School's Out for Murder (Schooled in Murder Book 2) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Tracy D. Comstock
fair.
Ignoring her eye roll, Gabby fired up the minivan and headed toward Emily's duplex—
for real, this time. Gabby and Emily spent the short drive debating who all might have hated Mayor McBain. Unfortunately, as an outspoken and controversial political figure in their small town, the list was fairly long. But did hate extend to murder?
Pulling into Emily's drive, Gabby made her promise to call first thing in the morning, or earlier, if she needed anything, and headed home to her family. Emily took in the dark night sky studded with stars. A light breeze was moving the tops of the trees and cicadas droned in the darkness. It was a beautiful night, despite the horror she had encountered under the bright lights of the carnival. As she unlocked her front door, she heard the soft sound of voices drifting from the back patio of her shared duplex. Her first instinct was to let herself in quietly so as not to disturb the couple next door, but then she heard Helen call out, "Emily?"
"It's me," Emily called back, turning the key in her lock.
"Come on back. It's a gorgeous night," Helen called.
Not seeing a gracious way to decline, Emily circled their duplex to find Helen and her new love interest, Richard Barnes, seated in cushy chairs, sharing a glass of wine by the fire pit. Helen tipped the bottle her way, but Emily shook her head. Her favorite beverage was cold and caffeinated, which probably accounted for the extra padding on her hips. "There's cold Dr. Pepper in the fridge," Helen laughed. Deciding that might help her headache, Emily stepped into the kitchen to grab one and then sunk into an empty seat on the patio.
"How's the carnival going?" Helen asked, the light from the fire reflected in her dancing eyes.
Emily hesitated. Of course they didn't know what had transpired that evening. Helen looked so happy and relaxed there in front of her fire that Emily hated to be the one to tell them the bad news. Helen had already been through so much the past year when she'd been kidnapped and framed for Coach Layton's murder. And while Emily had found her and the real killer in time to save Helen's life, the trauma she had been through had taken its toll. The once energetic, athletic woman—the counselor the students adored and Emily's mom's best friend—had not bounced back quickly. For months, she had been quiet and timid, easily startled and afraid of her own shadow. She had even given up her biggest passion—running. But thanks to the caring attentions of Richard Barnes, a fellow teacher at Ellington and formerly one of Emily's least favorite people on the planet, she had finally begun to resemble her old cheerful self. Emily had even seen her out jogging a few times, but always with Barnes close behind. It still floored Emily that an attraction could exist between this unlikely pair, but seeing the happiness and peace that exuded from Helen, Emily couldn't help but revise her opinion of Barnes from rodent to at least a less-annoying pest. Maybe a squirrel….
Barnes was watching her closely now, and Emily tried not to squirm, afraid he could see into her thoughts. He broke the silence with a single word: "Well?"
"Well, what?" Emily asked, playing innocent. She didn't want to bring news of another murder investigation to Helen's peaceful evening, but she doubted Barnes would let her off the hook that easily.
"You'd make a lousy poker player, Taylor. Something's happened. What is it?"
Helen was immediately on the alert, sitting up straight, her fingers white-knuckled as she gripped the chair arms. Emily hated the hunted look she saw in her friend's eyes. She decided it would be better all-around if Helen heard the news from her. She cleared her throat and then quietly reported the evening's events in as calm a voice as she could manage. The strain had her headache stabbing at the back of her eyes with a vengeance. When she concluded with Maclaine's exit with Tad, she let out a huge sigh and drank deeply of her icy
Ignoring her eye roll, Gabby fired up the minivan and headed toward Emily's duplex—
for real, this time. Gabby and Emily spent the short drive debating who all might have hated Mayor McBain. Unfortunately, as an outspoken and controversial political figure in their small town, the list was fairly long. But did hate extend to murder?
Pulling into Emily's drive, Gabby made her promise to call first thing in the morning, or earlier, if she needed anything, and headed home to her family. Emily took in the dark night sky studded with stars. A light breeze was moving the tops of the trees and cicadas droned in the darkness. It was a beautiful night, despite the horror she had encountered under the bright lights of the carnival. As she unlocked her front door, she heard the soft sound of voices drifting from the back patio of her shared duplex. Her first instinct was to let herself in quietly so as not to disturb the couple next door, but then she heard Helen call out, "Emily?"
"It's me," Emily called back, turning the key in her lock.
"Come on back. It's a gorgeous night," Helen called.
Not seeing a gracious way to decline, Emily circled their duplex to find Helen and her new love interest, Richard Barnes, seated in cushy chairs, sharing a glass of wine by the fire pit. Helen tipped the bottle her way, but Emily shook her head. Her favorite beverage was cold and caffeinated, which probably accounted for the extra padding on her hips. "There's cold Dr. Pepper in the fridge," Helen laughed. Deciding that might help her headache, Emily stepped into the kitchen to grab one and then sunk into an empty seat on the patio.
"How's the carnival going?" Helen asked, the light from the fire reflected in her dancing eyes.
Emily hesitated. Of course they didn't know what had transpired that evening. Helen looked so happy and relaxed there in front of her fire that Emily hated to be the one to tell them the bad news. Helen had already been through so much the past year when she'd been kidnapped and framed for Coach Layton's murder. And while Emily had found her and the real killer in time to save Helen's life, the trauma she had been through had taken its toll. The once energetic, athletic woman—the counselor the students adored and Emily's mom's best friend—had not bounced back quickly. For months, she had been quiet and timid, easily startled and afraid of her own shadow. She had even given up her biggest passion—running. But thanks to the caring attentions of Richard Barnes, a fellow teacher at Ellington and formerly one of Emily's least favorite people on the planet, she had finally begun to resemble her old cheerful self. Emily had even seen her out jogging a few times, but always with Barnes close behind. It still floored Emily that an attraction could exist between this unlikely pair, but seeing the happiness and peace that exuded from Helen, Emily couldn't help but revise her opinion of Barnes from rodent to at least a less-annoying pest. Maybe a squirrel….
Barnes was watching her closely now, and Emily tried not to squirm, afraid he could see into her thoughts. He broke the silence with a single word: "Well?"
"Well, what?" Emily asked, playing innocent. She didn't want to bring news of another murder investigation to Helen's peaceful evening, but she doubted Barnes would let her off the hook that easily.
"You'd make a lousy poker player, Taylor. Something's happened. What is it?"
Helen was immediately on the alert, sitting up straight, her fingers white-knuckled as she gripped the chair arms. Emily hated the hunted look she saw in her friend's eyes. She decided it would be better all-around if Helen heard the news from her. She cleared her throat and then quietly reported the evening's events in as calm a voice as she could manage. The strain had her headache stabbing at the back of her eyes with a vengeance. When she concluded with Maclaine's exit with Tad, she let out a huge sigh and drank deeply of her icy
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