Free Christmas Tree Catastrophe (Lily Bloom Cozy Mystery Series Book 6) by Lyndsey Cole Page A

How could you let him hold it over you for all this time, Tamara?”
    She hung her head. “I was scared and had no reason not to believe him. Now it’s too late and it certainly makes me appear to be the one most likely to have a motive for wanting him dead.”
    “It’s a good thing he’s dead or I’d kill him myself,” Iris said as she pounded her fist into her open palm for emphasis.

Chapter 11
     
    Lily and Iris drove back to Iris’s home trying to form a plan.
    “This can’t be good for Tamara but I don’t believe for one second that she killed Malcolm Moss,” Lily said, expressing both of their frustrations. “We’ll need to keep our eyes and ears sharp at the opening tonight. With Tamara in jail, whoever the real killer is will relax a little and make a mistake.”
    “That’s assuming the killer comes to the opening and Malcolm’s murder wasn’t some random killing,” Iris added.
    “Well, yeah, there is that possibility, but I don’t think it was random. The weather was so bad Friday night, who would have been out to just randomly bump into Malcolm in the library parking lot? I think the murderer was someone already at the library or someone who knew he would be there.”
    “So, who was helping decorate?”
    “Me, but I know I didn’t kill him. Nick left a little after Tamara and Malcolm. Penny and Crystal left about the same time but through another door. I guess it’s possible one of them walked around and waited until Malcolm was alone and whacked him with Tamara’s brick, pulled him under the tree and got back to their car before I went out. But what’s there motive?”
    Lily parked in front of Iris’s house, surprised to see Ryan’s car. “I don’t think he got caught up on his sleep,” she said to Iris.
    Ryan was inside chatting with Daisy who was cooking up a storm. The conversation stopped mid-sentence as Lily and Iris entered the kitchen. Ryan was lounging at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and some kind of muffin in front of him. He questioned Lily before taking a bite. “Did Tamara fill you in on her past?”
    Lily nodded and pulled a chair out next to Ryan. “She did, but the whole thing sounds fishy to me. Malcolm could have told her anything if she had no memory of the night. And how convenient that he’s not around now? I’ve been wondering . . .” Lily paused and took a bite of Ryan’s muffin. “Do you think he was blackmailing someone else too? It seems to be his method of controlling people. And what about his partner, Eddie Parker? Where was he Friday night? His personality switches between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde every time I’m around him.” She wiped some crumbs from her face. “Delicious muffins Daisy. Apple cranberry?”
    Daisy smiled. “Yup. I also added some dates for sweetness which lets me cut down on the sugar.”
    “Get your own muffin.” Ryan slapped Lily’s hand away from his muffin and popped the rest in his mouth before Lily had a chance to steal any more from him. “Eddie Parker was visiting his mother at the Rosewood Assisted Living facility. Tamara walked out with Malcolm, had access to the murder weapon, her prints are all over the murder weapon and she has a pretty strong motive to murder him. Means, motive and opportunity. I’d say your friend better find herself a very good lawyer.”
    “Doesn’t it seem odd for Tamara to use a brick with her name on it, then plant the brick in her own car? And who else’s fingerprints are on the brick. I know I held it, probably everyone at the library Friday night held it.”
    “Lily, sometimes people aren’t what they seem. I like how you are so loyal to your friend but the evidence is all pointing at her.” Ryan stood up. “I’ve got to get back to work. Thanks for the coffee and muffin, Daisy.”
    Lily grabbed his arm. “What about the brick through my shop window? Did you make any progress on that yet? Or the break-in at Malcolm’s house? Are they connected?”
    “There’s a