Christmas Tree Catastrophe (Lily Bloom Cozy Mystery Series Book 6) (2 page)

Nick walked by, heading for the door. “You’re the last one here. Don’t wait too long or you’ll be stranded in the snow.”

“I’m not worried. If the snow is too deep, I’ll walk next door to my mother’s house.” She pointed across the library parking lot to lights shining through the snow. “There are the lights of her sunroom. Drive carefully, Nick. Did Penny already leave?”

“She left a few minutes ago, through the side door. Crystal too. I guess they parked on the other side.”

“Oh, Crystal was here? I never even noticed her.”

“She said she had to do something downstairs. She wasn’t here for long.”

Lily took one more look at the scene as the cold air swirled around her. It took her a while to clean up and gather her now empty boxes and store them in a closet for later when all the decorations would need to be taken down. Zipping up her coat and pulling on her hat and gloves she took a deep breath and was ready to brave the dark wintry night. Just as she was walking across the parking lot, the timer turned all the outside lights on.
Well, that helps, I wonder why they weren’t on earlier?

With her head down to cut through the cold snow and wind, something odd caught the corner of Lily’s eye. Looking toward the twenty foot blue spruce, all lit up with Christmas lights, she noticed shadows dancing on the snow and something else, but she couldn’t make out what exactly she was looking at. 

“What the heck is that?” she said out loud but the words were blown away immediately.

Lily searched the parking lot, barely able to spot her minivan already buried under several inches of snow. As quickly as the lights had come on, they went dark. She blinked her eyes several times trying to adjust to the abrupt light change.

Lily glanced back at the blue spruce but, with the lights off, nothing more than a big, dark shape was visible. Possibly her eyes had played a trick on her and it was only a shadow she had seen that she thought appeared to be something. Wrapping her scarf around her face, she decided to follow the quickly disappearing tire tracks out of the parking lot and walk to her mother’s house instead of wasting any time scraping the snow and ice from her minivan. She would rather deal with the snow in the light of day when the storm was over.   

Stomping her feet on the front doormat, she pushed the heavy door open and practically got blown inside. Rosie heard the commotion and came to greet Lily, sniffing her from head to foot to make sure she was okay. Rosie had a special sense about everything to do with Lily and she cocked her head sideways as if to ask, what have you been doing out in the terrible weather? Lily patted her faithful terrier. “I can never slip anything by you, can I?” Rosie’s tail wagged in reply.

Iris took Lily’s snow covered coat, hat, gloves and scarf to hang on the coat rack while Lily pulled off her boots. “I’m exhausted from trudging through the snow to get here from the library.”

“What? You didn’t drive over?” Iris asked as she guided Lily into the big living room where the heat from a roaring fire made the room feel like an oven after the cold wind outside had chilled her.

Lily collapsed into the soft cushions and Rosie curled up next to her. “No. My car was buried and I thought it would be easier to walk here. I don’t know if my car even would have been able to drive out of the parking lot, the snow was already pretty deep, and I don’t have the best tires for a storm. I have studded snows ready to be put on but I haven’t had the time to change them. That will be at the top of my to-do list once this storm is over.”

Iris brought Lily a glass of wine and set a plate of cheese and crackers on the table next to the couch. “Here’s a little snack. Daisy texted saying she and Adam are on their way. Do you think they’ll be able to make it with the roads so bad?”

Lily shrugged. “If they’re in Adams SUV, they’ll probably be fine but I don’t know about Daisy’s car.” Lily suddenly sat up. “I almost forgot. The strangest thing happened when I walked out of the library. The outside lights all came on, later than they should have, and it looked like there was something under the big blue spruce. But then the lights went out and in the dark with the wind howling and the snow blowing, I couldn’t make it out anymore. I better call Ryan and make sure he’s heading over here too. Maybe he can swing in and check.”

Daisy and Adam came into the living room, rubbing their hands together, just as Lily finished telling Iris about what she saw. Daisy was stamping her feet and rubbing her arms trying to get the circulation going again. “What are you talking about?”

Lily put up her finger as she talked to Ryan on her phone. “Adam just got here, he can drive me over and you can meet us there.” After putting her phone away, she stood up. “It looked like there was something under the tree in front of the library. Adam, can you drive me over there? Ryan will meet us.”

Adam got all detective serious. “What did you see?”

“I’m not sure, maybe just a shadow, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe someone fell and is gone by now or else . . .” She didn’t even finish her thought out loud.

Daisy held onto Adam’s arm. “Geez, Lily, we just got here. Do you know how nasty the storm is outside? Can’t this wait? It’s probably nothing.”

