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AFTER TROY FINISHED speaking with Dana, he left to continue his investigation. Dana then walked over to the table that held the cupcake display and felt quite pleased with herself. Lizzy from the café stood behind the display table getting ready to help concert goers. It was to be a small intimate concert at the Town Square Hall.
“Not bad,” Dana said quietly, admiring the display.
“We also have those waiters coming in soon to walk around with trays of some desserts for those who don’t want to leave their spots near the stage,” Lizzy said.
“I’m glad we took Inga’s advice on that one. It makes sense. It gives the attendees options.”
The display looked quite attractive with the dozens of three-tier cupcake tree trays. Each tree tray had several Valentine’s cupcakes decorated around them. The smooth whipped topping was piled high and each had a plastic dessert spoon with a heart-shaped handle so that customers could dig into the cake like a dessert. Each cupcake was deliciously filled with smooth raspberry jam, a tasty filling that made Dana’s mouth water just thinking about it.
Dana thought about what Katie had said earlier at the café about Troy. Was it true? Did her feelings for Detective Troy transfer to her making the batch of Valentine’s cupcakes? Her heart galloped in her chest thinking about that.
“We really outdid ourselves, didn’t we?” Lizzy beamed with pride.
“We sure did. I’m so glad Gigi bought the cupcakes to give away free to the fans. This will really be good publicity for the Cozy Cupcakes Café, too.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Have you seen Terry?” Dana asked.
Lizzy looked guilty. “Um...no. She said she couldn’t make it. She went home sick.”
“Oh, no. I hope she’s feeling better soon.” Dana thought to herself that Terry was probably feeling queasy over her ex-fiancé marrying the famous actress and singer Gigi. How awful for her to have the reminder thrown in her face every time she saw a tabloid headline. She also noticed that even though Terry had done a lot of overtime over the holidays, she’d recently cut back her hours at the café. Dana hoped she was okay. She would have a little chat with Terry later or tomorrow once she returns to work.
Dana then sauntered to the stage to admire the designs. There were red heart-shaped confetti everywhere. She bent down to pick up some of the confetti.
“Don’t touch that,” a stage crew said walking over to her.
“I’m sorry, I’m just admiring the designs.”
“We just had a rehearsal.” He had a cigarette in his mouth while speaking to Dana and had wires that he was wounding up on his arm. The guy looked as if he hadn’t shaven for a few days and wore a hat and scarf around his neck with a tattered brown leather jacket. He also had brown leather boots on. He must have been around middle age or so.
“Darn waste of money,” he continued, mumbling under his breath. He then let out a heavy smoker’s cough.
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t know why that diva insisted on having five tons of confetti sprinkled all over the place. It’s a waste.”
“Well, I’m sure the fans won’t mind it. I think it’s sort of romantic.”
Just then he looked over at the far corner then rolled his eyes. “They’re at it again.”
Dana followed where his eyes trailed and saw Gigi making out heavily with her beau.
Dana flushed.
“Those two are always at it like love-starved animals. You would think they would get a room.”
He then moved away toward the left side of the stage.
Dana thought it was so sweet of the couple. They really were in love. Gigi didn’t seem to care who knew about her hot relationship, even though just last month she was engaged to be married to another man.
Dana shook her head and grinned. “That’s showbiz for you,” she said quietly.
“Yes, it sure is,” Katie said as she appeared beside Dana.
“Where have you been, cuz?”
Katie flipped out a photograph. “Check this out!” Katie beamed. “I got this autographed picture of Gigi earlier.”
“Oh, my goodness,” Dana said, putting her hand to her chest as she read the autograph.
To my favorite Cozy Cupcakes Café. You guys rock!
“That is so sweet of her,” Dana added.
“Isn’t it? Can’t wait to put it up at the Cozy Cupcakes Café. All our customers will be able to see it. You know we should have a wall of famous 8 x 10 black and white photos with autographs on them. Just like they have at some of those cafes and diners in New York.”
“You know, that’s a brilliant idea, cuz.”
Just then a few screams sounded as some fans managed to get past security to take snap shots of Gigi and Carlos.
Gigi looked embarrassed as she stopped making out with Carlos. She did flash a wide smile while Carlos hugged her from behind.
“That’s it guys. This area is restricted,” a security officer said as he ushered away the fans.
Gigi then made her way over to Dana with Carlos lovingly kissing her neck. They seemed inseparable.
“There you are. My star caterer. I recognize you,” Gigi said to Dana.
Dana’s heart galloped in her chest. “You do?”
“Of course, I do. You’re Ma Rae’s granddaughter—and you’re that famous mystery blogger. You know, it was your grandmother that had encouraged me to chase my dreams and head to Hollywood. I will never forget that.”
Dana gushed feeling a sense of pride and longing for Grandma Rae. “Seems like my grandma liked to encourage a lot of people in her time.”
“She sure did. And thank you so much for catering the concert.”
“Oh, no. Thank you for doing this for us.”
“Hey, as your Grandma would say, never forget where you come from. And I won’t ever do that, girlfriend.”
