All Aboard for True Amor: A Comedic Mystery of Romantic Proportions by Nikki Trionfo

Author:Nikki Trionfo [Trionfo, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Teenacity Books
Published: 2021-10-04T16:00:00+00:00

R

ushing through the train coupling, I arrive at Emilio’s train car two minutes late to meet the Dos Amores stars and go backstage. Only a guard remains.

“They’re gone! It can’t be!” I cry, falling to my knees.

“Miss?” The guard waves me toward the outside exit. He has one brow raised, perhaps puzzled. He’s wearing a face mask. “They’re waiting for you in the station.”

“Oh.” I stand and brush off my apron and mask.

Well.

At least Emilio didn’t see that.

The guard taps his face mask. Hairs of his mustache poke out from underneath it. “By the way. I appreciate your care for sanitation. See? International travel should come with extra precautions.” His eyes crinkle with a smile.

“Oh.” I’m not really sure what to say to that. “Um, to your health,” I say as I head for the station exit.

On my way here, I used Kaila’s cell a second time to erase Felix’s final message. I called Mom, too, as I plan to daily. Daily contact prevents freak-outs. The remains of the love charm are in a trash bin in the dining car. Good riddance. Unfortunately, I stomped on it first because I didn’t realize the smell would cause four diners to send their pea soup back to the kitchen with complaints.

No more confusing fate.

Or confusing Felix.

I’ve recommitted myself. I’m only available to Emilio.

Exiting the train, I step into Penn Station in downtown New York. It smells of street-vendor cooking oil, newspaper ink, and cigarette smoke. The underground platform I’m in is blocked off from the rest of the station by temporary gating. Guarding the tightly-bunched group of telenovela stars are men and women in reflective vests, none of whom looks enough like Felix to be his detective-dad. I approach nervously.

Emilio is speaking with Gilberto and doesn’t notice me. I wonder which would be crazier, Emilio having a crush on Inga-me or Felix having a crush on Sage-me. I mean, Felix? Love charm or not, him having a crush on anyone would be crazy. He’s stone-hearted and my nemesis, and it’s not like you acquire a nemesis every day. You can’t just go losing them to romance. Anyway, all these crushes need to wither and die, paving the way for Emilio to fall in love with Sage-me. As soon as I solve the crime and clear my name.

Valentinia sees me and nods with a shy smile, giving me a great view of the floppy pink daisy bouncing from a coil attached to her headband. Her outfits are ridiculously adorable.

“Miss Inga, I have your backstage pass,” she says. “Your help for the security is very appreciated.”

I refuse to make eye-contact with my number-one suspect. I won’t fall for her good-girl routine. I’m going to catch her in the act.

Emilio notices Valentinia approaching and then sees me.

“Oh, Inga.” His smiles, but anxiety touches his features. He checks for Valentinia’s reaction.

“Here.” She hands me a lanyard with the name “Inga” on it. Her cautious gaze moves from me to Emilio and back. Something she sees on my face causes her shoulders to sink in sorrow.

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