Murder of a Small-Town Honey

things quiet in an ongoing investigation. And that it isn't always an easy task in a town this size. But you must understand that we need to know what you think she's done. If her ac­tions make her a danger to our other students, we must be informed.'

'We've had an anonymous informant tell us that her boyfriend, who does not go to school here, may be involved in a series of arson-style fires.' Quirk straightened the crease of his pants.

McCabe glared at him.

'I see. So, at this time she does not appear to be a danger to herself or others. Correct?' Skye looked from one man to the other.

Both men nodded.

'Fine. Then I'll talk to Mr. Knapik when he gets back. With his permission, I'll speak to her teachers and try to get the information you need.'

Quirk handed her his card. 'Call me as soon as possi­ble.'

When school ended that day, Skye drove straight to the Scumble River Police Department. She was going to be a good citizen and deliver the information about Phoebe Unger to Officer Quirk in person. If, while she was there, she happened to chat with Chief Boyd about Honey Adair's murder, who would she be hurting?

Walking up to the counter, she raised her voice. 'Hi, Thea. How are you? I haven't seen you in ages.'

Thea Jones, one of Scumble River's longtime dispatch­ers, opened the gate and motioned Skye through, then gave her a hug. 'Skye, honey, how you doin'? I'm sure sorry for the trouble your family's havin'.'

Skye hugged her back. 'Me, too. I hope Chief Boyd finds the real killer soon. It's just silly to think of Vince as a murderer.'

'Ain't that right?' Thea sat back down. 'Sometimes these men around here don't think too good. None of us dispatchers think he done it.'

Leaning over, Skye kissed her on the cheek. 'Thanks. I have some information on another case for Officer Quirk. Is he available?'

'Yep. He's in with the chief. I'll let 'em know you're here.'

Following a short conversation on the intercom, Thea

turned to Skye. 'Go right into the chief's office, honey. They both want to hear what you got to say.'

Smiling to herself, Skye thought, How convenient. I won't even have to ask to see Chief Boyd.

He was standing on the threshold. When Skye ap­proached, he motioned her inside and closed the door. Of­ fice Quirk was in one chair, and Skye took the other visitor's seat.

A faint smell of stale cigarette smoke lingered in the air. Skye looked around but didn't see any ashtrays, so she sus­pected the odor was from before Chief Boyd's time. His of­fice was small and windowless, its gray walls lined with file cabinets and bookshelves. Linoleum that might have been blue when it was first put down but now looked sil­very covered the floor. Shrouding the top of the chief's desk were papers of every shape and color. His chair was cracked green vinyl.

Chief Boyd sat on the edge of his desk, pushing a stack of manila files out of his way. 'So, Skye, what can you tell us about Phoebe Unger?'

'Well, she certainly talks tough. No one knows if she carries out her threats, but if anyone crosses her or she thinks anyone has crossed her, she wants revenge.'

Roy Quirk asked, 'Can you be more specific?'

'I talked to a couple of girls she used to be friendly with last year. They seemed genuinely afraid of her—and it takes a lot to scare a teenager.'

'Did they say why?' Chief Boyd looked up from the file he had been sifting through.

'This boyfriend you're investigating tried to break up with her last year. Phoebe was furious and vowed to get him back. She found out who his new girlfriend was, waited until they were out on a date, and trashed the girl's car.'

'Why didn't she report it to the police?' demanded Roy.

'Was there any proof Phoebe did it?' asked the chief.

'It wasn't reported to the police because the girl was ter­rified. She refused to have anything more to do with Phoebe's ex-boyfriend. As to proof, yes, I'd say they had proof.'

'You sound pretty sure. What kind of evidence did they have?' The Chief made a note in the file.

'Phoebe didn't give the boyfriend back his school jacket when he broke up with her. When they found the car, there was a dummy behind the wheel, wearing what was left of the jacket. It was stabbed through the chest with a butcher knife.'

Both men looked at each other. Roy got up, excused himself, and left the office.

'Why do I think you guys are really after Phoebe and not the boyfriend?' Skye asked, trying to get comfortable on the hard chair.

'You don't want to know.'

'You're right, I don't want to, but if the other kids are in danger I need to.'

Chief Boyd moved from behind his desk to the chair next to Skye. He took her hand. 'Do you trust me, Skye?'

She was having trouble keeping her breathing even. His tone had changed from official to intimate. 'Yes, I... I guess so.' Part of her wanted to jerk her fingers away, but another part of her remembered that summer when she was fifteen.

He seemed to sense her agitation. Letting her hand go, he moved away. 'We'll make sure Phoebe doesn't hurt any­one else.'

She would have liked to know what was going on with Phoebe Unger, but decided to let that matter drop and see what she could find out about Vince.

'Chief?'

'Do you think you could call me Wally? You make me feel a hundred years old calling me Chief Boyd all the time.

I'm only eight years older than you, and those eight years seem a lot shorter now that you're not fifteen anymore.'

This was definitely not what Skye expected. She didn't know how to react. In her confusion she wasn't sure if he was flirting or just being friendly. The feelings she'd once had for him were resurfacing, but he was married, and she wasn't about to forget that.

'No, I'm far from fifteen. It seems like lots of things have changed since I've been gone. How's the murder in­vestigation going?'

'I really can't talk about that.'

'Oh, I know you can't go into detail, but it must have been quite a surprise when Mrs. Gumtree's agent identified her as Honey Adair.' When the chief didn't answer, Skye went on, 'Or did you already have an inkling as to her real identity?'

'What makes you say that?'

'Mom says there was a lot of secret activity going on here night before last.' Skye watched him carefully. 'And I find it hard to believe that no one recognized her. After all, she lived here for almost a year.'

Wally said, 'That was over sixteen years ago. And you have to remember she didn't want to be recognized, so she stayed away from people. She only appeared outside of her trailer for storytelling on Saturday. The only ones who saw her close up were children.'

'Still, the whole thing is very convenient for someone. You don't seriously suspect Vince, do you?' Skye's eyes never left his face.

'They were his scissors.'

'Half the town gets their hair cut at his salon. Anyone could have stolen them.'

'True, but how many people dated Honey Adair in high school?' Chief Boyd went around his desk and sat down. The barriers were back in place.

'Half the town, or so I've heard.'

'But Vince was the last one before she disappeared. Why did she leave so mysteriously?'

'What did Charlie Patukas say about her leaving?' Skye put both hands on the edge of the desk and leaned forward.