Murder of a Sleeping Beauty Read Free Page B

body in the course of a Wednesday afternoon.” Skye was beginning to feel more like her usual assertive self. Since coming out from under the spell of her ex-fiancé, she had allowed no man to take that belligerent tone with her.
    “You’re right, of course. I’m being a beast.” A lock of white-blond hair fell over one eye as he tilted his head. “But could you please talk to that police chief of yours, and see if he’ll let me through?”
    She answered automatically, “He’s not my police chief.” At least not anymore. “But if you really want me to, I’ll see what I can do. Why do you need to come in here?”
    “I’d rather not explain it twice, just get the chief, okay?”
    Skye had opened her mouth to say no, it wasn’t okay, when she caught a glimpse of Wally standing alone. This was her chance.
    She hurried over to one side of the stage just as he squatted down. “Wally, could I speak to you for a moment?”
    He straightened and glared at her. “Didn’t I tell you to sit on the bleachers and not move?”
    He had, and she’d forgotten. “Sorry, I haven’t touched anything.”
    “That’s something.” He crouched again. “So, what’s so urgent?”
    “Um, well, Kent Walker, the director of the musical, would like to come into the gym, and Deputy McCabe won’t let him.”
    “As per my orders,” Wally answered distractedly, his nose almost touching the floor. “Why does he need to be here?”
    Skye tried to see what Wally was staring at. It looked like a small piece of tinsel. “He wanted to talk to you about that.”
    “And you didn’t insist on knowing?” Wally got to his feet. “Then it’s true. You two are an item.”
    “What?” Her eyebrows came together.
    “Never mind. Let’s go talk to Mr. Kent Walker.”

CHAPTER 2
    Waste of Death
     
     
     
     
    S kye trailed after Wally as he approached the gym doors. Deputy McCabe stood talking to the crowd that had continued to gather. There was no sign of Kent.
    The chief stopped at the entrance and turned to her. “Where’s Walker?”
    She shrugged. “Maybe he went to the bathroom.”
    Wally spoke to Deputy McCabe. “Where did Kent Walker go?”
    “Who?” The deputy wrinkled his brow.
    Skye pushed past the chief. “The guy you wouldn’t let into the gym.”
    “Lots of those. I think nearabouts every parent in Scumble River is trying to get in here.”
    Skye blew a curl out of her eyes. “The one yelling my name.”
    “Oh, the fella with the funny way of talking. Is he English or something?”
    “No, he’s from Boston.”
    “Oh, well. He said something about having to go, and walked off.”
    “That’s all he said?”
    “Yeah.” McCabe twisted his face in thought. “No. Said to tell you he’d see you later.”
    Skye felt her face burn. Wally probably thought she had used this whole incident with Kent just to get his attention.
    The chief narrowed his eyes, and Skye waited for the explosion. Instead he said sarcastically, “If there’s nothing else you or your friends require, I’ll get back to work now.” He turned on his heel and started away from the door, then stopped and told Skye, “Go sit on the bleachers.”
    “Wally?”
    “Yes?”
    “I really need to make some phone calls. Couldn’t I just go to the office? I won’t leave the building.”
    “No.”
    “Why not?” Skye searched his face, but it was blank of emotion. “Could I at least call Justin Boward’s family? They’ll be wondering where he is.”
    “I’ll have an officer call. Do you have his number?”
    Skye shook her head. “But we can ask Justin.” She turned toward the bleachers. “Where’d he go?”
    The chief gave her a disgusted look. “You sit down. I’ll go find him.”
    “But . . .” Skye trailed off. Wally was already striding away.
    She examined her surroundings. There was nowhere to hide in the gym. It was just a large room with wooden floors and high ceilings. The sidewalls were made up of bleachers folded flat, except