Killer Sudoku Read Online Free Page A

with anticipation as he clicked the phone shut and headed for a podium in the front of the room.
    He settled behind it, and a silence fell on the crowd.
    “Thank you, everyone, for attending our tournament kickoff here at the splendid Rancho Pacificano,” Will said. “Even more to the point, thank you to our generous sponsors.”
    Liza noticed that Charley Ormond was too busy to acknowledge the props, directing her camera crew.
    “I’d also like to thank our host. Let’s have a few words from Mr. Fergus Fleming.” Will’s phone began to ring. “And not a moment too soon.”
    Fergus—wasn’t that the name Kevin mentioned when he talked about pulling strings to get into the resort?
    A tall man with a head of flaming red hair and a beard to match came over to loom beside Will. As Fergus Fleming bent forward to the microphone, Liza could see that even though his suit was expensively and conservatively cut, it certainly didn’t hide his wide shoulders.
    “Thank you, Will, and let me say it’s a pleasure to welcome all of you.”
    For some reason, that seemed to provoke a fit of coughing from Babs Basset, who had moved front and center before the podium.
    Glancing at her, Fleming checked his smooth flow of words, his voice taking on more of a Celtic burr. “As managing partner, I’ve tried to make Rancho Pacificano a premier modern lifestyle destination.”
    Well, that explains the Spanish-Scottish combination, Liza thought.
    “For all of those staying here, our amenities are at your service. For those of you who aren’t, well, you can see all you’re missing.”
    That got a laugh from the assembled guests.
    “And for the contestants in this tournament, the best of luck to you!” Fleming waved as some flash cameras went off. Then he stepped over to shake hands with Will, who had to jam his phone into a jacket pocket. More camera flashes and jockeying from the video crews.
    Liza just happened to spot a blond head moving from behind the podium—where Will had left his portfolio.
    Well, maybe the contents weren’t for competitors’ eyes. But unless Babs had a photographic memory, even if there were originals of tournament sudoku in there, she couldn’t hope to memorize them.
    Will moved back to the podium. “In a moment I’ll introduce some of the sudoku experts who have come from several nearby states and cities to participate in this year’s tournament,” he said. “But first I have a surprise announcement. Could I direct your attention to the main entrance, please?”
    Charley Ormond was glaring daggers at Will for departing from the agreed-upon script, but she turned her camera crew around.
    “It turns out we have a sudoku fan who registered under an alias for reasons of privacy,” Will said. “Now, though, she has graciously agreed to let me introduce her, although she really needs no introduction. Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Gemma Vereker.”

3
    The double doors in the rear of the room opened, and Gemma Vereker strode into the room. She couldn’t have looked more like a movie star if she’d made her entrance trailing a mink coat behind her.
    What Liza really found impressive was that Gemma did the job strictly on presence rather than props. Gemma’s suit was stylish but understated, and the star’s hair was shorter and more silvery than Liza remembered from recent pictures.
    Well, Gemma always had a reputation for being smart. Maybe she’s reinventing herself—and I wonder if she had some advice on that from Michelle.
    The newspeople immediately began peppering the star with questions, but Gemma struck the perfect tone. “I’ve enjoyed sudoku puzzles for some years now—they’ve helped pass a lot of time on film sets. And when I heard of a tournament only a short distance from Hollywood . . . well, I had to give it a try.”
    She gave the photographers a dazzling smile. “But I’m hardly a star at sudoku, so I hope you’ll give your attention to the serious competitors at this