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  MYSTIC MISTLETOE MURDER

  by

  SALLY J. SMITH & JEAN STEFFENS

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  Copyright © 2016 by Sally J. Smith & Jean Steffens

  Cover design by Janet Holmes

  Gemma Halliday Publishing

  http://www.gemmahallidaypublishing.com

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  The authors wish to send a shout out to Wendi Baker for overseeing our work on this project, to Sandra Barkevich for her eagle editing eye, and, as always, Janet Holmes for so accurately and beautifully translating our story to cover.

  Sally dedicates this Christmas story to Jean Steffens—friend, nurturer, and partner in crime.

  And Jean would like to dedicate this Christmas story to Sally J. Smith—friend, advocate, and partner in crime

  .

  

  Please join us for an evening of celebration, entertainment, libation, & gourmet dining.

  A Mystic Mistletoe Merriment Bash

  ~December 20~

  ~6:00 p.m.~

  The Mansion at Mystic Isle

  Our very special guests will be the young people from St. Antoine's Children's Home, the beneficiaries of our most successful holiday drive ever. And Papa Noël, with his bag of goodies, will be droving his gators on down the bayou to visit us.

  Cocktails at 6:00 p.m.

  Followed by the dinner stylings of

  Chef Valentine Cantrell at 7:00 p.m.

  Formal or semiformal attire is requested for this most special evening.

  

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER ONE

  "Ho, ho, ho, y'all. Yat, Miss Melanie Hamilton?" The exaggerated Southern drawl, nothing at all like a real N'awlins accent, came from behind me. The bad accent and sexy voice belonged to resort manager Jack Stockton. It was part of his effort to assimilate and make merry on his first holiday season at The Mansion at Mystic Isle in the heart of the Louisiana bayou. A darn good effort, though not Jack's usual style at all. My guess? He'd indulged in at least a couple of eggnogs and was brimming over with holiday spirit.

  I turned around and put my hands on my hips. "Ho, ho, ho, yourself."

  Jack walked up to me, visibly swallowing hard. By the way his dark eyes smoked over and his mouth gaped, I could tell the dress and shoes I'd fussed over had the desired effect.

  When he found his voice again, what he had to say was just so perfect. "Any man who thinks blondes are it is straight up nuts." His voice had gone soft so others wouldn't hear, and his tone was all husky, giving me shivers. "Redheads rock my world, one in particular, and tonight, in that green dress with her hair like glowing flame, she's more spectacular than a Christmas tree."

  Yes, sir. Perfect, just like Cap'n Jack himself—my New York Yankee in King Rex's court, doing his best to understand the New Orleans way of life.

  I couldn't suppress a grin but fought off the urge to fall into his arms. Even if I preferred being thought of as a strawberry blonde instead of a redhead, I couldn't remember a more flattering compliment having been directed my way in a while.

  We'd been seeing each other several months now, and I was a goner, more stuck on him than Spidey to a skyscraper. If his sweetness and rapt attention were clues, the sentiment was mutual—my Cap'n Jack, which was how I'd thought of him since he arrived and took the position of resort manager.

  While I was pretty sure almost everyone at the resort knew we'd been seeing each other, we still tried to keep things cool, platonic, and on the down low in our work environment. Not an easy chore when my handsome boss was around.

  I kept my voice soft too. "I was hoping we might track us down some mistletoe later on."

  His eyebrows arched, and his grin was wicked. "Stellar idea, Miss Hamilton."

  The Mansion at Mystic Isle Mistletoe Merriment Bash was in full swing, and the old dowager queen plantation-turned-resort was all dressed up for the holidays. Four Christmas trees hung with white twinkle lights and gold ribbons anchored the big dining room, while one enormous tree in the center, a near twin to the twenty-foot beauty in The Mansion's main lobby, stood proudly in the middle of the room. Gold and white satin ribbons had been interwoven on the cedar garlands. Christmas was everywhere.

