Syringe You Glad I Made it: Veronica Swift Mysteries, #2

By Ember Mae

Delve into another adventure with Roni and Doodle full of humor, good friends, and an unhinged killer.

 

Veronica (Roni) Swift and her ever-present floofy companion, Doodle, are barely scraping by at the shop, but after what happened back in March, the board isn't trying to make Roni run any more events. In fact, she doesn't really have to worry about rent anymore, just feeding the sassy four legged creature that everyone says is a Westie, but Roni's pretty sure he's half human.

 

Jade Baker—owner of Enchanted Reads and Teas, plus one of Roni's best friends—has an emergency. She's forgotten that she scheduled a murder mystery party for the Ladies Who Book bookclub and needs help to get it set up. Roni and friends quickly rally behind her, helping to find costumes, the murder mystery story, and decorations in time for the party.

 

Enchanted Reads and Teas is dressed up and ready for guests in the knick of time, and its doors locked to the public, a relief to Jade and her reputation as a business woman. But, in a bizarre twist of fate, the 'murder victim' in the game actually ends up dead, and who should find her but Roni and Doodle.

 

Two deaths in only a couple of months. That's disquieting.

 

This time Detective Graham Parker—Roni's best friend's boyfriend—is asking her for help. The women have clammed up like the mafia, refusing to talk for fear of being next, because one thing is abundantly clear…

 

One of the Ladies Who Book is now a lady who kills, and she's got her eye on Roni.

 

Is Roni brave enough to out the killer before she heads home, loosing the lead and any evidence she might take with her?

 

If you enjoyed the Stephanie Plum and Miss Marple series, you'll love this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emmie B.
• Release date: Apr 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781953798299

Book preview

1

Iwoke up to the clattering of a metal spoon on a metal pot like the Tom and Jerry dinner bell in the old west episodes. I sat up, wiping the sleep from my eyes, catching sight of my little white Westie Terrier wagging his tail into the living room. I followed behind him, grabbing my robe and wrapping it around myself to stave off the chill that hung in the air.

What in the name of all that is good is going on? I asked, spotting Lois Jellybean Wilks and Jade Baker standing in the middle of my shared living room. Jellybean stood there; her silver hair pulled into rags to get her Betty White styled perm. She was dressed in her usual attire; a pair of leggings and her pale arms exposed in a flowy tank top that read: If You Love Me, Let Me Sleep. She had fuzzy slippers with hard rubber soles on her feet.

Jade had her dark brown mop of curls barely constrained into a messy ponytail. She was also wearing leggings, deep maroon with pockets on the sides of her legs, and her deep brown arms were covered by an athletic sweatshirt. On her feet were a pair of running shoes.

I looked up at her. Don’t tell me you were out running.

She grinned. Okay, I won’t.

Gross, I complained, wiping at my eyes again.

Across the room, from the other hallway, emerged a very bedraggled version of my best friend since third grade. Her red hair was sticking out in various directions, very much like Anna from that movie with the ice queen. She even had the drool stain on her cheek. The only actual difference was her hair was the color of Merida’s.

Jellybean smiled. Good, you two are up. Jade needs our help.

I regret giving you a key to the cabin, Angie grumbled. What time is it? The sun isn’t even awake yet.

Jade waved the extra-large thermos she was carrying from under her arm and the white bakery box on the coffee table. I brought you a treat. Let’s go to the dining room and I’ll explain what’s going on.

Despite being exhausted and mildly irritated, I couldn’t say no to Jade’s baking, no matter what it was. Her coffee was also drool-worthy, and I was not going to miss out.

Doodle ran around in circles happily yipping occasionally. The boy was a night owl, probably because he slept most of the day, so he was super excited that he had friends awake with him.

I sat down heavily in one of the wooden chairs that matched our dining table. I grabbed my mug already poured full of the nectar of the gods and pulled three chocolate chip cookies from the box.

You sure know how to bribe us, Angie said around a mouthful of glazed donut, her go-to food of choice.

I sighed, taking a bite of the chewy chocolate chip heaven. You’re not kidding.

Jellybean rolled her eyes, and Jade laughed.

I took a deep swallow of my coffee and felt my eyes widening almost immediately.

All right, we’re awake and properly motivated to stay that way. What’s up? Angie asked, grabbing another glazed donut from the box. Jellybean reached forward to grab one too. Angie slapped her hand. Nah huh, old lady, you woke us up like a vindictive camp counselor. You get a cookie, not a donut.

