Muses, Mishaps, and Murder! Full Novel.

Chapter 18 Even Charlotte Hated Quin

Muse Silver-Green

I waited for the others to speak.

"Charlotte isn't going to eat you and isn't a cultist." Holbrook guided Mason inside. "Don't be weird."

"She is on the suspect list for a reason," Mason said.

"Oh, I threatened to shave her head. Death threats are unimaginative and mean."

Holbrook and Mason entered the cargo bay of the living spaceship unaccompanied. A force field and straps secured their luggage.

Charlotte spoke through additional speakers. "Welcome on board. I hope you rescue those teens and find out who murdered Quin. I hated her for not paying for the 3D food printers required by law to be installed inside all living spaceships. She was a terrible employer. Her scam was that she wasn't the CEO of a corporation but a bunch of micro-charities to manipulate non-profit and small business exemptions with a tip payment and volunteer system."

"That isn't fully legal," Mason said.

"Nothing Quin did was legal. Just because a business is listed as a non-profit doesn't mean it's a true charity," Charlotte said. "I heard she robbed Kay, and that is why she hated Quin. She also helped cause an injury to one of her son's classmates, and she was furious about the lawsuits he caused when he went behind her back and lowered the safety regulations. He worked for her all through college. Even Quin wasn't dumb enough to do that."

Mason spoke. "I didn't realize that Rob's mother didn't like him."

"They were too much alike. She was cheap as well. Quin traveled inside me for a year, and she didn't pay me my full food allowance."

"I love your honesty," Mason said to Charlotte.

"Couldn't stand Quin. Vash was adorable, though, and I'm sad no one rescued her. If I stayed, she'd be alive." Charlotte sniffled.

"I noticed the lack of photos pre-surgery for her and Shanna," Mason said.

Charlotte snorted through sobs. "Nothing that poor girl did was good enough. Her mom mocked her weight and forced plastic surgery on her, which was paid for with stolen funds from her corporate orphanages and educational charities. Shanna and Dina were forced to go through perfection surgeries as well, but Quin owned the old king. Dina tried to escape with her children, but she was a victim of her mother."

"My files inform me that you sued Quin."

"No, Quin took me to court when I complained, but I won back pay and court fees. Afterward, she hired creepy shuttles." Charlotte moved through Zander's shuttle bay and out into space. "You'll need a harness if we're at top speed."

"This might seem off-topic, but my report says that you transported August Even-Core's body."

Charlotte spoke to Mason. "My documents state August has a connection to you. Yes, but I wasn't working for Quin then, but for her father-in-law as the royal ambulance. August passed away inside me. The Salamanders liked to marry into royal families."

"Could you tell me about his electrocution?" Mason asked.

Charlotte snorted, but it wasn't a laugh and more like an angry bull. "Another Quin whopper. He died of a fentanyl overdose."

"I wish I had a copy of the record," Mason said.

"Since he is dead, it's no longer private. I'll send it to your email."

Mason's phone buzzed, and he checked over the email and record. "Wow, you kept everything."

"I'm a data hoarder," Charlotte said.