  Round tables with gold and white linens had been set with the resort's gold-rimmed holiday china and awaited Chef Valentine Cantrell's traditional four-course réveillon dinner. The aromas coming from the kitchen had been making my mouth water the whole dang night.

  Everyone from the invited staff to the invited honored guests also looked very spiffy.

  I had taken extra care getting ready for the party. My gorgeous roommate and best friend, Catalina Gabor, the resort's tarot card reader, and I had done each other's makeup and hair, and both had new dresses and shoes purchased just for the occasion of the Christmas party.

  I spotted Cat across the room with her beau, Chief Deputy Sheriff of Jefferson Parish Quincy Boudreaux, at her side. Cat had found her dress at Chantelle's Vintage Designs, a secondhand dress shop on Decatur. She was stunning in the cream-colored gown. The sleeveless fitted bodice emphasized her ample bosom, and the flowing gored skirt fluttered when she walked and made her look like some kind of old-time Hollywood goddess.

  In comparison, I'd sort of felt like a schoolgirl in my dress. It was a bateau-neck, cap-sleeved cocktail dress with a fitted bodice, belted waist, and full, gathered skirt. The shiny emerald taffeta reminded me of the dress I wore to my high school spring formal. Johnny Mancini, my date, had nearly fallen down when he'd seen me in it. Of course back in high school, I hadn't had the gold-colored leather, four-and-a-half-inch stiletto-heeled sandals to sell my transition to womanhood.

  All evening Jack had been looking at me like I was a plum pudding he was ready to sink his teeth into, so I guessed all the trouble I'd gone to had been worth it.

  Harry Villars, hotel owner and Southern gentlemen of the grandest ilk, had mingled with all who'd come to the event from the employees to local celebrities. The perfect host, he'd outdone even his usual sartorial grandeur by wearing a Christmas-red suit over a tartan waistcoat and jaunty green bowtie.

  "Miss Melanie Hamilton." He walked up to us. "As I live and breathe, aren't you just a vision of loveliness tonight? We are truly blessed here at The Mansion that you agreed to come work for us, grace our halls, and ink your lovely body art for our patrons."

  My face went hot. "Why, thank you kindly, Mr. Villars. You're quite lovely yourself."

  The former plantation property, now reincarnated as The Mansion at Mystic Isle, had been handed down through the Villars family over almost three centuries. Run-down and ill-used when Harry took it over, he'd spent time a
nd money refurbishing and turning it into a resort for guests who liked to be scared and entertained all at the same time. The motif was haunted mansion, and the employees were all purveyors of the paranormal and supernatural. At least that was the hype—every last employee claimed to only be good at playing a role. But the occasional strangeness of things that had happened around the resort sometimes made me wonder.

  Tonight's event was the pinnacle of a holiday drive conducted by Harry, Jack Stockton, and me, the official tattoo artiste at Mystic Isle and unofficial New Orleans street artist. The beneficiary of said drive was the orphanage sponsored by St. Antoine's Parish in the Ninth Ward. The church was still struggling years after being decimated by Hurricane Katrina, and whenever I had the chance, I did my best to help out there.

  Harry took my hand between his two and patted it. "If you'll excuse me, Miss Hamilton, I'll get this show on the road." He moved away through the crowd to the dais and stood in front of the microphone. His voice carried out over the PA system. "Good evening to all my fine guests tonight, and welcome to The Mansion at Mystic Isle." Harry's accent and languid cadence were a trip backwards through time almost two hundred years. "To those of you who helped make our holiday drive a resounding success, all of us here at the resort would like to say thank you, thank you, thank you. I personally would like to extend my most sincere gratitude to Miss Melanie Hamilton for spearheading this drive…" I blushed as catcalls and shouts of woo-hoo and go, girl circled the room. "And also to Mr. Jack Stockton, for all his devoted labor." Whistles, applause, and a couple of way-to-goes acknowledged the many hours Jack had put in to benefit the children's home. "And to you children from St. Antoine's Parish, I want to let you all know it won't be long now. I, myself, just got word that Papa Noël has been spotted droving through the swamp in his skiff pulled by his eight gators, Gaston, Tiboy, Pierre and Alcee, Ninette, and Suzette. And don't you know Celeste and Renee will be there too. And I hear Papa's bag is plenty full of Christmas goodies for all you children."

