Secrets in a Still Life by Kari Ganske (mobi ebook reader .txt) 📕

files and the filing cabinet and then disappeared with Fang to places unknown.

"It seems I need to apologize again. We're gonna have to cut class short today," Officer Martinez said when she reentered the room. Her voice was steady and clear, holding none of her earlier excitement. Very professional.

"What!?" annoyed lady cried. "I rearranged my entire schedule for today."

"I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do. You will be credited with the time you put in. I'll see if I can get the rest of your requirement waived." She grabbed her stack of folders from the desk and sauntered out of the room before anyone else could protest.

I, too, felt the flicker of annoyance—I couldn't get my license back until I took this class—but I was more excited about the information I just learned. I texted Colleen on the way out of the building.

Me: Can you meet for lunch? Exciting news to share

Colleen: Henry Cavill is in town and wants to marry me!?

Me: Even juicier. Meet at Scoops?

Colleen: Be there at eleven

I checked my phone clock. I had about half an hour to bike to Scoop's. I would be a sweaty, red-faced mess when I arrived, but I could do it. Man, I really needed my car back. I'd managed to pay off the repairs using last month's royalty check from my stock photography, but it still had to sit in car jail until I finished this class.

Colleen's VW was already parked in the lot when I arrived a little past eleven. In addition to ice cream, Scoop’s offered a small selection of deli sandwiches, mayonnaise-based salads, and homemade soup. No matter the season, I loved their homemade soups. I used to stop here on my way home from school almost every day to get a cone and a cup of soup—not to be eaten together.

I met Colleen at the counter where she undoubtedly ordered an egg salad sandwich on rye toast with extra black pepper and a pickle on the side. I looked at the daily soup offerings and gave a little shout of joy: jambalaya topped the list. My favorite. I ordered the soup—a large today so I could save some for later—and a huge fountain coke, then waited at a picnic table outside for Colleen to join me.

"So what's juicier than Henry Cavill?" Colleen said, taking the bench across from me. She unwrapped her egg salad sandwich and took a huge bite. I smiled. Some things never changed.

"I found out the murder weapon," I said. Colleen, eyes wide and mouth full of sandwich, waved her hand frantically for me to continue.

"Scissors! Missy was stabbed with scissors," I exclaimed. Colleen choked a little. She took a big swig of her own fountain soda to right herself.

"I mean, that certainly puts Kelly back on top of the list," Colleen said when she got her coughing under control.

"Right? Officer Martinez had to cancel driving class to rush somewhere. Do you think they're raiding the salon?"

"This is one time I wish I had a police scanner."

"I also wish I had a car. Then I could inconspicuously drive past. I'm a little noticeable on the bright yellow bike."

"So?" Colleen asked. "People bike down that road all the time. Hence the bike lane."

I pursed my lips. "Right. The other main suspect in the murder just happens to be riding by at the exact moment police are searching the place? Chief Duncan warned me he'd be watching my every move."

"But the murder weapon gets you off the hook," Colleen said. "It points the finger squarely at Kelly. I mean, I like Kelly, but her motive is ten times stronger than yours. She's completely erased any inkling of Missy from that salon in less than two weeks."

"True. Still, I have enough people mad at me right now. I don't want to borrow more trouble. I'll text Nana K and see if she heard anything on the scanner."

Me: Anything interesting on the scanner?

Nana K: Police activity at the salon

Me: Thought so. Murder weapon=scissors

Nana K texted back the wide-eyed emojis. I showed Colleen the exchange.

"Now I really wish I had a car," I said.

"I'd let you borrow my car, but we are hauling kids to the park later this afternoon."

I sighed and spooned my soup. "I thought maybe after today I'd start getting my life back. I'd have my car. I could maybe go into the city and see about freelance jobs at the Baltimore Sun. I could even try Washington, DC, although it's a longer commute. Now I'm stuck here until I can finish that class."

"You still have to finish your community service anyway."

"That's true. Although with Linc mad at me for some reason, I'm beginning to dread that as well. It's like there's this big cloud of yuck hanging over us. I can't figure out what I did to make him so angry."

"Did you ask him?" Colleen said, an edge to her voice.

"He barely talks to me anymore." I sighed, settling into my little pity party. "This is all Rick's fault. If he hadn't spread those lies about me, I wouldn't even be in this situation. I would be back in New York talking about my next assignment. Not here riding around on a yellow bike and contemplating taking Christmas card pictures for Mary Homemaker."

Colleen interrupted my pout by slamming her hand down on the table, making me jump.

"Really, Alex. I missed you and I love you, but you're being ridiculous. If you don't want to be here, move somewhere else. But stop putting down the people and the town I call home." She rose from the table. "Honestly, when did you become such a snob?"

I gaped at her back as she stormed away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 25

 

 

 

I rode slowly back