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“MA’AM, WE’RE PLACING you under arrest for suspicion of murder,” Detective Troy said moments later to Terry as he cuffed her and read her rights to her.
Dana’s eyes widened. Her lungs burned.
“Um Troy, sorry to interrupt you but...don’t you think it’s strange that the cake knife is clean?” Dana noticed the evidence team already bagged the knife Terry had. Was the knife from the Cozy Cupcakes Café?
Dana’s heart sank to the lowest level possible when the forensics team also took her precious Valentine’s Cupcake and placed it inside their famous clear plastic evidence bag.
Well, if that isn’t a kick in the teeth. Again.
Why, oh, why is it that Cozy Cupcakes Café cupcakes always show up at the scene of a murder?
Ugh.
Dana felt a massive headache coming on.
“Sorry, Dana. But this is a murder investigation. I know you’ve been helpful in the past, but please let us handle this one, okay.” Detective Troy’s voice was stern. He continued his work with his colleagues.
Annoyance swept through Dana. She took her cue and walked away from the scene.
How on earth could Troy think he wrapped up this case? Something was definitely off. Way off.
As Dana walked around the area, she noticed there were tiny sprinkles of red heart-shaped confetti everywhere on the ground. Maybe thousands of tiny pieces.
Gigi was in her makeshift dressing room nearby, next to Carlos’s dressing room.
“I knew it wouldn’t last, but I didn’t think it would end this way,” another dancer said as he approached Dana.
“Excuse me?” Dana said.
“That guy had it coming.” The dancer was another man probably in his early twenties with dark brown hair and he was dressed like Carlos.
“I’m Steve, by the way. I always talk my mind so please don’t mind me.”
“I guess you’ve known Carlos a while.”
“We used to dance together locally. The guy used to steal girlfriends like a game. He would take anyone’s chick.”
“I’m assuming you were also on the receiving end of his...game?” Dana arched a brow.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that. I saw Gigi first.”
“But she was engaged to Thomas last month.”
“Yeah, but Thomas wasn’t treating her right. Always trying to control her. Anyway, she was with me next. Then Carlos wiggled his way in and she dumped me like a hot potato.”
“Oh, no. I’m so sorry to hear that. I guess that’s what inspired her to write the lyrics to I’m Nobody’s Slave.”
“Yeah, she liked to write about stuff going on in her life. That’s how she is. Always writing about her life, her relationships. She treats songs like a diary then releases them. One of her ex’s even tried to sue her once.”
“Yes, I remember hearing about something like that. So she must have been delighted when she found...love with Carlos.”
“I guess. He was someone she could control instead of the other way around. I guess that really got Thomas all peeved. He hates to look like a loser.”
“What was that?”
“Oh, this Hollywood bigwig, Thomas Cicaro. I hear he’s a bit of a loose cannon. He hates to lose, whether it’s gambling or women. Nobody ever ditches him. It’s usually the other way around.”
Dana’s eyes lit up. She really had to share this bit of information with Detective Troy.
“He hated to lose, huh?”
“He sure did. She really blindsided him when she announced her engagement to Carlos. He didn’t even know she’d broken off with him before that. She told him by text message. I was there when the call came in.”
“Did you tell the police this information, Steve?”
“I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
“Steve, it could have a lot to do with this case. If he’s the loose cannon you’re talking about.”
Steve shifted uncomfortably on the spot. He drew in a deep breath and changed his tone. “Listen, I...I think I’ve said enough. I really don’t like talking to the police. Just forget everything I said, okay.
“But Steve...”
Dana understood Steve’s apprehension. If Thomas was this loose cannon and possibly somebody connected to the mob, then of course, Steve wouldn’t want to snitch on him. For all he knew, Thomas could have connections at the police station—or dirty cops on his payroll. She’d read about cases like that before.
Though she doubted he would have any connections at the Berry Cove Police Station. But then again...
Steve’s gaze then drifted to the two adjoining doors. One door was labeled: Gigi. The other door: Carlos.
“Imagine that. A dancer having his own dressing room.” Steve grinned and shook his head. “Now he’ll have plenty of time to slack off.”
Steve then walked away.
Dana was stunned at the reaction or lack of emotional reaction from Carlos’s fellow dancer.
She too glanced at the names on the doors and observed that Gigi had a dressing room with her name on it and next to it was Carlos’s dressing room. Yes, that was odd. But somebody must have been waiting for Carlos knowing that his dressing room was behind the stage.
But who?
She really didn’t think it was Terry. Dana’s instincts told her it wasn’t. She needed to get her barista out of jail, soon.