you got the pearl-handled knife,” I muse. “Of course. And I bet somewhere along the way Sebastian told you about all of his crooked conquests. That’s how you knew to befriend Eliza when you got out. Is that right, Maggie?”

Her eyes narrow and her fury builds like a pressure cooker about to blow its lid.

“That’s right, you nosy gnat.I killed the insolent fool,” she hisses. “He framed me and left me to rot in prison while he went on his merry way. I thought he loved me. I thought we were a perfect match. But he just pushed me aside and went on to his next victim.”

“Why try to pin this on Eliza?” I shake my head. “It’s obvious why you wanted him dead.”

“Why not?” she scoffs. “That woman has had everything handed to her. Besides, I didn’t want anyone to suffer behind bars the way I had. And once I realized her son is a prominent judge, I knew she wouldn’t.” She glances past me at the dark belly of the woods. “Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be.”

She tries to dart past me, but pregnancy has made me crafty—even though I’m not quick. I stick my foot out, and she trips, sprawling onto the grass with a yelp.

“Lolita!” Sebby zips around excitedly. “What athletic prowess! Using your center of gravity as a weapon is pure genius.”

“Get her, Lot!” Carlotta lunges forward as Glinda scrambles to her feet.

I’m not exactly built for chase scenes these days, but I manage to grab a fistful of her jacket as she tries to bolt. Carlotta throws herself at Glinda’s legs in a tackle that would make a football coach weep with joy.

“Lemon,” Everett’s voice booms across the green space, and I look up to see both him and Noah sprinting toward us, with their faces a matching set of panic.

Glinda wrenches free and makes a desperate break for the lake, with Carlotta hot on her heels. Without hesitation, Carlotta dives into the emerald water after her. They both emergeseconds later, drenched and dyed a brilliant shade of green from head to toe. And by the looks of it, Carlotta is enjoying the heck out of it.

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