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DANA GASPED.
There was something next to Mr. Renaldo’s right hand that was unmistakable. Her spine tingled uncontrollably.
A chocolate cream cupcake with the famous Cozy Cupcakes Café bright pink logo on the wrapper that read: Have a sweet day!
Waves of despair washed over Dana.
Have a sweet day? Yeah, right. Oy, yoy, yoy! Talk about irony.
There certainly wasn’t anything sweet about this day.
What was she going to do? What was she going to say? The creamy chocolate cupcake with a honey dipped strawberry on the side looked as if it had already been half eaten. There it was at his fingertips on the floor beside his body.
Dana’s heart thumped erratically. Her pulse leaped in her chest. Her body felt numb.
“Dana, be calm. Just call the police. Everything’s going to be okay,” she whispered to herself calmly, her breathing shallow and rushed.
Be calm? In her dreams. This was a nightmare!
Poor Mr. Renaldo. And poor bride to be. Poor Dana. There certainly were a lot of poor people around in this rich mansion right now.
Wait a minute. She had to alert George. Or Molly. They were working there. They should call the police, right? Not Dana. It’s not her house. Then again, neither was it theirs.
Where on earth was the family? Wasn’t there an engagement party that should be started soon? It was already noon. Why was the house so quiet? Wasn’t everybody up yet?
A scream erupted behind Dana, startling her.
“What happened? What have you done?” Molly came running into the back kitchen.
“I...I just saw him there. I...”
“He’s dead!”
“I...I know. I just saw him...I...” Oh, no. This was not looking good. Not at all. What was she to do?
Soon after, George, the butler came in.
“Oh, no. Master Renaldo. He leaned down beside the body. Oh, dear.” George’s voice was raised an octave. His thick British accent even more prominent. He sounded more like C3PO from Star Wars.
Just then there was a loud knock from the brass door knocker that sounded from the front door, which could be heard from the kitchen.
“The police are probably here now,” George said, getting up quickly.
“Oh, you called the police already?” Dana asked, incredulously.
“Yes.” He hesitated for a moment. “When I heard Molly scream.”
“Oh.” But Molly must have screamed only moments ago. That was fast. Did the rich and powerful Renaldos have officers camped outside their gate twenty-four seven around the clock?
Dana sure didn’t think so. But then again what did she know about how the other half lived? Surely, they must have just been in the area when he called. Maybe Master...or Mr. Renaldo hired them for his engagement party this afternoon. Yes, that would make more sense.
* * *
MOMENTS LATER, DANA heard footsteps, the hard heels of authoritative figures marching on the marble floor toward the kitchen.
Soon after, a few officers appeared. But Dana’s heart leaped when she saw a familiar handsome face. A tall muscular gentleman with broad shoulders in a dark unbuttoned blazer and tie. A sexy groomed stubble on his chin and deep, rich ocean-blue eyes framed by long dark lashes and a chiseled high cheek bone.
Detective Troy Anders.
For some strange reason waves of excitement washed over Dana knowing that her buddy, well, sort of buddy, was on the case.
Dana felt her breath stop. Her heart fluttered in her chest.
Gosh, he was so stunning and breathtaking in every way.
Stop that, Dana. He’s here on serious police business, remember? Besides, you’re not into relationships right now, right? Not after what Ramone did to you behind your back with your own best friend and now they’re happily married, or whatever.
Dana drew a deep breath and catapulted right back into reality when sexy Troy Anders called her name.
“Dana?”
“You know her?” Molly said to Troy.
“We’ve met.” His voice was firm and had an indescribable tone to it.
“Hi Troy.”
“What are you doing here?” he said, going over to the body. His men were already hovering over the body and the crime scene.
“I...I was catering. I am catering...was catering.” Okay, stop being a bumbling fool, Dana. You’re better than that.
Why, oh, why was she always nervous around this hot-looking guy? He’s just a guy, right?
“I see,” Troy answered, coolly. “Dust for prints,” he said, turning to a guy with some special equipment.
A forensic photographer was busy taking snap shots of the crime scene and of the body.
“Can you tell me what happened here, Ma’am?” Troy said to Molly.
Molly then went into details about the events that led to her finding Mr. Renaldo sprawled out by the fridge, stiff as her ironing board, she’d told him.
“That must mean, he’s been dead a while,” Troy observed the body. He carefully touched old man Renaldo’s cheek. “He’s cold.”
“Told you. He’s as cold as the ice cream in the pantry freezer.”
Troy looked up at Molly with a look of disbelief, probably of her casualness about the situation.
“Yes, he is cold,” Troy agreed. “And when was the last time you saw him alive, Miss...?” he said as he got up and took out his notepad and pen.
“Molly. Molly Avacardo. I’m the head maid here,” she emphasized.
Dana looked on in disbelief at the situation that was transpiring before her very eyes, her arms folded across her chest herself. This was so not how she had her day planned out. But then neither was it the day Mr. Renaldo had planned out, was it? He was supposed to be having a party later this afternoon.
Still, as she stood there in the grand kitchen, she was ashamed to admit that she could inhale the sweet scent of Troy’s aftershave and it was oddly calming. Soothing.
Stop that, Dana. Focus. This is not looking good, remember? Mr. Renaldo is dead and your famous chocolate cream cupcake is in the picture, too.
She couldn’t wait for Troy to interview her soon. She’d tell him her side of the story.
“Detective,” a man in a suit said. He picked up the delicious half eaten chocolate cream cupcake that was by the body. “Look at this, sir. It looks as if he’d been eating it when he died.”
Dana felt a chill of guilt slide over her.
Oh, no. He was eating it when he died, wasn’t he?