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DANA HAD A TALK WITH Katie again at the Victorian about the case the next day.
“So what on earth could they have been talking about?”
“I have no clue and it seems as if Troy was really annoyed that I’d interrupted them. Evan was apologetic though. I mean, you should have seen his cute face. But I haven’t heard back from him. He canceled our next meeting until later. He said he got stuck with some last minute stuff.”
“I’ll bet. Ten dollars says Troy gave him some last minute stuff to do to make sure he kept his distance from you.”
Dana shrugged. “It’s no big deal really. Maybe they really do suspect me and there would be a conflict of interest. Which brings me to another situation. I really hope they don’t try to pin this one on me. It’s nice to have someone on the inside who’s on your side.”
“I hear you. Do you think you should let Evan at least know about your suspicions about his partner?”
“I don’t know, Katie. I think that would be like skating on thin ice. As much as I adore Evan. I just don’t want to push it. I mean, he might just go ahead and confront Troy.”
“What would be so bad about that?”
“Well everything, for starters. Then Troy would really want to get at me. Then what would I do? What if he attacks Evan, too? Evan doesn’t have as much seniority as Troy. He’s only part time, too. Troy is full time. I don’t want to jeopardize his job. Especially with small suspicions.”
Dana realized, according to her calculations, that it was not going to be an easy investigation on her part. Yet, she frowned thinking of how much further away she was at getting at the real killer.
As if reading her mind, Katie asked, “So what did you and Mac come up with then?”
“Well, for starters, Mike does have strong motive.”
“But so does Bianca and her mother?”
“True. And I also wonder what kind of dark secret Brad had over them?”
“Hmm. That is a crazy thought. I wonder about that, too.”
Just then Truffles strutted by the dining room, swaying her bushy tail from side to side as if nonchalant. She climbed up on the sofa next to Dana and started purring. At least she wasn’t hissing, Dana knew that Truffles had some good intuition for danger and would always hiss her way into Dana’s lap if there was something she should know. So this was a good sign after all.
As Dana placed her laptop on her lap she looked over some items with Truffles cuddled up by her on the quilt blanket on the sofa. They all sat by the fire enjoying the crackling sound coming from the stone fireplace.
“So, let me see here.” Dana scrolled her mouse down the screen. “We have Mike, Bianca, Mrs. Baxter, Phil, the pharmacist. Troy.”
“Troy?”
“Okay, so no, it can’t be a cop, but...he is acting kind of suspicious.”
“Do you think he had a girlfriend or sister that was dumped by Brad, too?”
“Who knows, Katie? Who knows? Trouble is, I feel as if I’m further away from the truth than before.”
Dana blew out of a puff of air, her bangs lifted off her face. “I just wish I can clear this up so this is not hanging over the Cozy Cupcakes Café like a dark cloud on an otherwise summer day. It’s awful. Did you know that a few teenagers came by the café today?”
“Oh, that lot.”
“Right. And they seemed so enthusiastic at first, taking selfies and snap shots of themselves outside. And Inga said she overheard them calling it the Killer Cupcakes Café.”
“Oh, no. That’s terrible!” Katie pouted.
“Exactly. We really need to...”
Just then Truffles whipped out of Dana’s hug and pounced on the keyboard. Her tiny little paws dance tapping away. Clearing everything off.
“Oh, no. Truffles, no!” Dana reached over to hug her little fury friend and gently moved her away from the computer but it was too late. Most of the stuff she’d typed had been deleted, probably just before the auto save kicked in.
“Oh, great! I guess I’m going to have to re-enter everything into the computer again.”
Truffles seemed to purr with satisfaction.
Dana shook her head and grinned. “Okay, little one. I guess you’re trying to tell me that I need to spend little time away from the...” Dana stopped mid sentence and stared at the laptop screen which was almost blank saved for a few letters.
“What is it?” Katie asked, anxiously.
“I think I know who killed Brad.”