“Nothing, just like that body we saw when we were in the hot air balloon? Let’s hope it
is
nothing and we’ll all be right back to enjoy this warm fire and Mom’s cooking.” She marched to the front door and pulled on all her winter clothes which hadn’t even had enough time to completely dry yet. Adam was right behind as they headed outside to his SUV.

Lily slammed her door closed. “At least it isn’t far to go and Ryan will be there too.”

Adam’s SUV roared to life. “What is it with you, Lily? How come bodies always fall into your path?”

“Slow down, Adam. No one said anything about a body. Let’s hope it was just a shadow or a stick. But if I don’t check, the memory will haunt me. What if someone fell and is slowly freezing to death but we’ll find him just in the nick of time to rescue him?”

“Okay, have it your way. Always the eternal optimist.” Adam turned into the library driveway right behind Ryan’s police cruiser. He followed the tracks and swung around next to Ryan’s car so two sets of lights were shining on the blue spruce.

As they stood looking toward the tree, Ryan asked Lily, “What did you think it was? All I see is lots of white. Why aren’t the Christmas tree lights on?”

“I think there’s something wrong with the timer.” With the help of the car lights illuminating the tree, Lily plodded through the knee high snow. “Here.” She pointed. “Under the tree. We probably need to brush the snow away to check if there’s anything underneath.” She scooped through the snow with her hands until Ryan started to dig with a small shovel.

The pile of fresh snow built up quickly. Lily grabbed Ryan’s arm and pointed. “There. See that black object?”

Ryan carefully dug closer until a man’s leather boot was exposed. Ryan shielded Lily from what was uncovered. “This is giving me a bad feeling about what we’re going to find attached to that boot. Are you sure you want to stay?”

Lily nodded.

Adam started to dig next to Ryan’s path to make a wider swath in the snow. Another boot was uncovered. They were all working carefully, removing the snow from the boots until legs were uncovered. For the last part, they all used their hands so as not to damage the body with the shovel. Ryan brushed the last bit of snow away to reveal the back of a man’s head, covered with frozen red snow crystals. She recognized the red and green wool coat. It was Malcolm’s body lying in the snow under the blue spruce tree. Lily shivered but not from the cold wind swirling around her.

Ryan put his arm around Lily. “I’ll take you back to your mother’s house, you don’t need to be out in this storm while we move the body and get this area cordoned off for an investigation.”

“Oh, Ryan, I wish I never saw that shadow. We’d be sitting together by Mom’s roaring fire, sipping wine, eating and laughing. I’m sorry to ruin your night.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. This is my job. The only night ruined is Mr. Malcolm Moss’s. I’ll need to get your statement but that can wait until tomorrow. Come on, let’s get you out of this miserable weather.”

As Lily climbed into Ryan’s cruiser, more police cars and an ambulance were pulling in. All the events at the library swirled in Lily’s head. There had to be a clue buried in all the snow. Was it someone who was at the library with her?

Before Lily got out of the cruiser she asked Ryan, “What about the opening tomorrow night? Will it need to be postponed? Noah Lyman was very specific about the whole event, including the date.

“Even Noah, with all his mystery novels, could never, in a million years, have foreseen a murder happening on the eve of his planned event. How about postponing until Sunday? Do you think that will be okay?”

“I guess so. It doesn’t seem like there’s any choice. The biggest problem will be to notify everyone.”

Ryan’s eyebrows jumped up. “Really? You think everyone in town won’t know about this before the sun is up?”

Lily laughed. “You’re right. The gossip tree will be working overtime. And with this drama, more people will most likely show up for the opening. I wonder if Malcolm would like that or hate it.” She leaned toward Ryan, barely brushing her lips against his. “This better not interfere with our wedding plans, Mr. Steele.”

“I can assure you that will not happen, Ms. Bloom. Even if we are forced to just run away together. There’s no way I’m letting you get out of marrying me just because someone happened to be found dead under the library Christmas tree in this snow storm.” He pulled her tightly against his body and she felt herself warm up from head to toe.

Lily rushed inside, slamming the door before too much blowing snow could follow her in. She stamped the snow off her boots and started to pull all the layers of winter clothes off, hanging each item on the coat rack to dry. She was happy to be heading back into the toasty warm living room to sit by the fireplace.

Iris and Walter were playing cards at the side table and Daisy was engrossed in a book. No one even noticed her come in except for the dogs. Rosie charged over, happy that Lily was back with her, and the puppies, Ollie and Poppy, piled on top of Rosie thinking it was playtime. That commotion made the others look up. Iris left to get Lily a hot cup of tea and some leftover lasagna in case she was hungry.

