Blood Will Have Blood by Linda Barnes Read Free Book Online Page A

Only her mouth moved as she snapped, “I’m worried. Eddie’s never been a minute late before. With all the weird events around here.…” Her voice trailed off.
    â€œKaren’s been like a sister to Eddie,” Georgina said quietly. She and Spraggue sat five rows behind and slightly to the right of Arthur Darien, waiting for rehearsal to proceed. “He’s the baby of the company. Karen showed him the ropes.”
    â€œAt least that’s what he says,” interrupted Greg Hudson. “It’s my opinion that older sister, for one, is ripe for a little incest!”
    â€œBe quiet, Greg!” Georgina’s cheeks flamed. “Do you want her to hear you?”
    â€œI really don’t care,” Hudson said calmly, and walked away. Hit and run, that was Hudson’s style, thought Spraggue.
    Georgina let out her breath soundlessly, watching Karen. The argument over Eddie continued; the stage manager couldn’t have overheard. “Sometimes I think Greg’s crazy!” she said, moving closer to Spraggue. “He seems to want to hurt everybody—”
    â€œDo you think he’s the company joker?”
    â€œNo,” she said swiftly. “I’m sure he’s not.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œNot the type. He lets all his nasty feelings out. Wouldn’t you think that the kind of person who’d do things like that would be—well, all quiet and polite on the outside?”
    â€œAnd dark and twisted inside?”
    Georgina nodded gravely. “Yes. Sick and mad.… To play such cruel jokes—”
    â€œHe’s done something to you.” Spraggue kept his voice light but firm. If there were no question, there would be no denial.
    â€œYes,” she murmured. The memory of the beheaded doll clouded her gray eyes.
    â€œDeirdre told me about the doll,” Spraggue said.
    â€œShe did?” Georgina stared at her fingernails.
    â€œWhy didn’t you say anything about it?”
    She kept her head down and answered lamely but doggedly. “It wasn’t the kind of thing I wanted to talk about.…”
    â€œYou might have told Darien.”
    â€œWhat could he do? It was over. I wanted to forget it ever happened.”
    â€œGeorgie, was there a piece of paper stuck to the doll?”
    She looked up finally. “Yes.”
    â€œDo you still have it?”
    â€œI might.”
    â€œDo me a favor.”
    She smiled at his pleading. “Okay.”
    â€œLunch break. Go get the paper. Don’t tell anybody else about it. Don’t mention where you’re going.”
    â€œBut, Michael—”
    â€œSpraggue!” Darien’s voice shot across the rows of seats.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œCome here!”
    Spraggue gave Georgina’s cold hand a squeeze. “Don’t forget,” he said. Georgina’s eyes avoided his, but her hand squeezed back. He walked rapidly over to Darien.
    Karen Snow’s dark, angry eyes were still fastened on the director. He seemed flustered, but kept command of his voice. “I wondered, Spraggue,” he began meekly. “ We wondered if you’d mind going over to Lafferty’s place and taking a look around. Just to hoist him out of bed, I expect.” Darien tried a laugh. It fell flat. He raised his voice; the rest of the conversation was for Georgina’s curious ears. “I thought you’d be the best person to send. All your Act Two scenes are with Eddie, so I can’t very well rehearse you without him. And Karen has volunteered to go over your blocking tomorrow night, if that’s okay—so any time we miss can be made up. I can work the women’s scenes while you’re gone—”
    Maybe he’d go on talking forever, Spraggue thought. He stopped the anxious voice with a word. “Sure,” he said easily. “Just give me an address.”
    â€œOne hundred forty-one Hemenway,” said Karen.