Free Sugar and Iced (Cupcake Bakery Mystery) by Jenn McKinlay Page A

and Angie studied Lydia. She looked as if she was fighting to keep it together. Mel was pretty sure they didn’t have a course for this in hospitality school. Angie met her gaze and Mel knew she was thinking the same thing.
    “Call us if you need us,” Mel said.
    Lydia nodded with a grateful glance.
    “Ma’am, I’m sorry but you’ve got to keep back with everyone else until the police arrive,” the security guard said to Joyce.
    “That is my daughter,” Joyce argued, pointing at Mel. “And I will not back up until I know what is happening.”
    The security guard glanced behind him just as Mel and Angie joined them. The look he gave Mel was one of relief, and she nodded. Having been the one to hold her mother back a few times, she commiserated with the poor guy who was obviously out of his depth.
    “I’m here, Mom,” Mel said. “It’s okay.”
    Lupe was standing behind Joyce and the two of them followed Mel and Angie off to the far side of the lobby. Lupe’s eyes were huge and she was biting her lower lip as if to keep herself from crying. She was knotting the belt of her robe in her hands and Mel wondered if she should send her to go and change. Surely, they wouldn’t be going ahead with the pageant now.
    “I’m sorry this happened, Lupe,” Mel said. They each sat down on the edge of a large planter with precisely arranged bromeliads in it.
    “What happened exactly?” Joyce asked. “All we heard was that a woman was found underneath the cupcake table. Is that true? Who is it?”
    “It’s Mariel Mars,” Angie said.
    “What? But how? Why?” Joyce stammered, looking stunned.
    “From what I saw, I’m guessing she was strangled with a sash,” Mel said. “No idea why, though.”
    She reached out and took her mother’s hand. Joyce’s skin felt cold, and Mel squeezed her fingers tight as if she could transfer some warmth. Joyce squeezed back letting Mel know that it was appreciated. Joyce reached out and hugged Mel.
    “I’m sorry, honey,” she said. “That must have been awful.”
    Mel heaved a huge sigh. It felt so good to have her mother speaking to her again. Joyce squeezed her tight and then let her go so that she could do the same with Angie. Mel sat back and watched as her mother comforted her best friend.
    She felt movement beside her and glanced over to see Lupe rise to her feet. She started backing away with a fearful look in her eyes.
    “Lupe, where are you going?” Joyce asked.
    “I have to get out of here,” Lupe said.
    “I don’t think anyone will be allowed to leave until the police have talked to us,” Mel said.
    “Oh, that’s not happening,” Lupe said with a shake of her head.
    “I don’t think you have any choice,” Angie said.
    “That’s why I need to leave now before the cops get here,” Lupe said.
    “Lupe, honey, what are you afraid of?” Joyce asked.
    Lupe looked at Mel. “She really doesn’t get it, does she?”
    “And neither do I,” Mel said. “What’s got you so worried?”
    “Look at me,” Lupe said. She pointed to herself. “I’m a Latina in a room full of white blondies. Who do you think the cops are going to suspect first?”
    “No,” Joyce said with a shake of her head. “My brother-in-law Stan is a longtime detective with the Scottsdale PD, and he’s not like that.”
    Lupe shook her head. Her long dark hair hid her face, and Mel wondered if she missed the colored bangs that used to hide her from the world.
    “And if you don’t believe that,” Mel said, “Uncle Stan’s partner is Hispanic and he isn’t like that, either.”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Lupe said. Her voice quavered and she sounded on the verge of crying.
    “Why not?” Angie asked.
    “Because even if the color of my skin doesn’t make them suspect me, what happened yesterday will. We had a fight with Mariel Mars in a room full of witnesses. I threatened her! How long do you think it will take them to look at me after they find out about that?”
    “Find out