Murder Has No Class Read Free Page A

She refused to admit, even to herself, that her disapproval might just be due to a touch of jealousy. Sylvia’s strawberry blond hair, green eyes, and girlish figure certainly seemed to capture Stuart Hamilton’s attention. Not, of course, that it mattered to Meredith one whit upon whom the owner lavished his regard.
    Today, however, she was not thinking about Stuart Hamilton or his misguided affections. The memory of the red glow kept popping into her mind, and now she couldn’t wait until she could adjourn to the teacher’s lounge and share her concerns with her two best friends.

Chapter 2

    The long mealtime eventually came to an end. With a sense of urgency now, Meredith dismissed the girls at her table and followed them out into the corridor. Felicity was several steps ahead of her, and paused to allow her to catch up.
    “What bee have you got in your bonnet today?” she demanded, her rasping voice carrying down the hallway as always. “I could see the lines in your forehead from across the room.”
    Meredith shook her head. “Not now. Let’s wait until we are in the lounge.”
    Felicity’s eyes lit up. “Something juicy?”
    Meredith had to smile. “You are incorrigible, Felicity. Always thinking the worst.”
    Her comment drew a grin from her friend. “That’s the only kind of news that’s exciting.”
    Raised voices farther down the corridor wiped Felicity’s grin from her face. Striding forward, she reached a group of students, two of whom were waving arms and spitting words at each other.
    “Enough!” Felicity’s roar reduced all chattering in the hallways to silence. The two who were arguing glowered at each other, but remained silent while Felicity demanded to know what the disagreement was about.
    One of the bystanders decided to be helpful. “They were fighting over a boyfriend,” she announced, just as Meredith reached the group.
    Felicity’s face grew dark. “No one in this school has a boyfriend,” she roared. “Boyfriends are nasty, lecherous beings whose only aim is to bring you heartache and disgrace. They are to be avoided at all costs. Is that clear?”
    Both girls nodded, though not with too much conviction.
    Recognizing one of the contenders, Meredith pinched her lips. She had no doubt about whom Sophie Westchester had been quarreling. As the students hurried off, Meredith beckoned to the young woman and drew her aside. “I understand you were in the art studio late last night,” she said, without preamble.
    Sophie immediately shot a desperate look after her departing friends, then stared down at the floor. “Yes, miss,” she mumbled.
    “I am also led to believe that someone else was in there with you.”
    Sophie’s cheeks turned pink. “Er—yes, miss. It was Mr. Platt.”
    “May I ask what you were doing in the art studio with Mr. Platt at that late hour?”
    Sophie poked the toe of her shoe out from under her skirt and stared at it as if she’d never seen it before. “Looking for my palette?”
    She’d phrased the answer as a question and Meredith tightened her lips. “Mr. Platt seemed to think you were looking for a sketch book.”
    “Oh, that’s right. My sketch book. I forgot.”
    Meredith curled her fingers into her palms. “I suggest, Miss Westchester, that the next time you search for a missing article late at night, you do so alone. Otherwise I shall feel strongly compelled to inform your parents of your unfortunate behavior.”
    “Yes, Mrs. Llewellyn.”
    “You may leave.”
    “Yes, miss.” Dipping her head, Sophie backed away, then turned and fled down the hallway after her friends.
    Staring after her, Meredith frowned. One more strike against the unprincipled Mr. Platt. Something would have to be done about that young man, and soon.
    Essie was already seated by the fire when Meredith followed Felicity into the teacher’s lounge. She smiled as the women entered the room. “I was wondering what kept you both.”
    Felicity grunted. “Idiotic