Murder of a Small-Town Honey

Before anyone could say anything else, a stream of stu­dents started filling the room.

A little redheaded boy with a crew cut marched up to Skye. He looked familiar, but she couldn't place him. 'You're sitting in my chair.'

She got up and squatted down in front of him. 'I apolo­gize. My name is Ms. Denison, and sometimes I have to come to your room before school. Would it be okay if I use your chair when you're not here?'

The boy smiled, revealing that his front teeth were miss­ing. 'Sure, but you gotta get off it when I say so.'

Skye stuck out her hand. 'Deal.'

Yvonne noticed the boy for the first time. She walked around her desk and stood near him. 'Junior, it's time to sit down. Maybe Ms. Denison will visit you again sometime.'

Junior. Where have I heard that name before? Skye tapped her chin, lost in thought.

Belle and Abby had gathered their folders and appoint­ment books and were heading out the door when Skye caught up with them. 'Abby, were you in Vince's class dur­ing high school?'

'No, I was a year behind.'

'Did you know Honey Adair?'

'That little ponytailed porcelain doll? How could I for­get her?'

Putting her arm through Abby's, Skye steered her toward the health room. 'Can we talk?'

With a wave, Belle set out in the opposite direction.

Skye and Abby settled themselves in the health room after shutting the door. This room looked just like the one at the junior high, and Skye was betting that the one at the high school would also be the same. Abby sat at the desk while Skye made do with the cot.

'So, why do you want to know about Honey?' Abby asked, leaning back and crossing her legs.

'You know the police had Vince in for questioning?'

She nodded. 'Yeah, but they let him go that same night.'

'Only because the attorney I found for him wouldn't let him say anything. They didn't have enough evidence to ar­rest him, but he's still their number-one suspect. According to Mom, he's their only suspect,'

'So, what are you doing?' Abby frowned.

'My mom thinks, and I have to agree, that unless we find out who really killed Honey, the police are going to keep trying to nail Vince.

'In order to find out who killed her, I need to know as much about her as possible. Right now I'm trying to get a picture of what she was like. What do you remember about her?' Skye squirmed, trying to get comfortable on the lumpy vinyl cot, and vowed to race Abby for the chair next time.

'She was the only person I've ever met that Gandhi would have slapped.'

'Why was that?'

'Honey was just plain mean. She was so tiny, you weren't prepared for her to turn on you. She went out of her way to say hurtful things to people. That one had a talent for picking out the weakest kids around and tearing them to shreds. When you add the fact that she was never interested

in a boy unless he was dating someone else...' The ex­pression on Abby's face was one of disgust.

'Boy, she was a real witch.'

'With a capital B,' added Abby.

Skye grabbed a pencil from the desk. 'Who were some of her loves du jour?'

'Most guys were just one-night stands, and their girl­friends eventually took them back.'

'So you're saying if sex were fast food there would have been golden arches over her head.'

Abby didn't smile. 'Before she latched on to Mike Young, he was pretty serious about Darleen Ames. They never did get back together.'

'Darleen Ames. Is she Darleen Boyd now?'

'Yep.'

'Who else's life did she mess around with?' Skye lifted her tote onto her lap.

'Well, we were on the softball team together that sum­mer she moved here, and she seemed very close to the coach.'

Skye leaned forward. 'Who was the coach? Is he still in town?'

'Sure, you see him every day. It was Lloyd Stark.' Abby hastened to add, 'Just remember that was only an impres­sion I had, not a fact.'

'Understood. But it certainly is food for thought.' She hated to broach the next question. 'Who was Vince going out with when she hooked him?'

Abby looked away. 'He wasn't seeing anyone seriously, but he and I had dated a couple of times.'

'That must have made you feel pretty angry.'

'I wanted to kill her.'

CHAPTER 13

All Shook Up

A fter speaking to Abby, Skye had tried to concentrate on setting up a counseling schedule and observing in dif­ferent classrooms. At eleven-thirty she gave up and called May, suggesting that they meet for lunch. Now she sat in a booth at McDonald's, waiting for her mother and gazing out the window at the parking lot. If she craned her neck she could see the spot that Mrs. Gumtree's trailer had occu­pied. She was surprised that the area showed no trace of ei­ther the parade or the murder.

May slid onto the bench opposite Skye. 'I'm glad you called me. Meeting for lunch was a good idea. This way we can discuss the case without your father knowing what we're up to.'

'Why don't you want Dad to know?'

'Because he doesn't know how to keep a secret.'

'That's true.' Skye stood up. 'I'll get our food, and we can talk while we eat. I only have half an hour. What do you want, Mom?'

'Gee, I don't know. I guess a grilled chicken sandwich and a Diet Coke. I'll eat some of your fries.' May reached into her wallet and thrust a ten-dollar bill at Skye. 'My treat.'

'I can buy my own lunch.'

They glared at each other for an instant before Skye ac­quiesced and reluctantly accepted the money. She shot May one more look before leaving to place their order.

Skye was gone less than five minutes. She handed May her change before putting the brown plastic tray on the table and settling back on her side of the booth. While May put away the money, Skye unwrapped her Big Mac and took a bite.

May removed a foil pack of moistened towelettes from her purse and tore it open. She shook out the paper square and thoroughly wiped the tabletop. After flattening the wrinkled paper from her sandwich into a makeshift place mat, she took a handful of Skye's fries and put a straw in her cup. She smoothed a napkin on her lap.

Skye watched this ritual with interest, having seen it only a million or so times before today. 'Are we comfy yet?'

May looked up, but did not respond to Skye's sarcasm. 'That's a pretty outfit. Don't forget to put your napkin in your lap.'

Having forgotten momentarily what she'd put on that morning, Skye looked down at what she was wearing —a deep blue wrap-style dress with a cascade collar. 'Thanks.'

'Why don't your shoes match?'

Since the pumps she was wearing were made for walk­ing, Skye walked away from that booby trap. 'If we're through with our housekeeping chores and fashion bloop­ers, perhaps we can discuss what I've uncovered so far this morning.'

'Shoot.'

Leaning forward, Skye lowered her voice, even though there was no one anywhere near them. 'Okay, you remem­ber the things you're supposed to research for me tonight?'

May nodded impatiently. 'Yes, I wrote it all down. I'm not senile. What else have you found out?'

'After my meeting this morning I chatted with Abby Fleming, the school nurse. You know she's dating Vince