Murder of a Bookstore Babe

That left Hugo. She couldn’t pretend to want to buy a used car. If word got back to her dad or Charlie that she was even considering replacing the Bel Air, their feelings would be hurt. Which meant it would have to be a non-work-related reason.

She and Hugo had little in common except their genes. He was nearly ten years older than she was, and although his wife, Victoria, was closer to Skye’s age, they’d never bonded, either. Victoria’s only interest, besides her twelve-year-old son, Prescott, was maintaining her appearance. She spent all her time at hairstylists, nail salons, gyms, and tanning booths. Not places Skye often frequented, since both the cost and the time needed were prohibitive.

For the rest of Tuesday evening while Skye relaxed at home, and on and off the next day at school, she thought about how to approach Hugo. What pretext could she use? By the end of the afternoon, she’d conceded defeat. Since she couldn’t come up with an idea, she’d go see Kevin that afternoon, then Flip in the early evening, and put off Hugo until the next day. Maybe by then some excuse would occur to her.

Skye wasn’t able to leave work after the final bell, as she had planned. Instead, she was pulled into a last-minute conference regarding a student who was refusing to attend school, and by the time she’d gotten out of that discussion, she decided she’d better call Wally and let him know that both Charlie and Tomi had alibis.

Wally was in a hurry—he had to get to a meeting of the police commissioners—but he told Skye he’d assigned Martinez to check out Risé’s background, and the officer would let him know ASAP what she found out. He also mentioned that he was still waiting for the ME and crime scene reports.

Because of all the delays, it was close to four thirty when Skye arrived at Kevin’s insurance office, and she was afraid he might already have gone home.

As she locked the Bel Air, her cell phone rang. Sighing, she dug it out of the depths of her tote, checked to make sure it wasn’t her mother calling to bug her about Vince and the engagement ring, then flipped it open and said, “Hello.”

The display screen said ILLINOIS CALLER, so Skye had no idea who was on the other end until she heard, “Hi. This is Simon.” His smooth tenor was oddly soothing. “I missed you at school and didn’t know when you’d be home, so Frannie told me how to reach you.” He paused, but when Skye didn’t react—Frannie had been told not to share Skye’s cell number with Simon—he continued, “I was wondering where things stand on Kayla’s murder.”

“Couldn’t you ask Wally?” Skye pushed open the office building’s door and went in. “Or talk to the ME?”

“Boyd claims there’s nothing new.” Simon sounded unconvinced. “And the ME has promised to e-mail me his report before he leaves work today.”

“So why are you asking me?” Skye looked around the small waiting room. It was empty; even the secretary’s chair was vacant.

“Because I heard that you and Boyd talked to the librarian, and she had info about the stolen books.”

“How did you hear that?” Skye asked. Although she wasn’t surprised, she was annoyed. They’d hoped to keep Judy’s revelation a secret.

“Anthony’s mother, Sally, has been doing some of the funeral home’s paperwork for me lately.”

“Ah.” Skye didn’t bother to point out that Anthony should not have shared the info with Sally. She understood how hard it was to keep secrets from mothers. “Then you know as much as I do. Judy found the books in the library return box.”

“So is Boyd still treating the case as a burglary?” Simon asked.

“Not entirely,” Skye admitted. “We’re checking to see if anyone wanted Kayla dead.”

She felt a little guilty leaving out the fact that she believed the intended victim was Risé, but until she’d cleared her own family, she wasn’t willing to share that little detail with anyone other than the person in charge of the investigation. The fact that that individual happened to be her fiancé was just a happy coincidence.

“Any luck?”

“Not so far.” Skye shifted impatiently from foot to foot. “Have you found out any more about whatever Xavier is keeping secret?”

“No.” Simon sounded frustrated. “He’s as tightlipped as a Swiss banker.”

“I’m sorry to rush you, but I really need to go. I’m late for an appointment.” Skye walked over to the closed office door. “Is there anything else?”

“I guess not.” There was a long silence, and she almost thought he had hung up when he said wistfully, “I suppose you’re busy tonight.”

“Yes.” Skye wrinkled her nose. “Believe it or not, Wally and I are going to the grand reopening of the Scumble River Roller Skating Rink.”

“You’re full of surprises lately,” Simon commented. “I won’t say have a good time. I can’t imagine that. How about don’t break a leg?”

“Thanks. Bye.” Frowning, she flipped the phone closed. Wally had said she was full of surprises recently, too. Had she been that predictable before? Vowing to be more spontaneous, she turned back to the door and knocked on the fake wood panel.