Homicide and Halo-Halo (Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #2)(72)

As soon as Joy’s name was called, Katie burst into tears and ran off the stage.

Joy didn’t notice because she was too busy having the Miss Teen Shady Palms sash draped over her, so I got up from the judges’ table to go talk to Katie backstage. I could understand her disappointment, but I didn’t want her ruining this moment for her friend.

The backstage area was bustling with the festival organizers who were preparing for the band that was set to go onstage as soon as the pageant contestants finished their photos. It took me a while, but I finally got someone to point me in Katie’s direction. She was hiding out in the VIP area that the band had just vacated.

“Katie? Are you OK? I hope you’re not too disappointed.” I leaned my cane against a table and held out my arms in case she needed a hug. The teen hurled herself into my arms, sobbing so hard her body shook. “I’m really sorry. I know it’s tough. I’ve lost more than my fair share of competitions. But I hope you don’t let this ruin your friendship with Joy.”

She pulled away at that, her efforts to stop crying resulting in weird hiccupy gasps. “It’s not that. I don’t . . . I’m so scared, I—”

“Katie!” Joy ran up to us and hugged her friend. “When I couldn’t find you onstage, I got so worried. Are you OK?” She yanked off her tiara and sash, setting them aside on a nearby table. “I’m sorry, I wish we both could’ve won. You’re not mad at me, are you?”

“No, it’s not about you, Joy. I could never be mad at you. It’s just . . . I wanted out so bad and nothing worked, no matter what I did. And now that I lost, I’m worried what else—I mean, I’m worried how my mom is going to take it.”

“Your mom loves you, Katie. That’s all that matters.”

“Sometimes I worry she loves me too much.”

I’d stepped aside to give the two some privacy, but something about Katie’s tone caught my attention. “What do you mean? How is that even possible?”

Katie glanced over at me and our eyes met. The pain in them conveyed the truth—it was her mom. Winnie Pang killed Rob Thompson.

I shook my head. No, there was no way she’d do something like that. I was reading too much into her distress. Although . . . if it had something to do with Katie . . .

I put my hand on her arm. “Katie, are you sure? Why do you—”

“There you are, Katie! I’ve been looking all over for you.”

Winnie Pang’s voice, as well as the sharp jab of something hard in my ribs, cut me off. Winnie linked arms with me and pulled me close, her right hand buried in her purse to conceal the gun pressed into my side.

“Katie, hold on to Joy. She and Lila are going to walk us to the parking lot. Nice and slow, no drawing attention our way. You just had to come after my daughter, didn’t you?” she added under her breath, so only I could hear. “You know what’ll happen if you don’t cooperate, right?”

Katie hadn’t seen the gun or heard her mother’s threat, but there was no mistaking the tightness in her voice. Katie knew. Had probably known for a long time. “Mom. Let’s just go, OK? It doesn’t have to be like this.”

“We are going. Now.”

“But Mom—”

“Katherine Marie Pang. Everything I’ve done has been for you. Everything. We are not going to throw it all away, especially over the girl who stole your crown. Now let’s go!” Winnie’s voice rose higher and higher as she spoke, the last sentence almost a scream. A few people glanced our way, but most were focused on the band and paid us no mind.

Katie flinched. “I’m so sorry, Joy. Just . . . just walk with us and everything will be fine.”

Joy turned frightened eyes toward me. “Ate? What’s going on?”

Winnie jerked her head toward the exit, signaling them to go first. “Just follow us and keep your mouth shut. You’re a sweet girl and I don’t want to hurt you. But I will if I have to. Now move!”

The steel in Winnie’s voice let Joy know she wasn’t messing around. Katie pulled her arm through Joy’s and tugged her through the crowd. The parking lot was at the opposite end of the festival, but everyone was too busy stuffing their faces and getting drunk to notice our odd procession down the thoroughfare. Detective Park was nowhere to be seen and the Shady Palms Police Department seemed to be solely congregated around the beer garden, so they were useless as always.

I had to rely on the old villain standby: get her talking. “Katie is Rob’s daughter, isn’t she?”

Katie’s head whipped around at that. “What? That can’t be true.” When Winnie didn’t say anything, Katie said, “Mom? Please tell me that’s not what started this all.”

“So when did Rob figure it out? Joy told me Rob put the moves on both of them the night of the potluck, so he couldn’t have known before then.”

That finally got Winnie’s attention. “That pig! I confronted him after Katie told me. I lost my chance at the crown all those years ago because of him and he didn’t even remember me. Had no idea that his family had given me money to ‘take care of the problem’ as they’d put it. I took their hush money, but that was it. I had no plans to force my way into their lives or try to claim Katie’s inheritance. All he had to do was keep his hands to himself, but he couldn’t. I wasn’t going to let him ruin another girl’s future the way he did mine.”