Free Devil's Food Cake by Josi S. Kilpack Page A

the mascara off with some olive oil,” Andy said. “But she really should use a good cleanser. Those pores need to be opened up as soon as possible.”
    Jane wasn’t in the kitchen, which meant she’d already made it into the hallway.
    “Did you see a woman come in?”
    Andy let out a breath and looked annoyed. “People have been in and out all night. What I’m worried about is Gayle.”
    Sadie turned to look at Gayle, who was still seated near the sink, several feet away from them. Her face was shiny and free of makeup, though her eyes were still red and puffy. But then Sadie caught sight of a woman with short, dark hair in the back of the room. The woman turned—not Jane.
    “Sadie? Are you listening to me?”
    Reluctantly, Sadie looked back at Andy, whose face showed his frustration. “Vitamin C,” he said in slow, clipped tones. “Do you have a vitamin C-based cleanser she can use?”
    “Um, yes,” Sadie said even though she’d never heard of a vitamin C-based cleanser. Orange juice mixed with sugar, maybe? She looked past Andy again and focused on the doors leading to the hallway. Every second she waited allowed Jane to get further away. “I’m sorry, Andy, but I really have to do something. I’ll be right back.” Sadie didn’t meet his eyes as she passed him. He let out an audible sigh, obviously frustrated with her. She hated that, but what could she do?
    Sadie hurried into the hallway. Empty. She bit her lip and considered her options. On the one hand, she wanted to go home and let Jane get caught on her own. But Jane wasn’t supposed to be here, and she’d tricked Sadie to get inside, which was a sure sign that the reporter couldn’t be trusted.
    Sadie groaned and took a breath as she headed for the doors to the main ballroom. She didn’t have time to search the hotel—and it wasn’t her job anyway—but she had to tell Pete, regardless of how much she dreaded having to talk to him again after being dismissed twice already.
    All the lights in the ballroom had been turned up, all the better to put the absolute mess on display. It was horrible. Sadie feared that if the staff didn’t start cleaning soon, they’d all be there until two o’clock in the morning. She finally saw Pete on the stage, discussing something with two important-looking men. A gurney stood off to the side with a big, black lumpy bag strapped to it. Little tented pieces of paper were all over the place. Evidence markers, Sadie guessed.
    She walked to the bottom of the stage stairs, waiting for Pete to notice her. He didn’t. She shifted her weight, anxious to get it over with. He still didn’t see her. With another sigh, she picked up her skirts and climbed the steps with heavy feet before stopping a few feet away from the three men. After waiting a few more seconds in hopes Pete would perhaps feel her presence, she gave up and cleared her throat. He didn’t notice. She cleared her throat again—much louder. This time Pete turned around. The two men with him looked in her direction as well. She was immediately reminded that she’d been out in the snow for several minutes. Her hair must be a sight—and not a good one. She forced a smile and lifted a hand casually to her hair, attempting to re-lift the roots which were decidedly flattened. So much for wooing Pete’s good favor through her stunning good looks.
    “Sadie,” Pete said with forced politeness.
    She smiled and motioned him to come toward her. After a slight hesitation, he excused himself from the other men and walked toward her. When he drew close, he took her arm and walked her down the steps. She could feel the tension in him and hated that she was adding to it.
    “Why are you still here?” he said, leaning toward her as he spoke.
    “I need to tell you something important.” She gave him a strong look that she hoped would communicate how important this was and that she wouldn’t interrupt him otherwise. “I was taking a cake out to the car and I ran