Dana was anxious to be called in for questioning. Oh, how she loved playing innocent when she was secretly to blame! She glanced around at the scene before her, with weeping women and men trying in vain to calm them. One by one, flustered individuals were brought in for questioning, then, when finished, they exited with a most solemn expression. This is what Dana lived for. She was the only person here who seemed unaffected, and because of that, she maintained a false sense of power.
"Dana Lorington, please!" Called one of the men as he stepped outside the doorway. Dana mentally prepared herself for the lies she would no doubt need to concoct. She waltzed confidently inside the room, enjoying the sound of her heels clicking against the hard, marbled floor.
"Please take a seat." Said the man as he gestured towards a red armchair on the opposite side of the desk. Dana quietly took her seat with as much elegance as a queen.
"My name is Detective Wesley Morris. We just have a few quick questions for you." The man began with a rather bored tone.
"Of course, detective. Go ahead."
"Where were you at approximately 6:00 pm this evening?"
"Why I was in the ballroom with the other guests. Ask anyone."
"We have asked, but the thing is, it was simply so crowded, and the room so busy, that no one can remember who might have been missing at the time of the murder." Sighed the detective dejectedly.
"I mostly kept to myself in the far right corner. I wasn't much in the mood for dancing."
"Did you notice anyone who seemed suspicious?"
"Not at all. It seemed very much like every other party I've been to."
"I understand you and William have a history together, is that correct?"
"He was my agent for several years before he began climbing the social ladder and making important business deals. Once he became the renowned millionaire we all recognize today, I quite lost contact with him. He was always a good man. Terrible what happened to him." Dana said as she plastered on her most innocent expression.
"Yes, he was one of my greatest friends." Wesley agreed with a distant look in his eyes. Then, suddenly, it was as if he remembered what it was he was supposed to be doing, and snapped himself out of his daze.
"When was the last time you saw William this evening?"
"He and I shared a dance when I first arrived, but after that, I'm afraid I didn't see him again." She tried to look as if she was fighting back tears.
"Why was it he wished to dance with you if you haven't had contact in a while?"
Dana knew he was catching onto something she didn't want him to, but she remained cool, calm and collected.
"Old times sake, I suppose. We may not have kept in touch, but we still maintained our friendship. After all, he's the one who made me who I am today. If it weren't for him, I would have never gotten any of the roles that made me into a famous actress."
The detective wrote down all of what she had said and then turned to the other officers standing around the room.
"Anything else?" He asked them. They shook their heads no.
"Well, thank you for your time, Miss Lorington. We'll contact you if we need to ask you anything else. As you know, the ball has been cancelled, so we ask that you please return home immediately."
"Of course. I'm sorry such a horrible thing has ruined the night."
"Me too." replied Wesley as Dana exited the room. She had her chauffeur pick her up at the front of the mansion, and take her directly back to her estate.
'Too easy.' She thought to herself as she climbed in.