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“MAYBE THE MOTIVE WASN’T greed or jealousy. Maybe it was something else.” Dana sat with Katie in the kitchen at the Victorian. Truffles was swinging her tail back and forth listening to their conversation as she sat propped up on the table.
“What do you think it could be then?”
“I don’t know. But...” Dana didn’t feel good about telling Katie just yet about the strange “feelings” that she often got when something wasn’t right or when something resonated with her. But she could feel Truffles energy. And it told her that she was on the right track.
“What is it?” Katie probed.
“I think there’s something way more serious.”
“Such as? Dana are you holding back on me?”
Dana didn’t know how to tell Katie this. After all it was gossip, right? But then Bea told the cops what the care worker had said. Did the care worker tell the cops, too?
“Yes. I think fear might be the motive here. I just don’t know why but trust me on this one.”
Katie shrugged. She then sighed and placed her cup down on the table. “Okay, Sherlock. Who do you think had enough fear to take out both of Uncle Max’s wives? Do you think Karla was trying to get rid of his secretary? Are we back to that square again?”
“That’s a possibility. Darlene didn’t seem too fond of her boss’s wife and the wife had a lot of say in the company. I’m going to figure that one out soon.”
“Dana, I know you’re not telling me something.”
“Well, yes. I was at the salon this morning to deliver the cupcakes to Bea.”
“And?”
“And she told me that one of her clients worked as a caregiver and did a home visit to see Aunt Mary at Uncle Max’s house.”
“What did she say?”
“Well, that they had a serious argument and she accused his wife of seeing a guy named Chester.”
“Chester?” Katie looked puzzled. Dana could see the wheels turning in Katie’s head. “Chester. Chester. Now why does that name sound familiar?”
Truffles hissed at the sound of Chester’s name. Dana and Katie exchanged glances.
“Hmm, that’s interesting.” She turned her attention back to Katie. “Do you know of any Chesters around here?”
“Wait a minute.”
“What?”
“Echo’s real name is Echo Chester.”
“Oh, crap! So she was seeing Echo then.”
Dana got up from the table.
Truffles followed suit and climbed off the table.
“Where are you headed?” Katie asked Dana
“Oh, I’m going to pay Echo a visit. Then I’m heading over to the nursing home. Aunt Mary can’t find her spare pair of glasses. We don’t know where they are. She must have left them there when she went there for those few days when Uncle Max was arrested.”
“Do you want some company?”
“I’m good, thanks cuz. You can just watch things at the café. I’ll be fine.”
Dana felt lost. She felt more further from the truth than before. If Uncle Max was convicted of the murders, then he’s as good as gone as so was Aunt Mary.
Which meant, so was the whole family. Uncle Merv and Aunt Nia were in no position to care for Aunt Mary and not only that, it won’t look very good if her uncle was convicted of murder, right after she’d been suspected of murder herself. The reputation of the Cozy Cupcakes Café would be forever tarnished, not to mention lives ruined if this ever went sour.
Dana felt as if the wind was knocked out of her. What would she do? How would she cope? She really thought she had some magical psychic powers that could make a real difference in the lives of those around her.
So much for that.
“Here you go, sweetie,” Dana said as she lowered a bowl of delicious Meow Mix for Truffles.
The kitty meowed and purred delightfully.
Dana looked over her notes while Truffles sat next to her devouring her snack.
“So, there’s Darlene, the secretary who seems to be hiding something. Check.” Dana felt more disillusioned than ever before. Sure, Darlene was a prime suspect, but her vibes were telling her she was colder than an ice-cream smoothie right out of the freezer.
Besides, Truffles didn’t seem too bothered with Darlene. She didn’t hiss or anything. Only at the Heparin thingy the other night.
Truffles did, however, hiss around Dr. Cromwell, Aunt Mary’s physician. But he couldn’t’ have possibly had anything to do with the murder, could he? Dana spun it over in her mind, like a gazillion times.
Dana then continued her notes out loud. “Then, we have that crazy ex of Uncle Max’s wife.”
Truffles continued to purr sweetly, enjoying her meal, wagging her fluffy tail from side to side.
Dana sighed deeply. “Well, I give up. Maybe, we won’t ever solve this case, Truffs. I’m going to be leaving you right now. I’m heading over to see Echo then I’m going to the Oxbridge Nursing Home. Be right back soon, okay?”
Truffles paused from eating and stared blankly at Dana.
“What is it, sweetie? I won’t be too long now.”
Truffles then arched her back and hissed loudly.
“What? Sweetie, what is it?”
“The nursing home?”
Again Truffles hissed.
“Oh, sweetie,” Dana said as she scooped the little furry kitty in her arms and brushed her cheek against hers, stroking her behind her ears. “I wish I could speak your language. I won’t be too long, I prom...”
Dana froze.
She then immediately turned Truffles toward her and looked her straight in her lovely saucer dark eyes. There was a sparkle of light there. Something strange came over Dana.
Yep, there sure was something there.
“You know Truffles, we make a good team. I had some suspicions but now, I think I know which direction to follow for sure. How could I not have known?”
Dana then plopped Truffles on the sofa beside her and picked up Mac baby, her other bestie. She then opened up the smooth aluminum laptop and re-read her notes. “Motive. There had to be a strong motive. I think I overlooked the obvious, Truffles. I think I need to rewrite this whole list. And then I’m going to head over to the nursing home to get Aunt Mary’s favorite pair of glasses and some more answers.”