Mistletoe & Hauntings Read online

  Mistletoe & Hauntings

  A Bohemian Lake Cozy Mystery

  Hexing Holidays in Bohemian Lake

  Hexing Holidays in Bohemian Lake Short Story Collection

  Mistletoe and Hauntings - Previously Published in 12 Cozy Mystery Carols of Christmas

  My Evil Valentines Elixir- Currently Available in Stirring Up Love and Mystery Anthology

  Rachael Stapleton

  ______________________________

  Copyright © 2019 Rachael Stapleton

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and events are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, places or events is coincidental.

  Bohemian Lake Series Sets by Rachael Stapleton:

  The Bohemian Lake cozy mystery series is a world comprised of three sets. Each set focuses on a different Bohemian resident (s), although all of the books intersect.

  A Penning Trouble Mystery Available on Amazon, B&N, Apple & Kobo.

  Murder, She Floats

  Murder, She Slopes

  Murder, Ye Bones

  Murder in the Catacombs

  Haunted House Flippers Inc. Available on Amazon, B&N, Apple & Kobo.

  Cookies, Corpses & the Deadly Haunt

  Candy Canes, Corpses & the Gothic Haunt

  Crumb Cake, Corpses & the Run-of-the-Mill

  Crème Eggs, Corpses & the Farmhouse Fixer

  Black Cats, Corpses & the Pumpkin Pantry Coming Soon 2020

  Bohemian Murder Manor Mysteries Available in Kindle Unlimited

  Gypsies, Traps & Missing Thieves

  Make-Believes & Lost Memories

  Ouija, Death & Wicked Witchery

  Ferris Wheels & Fortune Squeals Coming Soon 2020

  Bohemian Festival Fiasco Available in Kindle Unlimited

  Nuttier than Pecan Pie

  Skate or Die Coming Soon 2020

  Bookish Adventures in Witch-Lit

  Scandal & Gretel Available in Kindle Unlimited

  Hyde & Seek Available on Amazon, B&N, Apple & Kobo.

  Night of the Living Well-Read

  Hexing Holidays in Bohemian Lake (Anthology Shorts)

  Mistletoe and Hauntings - Previously Published in 12 Cozy Mystery Carols of Christmas

  My Evil Valentines Elixir- Currently Available in Stirring Up Love and Mystery

  Recommended Reading Order by Date Published:

  A Penning Trouble Mystery: Murder, She Floats

  Haunted House Flippers: Cookies, Corpses & the Deadly Haunt

  A Penning Trouble Mystery: Murder, She Slopes

  Haunted House Flippers: Candy Canes, Corpses & the Gothic Haunt

  Bohemian Murder Manor: Gypsies, Traps & Missing Thieves

  Bohemian Murder Manor: Make-Believes & Lost Memories

  Haunted House Flippers: Crumb Cake, Corpses & the Run-of-the-Mill

  A Penning Trouble Mystery: Murder, Ye Bones

  Bohemian Festival Fiasco: Nuttier than Pecan Pie

  Bohemian Murder Manor: Ouija, Death & Wicked Witchery

  Haunted House Flippers: Crème Eggs, Corpses & the Farmhouse Fixer

  Bookish Adventures in Witch-Lit: Scandal & Gretel

  Hexing Holidays in Bohemian Lake: Mistletoe and Hauntings

  Hexing Holidays in Bohemian Lake: My Evil Valentine Elixir (Currently Available in Stirring Up Love & Mystery Anthology)

  Bookish Adventures in Witch-Lit: Hyde & Seek

  A Penning Trouble Mystery: Murder in the Catacombs

  Read all about Rachael Stapleton and her books at RachaelStapleton.com

  Contents

  Mistletoe & Hauntings

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  One

  Two

  Three

  Mistletoe Cocktail

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Mistletoe & Hauntings

  Hexing Holidays in Bohemian Lake

  Oh, by gosh, by golly

  It's time for mistletoe and folly,

  Secrets from the past, are coming out fast,

  It’s a murder mystery with a big red bow.

