without something happening to change the situation.”
Abruptly Lloyd ushered her out the door. “Fine. I’ll check with the superintendent and get back to you if we need another option.”
Finding herself staring at the closed door, she noticed it was oak with a small black nameplate on it: LLOYD STARK, PRINCIPAL.
She thought, Principal what? Boor?
Skye wasn’t able to leave school until after five, having once again missed lunch. If this continued she’d have to find some sort of food she could eat during the five minutes it took to walk from one appointment to the next. The PPS meeting had lasted past three, and before she could get out of the room, the Idells had arrived. She’d spent two hours trying to work through the issues surrounding Travis’s behavior but made little progress.
During a brief break in the conference, she had stolen a few minutes and telephoned her mother to ask if Vince planned on closing the shop for the day. May told Skye that Vince had said he’d be at work the next morning, whether he still had customers or not.
Pulling into Great Expectations about five-fifteen, Skye found the parking lot empty.
Vince was sitting on a stool behind the counter drinking a Coke and reading the Chicago Tribune when Skye came through the door.
He got up and came around to hug her. “Sis, I didn’t kill her.”
“I know.” Skye fought the lump gathering in the back of her throat. “Let’s sit down.”
They settled once again in the plastic-covered chairs by the shampoo sinks and Skye asked gently, “Did most people show up for their appointments?”
“Yes. I was surprised, but there was just the normal number of no-shows.”
Skye crossed her legs. “Good. Maybe that means the town’s behind you. I suppose they all wanted to ask you questions, though.”
“Oh, yeah, but that’s pretty normal in this business. I told everyone I wasn’t allowed to discuss it.”
“That was a good idea.”
“I was thinking of changing our double date to Friday. Both Mike and Abby said that was okay. Can you make it then?” Trailing his fingers along the basin, Vince avoided looking Skye in the eye.
“Sure, but maybe we should wait until this is all over.”
“No. I want to go out. It will help take my mind off things.” Vince continued to appear fascinated with the sink’s enamel finish.
“When’s your next customer scheduled?”
“Not until six, and that’s the last appointment of the day,” Vince said, relief evident in his voice.
“Then we have time to talk. What did you think of Loretta?”
“She was amazing, but then so were you and Mom. How did you know what to do?”
“I’m not sure, but ever since all this happened I’ve been relying on my memories of old TV shows to tell me how to act. I know I watched a lot of television as a kid, but it must have made a greater impact than I ever realized. Every time I get into a jam lately I’ve done what I’ve seen them do on TV. I think this latest one was Perry Mason. ” Skye had had little time for television since she’d left Scumble River, so her points of reference were somewhat dated.
“You should’ve seen Mom,” Vince said. “Wally and a couple of his men showed up at my apartment around ten. The news was just coming on. They told me they had a search warrant and were bringing me in for questioning. It took them about forty-five minutes to tear my place apart, then they put me in the back of the squad car and took me to the station. Mom must have gotten to work just a little while before they brought me in, because she wasn’t even sitting down yet. She started crying right away, but that didn’t slow her down at all. She was on the phone to you before they even got me all the way upstairs.”
“Did they have time to ask you anything before Mom stopped you?” Skye posed the question she had been worried about since last night.
“No. Wally was still getting coffee when Mom pushed her way into the room
Abruptly Lloyd ushered her out the door. “Fine. I’ll check with the superintendent and get back to you if we need another option.”
Finding herself staring at the closed door, she noticed it was oak with a small black nameplate on it: LLOYD STARK, PRINCIPAL.
She thought, Principal what? Boor?
Skye wasn’t able to leave school until after five, having once again missed lunch. If this continued she’d have to find some sort of food she could eat during the five minutes it took to walk from one appointment to the next. The PPS meeting had lasted past three, and before she could get out of the room, the Idells had arrived. She’d spent two hours trying to work through the issues surrounding Travis’s behavior but made little progress.
During a brief break in the conference, she had stolen a few minutes and telephoned her mother to ask if Vince planned on closing the shop for the day. May told Skye that Vince had said he’d be at work the next morning, whether he still had customers or not.
Pulling into Great Expectations about five-fifteen, Skye found the parking lot empty.
Vince was sitting on a stool behind the counter drinking a Coke and reading the Chicago Tribune when Skye came through the door.
He got up and came around to hug her. “Sis, I didn’t kill her.”
“I know.” Skye fought the lump gathering in the back of her throat. “Let’s sit down.”
They settled once again in the plastic-covered chairs by the shampoo sinks and Skye asked gently, “Did most people show up for their appointments?”
“Yes. I was surprised, but there was just the normal number of no-shows.”
Skye crossed her legs. “Good. Maybe that means the town’s behind you. I suppose they all wanted to ask you questions, though.”
“Oh, yeah, but that’s pretty normal in this business. I told everyone I wasn’t allowed to discuss it.”
“That was a good idea.”
“I was thinking of changing our double date to Friday. Both Mike and Abby said that was okay. Can you make it then?” Trailing his fingers along the basin, Vince avoided looking Skye in the eye.
“Sure, but maybe we should wait until this is all over.”
“No. I want to go out. It will help take my mind off things.” Vince continued to appear fascinated with the sink’s enamel finish.
“When’s your next customer scheduled?”
“Not until six, and that’s the last appointment of the day,” Vince said, relief evident in his voice.
“Then we have time to talk. What did you think of Loretta?”
“She was amazing, but then so were you and Mom. How did you know what to do?”
“I’m not sure, but ever since all this happened I’ve been relying on my memories of old TV shows to tell me how to act. I know I watched a lot of television as a kid, but it must have made a greater impact than I ever realized. Every time I get into a jam lately I’ve done what I’ve seen them do on TV. I think this latest one was Perry Mason. ” Skye had had little time for television since she’d left Scumble River, so her points of reference were somewhat dated.
“You should’ve seen Mom,” Vince said. “Wally and a couple of his men showed up at my apartment around ten. The news was just coming on. They told me they had a search warrant and were bringing me in for questioning. It took them about forty-five minutes to tear my place apart, then they put me in the back of the squad car and took me to the station. Mom must have gotten to work just a little while before they brought me in, because she wasn’t even sitting down yet. She started crying right away, but that didn’t slow her down at all. She was on the phone to you before they even got me all the way upstairs.”
“Did they have time to ask you anything before Mom stopped you?” Skye posed the question she had been worried about since last night.
“No. Wally was still getting coffee when Mom pushed her way into the room
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