She flashed her huge diamond ring while she wiped a strand of hair from her face. She had long honey-blond highlighted hair that cascaded down her shoulders. She wore a large flowing coat that was partially opened over what looked like a sequenced skin-tight outfit underneath.
“Hey, that is beautiful. Congratulations!” Dana commented pointing to Gigi’s enormous ring. How on earth was she going to dance on stage with that huge heavy rock and not sink through the floor?
“Oh, thank you, darling. My baby spoils me.” Gigi beamed while Carlos continued to hug her from behind, grinning.
“Anything for you, babes,” Carlos beamed.
“Wow, you can really feel the love between you, two.”
“Thank you, darling. I really hope you’ll be able to cater the desserts for our wedding.”
“Really?” Katie said. “We’d love to!”
“Yes,” Dana added. “Oh, my goodness. That would be...awesome!”
“Good. We’re getting married real soon. Carlos and I want to start our family sooner than later. You know I’m not getting any younger,” she said playfully.
Carlos then said, “Baby, you’re young and beautiful to me.”
Dana tried to resist playfully rolling her eyes and grinning. Talk about a couple in love. Still, if what Lizzy said earlier was true, the couple was ten years apart. Gigi was pushing thirty-five while her fiancé was twenty-five years old. If she really wanted to start a family, it would be now.
That was probably why she wanted to rush and get married pronto. It all made sense. Why wait around? When you found someone who made your heart go pitter patter, and the time was tick tock-ing away, you just go for it, right? Made sense.
Dana then wondered about her own age. She wasn’t getting any younger either. If she wanted to have a family of her own one day, she really didn’t want to wait too late. This really put things into perspective. One thing she had to give credit to Gigi for was that she didn’t give a toss about what others thought about her upcoming nuptials. She did what made her feel happy.
And Carlos seemed to make Gigi very happy. She noticed he had muscles everywhere. Muscular arms and abs to die for with his midriff cut off shirt. No doubt, he was wearing his dancer outfit. He had short-cropped dark brown hair and large brown eyes and high cheekbones. He also wore tight fitting leather pants—which Dana was sure had to be stretchable for the dance moves he was about to perform soon.
Dana was sure that Carlos had to have help from Gigi to buy a ring that size. Either that or he must have remortgaged his home or taken out a huge loan from the bank. She didn’t think dancers made that much money. But then again what did she know about showbiz?
Just then a waiter walked around the area as fans lined up waiting for the concert.
“Can I offer you a cupcake?” the young waiter said to Gigi.
“Mmmm,” Gigi said before taking one off the tray. She then took the spoon and took a taste of the whipped cream icing. “Delicious.” She closed her eyes and savored the taste. She then gave a spoonful to Carlos to taste, too.
“You guys really know how to bake.” Carlos’s comment tickled Dana.
“Thanks.”
“But I can’t finish this, I have to perform soon,” Gigi said. “I want to have it later.”
“Hey, baby, I’ll take that. Let me put it in your dressing room.” Carlos then took the cupcake and walked off to the back stage where the dressing rooms were located.
“Thank you,” Dana said as she grabbed a cupcake off the tray. She just wanted to taste one to make sure it was up to standard. Nothing wrong with that, right?
Okay, she was hungry like crazy. She’d been busy running around making sure things were set for the concert and didn’t have time to grab a bit to eat.
Just then someone let out a scream from the back of the stage. Gigi jolted and then hurried toward the back of the stage. Dana and Katie followed her.
“Oh, my God! Carlos!” Gigi rushed to his side first.
It was hard for Dana and Katie to keep up with her. Gigi was fast on her feet. Must have been all that working out with her personal trainer to get fit for her stage performances. Dana and Katie were both panting when they got to the back stage.
Carlos was lying on the ground on his side, stiff as a board with the half-eaten Valentine’s Cupcake on the ground by his lifeless fingers.
Dana felt her blood run cold. Her eyes widened with shock.
It looked as if he’d been stabbed with a sharp tool. Dana couldn’t tell for sure, but there was some sort of a puncture wound in his back.
“Oh, no! Call the police!” Dana called out.
Security was already there in seconds after hearing all the commotion and the screams.
Gigi looked torn apart, shattered. Tears streamed down her face.
Dana’s heart crushed for her. What a terrible thing to have happened, and just before a Valentine’s concert her lover was dead.
Katie was hysterical and pacing before she stopped and looked over at the far corner. “Terry?”
Dana looked up. “Terry, what are you doing here? We thought you went home sick.”
Terry looked petrified. Too stunned to speak. Her eyes wide opened as if she’d seen a ghost. Guilt was written all over her face.
What on earth was she doing there, behind the stage?
Gigi was too busy crying over Carlos to notice anything else. It was probably a good thing right now.
“Terry,” Dana asked again. “What are you doing here?”
Terry had a sharp cake knife in her hand. But it was clean. No traces of blood or anything on it. “I...I wanted to hurt him...but...I swear to you, I...I didn’t do it. Someone beat me to it.”