Murder of a Cranky Catnapper Read Free Page A

“We aren’t through discussing this.”
    â€œI’ve noted your concerns.” Caroline stood firm. “And if the board votes with you on this matter, I will, of course, follow their instructions. But as an individual member, you do not have the authority to stipulate the day-to-day running of this school.”
    â€œYou girls haven’t heard the last of this. You’d better obey me,” Palmer threatened as he snatched his cell phone from his jacket pocket. When Caroline didn’t respond, he snarled, “Are you deaf?”
    â€œI am not hard of hearing, Mr. Lynch,” Caroline said coolly. “But I have heard enough.”
    â€œAre you sassing me?” Palmer’s eyes bulged.
    â€œNo.” Caroline’s tone was icy. “I’m saying that you do not have the right to come into my school and play God.”
    â€œThe position was vacant,” Palmer snapped.
    â€œIt’s time for you to leave.” Caroline gestured to the open door.
    â€œLittle lady, you’re making a big mistake.” Palmer’s eyes narrowed and he fumbled with his phone. “You’ll see just how much power I already have.” As he dialed, he skewered Skye with a cold stare. “And your precious Uncle Charlie won’t be able to help you.”
    Once Palmer was out of sight, Caroline folded her arms and said, “That man reminds me of a cloud.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œWhen he finally goes away, it’s a beautiful day.”
    â€œRight.” Skye chuckled.
    She was stunned by Caroline’s reaction to Palmer. Usually, the principal would have been much moredeferential toward a board member. What had gotten into her?
    Caroline leaned against the wall. “Lynch had better not be elected board president or I’m retiring.”
    â€œDo you think Charlie has anything to worry about?” Skye asked.
    â€œIt’s hard to say.” Caroline frowned. “There were several new members from the last election and no one knows which way they’re leaning.” She paused. “And unfortunately, nowadays good judgment is so rare, it could almost be thought of as a superpower.”
    â€œToo true,” Skye agreed. “Maybe we should have Captain Common Sense T-shirts printed up.”
    â€œBut who would we give them to?”
    â€œPoint taken.” Skye smiled, then said, “I think I’ll call Uncle Charlie and fill him in about today.” Skye glanced at the principal, who nodded her agreement. “I’ll let you know what he has to say about Palmer’s chances.”
    â€œYou do that.” Caroline nodded. “You said that the rest of the pet therapy session went well once the boys settled down and Dr. Quillen got started.”
    â€œYes.” Skye smiled. “The animals were amazingly obedient and the kids really responded positively to the exercises.”
    â€œThank goodness for small favors.” Caroline stepped back inside her office and said, “Stop by Wednesday after the next pet therapy group and give me an update.”
    â€œWill do.” Skye waved and hurried away.
    She was glad she’d decided to have twice weekly sessions with the animals. With so little time left in the school year, any fewer meetings wouldn’t have been productive.
    When Skye walked past the school secretary, Fern looked up from her computer screen and handed Skye a phone message on a pink slip of paper. Before she could read it, the woman grabbed her arm.
    Clutching Skye’s wrist, Fern said, “I’m so sorry I couldn’t let you know that Mr. Lynch was heading your way. I’d just got back from showing Dr. Quillen where your group was meeting when that awful man barged into the office. He was quite rude when I told him that Mrs. Greer was on the phone. He said he didn’t have time to wait for a babysitter, demanded the keys for the old wing, and took off on his