Hey, I objected. That’s rude, Ange.

She shrugged. Sorry, Ron, when Jade’s baking is up for grabs, it’s every woman for herself.

I stuck my tongue out at her. She rolled her eyes and went back to enjoying her donut.

Ladies, let’s focus, Jellybean said, sounding like a wise sage as she stole a donut anyway.

Angie stared daggers at her, but Jellybean paid her no mind.

Right, well, as part of the café, I run events and I host private parties.

Angie wriggled her eyebrows.

Jade scoffed, Not like that, Angie. Get your mind straight. Anyway, I booked a murder mystery party a couple of months ago, but it totally slipped my mind until early this morning.

I nodded. Okay, so when is the party?

Jade’s cheeks went a deep red color. Twelve hours. The party is supposed to start at three in the afternoon.

Hold on, are you telling me it’s three o’clock in the morning right now? Angie asked, jumping up from her seat and checking the clock on the oven.

She looked back at me in absolute horror. It is three in the morning.

Jade smiled meekly. Sorry.

I’m going to need a couple of blueberry fritters before I forgive you for this one, Angie grumbled, stalking back to her seat.

Jellybean rolled her eyes. I’m the one who woke you ladies up. And I will not apologize for anything. Jade needs our help, and that’s what we do.

I pulled my cell phone out of my robe pocket and searched for a murder mystery party already packaged together. I found a site that sold a variety in a matter of seconds and passed the phone down to Jade.

Choose one of those and it’s already done half the planning for you. All you would have to do is make food to go with the theme and, depending on what you choose, some costumes, I said, stifling a yawn. Now, I will help you from seven to ten when my shop opens. I’ll make it a half day and come back to help set up at lunch, though I expect to be fed.

I got up from the table, taking the last couple of bites from my latest cookie. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to bed. Y’all are welcome to the guest bedroom and the couch.

2

W here’s my brother in all of this? I asked, as Angie and I struggled to roll out the red velvet carpet Jade had in the back room for just such an occasion as a Hollywood-themed murder mystery party.

Jade’s face grew a dark red as she blushed again. He’s at work, though he said he was going to stop by later today to help.

I huffed, Very well, I just thought that making him do manual labor was a perk of being his girlfriend.

Jade choked. We, um, we haven’t had that discussion, she said, trying to clear her throat.

I stopped rolling the carpet, stood up, and turned to face her. What? You’ve been dating for at least two months.

Yeah, I know. I think it’s official, but we haven’t actually gotten confirmation of that.

Humph, I blew out, going back to the rolling.

Angie snickered. You’re one to talk, Roni. You’re not even in a relationship. Just a weird flirting pattern with Liam.

I shrugged. He said he’s gonna stalk me before asking me out. He hasn’t really even done that. He probably realized it’d be a bad idea. I mean, he and Teddy have rekindled their friendship again, and if you recall, Teddy is a very protective older brother.

Oh right, didn’t he threaten Liam when we were in high school? Angie asked.

I felt my face getting hotter. Yeah, he did. And he made me stand there so he could address both of us.

Jellybean cackled, That boy is so intense.

Yeah, and I don’t know why he bothered doing it. I mean, I had a crush on Liam, but I doubt he returned the feelings. He was a junior and had all the girls’ volleyball team falling all over themselves for him.

That is oddly specific, Jade said, laughing.

She’s not lying. The volleyball team was in love with him, but it was just because he was a great spiker.

Oh, so he played too. That makes more sense. Did you play? Jade asked me.

I shook my head emphatically. Are you kidding? I’m lucky to walk across a room without falling on my face. PE was a living, torturous fire for me. I wouldn’t be caught dead on any kind of court.

Angie giggled. Roni spent most of her days in the library, doodling shoe designs. I was the one on the team.

Now that makes a lot more sense, Jellybean said, nodding.

Anyway, back to present Roni and Liam. Why don’t you make the first move and ask him out? Angie suggested, stepping to the end of the carpet flat.

In the wise words of my dear friend, ‘I don’t like rejection, I quipped, heading over to the bar and drinking down my water.

Doodle lifted his head from where he lay by the big cathedral-style windows to track my movements before laying his head back down and continuing his nap.

Jade laughed. If I remember correctly, my friend told me I should go for it anyway because he’d probably say yes.

"That was the gist of what I said, yes. But that was regarding you and Teddy,