“But I didn’t do anything.” A weight descended on Dani’s chest, stealing her breath. “I didn’t even know she was dead until Monday when you told me.”
“But you’re the only one who had an argument with the victim just before she died.” Mikeloff pointed his pen at Dani. “If she’d spread the word around through her parents’ friends that you were an unreliable caterer, she’d have ruined your business.”
“I told you before—” Panic clogged Dani’s throat. Swallowing, she took a few seconds to come up with a response that wouldn’t make her look guilty. “It wasn’t that big a deal. Would I have lost a few referrals? Probably. Would it have slowed down the growth of my company? Possibly. But it wouldn’t have bankrupted me.”
The detective curled his lip and waved his hand dismissively. “You can’t be sure of that. Especially in the heat of the moment.”
Tendrils of fear shot through Dani’s body, and she blurted, “There are lots more people with better motives to kill Regina than me.”
“Oh? Who do you think killed her?” Mikeloff pounced. When Dani didn’t immediately respond, he added, “Let me assure you that even though your suspicions might be completely wrong, it’s important that you let me know about them. No one you tell me about will ever know it was you who brought them to my attention.”
Dani squirmed in her chair, her pulse pounding in her ears. Evidently, innocent until proven guilty wasn’t working for her. She hated to do it, but surely she wasn’t telling the detective anything he didn’t already know.
“Who do you think might have killed Regina Bourne?” Mikeloff prodded, his voice whining through Dani’s skull like a dentist’s drill.
“I really have no idea.” Dani twitched her shoulders. “But a lot of people didn’t like her. Her own fiancé had some pretty harsh things to say about her. Plus, she pulled some really mean crap on her friend Bliss and her professor Trent Karnes. And her ex, Vance King, was obsessed with trying to talk to her at the party.”
Dani watched the detective jotting down what she’d said and immediately felt guilty for throwing the others under the bus. Still, she wasn’t saying anything but the truth. It wasn’t even gossip. And Mikeloff needed to focus on someone other than her or Ivy.
“Which one would you put your money on?” Mikeloff asked watching her closely.
“I don’t know any of them very well, but I have to think that Bliss might have the most compelling motive.” Dani chewed her bottom lip. “Regina sent a nude picture of her to Laz and all their friends.”
“I see.” Mikeloff stared into space. “But who do you think would have the best opportunity to get the insulin into the victim?”
“It’s really hard to say because I don’t know where it was injected.” Dani nervously tapped out a jazz rhythm on the tabletop. “If it was an arm or leg, almost anyone might be able to do it, but a more concealed place, then it would have to be someone with whom she was more intimate.”
Mikeloff leaned forward until his nose nearly touched hers, then he said so softly she almost couldn’t hear him, “Can you think of any other way that Regina might have overdosed on insulin?”
“No.” Dani frowned, considering what little she knew about the medication. “Is there a form of insulin that isn’t injected?”
“No. I don’t believe so.” Mikeloff narrowed his eyes. “What was your first reaction when you found out that Regina was dead?”
“I couldn’t believe it.” Dani stared at her hands. “I mean, she was so young.”
“But like you said, she wasn’t a very nice person.” Mikeloff’s nicotine-stained fingers played with the edge of the file folder. “Maybe the killer did everyone a favor.”
“No!”
“Come on,” Mikeloff coaxed. “Can you really tell me that it never crossed your mind? Even if it’s not something you would actually condone?”
“Never.” Dani sucked in a breath. “Regina was young. She could change.”
“Well, here’s the thing,” Mikeloff said. “I’ve talked to all the people you mentioned. I’ve gone over all of the evidence. And”—the detective’s voice oozed satisfaction—“it all comes back to you.”
“What?” Dani pushed her chair back from the table. “No! It wasn’t me.”
“The medical examiner finished the report and sent it to us today.” Mikeloff’s smile reminded Dani of a great white shark—hungry and relentless. “And guess what? Regina wasn’t injected with insulin, which means the only way for her to get an overdose was to consume it.”
“You mean eat or drink it?” Dani tugged at the neck of her T-shirt. “Is it even possible to die by ingesting insulin?”
“A single therapeutic dose wouldn’t kill her, but with the amount Regina ingested and the fact she was taking ulcer medication that neutralized the stomach acids and enzymes that would normally destroy the insulin…” Mikeloff’s grin widened. “And who was it that prepared the food that night? And left trays of goodies just for Regina?”
“But…but…” Dani stopped and shook her head to clear it. “There were wrappers from foods other than mine found around her body. And anyone could have added insulin to the stuff in her kitchen after I went home.” Getting to her feet, Dani said, “Now, I’d either I’d like a lawyer or I’m leaving.” Although she was shaking inside, she looked the detective coolly in the eye. “Your choice.”
• • •
Twenty minutes later, clutching her purse to her chest, Dani wobbled into the hallway outside of the detectives’ suite of offices. She felt lightheaded and sick to her stomach. She needed to sit down, but before she could do that she had to get as far away from Mikeloff as possible.
As she stood in the corridor, unsure of where to go, warm hands encased her upper arms and a familiar voice asked, “Are you okay?”
Confused, she looked up and demanded, “What are you doing here?”
“A little bird told