  Dozens of boys and girls laughed and cheered and clapped, as did all the employees and other guests.

  It was enough to warm the heart of old Scrooge himself, and it made all the weeks of everyone's hard work so worth the effort.

  "But first—" Harry scrubbed his hands together with glee. "Our very special guests from the St. Antoine's Parish Children's Home and Benjamin Cantrell, son of our own Chef Valentine Cantrell, have a real treat for us." He stepped away from the mic stand and gestured to the group of children who'd lined up behind him.

  Benjy Cantrell, the eight-year-old son of my friend and resort head chef, Valentine Cantrell, sidled up onto the dais. He was dressed like a miniature maestro in a holiday tux, his café au lait skin glowing in the reflection of his red plaid Christmas suit. He stood on his toes and slid onto the raised bench in front of the baby grand, placed his small feet on the pedal extender, and nodded to the choral director, Sister Catherine Rose, who looked exceptionally pretty tonight in her long blue gown with her short dark hair tucked behind her ears. She lifted her baton and watched for Benjy's cue. He lifted his hand and began an introduction to "Christmastime is Here." The voices of the children rose sweetly while Benjy played lazy, mellow jazz licks on the ivories. It was purely amazing.

  "That kid's some talent, isn't he?" Jack said.

  "He is. They say he's a prodigy. He's received an invitation to study at the Childress Music Academy in New Orleans."

  Jack whistled. "Wow. That school is just for the very gifted, isn't it?"

  "For kids with exceptional talent," I said.

  "And—" Valentine's sultry voice came from behind us. "For them kids what's rich, too. I don't even know where to start lookin' for the kind of money they're asking for Benjy to study there. Maybe if I win the Powerball." Her gorgeous hair was normally stuffed under the elasticized cap she wore in the kitchen, but tonight she'd pulled it all back from her face with a sparkly headband only to have it explode out in a celebration of tight braids. Delicate strands of gemstones were woven throughout the braids and sparkled in the golden light from the chandeliers. She was stunning.

  Jack lifted her hand to his lips, every bit as gallant as an old-time plantation man himself. Southern ways had a way of rubbing off on people. "You look amazing tonight, Chef Cantrell."

  She smiled graciously, a woman comfortable with her own elegance. "You go on, Mr. Stockton." When he released her hand, she leaned over and touched cheeks with me.

  "I can't wait for your scrumptious dinner, Valentine," I said. "I have the menu memorized, and I hardly ate a bite all week in anticipation of simply gorging myself tonight."

  The song ended, and Harry stepped back up to the mic, still applauding. Sister Catherine Rose led the children off the stage, and Benjy, the cutest little hambone I'd ever seen, took bow after bow after bow.

  Valentine held her hands to her cheeks and laughed. "That child was born to be a star." Her voice took on a melancholy note then broke, and she looked at us apologetically. "His daddy would be so proud. 'Scuse me. I better go round up the boy, or he'll just stand there being all Liberace through the whole livelong night."

  As she moved away through the crowd, Jack bent to my ear. "What's the story with Valentine's husband?"

  "He was killed several years ago, seven years I think, serving in Afghanistan. He'd barely just met their son."

  "I didn't know."

  "She doesn't speak of it often."

  "Sure," he said. "I don't blame her. You'd never get over something like that."

  "I guess it's been pretty hard on her, but she's done a great job with her son. He's an amazing kid. I hope she can manage the finances to send him to that school. From what she's told me, it's a heck of a lot of money."

  "I can imagine," he said.

