Murder of a Sleeping Beauty by Denise Swanson Read Free Book Online Page A

remained seated. They ranged from clumps of eight or ten, to single students hunkered by themselves.
    Forty was far too many for an effective group intervention. She’d have to divide them among the helpers she had available. Weighing the personalities involved, Skye resolved to give Abby the least upset kids. The school nurse tended to be a bit clinical, which would be appropriate for the teens who would be fine as soon as they could sort out the experience in their minds.
    Trixie was a great listener. She could take the kids who were upset more with the idea of someone dying than with Lorelei’s death in particular.
    Skye would take Lorelei’s closest friends—the cheerleaders, the drama crowd, and the student council.
    “Okay, in a little bit we’ll divide up into three groups. Mrs. Frayne will take some of you to the library to talk, Ms. Fleming’s bunch will go to the music room, and the rest will come with me to the guidance office.”
    Skye scanned the crowd. How to decide who was the least upset? She shrugged. Maybe this wasn’t the correct way to approach this crisis, but it was all she could think of. She hadn’t been given much training for this type of incident. “Before we break into groups, I’d like you each to tell me a little bit about how you knew Lorelei.”
    Three girls were clustered together at the front table. One with short blond curls met Skye’s gaze and lifted an eyebrow. Skye pointed to her. “Would you go first?”
    “I was her best friend. We were co-captains of the cheerleading squad.”
    Skye thought she heard a small voice say, “Lorelei let you be her assistant. You were never the co-captain.”
    It was interesting how quickly people jumped in to get their version across. Skye dipped her head to the two other girls. “Were you on the squad, too?”
    They nodded and whispered.
    That triad would come with Skye.
    A muscular young man sitting with two other guys caught Skye’s attention next, and she walked over to them. “And how did you know Lorelei?”
    His voice cracked when he answered, “She was my girlfriend.”
    “I’m so sorry.” This boy would probably be the chief mourner. She would have to watch him closely. “Are these your friends?” Skye indicated the teens flanking him.
    “Yes, we’re on the football team together.”
    My group, too. She worked her way through the rest of the kids. The last girl sat by herself in the back, staring into space and looking out of place among the ultraslim blondes who had been in Lorelei’s inner circle. She had a voluptuous figure and long, wavy brown hair. It took Skye several tries to get the girl’s attention.
    Finally, the loner said, “I’m no one. Lorelei didn’t know I was alive.”
    Skye looked at her quizzically.
    The girl rose from her seat. Her brown eyes blazed. “I hated her. I’m glad she’s dead.”

    It was close to ten-thirty by the time Skye left the guidance office. Several of the students had asked for individual sessions. She was heading for the faculty lounge and the staff bathroom when Opal Hill, the school secretary, came flying down the hall. Normally Opal reminded Skye of a mouse, but today, dressed all in black, she looked more like a bat.
    “Oh, thank goodness I found you. Mr. Knapik is in with the coordinator from the co-op and has ordered me not to disturb them, but the police are here. What should I do?”
    “Tell Homer immediately.”
    “No, I can’t.”
    “Well, I can.” Skye marched toward the office, trailed by the secretary.
    Wally, Officer Quirk, and two other Scumble River policemen were standing in the main office. Skye walked past them, ignoring their words, and knocked on Homer’s door. No answer. She knocked again and leaned her head against the wood. Not a sound. She tried the door. It opened easily, but no one was in the room.
    Skye turned to Wally. “Did you see Homer leave this office?”
    The chief shook his head. “No, but we don’t need him. Just give us the