Closing her book, Daisy looked expectantly at Lily. “Well? Where are Adam and Ryan?”

Standing with her back in front of the fireplace, Lily soaked up the heat. She sipped her tea and let out a deep sigh. “We found a body in the snow.”

“What?” Daisy said as she jumped up off the couch. “How does this always happen to you?” Lily shrugged.

Before Lily was even awake the next morning, her phone chirped.

“Hello Nina. . . you heard the scanner right. . . I’m at my mom’s house. . . you and Nick want to come here? I’ll call you right back, I’m not even up yet.”

Lily found Iris and Walter busy in the kitchen. “Nina and Nick want to come over, is that alright with you two?”

Iris spooned her muffin mix into the muffin pan. “Sure. The more the merrier. I’m making cranberry nut muffins to go with cut up fruit and an egg casserole. There will be plenty for whoever wanders in.”

Daisy shuffled in, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “What’s going on? We’re getting company? At seven in the morning?”

“Just Nina and Nick. I think Nina must be hoping I can give her some information about what’s going on at the library. Which reminds me, I’d better call Tamara too, and give her the bad news. The opening needs to be rescheduled.” Lily walked to the other side of the room and dialed Tamara’s number.

“Tamara? I’ve got some bad news . . . You heard already? . . . From who? . . . Okay, never mind. . . I’m at my mom’s house. . . You want to come here?” Lily glanced at Iris who nodded okay. “That’s fine. The main roads should be in good shape. . . An hour or so? Sounds good.”

Lily sent a text message to Nina instead of calling, telling her to come over around eight.

“I think I’ll go take a shower and get dressed before we’re overrun with visitors. Where’s Rosie?”

Iris closed the oven door and set the timer. “She’s outside with Poppy and Ollie. They’ll be tired when they come back in after leaping through all the deep snow. Walter was out shoveling the paths and said there’s at least a couple of feet. But it’s light and fluffy making everything feel like Christmas.”

In the shower, Lily let the hot water stream over her body. What the heck happened when Tamara and Malcolm left the museum last night, she wondered, lost in her thoughts in the steamy air. Tamara wasn’t a killer. When did Nick and Penny leave? And Crystal? Did they have anything against Malcolm? Was someone else in the parking lot waiting for Malcolm?

Lily felt an ice cold hand on her back and the sound of a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air before she realized the noise was coming from her own mouth. Grabbing her razor as a weapon, she turned to see Ryan’s lopsided grin and dark eyes twinkling as he roared with laughter.

“I don’t think that razor will do much to protect you, Ms. Bloom,” he said as he took in her naked beauty. “Mind if I join you?”

“Are you kidding? Get out of here. We’re in my mother’s house,” Lily hissed.

Ryan raised one eyebrow. “Come on Lily, your mother won’t care. She’s the one who sent me up here,” he teased.

“Go on. I’ll be out in a minute.”

Ryan waited and held a soft, thick towel for Lily, wrapping it around her before pulling her into his arms. “I can’t wait until Christmas Eve. You’re the best present I could ever hope for,” he whispered before he went back downstairs.

Lily dried herself off and pulled on a clean pair of jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt and a red turtleneck wool sweater. One thing she loved about cold weather was bundling up in a warm sweater.

Ryan was sitting at the kitchen table with Iris and Walter, enjoying a cup of hot coffee and a warm cranberry nut muffin when Lily walked in. Everyone stopped talking and stared at her. “What? Did I forget to zip my jeans?”

Iris’s eyes twinkled. “No, dear, we heard someone scream and we’re just happy everything is alright.”

Lily felt her cheeks burn and she playfully slapped Ryan’s arm. “I can’t believe you told them what you did to me.”

“Sorry. It was too funny not to share.” Ryan pulled Lily into his lap. “Come on. It was funny. Who did you think it was putting a cold hand on your back?”

“Oh, maybe Malcolm Moss’s ghost?”

“You aren’t thinking about the body, are you? I hope you don’t waste your time looking for clues. You must be busy with a million things to do before Christmas Eve,” Ryan said.

“Well, Kari is running the shop for the next two weeks, Jennifer and Daisy are doing all the food for the wedding, and Mom and Walter are decorating here for the ceremony, so it frees up a lot of time for me to fill with something.” She wrapped an arm around Ryan’s shoulder and relaxed comfortably against his chest.

Ryan turned Lily around to face him. “I don’t like the sound of this. I’m hoping Adam takes over the investigation so you and I can think about one important thing.”

“What would that be?”

“Each other. Okay?”

“I’ll do my best.”

The front door slammed closed and a voice hollered out, “Yoo-hoo. Where is everyone?”

