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“SO LET ME GET THIS straight,” Katie said later that evening, while adding candy canes as the finishing touches to the Christmas tree at the Victorian. The tree looked gorgeous with the glowing gold light bulbs and the shiny golden Christmas balls. “You don’t think the mayor did it?”
They had procrastinated decorating at the home for sometime now. They’d been busy decorating the Cozy Cupcakes Café instead.
Dana had just finished baking Grandma Rae’s famous lasagna with bubbling mozzarella cheese and a secret blend of seasoning. She’d cut a few slices and served on plates.
“Well, I didn’t quite say that. I think he probably could have done it.” Dana placed a glass of creamy eggnog with nutmeg and cinnamon at each setting on the table.
Truffles purred gently by the fireplace in the grand living room near to the open dining room area. She had already had her dinner and was settled in her usual spot.
“Well, what are you saying then?” Katie came down from the stool after she was finished with the Christmas tree.
“I’m saying that there is more to the picture. Troy said that the mayor had never been to Shags apartment. So he wasn’t the one who had ransacked it. But somebody was looking for something. I need to find out who?”
“Who do you think it could be?”
“Well, what if his wife found out about the affair and about...his secret son?”
“That’s true.” Katie made her way to the dinner table after she washed her hands in the kitchen sink.
The two ladies sat down. “Thank you Lord for blessing this food and for providing for us, Amen.” Dana opened her eyes after her grace.
“Well, that was brief.”
“You know Grandma Rae used to always have those long-winded graces where she asks the Lord to bless the hands that prepared the food, the people in the world who didn’t have any to eat...”
“And to count our blessings and...”
“To remember the war vets and the pets...”
“And a hundred different causes.”
“You know, bless her heart, she was really sweet. Always thinking about others...”
“Yeah, true, cuz. But we’d be starving by the time she was done with her one hour
grace.”
“Exactly, and after a long day at the café. I’m starved.” Both ladies laughed. “Well, it’s always good to be grateful for everything.”
“It is. And I’m so grateful that the cops are easing off me, too,” Katie said, “They said they won’t need me for further questioning at this time.”
“They did? When were you going to tell me this?” Dana dug into her slice of lasagna.
“Oh, one of the detectives spoke to me at the café while you were in the back with the suppliers. He just dropped by briefly.
“Well, that’s good news, cuz.”
“Thanks for your help with the investigation. If it hadn’t been for those torn letters you’d found in the garbage can, I might have still been the lead suspect.”
“Well, I know you had nothing to do with it, cuz. Besides, there are others with a stronger motive. Shags might have hurt you in the past, but you were not on her radar to blackmail.”
“True. What about Bea? You mentioned that Bea had a secret that Shags knew about?”
“Yes, and I spoke with Bea earlier. She told me that she wanted to hide the fact that...well, she told me not to tell anyone.”
“Dana!”
“Katie!”
“Come on, cuz. You can’t hold back on me.”
“Katie, you know I love you cuz, but I promised I would keep her secret. Besides, what does it matter? She told me that she had nothing to do with the murder.”
“So who else does that leave?”
“Mayor Jones and his wife.” Dana dropped her fork on the table.
“What is it, cuz?”
“What about Frank, the photographer? I saw an envelope with his name on it in Shags’ apartment. I think she’d been trying to get some dirt on him, too.”
“Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know but tomorrow morning, I’m going to find out. He was snapping away with his camera. He knew where everyone was at the time of the blackout. He was in a good position to know.”
“Yes, he was, wasn’t he?”