  It’s time for Yule with all its ghostly trimmings and rumor has it that the town’s newest resident—a former Hollywood Director—is planning to put on a killer show.

  Mallory Vianu, Bohemian Lake’s resident clairvoyant, would rather be helping spirits cross over than mingling with the ghost of her boyfriend’s past at the Mistletoe Ball, and she just may get her Christmas wish because Kaden’s past is not the only one haunting them tonight. ‘Tis the season for murder.

  Gifted fortune teller, Nana Vianu warns her granddaughter, Mallory that she will be visited by three ghosts: past, present and—unless she prevents it— future.

  But prevent it she does not. Someone has poisoned a good time, and now the Christmas ball has turned into a murder investigation and two of her friends are the prime suspects. Mallory must attempt a Christmas miracle in order to wrap up this poisonous tale.

  Let the festive haunting begin!

  One

  T he streets were decked, the bows were hung on the old-fashioned streetlights and Mallory was stirring her candy cane coffee while staring out the Elizabethan shop window of Peace & Light. Such a glorious sight to behold—Bohemian Lake at Christmas time. Well, anytime really, but especially during the winter holiday with the storefronts’ contrasting mix of colorful vintage bulbs and twinkling fairy lights.

  “Malhala!” Nana slapped her leather gloves onto the counter and picked up one of the herbal tonics from the shelf, her tone sharp and dangerous. Malhala was Mallory’s Roma name, which Nana only used when she meant business, such as now. “What do you mean you’re not going to the Under the Mistletoe Ball tonight? It’s Yule! The longest night of the year… celebrated by witches all over the world.”

  Mallory pulled her gaze away from the snowflakes that swirled through the air and bent to pet Nana’s little white Shih Tzu. “Nana, we’re not witches. We’re Roma.”

  “Pish!” The older Vianu, dressed in red from head to toe, waved her hand like she was directing traffic. To anyone who didn’t know her, she looked like an adorably sweet little old lady; however, Nana, as everyone in their small town of Bohemian Lake called her, descended from a powerful line of Roma people, and was not to be trifled with. “Same thing. Isn’t it, Star?”

  Abby barked in agreement. Traitor! She always took Nana’s side.

  Star St. James, the white witch who owned and ran the new-age shop, smirked from behind the counter where she was draping fresh garland. “I know how you feel, Mal. I don’t want to go either but there’s no need to be an Ebenezer about it. Just wear this,” she said, and handed Mal a pink crystal-beaded bracelet. Mallory knew crystals were supposed to help with an assortment of issues including nerves. Star was always recommending them. So much so, that Eve Banter had taken to calling her the crystal pusher which of course had a whole other meaning.

  “So, why don’t you want to go?” Mallory asked.

  “Caspar Holly,” Star rolled her eyes in disgust as she pulled bunches of mistletoe from a crate. “That ridiculous over-the-top man.”

  “Caspar? The Hollywood director who bought the old Salazar place?” Mallory questioned.

&n
bsp; “I knew him from my time in California.”

  “Is he the one insisting on a plant-based menu for the ball? If so, I don’t like him either,” Nana grumbled and then crossed her arms, “…try to tell me what to eat. Harrumph.”

  Star and Mallory both chuckled. “You know, he had the audacity to come to me for a healing tea. I treated him at first but this last time I told him to see the new witch—”

  “Sera Popescu?” Mal asked, cutting her off. “Why would you send him to her?” Sera had come to town for Caravan Manor’s Hexfest event and stayed put. She lived in the Witch House on Old Salem Road and Mallory and she were becoming fast friends. If he’d been to see Sera then Mallory was surprised her new friend hadn’t mentioned it. Mind you, she was getting ready for another one of Nelle’s Literary Tours so her plate was full.

  “Not Sera, the one she works for—Nelle Storey—I hear she’s running potions out of the bookshop in addition to the esoteric book themed tours.”

  “Nelle’s got her fingers in all the pies now, huh?” Nana goaded. “That must bother you. Nobody likes competition?”

  “Don’t be silly. Bohemian Lake is more than big enough for both of us besides her shop runs more to the occult, and you know, I’m all about white magic.”

