The first snow was about two weeks ago, and we already have about a foot of it on the ground. I relish the crunch of snow beneath my feet as I walk along Main Street, taking in all the Halloween lights the shopkeepers still have out. Pretty soon, the Christmas decorations will replace the orange, black, and purple lights.
Crested Peaks at Christmas always looks like one of those towns you see in a Hallmark Christmas movie, except our snow is real. I notice that snow already coats the mountain peaks and as I approach Chloe’s Cupcakes Truck, it’s snowing again but lightly.
I stick out my tongue to see if I can catch any, and then I laugh at myself. I can’t believe Damien and Tom might adopt a little girl. It will be hard to keep their secret because I’m so happy and excited for them. I hope he at least lets me tell Drew and Miranda. Otherwise, I don’t know how I can keep my mouth shut for long.
There’s a short line at Chloe’s truck. Anywhere else, customers would be scared off by the snow but not in Crested Peaks. We’re so used to it here that we just carry on the same as if it were 75 degrees and summer. And because of the ski resort, the more snow, the better.
I line up behind the others, but Chloe sees me and waves. “Hi, Charlotte!”
“Hey there, Chloe!”
“Afternoon snack for everybody?”
“You know it!” Today she’s serving hot chocolate, along with the cupcakes. My mouth waters as I watch one of the customers walk away from the truck, clutching the warm cup in their mittens while steam trails from the top when it hits the cold air. I guess I’ll make it three cups of hot chocolate in addition to the cupcakes.
I scan the menu on the side of the truck, torn over which cupcake I’ll pick today. The red velvet cupcakes from last night were exceptional as always, but now I think the caramel nut fudge sounds good. It’s so hard to decide. I may have to get more than one flavor.
I’m so engrossed in daydreaming about delicious cupcakes that I almost miss the fact Drew and an officer have pulled up in a squad car behind Chloe’s truck. When I finally see him, I wave at him, but he’s so busy talking to the officer with him he doesn’t see me.
I’m shocked when they walk around the back of the truck and knock on the door. What on earth? Now I’m worried. Is Chloe in some kind of danger? Is something wrong with the truck? Why are the police knocking on her door?
Chloe looks just as confused as I am when she hears the knock. She holds a finger up to the customer she’s waiting on, and he nods as she moves to open the door. When she does, Drew asks her to step outside. I can already tell this isn’t a friendly visit. He’s acting like it’s an official police matter instead. By now, people are gathering on the sidewalk and staring.
“Chloe Miller, you’re under arrest for the murder of Morley Haynes,” Drew announces.
“What?” I exclaim. He’s kidding, right?
Drew finally turns and sees me standing there, my mouth hanging open in shock.
“Charlotte, what are you doing here?” he groans. He’s so tired of finding me at crime scenes. And now here I am with ringside seats for an arrest.
I throw my hand in the air. “I’m buying cupcakes. What are you doing here? This has to be a mistake!”
“This is official police business. Just go back to Marcall’s.”
“Don’t you boss me around, Detective Bailey!” I even plant myself in Drew’s way, which I know I’ll hear about later. I know I don’t actually have the right to impede police business, but I don’t care. “Chloe is my friend, and I demand to know what’s going on.”
This is preposterous. Chloe would never hurt a person, much less kill them. Even if it was that creep, Morley Haynes. “Morley wasn’t murdered, he died of a heart attack. How could that be Chloe’s fault?” I remind them.
Drew sighs loudly. A sure sign I’m really in trouble. “Morley didn’t die of a heart attack. One of Chloe’s cupcakes poisoned him,” he whispers so no one else can hear. “Now step back and let us do our job,” he growls.
“Charlotte, you have to know I didn’t do this. I would never,” Chloe begs.
“I know you wouldn’t! And I promise you, we’ll sort this out,” I insist. Drew stands over me, glaring at me with those mesmerizing green eyes of his, and I realize I just put myself in the middle of another investigation. Oops.
At five feet, 10 inches, most people aren’t able to stare down at me. But Drew can. And at the moment, he’s looking superimposing and all policey. Most of the time, I find this disturbingly attractive. But right now I feel like someone who knows she’ll get lectured by her boyfriend later.
He purses his lips at me until I finally step aside, knowing I obviously can’t prevent them from leaving. I watch with dismay as they lead Chloe back to the squad car, sliding her into the back seat. Drew doesn’t stop glaring at me until he gets in the car himself and drives away.
The crowd gathered around Chloe’s truck, murmurs in wonder. News travels fast in this town, and I know it will spread before dinner that Chloe Miller was arrested for murder.
Just as I’m wondering if I should try to close up her truck, the Crime Investigation Unit shows up to search it. I trudge back to Marcall’s, wondering how such a great day could go so wrong so quickly and how do I keep getting stuck in the middle of these things?