Page 78 of All You Want
~ Tami ~
I can’t get enough of Todd when he’s so swoony and romantic. He’s everything I’ve always dreamed of, and I wish we didn’t have a murder hanging over our heads. But I can’t stand here making out with him—not until Viola’s murderer is caught and Todd gets over the insinuations that my father’s been paying blackmail.
For who? Me?
Or the person who tainted the tea with Mooma’s horse chestnut extract. It could have been a practical joke, since she said it was her hemorrhoid medicine. I might have poured the tea, but how could I have known that it was poisonous?
Could any of the rumors be true? That Dad was seeing Mooma behind my mom’s back? What if he wanted to get rid of her?
No. It can’t be. I push away from the kiss and clap a hand over my mouth. “Todd, who do you think put the poison in the tea? Could they be the one who killed her?”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Todd says. “Murderers who get away tend to kill again.”
Chills zigzag up and down my spine. “It could have been anyone with access to the barn.”
“Do you think her son could have been involved?”
“No, he was so distraught and sad. Some say she ran off because she was afraid of him, but I don’t believe she would have done that. He was kind of strange, but he turned out okay.”
“The entire body disappearing at the hospital seems suspicious. Maybe the doctor was mistaken, and she ran off because she was pregnant.”
“No, she loved her son. She wouldn’t have left Bum-Bum behind unless she died.”
“We just don’t know.” Todd’s voice is grim. “His foster parents said he never mentions her. Gets upset if anyone brings up her memory. I know your mom asked him to stay, but under the circumstances…”
“I know, it was better for him to go to a foster home. I wish we could have helped him more, but he’s too proud to accept help. Dad was going to make him a loan, and he turned it down.”
“He would think it’s blood money.” Todd wipes his hand over his forehead and sighs. “I’m going to get a search warrant for Evan’s room, just letting you know, and then talk to Diana and my uncle separately.”
My phone buzzes with an incoming text message.
“I have to get back to the guests.” I tap on the message to read it, and my eyes widen. “Oh, look. It’s from Larissa. She says she’s okay.”
“She is?” Todd looks over my shoulder. “Oh, ahem, that’s too much information.”
“Glad someone’s spending the day in bed and not sleeping.” I chuckle and text her back, asking if she’ll be joining us for trick or treating.
She replies that she will, and I’m relieved.
“I’m glad she’s safe,” Todd says. “You’re having dinner with me tonight?”
“Of course, after our Trickvenger Hunt game.” I give him a come-hither wink and then push him out the door. “Duty calls, Sheriff. Go find the killer.”
By the time I return to the dining room, breakfast is over, and my HEX sisters are busy with a pumpkin carving activity. I let them know Larissa texted me that she’s with a hunkazoid spending the day in bed.
“Seriously? And she’s not sharing?” Suzette squeals. She immediately grabs her phone and calls.
“No fair,” Rosalie says. “You hired only one Bigfoot, and she snagged him.”
“Wait, are you saying she’s with Bigfoot?” Bonnie’s eyes pop wide. “She might be in danger. Clifton and I think Bigfoot killed Viola.”
“But he seemed so nice,” Suzette says and frowns at her phone. “She’s not answering.”
“If she’s with Big Dick, she’s got her mouth too full to answer.” Rosalie chuckles. “Bon Bon, why would you think Bigfoot killed Viola?”
“Because he left his mask, and I took a picture of it. The sheriff gave our phones back after uploading all the pictures. See here?” She brings up an image of Todd’s mask.
Everyone gasps and makes sharp exclamations, and I have to join in, but they’re wrong, because I know Todd was Bigfoot. Could Larissa have gone home with Chad? He was notably absent at the after-the-crime scene.