  Mallory laughed to herself as she watched Nana roll her eyes. She was always looking for a good fight and trying to work Star up was like trying to rile up Gandhi.

  “Anyway, I told Caspar to either go see Nelle before she left for London or to have Pike brew the last of the herb mixture at the Café. Pike knows what she’s doing, and she seems to like him well enough. No more tea from me.”

  “What’s wrong with Caspar?”

  She separated the mistletoe into several bunches and tied twine around the bottoms. “I really shouldn’t say—his illness isn’t public knowledge. I felt sorry for him at first but he’s still a sleezeball. Tannen Spriggs was in here making a delivery last Saturday and said he caught Caspar hitting on one of the part-time girls at the tree farm. Apparently, he’s been getting quite chummy with Meg Patone as well. The man is still working that casting couch. So gross.”

  “Oh, no!” Nana whirled on Mallory. “He’s directing this year’s Christmas play, isn’t Meg in that?”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Star interjected. “Eve knows all about his reputation and she’s got him on a tight leash. If anyone can drive that man away, it’s her.”

  “That’s true. Eve is an expert at driving men away.” Nana chuckled at her own joke.

  Mallory shook her head. She’d met Caspar several times and thought he seemed nice. He’d bought the old Salazar Mansion from Axl and Meg right after their uncle died but he’d only moved in last month. She heard he’d lived in Bohemian Lake twenty-five years ago before moving to California with a buddy. Apparently, a local girl chased after him. A bit of a scandal or something at the time because she was about to get married but that was before Mal was born and she’d never heard anything about a casting couch.

  “Well, I’m glad to hear you’re still going to the ball even though it’s at his house, Star. That takes gumption,” Nana replied. “You both know how important Yule is to us.” Nana lowered her voice as if the herbs and crystals in the shop could hear them. “And you, Malhala… well, you have a duty to use your gifts, young lady.”

  Mallory sighed and swirled the liquid around in her mug before taking another pull, regretting that she hadn’t thought to add peppermint schnapps to it. She’d heard this lecture before. She was a gifted Roma woman who could communicate with the dead—even the ethereal orbs. And she had an edge because she was a human lie detector with finding abilities. Put this together and you had someone who could help the stranded passengers of Bohemian Lake cross over by resolving the issues that tethered them. This wasn’t her first rodeo and there’d soon be more notches on her belt because Yule was the most haunted time of the year—next to Samhain, of course. Which explained why there were so many Christmas ghost stories.

  “I’m sorry, Nana, but I just cannot deal with the ball on top of all the stranded souls.

  “Bull! This is about avoiding Kaden’s ex.”

  “Of course, it’s about avoiding Kaden’s ex. I dropped the divorce papers off to her, myself since she’s been ignoring Kaden for years. Do you think she’ll sign them? Noooo,” Mallory retorted.

  Star placed a red-and-green apron over her white knit dress and slowly toyed with her platinum fishtail braid like she was deep in thought. “Perhaps I could make you a courage tonic, Mal, or...” she motioned to the old table in the corner of her shop where the Vianu ladies gave her customer’s readings and snapped her fingers. The candle came to life, throwing shadows on the walls. “I know! Nana, why don’t you read Mal’s cards?”

  “No!” Mal said.

  Nana paused before walking to the table where her crystal ball sat. She closed her eyes and hummed. “Hmm. Maybe you’re right, Star. It seems the ghost of past, present and future will visit tonight… at eleven bells. Under the mistletoe and then nineteen minutes later—”

  “Stop!”

  “But you must know this. If you help the past and present move on, then you can prevent the future—”

  I don’t want my fortune told.”

  “Malhala,” Nana’s voice softened with reason, “Stop being so stubborn. You have bigger things to worry about.”

  “I do?” Mallory questioned as she scooped up a jar of peppermint-infused comfrey oil.

  “You do!” Nana’s tone brooked no argument. After removing the stopper from a green bottle, she gave it a little sniff and cringed. “Perfect potency, Star dear.”

  Star smiled and nodded.

