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THE NEXT DAY, DANA took Truffles out for a walk in her kitty stroller. Of course most of the people in the town knew that Dana liked to take Truffles out for fresh air, but there would be the occasional onlooker who would make their funny remark.
“Why don’t you get a real kid?” or “Hey, cats don’t go for walks, silly woman.” But Dana would ignore them of course and shrug it off. Besides, it gave her a chance to inhale some of the sweet country air. As she walked through the town square, she noticed some construction workers working on the roadside. The loud drilling sound almost frightened poor Truffles and she hissed.
“Oh, it’s okay sweetie, we’re going to cross through the Town’s Square and go to the park,” she soothed her kitty.
She bumped into Kerry on her way out of the courtyard. As usual Kerry had a stack of books in her hand. Always the book nerd. She noticed Kerry had her ears covered with earmuffs.
“Are you all right?” Dana asked
“Yes, I’m good. The loud noises really creep me out. I’m so sensitive to loud sounds.”
“I hear you. So is Truffles. She hates it.”
Katie reached into her handbag and pulled out a pair of earmuffs. “Here, maybe these will help her. I always keep a spear. Call me square.” She grinned.
“Oh, Kerry. That’s so sweet of you.”
“No worries.”
Dana placed the muffs over Truffles ears making sure there were loose enough. Truffles purred with delight.
“Thanks again, Kerry.”
“Hey, no worries.”
“You know. Now that you’re here, I wanted to ask you some questions about....Lichelle.”
“Sure. Fire away.”
“Have you ever seen Lichelle’s brother Thomas around the apartment?”
Kerry thought for a moment, as the two walked pass the Town Square. “You know something, I did see him there once. You think he might have had something to do with Lichelle’s death? Why would he kill his own sister?”
“That’s just it. He has a strong motive.”
“Well, after she died, he was in her apartment.”
“He was?” Dana’s heart jumped. “But how on earth did he get the key? Wasn’t there caution tape around there?”
Kerry shrugged. “I think he went to Mr. Terrence and told him that he was family or something and the landlord let him in. I mean the guy does look as if he could be her twin.”
“Right, of course.”
Dana thought for a moment. So the landlord let Thomas in. But why? To search for what? Or to remove what? Dana’s mind spun with all sorts of scenarios. This was a complicated puzzle and one that Dana had to solve. There wasn’t a puzzle she couldn’t or didn’t solve. Call it the OCD in her. But she had to get down to the bottom of this, especially because the murderer was trying to drag her through this and the reputation of her Grandma’s Cozy Cupcakes Café. The last thing they needed was to be tied to another murder.
“If you ask me those two guys seem kind of creepy,” Kerry told Dana.
“How so?”
“I don’t know. I was home resting in bed and I heard the two men’s voices. Lots of shuffling and moving sounds going on up there.”
Dana’s heart pounded in her chest. Did Troy know about this? They could have been destroying evidence. Maybe Thomas and Mr. Terrence were in this together for the money!
Dana narrowed her eyes. “Thanks, Kerry. I’m...I’m going to speak to a friend of mine.” That would be Troy.
“Hey, no worries. Anytime. By the way, my workmates loved your Vanilla Cream Cupcakes. I brought a few in this week. We’re going to order a case more for an upcoming office meeting. Just giving you the heads up.”
“Great. Just let Katie know at the café. I’ll be sure to get the order ready in time.”
Kerry smiled and was off with her head in her textbook.
Dana couldn’t wait to meet Troy again. He was usually on the trail at this time of the morning doing his usual runs. Would she run into him again? She sure hoped so.
Before she could blink, there he was jogging with his dog as he made his way on the trail.
Dana realized they were far from the noisy sound of the Town Square now and removed the earmuffs from Truffles’ ears. She would return them to Kerry later.
“Dana. Good to see you this morning. How are you doing? Did you get enough sleep?”
“Oh, I’m good now, thanks.” Especially after seeing his hot muscular body in a T-shirt and jogging pants. She tried hard not to flush. He looked irresistible as always. “Troy, I need to ask you a favor.”
“Sure, what is it?” he said, jogging on the spot. “Hey Truffs,” he turned to Truffles briefly.
The feline purred her approval. She really liked Troy. At least Truffles wasn’t hissing again. It must have meant that she was hissing at something else the other night. But what or whom was her reaction directed to?
“When you go back to the Maison to Lichelle’s apartment, can I...um...well, be there?” Dana asked politely.
Troy frowned. “Dana, you know that’s a crime scene.”
“I know, Troy, but you said so yourself, I always help you out with extra insight. I mean you have no trouble using psychics at the scenes of crimes?” Dana was hoping to bring Truffles along too—her little secret psychic kitty.
“I’ll check with my superiors but I’m warning you...” he said nicely.
“I know, I know. I won’t touch a single thing, I promise. I just want to take a look—see if anything jumps out at me.”
He grinned. “I’m heading there shortly after my jog. I’ll meet you there at ten.”
“Ten sounds great.”
He soon left and Dana’s heart fluttered in her chest. “Did you hear that Truffles? We have an appointment at the Maison at ten o’clock. You and I.”