  Our attention went back to the front of the room as Harry announced, "If you all will find your seats, we'll get the feedbag on." A rustle went through the room as people began to move toward their assigned tables. "Chef Cantrell and her staff have put together a fine menu for us tonight, and while it's a little early in the evening for a réveillon dinner, we're gonna all enjoy the heck out of it anyway."

  "Well," I said, turning to Jack. "I guess I'll see you later."

  He smiled down at me and laid one hand on my bare arm. His touch was always tender and made me feel—oh, yes I did say it—cherished. "I'm sorry about the table assignments," he said. "Harry just thought it would be advantageous for me to sit at the head table with him and a few of the VIP donors."

  "I know. I get it." And I did. Well, sort of. Who wouldn't have wanted to sit next to her best beau at the company Christmas bash? I certainly did, but there was only so much room at the head table, and Harry had it in mind to kill a whole flock of birds with one stone, so to speak, by celebrating the holidays, promoting the resort, and recognizing the generosity of those who'd made big donations to the drive. Not only wasn't there room at the head table for me, but Harry's own life partner, the Great Fabrizio, was dining at a different table. Namely the same as mine.

  I found lucky table six right away and took a seat. There was a woman with a really big, eighties-style beehive that was red and green all over like a bowl of Christmas Jell-O had exploded on her head. Her earrings were big flashing snowflakes. The strapless dress she wore was shiny red—and I'd never kid about a thing like this—spandex that barely contained her breasts.

  I was certain I'd have remembered if I'd ever met her before, so I offered my hand. "Hello, I'm Melanie Hamilton."

  She batted green-mascaraed lashes and smiled. "Barbie," she said. Not really? Then in the way of explanation, she offered, "I'm with Aaron. He'll be along now any minute."

  I didn't know who Aaron was either, so I just nodded and took a chair.

  Cat and Quincy came to the table. Quincy, newly promoted to the rank of Chief Deputy, held the chair for her. I had to admit I was a little jealous she got to enjoy the party with her man. She gave me a quick who-dat? loo
k when she had a gander at Barbie. I shrugged.

  "Just look at you, chère," Quincy said as he bent down and gave me a peck on the cheek. "Why ain't you jes' hotter than a sriracha-boiled crawfish tonight?"

  I wrinkled my nose. "Crawfish, Quincy?"

  "Oh, leave her alone, Q." Cat patted my hand. "You know by now to ignore half of what this man says and forget the rest. Right?"

  "I do," I said.

  Quincy fisted his hand and laid it against his heart. "Ugh," he groaned. "Wounded. Mortally wounded."

  When God made the irritating yet not-without-a-certain-charm Quincy Boudreaux, he must have also had it in mind to make Catalina Gabor to temper the crime-fighting Cajun. Like Adam and Eve, they were created to be together despite the volatile nature of their romance. The friction in their relationship only served to ignite sparks between them that went to white-hot flames faster than you could blink an eye. At about five-nine, he wasn't all that much taller than Cat, but he was muscular and put together well. To counterbalance his hair that always seemed to be standing straight up, he had those big ol' brown eyes that could launch missiles depending on his mood.

  Cat was built like a brick house, with long, lush dark hair, flashing dark eyes, and a nature as unpredictable as a tempest but as loyal as a Saints fan. I loved her like a sister.

  She took hold of Quincy's hand and smiled at Barbie. "Sit down, Deputy, and entertain us with tales of your outrageous adventures and daring exploits chasing villains and thwarting crime in Jefferson Parish."

  He laid his hand on hers. "Why, chère, I'd be delighted. You know how I love to impress all you ladies."

  And regale us he did.

  After about twenty or so minutes of cocktails and conversation, another woman I'd never met approached the table and took an empty chair opposite me. She was a couple of inches taller than my five-three and on the stocky side. Her hair was mud brown like the swirling currents of the Mississippi and straighter than the Causeway Bridge. I'd have guessed she was in her early forties—no makeup, dressed in a conservative long black dress with a matching knit jacket over it. I believed I'd once seen my Grandmama Ida wear one like it to a funeral.