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Jasmine closed the kitchen door. “We have the church members here.  What would they think?”
    “Don’t they know she’s gay? Anyway we don’t care about Nadia’s sexual orientation. All we want to know is who killed her and bopped me over the head and almost killed me.”
    “Look all that’s important to me is Dylan and making sure she gets through this.”
    “We need more info about Shannon. We’re gonna find out who she is whether you tell us or not.”
    “Okay you wanna know, Detective Kemp?” She tapped her fingers on the countertop. “She was Nadia’s lover. The thing is Nadia wasn’t as serious about Shannon as Shannon wanted her to be.”
    “What’s Shannon like?” Brianna asked.
    “Nadia liked the same qualities in women most men did. She liked ‘em young and easy. Shannon’s beautiful, blond and young enough to be Nadia’s daughter. She treated Nadia like a queen.”
    “Why?” Steven broke his cookie in half.
     “Shannon was bewitched with Nadia because of who she was. Shannon felt blessed to have someone like Nadia even be her friend let alone her lover.”
    “What makes you think Nadia wasn’t serious?” Steven brushed crumbs off his chin.
    “Because for Nadia it was purely sexual. She had her chance at this young, hot thing that’s gone over her and Nadia took advantage of that.” Jasmine fixed her apron. “Nadia liked to play the field and she found plenty of partners.”
    “I see.” Steven gestured to Brianna with his eyes.
    “Nadia was sick of Shannon period but she broke it off because of the drinking. Shannon’s a hopeless drunk. She’s pathetic.”
    “So how did Shannon feel about that?” Brianna asked. “The break up I mean?”
    “Horrible. She’d depended on Nadia for so long. She flipped when Nadia broke it off.  She was always short a few brain cells but when Nadia dumped her she went completely loco.”
    Brianna got a cupcake. “Why didn’t anyone mention Shannon before?”
    “Detective Morris I’m trying to protect my sister’s reputation. She’s well-respected for her practice and the good she did for people. She didn’t want people to know she was gay and it would have killed her if it got out.”
    “You should’ve told Jayce or us about this Shannon.  She might be involved.”
    “Detective Morris I’m drowning here.” Jasmine leaned over the table. Strands of hair popped from her ball. “I don’t know how to act or what to do.  My sister’s been murdered!  Can’t you both be sympathetic? The last thing on my mind was Shannon!”
    “I’m sorry okay?” Brianna touched Jasmine’s shoulder. “We know you loved your sister.”
    “We just can’t afford to have any secrets. You need to tell us anything that would help. You owe it to Nadia and Dylan.”
    “I’m sorry, Detective Kemp. I didn’t mean to hide anything.”
    Steven nodded.
    “Here.” Brianna handed her a napkin. “Your mascara’s running.”
    Jasmine dabbed her face. “I hope I look better than I feel.”
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
    Dylan lifted her head from Zoë’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
    “You go on and cry all you need to.” Zoë  kissed her forehead.
    “I’m just so confused.” Dylan reclined in the patio chair. “I’m sad, hurt, angry, and scared.”
    “Why are you scared?”
    “How do I know that whoever killed my mother won’t come after me?  I might know something that I don’t know I know.”
    “What?”
    “I told you Mom had a secret. She kept hinting she needed to tell me something but never did. That secret could be what got her killed. I gotta find out what it is.” She sat up.  “If I hadn’t been arguing with her about Bruce then she’d have told me.”
    “And what if she had told you?”
    “I could’ve saved her.”
    “Saved her?  It wasn’t your job to save her.”
    “I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t find out who did this and why.  Don’t you understand that?”
    “Of course I do.”  Zoë moved the small saucer