  “Besides, Donna will not be a problem forever,” Nana said, tapping her crystal-tipped fingernails against the bottle. “She might be Kaden’s past but you are his future, and we Vianus do not roll over.”

  Boy, did Mallory know that. Nana had been drumming that into her head forever. Rolling over sounded nice though—preferably in her soft down-filled bed where Mallory could ignore the fact that her boyfriend’s estranged wife had surprised them by showing up in Bohemian Lake. Despite the fact that they’d been separated for years, she still refused to grant him a divorce.

  “Do you have any Yew to go with this?” Nana asked Star, pulling Mal out of her pouty thoughts.

  “Yew?” Mallory questioned. “Nana, that’s poisonous. We can’t poison Donna; although I like where your head is at.”

  “I know that, thank you Captain Obvious. If I were going to poison her, I’d use Belladonna,” she scolded. She turned back to Star. “Well?”

  “Sorry. I’m all out. I do have some leftover mistletoe that I got from the farm for a medicinal tea. I won’t be needing it anymore. It’s under the counter next to the astral charts. It can, of course, be poisonous.”

  “I don’t need poison, you knuckleheads! I need the bark for treating rheumatism.”

  “Oh, well check with Nelle at Gas Lamp Literary. Like I said, she’s catering to witches now and I hear there’s a potions counter.”

  Mallory distanced herself from the conversation, thinking about everything she had left to do. There was the Reindeer Games this afternoon out at the Spriggs Tree Farm, and now this evening’s Mistletoe Ball and of course—because Bohemian Lake was the most dramatic place on Earth—the annual Christmas day production of A Christmas Carol run by the head of the Bohemian Festival Committee, Eve Banter. Mallory sighed, mentally adding find a ballgown to her list. Thank goodness, she’d finished her Christmas shopping last week.

  Two

  T he Spriggs’ Tree Farm smelled of freshly fallen snow and pine resin and instantly boosted Mallory’s mood as she exited the lot and wandered the rows of the Spruce section into the Balsam Firs area. Between the smells and the colorful lights, the place was a playground for the senses.

  The sound of Christmas carols mingled with the chatter of the tree farm’s customers and she spied three of her friends, Penny Trubbl
e, Juniper Young and Eve Banter. Lulu couldn’t be far. No self-respecting local would miss the annual reindeer games.

  There was a loud roar as Tannen, the owner’s son, drove by on a bright blue Polaris snowmobile. Tannen was almost fifty and surprisingly still a bachelor. Mallory got the vibe that Tannen suffered from a long-term broken heart. She turned and watched him go, thinking he was driving a little fast for a family day at the farm. He was a decent looking man and nice enough so it was kind of a mystery as to why he’d never settled. She’d have to ask Eve if she’d ever dated him. Eve likened men to wine and claimed to be a fan of all regions—especially the nether regions. That was a direct quote.

  “Hey Mal! Over here,” Penny shouted and licked whipped cream from her lips.

  Mallory looked enviously at the pink-and-yellow striped paper cup in her gloved hands. She could smell the peppermint from here. “Anyone seen Lulu?” Mallory asked, pulling the slouchy knit hat a little lower on her head so it covered her earlobes.

  Eve squinted. “Now, why would you need to see her?”

  “I need a dress.”

  Eve elbowed Penny and hooted with laughter. “You owe me a twenty, girl.”

  Penny shot her a dirty look. “I didn’t bet you, Eve, and if I had, it would have been a five.”

  “Whatever. Sore loser. You still owe me.”

  Penny huffed, “I thought you weren’t going to the ball, Mal. What happened?”

  “Nana Vianu is what happened?” Eve interjected. “Isn’t it, Mal? My goodness, I’m practically Jessica Jones now that I run the Private Eye. I just solve every mystery.”

  Penny glared, “You do not run the Private Eye. I do.”

  “No, your father does and I’m his girlfriend which means I run it.”

  “Actually, my father owns it and I run it. You work for us.”

  “Tomayto, tomahto,” Eve said with a wink. “Anyway, as I was saying before Red, here, rudely interrupted: Nana Vianu is a snowplow. She always gets through.”