Iris answered, “In the kitchen, Tamara.”

Ryan and Lily exchanged a glance before Tamara waddled into the kitchen unzipping her white, puffy down jacket. With the extra bulk of the jacket, she resembled a snowman with real legs, arms and a head. She looked around the room. “Kind of quiet in here, did someone die?”

Lily’s mouth feel open. “I thought you knew. You told me you already heard the bad news.”

“All I’m aware of is, my hair stylist is sick as a dog with mono and won’t be able to do my hair for your wedding. What could be worse than that?”

“Maybe you’d better sit down.” Lily guided Tamara to the kitchen table and Iris poured her a cup of coffee. Tamara reached across the table and helped herself to a big cranberry nut muffin.

After taking a big bite she brushed the crumbs from her mouth. “Iris, did you make these? I can tell where Daisy got her baking talent. These are moist with just the right combination of sweet and tangy. Absolutely delicious.” She looked at the others watching her. “So, what’s going on?”

“Malcolm Moss is dead,” Lily said.

Tamara took another bite. “He was a twit anyway. Can’t say I’ll miss him. What happened, a heart attack? He always was eating way too many sweets and he refused to exercise. Now, I like my sweets too but I go to my exercise class religiously. I’ve got perfect attendance since I started a month ago.” She helped herself to another muffin.

“As a matter of fact, he was murdered,” Ryan said as he watched Tamara’s reaction.

Crumbs sprayed out of Tamara’s mouth and landed clear across the table as the color drained from her face. “He
what?
Did I hear you right? What about the opening tonight?”

“That will be postponed until Sunday. We should be done with the investigation at the library later today,” Ryan explained.

“He was murdered at the library? Impossible. I walked out with him. We argued the whole way about my fantastic idea for the fundraiser. He took my bag with the brick in it, said he would take care of it and threw it into the trunk of his car.”

Ryan held up his hand. “Tamara, you should stop right there. I’ll need you to come down to the station and give me your statement. You too, Lily, since you were also at the library. Who else was there?”

Tamara’s mouth was flapping open and shut like a fish out of water, but for once, she had enough sense to keep her thoughts to herself.

Lily said, “Besides Tamara, Malcolm and me, there was Kari, Nick, Crystal and Penny.”

Ryan stood up and pushed his chair under the table. “I’m going back to the library to check how Adam is doing, then I’d like you and Tamara to come to the station to give me your statements so I can start to put a picture together of what happened last night.”

“But . . .”

Tamara started to say something, but Ryan held up his hand. “Stop your thought right now Tamara, there are no buts happening. You need to give me a statement.” He checked the time. “I’ll expect both of you at ten o’clock. No, make it eleven.” Ryan picked up a muffin, thanked Iris, winked at Lily, and started to walk out of the kitchen as Nick and Nina entered.

“Good morning Ryan,” Nina said as he tried to brush passed. “Why are so many police over at the library? Care to share any details with your favorite newspaper reporter?”

“Nina, Nick.” Ryan nodded his head as they passed each other. “Nope.” He continued to the front door.

“Wow, what’s going on with your hot cop, Lily? He isn’t acting particularly happy,” Nina asked with her eyes following Ryan out the door. “Is the wedding off?”

Lily waved her hand in dismissal of such a ridiculous comment. “Not a chance. Do you two want some coffee?”

Nina, never bashful, helped herself and poured a cup for Nick. “What’s going on at the library? It’s crawling with cops and the whole parking lot is taped off with yellow do-not-cross tape.”

Lily finished her coffee and opened the door to let the dogs in. Rosie came in first followed by the two puppies. The snow balls stuck between the fur on their feet tapped on the kitchen tiles before the three of them flopped down in the middle of the kitchen floor. Lily got dog treats for them but they could barely lift their heads to grab the treat.

Ignoring Nina’s question, she turned her attention to Nick. “How did you get along with Malcolm Moss?”

Nick stretched his long legs out and leaned back in the kitchen chair. “He’s a jerk. I’d be happy if I never saw him again. Why?”

“He was murdered last night. In the library parking lot.”

The chair crashed forward, back onto all four legs. “What?”

“Tamara and I are going to the police station at eleven and you may as well come along too. Ryan wants statements from everyone who was at the library last night.”

“I barely talked to the guy. He was too busy arguing with you, Tamara. Something about bricks?” Nick looked at Tamara.

Tamara had become unusually quiet. “I didn’t kill him. He was very much alive when I drove out. He was busy mumbling and looking for something in the trunk of his car.”

Nina set her cup on the table. “Do you think it’s connected to his house being broken into?”