“It looks like you just had dinner,” she said when she came into the room.
I hadn’t put away my leftovers yet. “Yeah. I met up with Nick in the lounge.”
Lindsay’s eyes widened. “I’m surprised he talked to you. Val’s sent me on a few goodwill missions to him, and they all backfired spectacularly.”
“He’s pretty angry.” Couldn’t say I blamed him, even though I was still digesting his conspiracy theories. “Did anyone keep a sample of the soup that he made for Diana?”
“Possibly. If I didn’t work with Diana directly, I wouldn’t have any idea what was going on with the investigation.”
It could be because she was a suspect or because someone was trying to cover something up…
“How’s Diana?”
Lindsay took a seat on my couch, and Persephone jumped up to sit next to her.
“No change. She’s still unconscious.”
“Do you think it’s a relapse, or could someone have tampered with her food again?”
Lindsay’s eyes widened as she pulled the two boxes out of the bakery bag. “How? She’s in the hospital.”
“Is she able to have visitors?”
“Her husband and daughter flew in to be with her. I’ve been there a couple of times. It’s hard to see her like that. She’s usually so strong, and now, she’s helpless.”
“Did any of the nurses seem overly eager to work with a celebrity? Or have any familiarity with someone associated with the show?” I asked.
She handed me my donut. The top was missing the bite I took this morning, but otherwise, it had stayed intact. My feelings were going to taste delicious.
“If you can’t trust a nurse, who can you trust?” Lindsay’s gaze was far away. Lindsay reached for Persephone, like it was automatic, and rubbed her head. “I must be the most naïve person on the crew. But I trust authority figures. I trust you, too.”
She was young—probably close in age to Brooke and Casey—but she seemed like she’d been much more shielded than my friends. To be honest, I saw a little of me in her.
“I give people the benefit of the doubt, too,” I said just before I took a bite of my donut. Oh, this was good. Like I’d be craving this for months after this trip ended delicious. “I try to see the good in everyone. But once I started working at the shelter, I had to listen to my gut and speak up, even when it was uncomfortable. Especially when it was uncomfortable. Lives are on the line.”
“I’m telling you everything, Addie.” Maybe she wasn’t as naïve as I thought she was. It was no secret she was a suspect. “The nurses wouldn’t hurt Diana. Things seemed like they were getting better when I stopped by last night. She was really excited about meeting you.”
“I’m excited to meet her, too. And I hope she’ll be feeling well enough to chat with me soon.” But right now, that seemed like a pipe dream. “Was any headway made with scheduling time with the rest of the crew?”
“It didn’t get talked about again once you left,” Lindsay confessed between bites of her donut. She had powdered sugar on her face, but I’d let her enjoy her treat before I told her. The poor thing needed a little joy in her life.
“How can we make that happen? Because until I can convince Chloe to chat with Persephone, I’m at a standstill in this case, and whatever information she gives us is meaningless unless we have a human connection.”
“Diana was always the one to make things happen.”
“How would that meeting have been different if she was there?”
Lindsay tipped her head, and a genuine smile broke out on her face. “She would’ve made sure you had everything you needed to solve the case. That’s why I came to talk to you.”
“The pieces are starting to come together, between the meeting and my dinner with Nick.” That was an exaggeration, but there were pieces. “But if we can’t talk to Chloe, we might come to the same dead end the police did. Unless you have new information?”
Lindsay’s eyes widened, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“No. I…I wish I did. Diana’s got a reputation for being demanding. It’s well earned. Her restaurants are among the best in the country. She says she’ll work harder than everyone, and she expects that of her team, too.”
“Have you been working harder than everyone else?”
She steeled herself. “I like to think so. Diana is my idol, and my future is on the line, too.”
“So you’re here to tell me I’m not working hard enough.”
“You’re too nice, Addie. Val and the judges will run right over you if you let them. You have to be firm with them and tell them exactly what you want.”
“I thought I did.”
“They don’t want to help you,” she said. “That’s why Val wanted you out of the meeting. She told them not to talk to you. That Persephone should be able to figure it out without their help.”
“Thank you.” Wow. I was concerned with a little powdered sugar on Lindsay’s face, and here I was with tire tracks on my back. “But you’re still willing to help me.”
She nodded.
“You could lose your job for this.” If Diana didn’t make it, Lindsay’s only business reference would be the production crew she defied.
“I want justice for Diana. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get it.”
I was, too, and that meant no more nice Addie. “I need credentials so I don’t get escorted off set again by security. And I need to talk to as many people as who are willing to meet with me.”
“I’ll see what I can do. Some people are loyal to Val, but a lot of people on this crew love Sig and Diana, and they want answers too.”
“What about Kenzie?” She’d been open and helpful after that meeting.
Lindsay hesitated. “She’s starting to see that her loyalty to Val might not work in her favor.”
“She told me no one liked Sig.”
“Sig was like that awkward uncle that made you cringe a little bit, but he wanted the best for all of us. He loved telling stories about how the industry used to be. No one wanted him dead.” Lindsay’s eyes got glassy. She had definitely been fond of him. “And he had connections, too. He had the power to make or break anyone on this show.”
I had a bad habit of sleeping with my phone next to my pillow. At least when I was on a case, I put it on silent. That was a luxury I couldn’t afford when I was working at the shelter. But I still checked it first thing in the morning, hoping for word about Diana’s recovery.
Or word from Lindsay about our impending investigation revolution.
Instead, there was a photo from Brooke.
Bleary eyed, I opened the picture wide. It was her hand on Barkley’s back. He was wearing the sweater I gave him before I left, with a dog pattern alternating with the word bark. That was enough to start this morning off on the right foot, but when I looked closer, I saw the real reason for the photo.
Wait. Is that a ring on your finger?
Oh this little thing? She punctuated with a row of heart eyes emojis. Jason popped the question last night when we were out on our favorite walk. I said yes.
My eyes welled over with so many feelings. This is amazing. I’m so happy for you.
If it wasn’t for you, we would’ve never met. Will you be my maid of honor?
Wow. I would’ve thought she’d ask Casey. I was so honored. But.
I don’t know anything about weddings.
Neither do I. We’ll do it Helping Paws style.
I took Brooke’s announcement as an omen that things were about to change for the better on this case. Yesterday had been a whirlwind on so many levels, and I needed to get my thoughts in order and start executing a plan that didn’t involve the production staff accommodating my requests.
There was a chance that Lindsay was setting me up to fail, so I had to proceed with caution.
Getting out of the hotel would do wonders to clear my head. I turned to Persephone, who was not a morning cat. She didn’t complain when we started our day early, but given a choice, she’d sleep in every time. “What do you think about an adventure?”
Big yawn. “Aren’t we on one now?”
I liked her perspective. “An adventure to someplace besides the inside of the TV,” I clarified.
“Sure.” She strode over to me. “We’re getting breakfast, right?”
“Yes. And so much coffee. It’s too bad you can’t drink it, because I think you’d be a big fan.”
Her face was right in mine. “Does it taste like fish? It doesn’t smell like it.”
“No.” I laughed. “It tastes like opportunity.”