Page 14 of Passions in Death
He gave Shauna’s hands another squeeze. “I’m right outside.”
A tear trickled down Shauna’s cheek as Crack stepped out. “We’re getting married in just a few days. On Saturday we’re getting married. This can’t be real.”
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” Eve said as she and Peabody sat. “I know this is a difficult time, but if we could ask you—the three of you—some questions, it’ll help us find who did this to Erin.”
“Someone killed her. They said she’s dead, but I don’t understand. Why would someone kill Erin?”
“That’s what we need to find out. Can you tell me where you were, what you were doing about midnight?”
“Nobody was paying attention to the time.”
“I kind of was.” Angie, a stunning Black woman with razor-edged cheekbones and large, liquid brown eyes, slid a hand over Shauna’s. “I have a job tomorrow. I’m a model and I have to report for hair and makeup at eight. I swore I wouldn’t stay past one, so I was watching the time. And mostly drinking water.
“Shauna and Becca were both onstage. Chloe, too, and Margo about that time.”
“I was singing and dancing onstage when she needed me.”
“You didn’t know. None of us knew. How could we, sweetheart? Lieutenant, Erin was my best friend in the world. I was standing up for her like Becca for Shauna.”
Angie turned to Shauna. “You’d just come down, and you started looking for her. You asked me if I’d seen her, but I hadn’t, not since we came back from the bathroom about an hour before.”
“Sorry,” Eve interrupted. “You and Erin went to the john about eleven?”
“More like ten-thirty. I saw her heading that way, so headed out and joined her. We made a deal about going to the ladies’ in pairs or groups. She thought I was being silly when I caught up with her, but that was the deal.”
“What then?”
“Then?” Angie frowned. “Well, we used the bathroom, then she said she had a drink waiting at the bar, and she went to the bar. I took one of the tables.”
She turned to Shauna again. “You asked if I’d seen her as soon as you came down from the stage. And right about then is when Crack came and told you. You were standing with me when he shut everything down and told us.”
“None of you noticed her leaving the club area again?”
“We were all having fun, just crazy fun,” Becca said. “I didn’t even notice the time with Angie. God, I took off my dress! Then the music stopped, and I saw Crack and Angie holding on to Shauna.”
“Was the rest of your group in the club area?”
“I don’t know.” Becca looked over at Angie. “I think so.”
“Some of the rest of you must’ve used the restroom at some point.”
“Oh, sure.” Becca nodded at Peabody. “But, like Angie said, we had the buddy system rule. Nobody goes alone, two or more at once. We weren’t the only ones in the club, and, well, it’s the Down and Dirty, so buddy system.”
“Why did she go without me?” More tears spilled as Shauna gripped Becca’s hand. “Why did she go back there by herself?”
Angie sighed. “When I trailed her back to the ladies’, she reminded me she used to be a kind of regular here.”
“She’d booked a privacy room.”
“What? But why?” Shauna stared at Eve. “Why would she do that?”
“Ms. Hunnicut, did Erin have a black overnight case?” Eve opened her hands to estimate size. “With a top handle?”
“Yeah, she did. Why?”
“Pink shoes? Heels, glittery, with butterflies on the straps?”
That question brought on a flood of tears. “It’s how we met, how we met.” When she broke down, Angie hugged her in, and Becca took over.
