Murder of the Cat's Meow: A Scumble River Mystery by Denise Swanson Page A

participants could attend the bowler disco party.”
    “This is almost like a locked-room mystery,” Trixie called after Skye. “They’re the best kind.”
    Skye had been able to sneak into the elementary school without running into the principal. And Caroline didn’t mention her tardiness when they met for the special education intake conference later that afternoon, so it appeared Skye was in the clear.
    Classes ended at three thirty, but the staff was required to stay an additional twenty minutes. Typically Skye was among the last to leave, but today she beat everyone out the door—even the teacher who was retiring in two months and was usually the first to pull out of the parking lot.
    As Skye stepped across the PD’s threshold into the lobby, she noticed a young woman sitting on the bench, and stopped in midstride. “Spike Yamaguchi! When did you get into town?”
    “About an hour ago.” Spike stood and smoothed her trouser-cut jeans.
    Spike was Simon’s half sister—a sibling he hadn’t known existed until she was sixteen and contacted him after her adoptive parents were killed in a car crash. Simon had been shocked to discover that Bunny, who had left him and his father in order to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer, had had a secret baby.
    Spike gave Skye a hug. “Sorry I didn’t e-mail you that I was coming.”
    “That’s okay,” Skye assured her. “It’s great to see you.”
    Their friendship had had a shaky start. When they first met, Skye was convinced that Spike and Simon were having an affair. It hadn’t helped matters that that mistaken belief had exposed other problems in Skye and Simon’s relationship, which had in turn ended it. Still, despite everything, once Spike’s true relationship with Simon was fully explained, Skye and Spike had become good friends.
    “Are you here to visit your mom?” Skye asked.
    “Yes and no. Remember I told you about the gig at the TV station in Chicago?” Spike was an investigative reporter for a newspaper in California, but she had been actively pursuing a television career.
    “Of course.” Skye had respected Spike’s request to keep the possibility of her relocation to Illinois from Bunny and Simon. “I’ve had my fingers crossed for you.”
    “Thanks.” Spike’s delicate features, a blend of Asian and European, relaxed into a smile. “Anyway, I found out Thursday afternoon that I got the job! But the catch was they wanted me on the air by the weekend. So I threw a few things in a suitcase and flew into O’Hare the next day. Grandfather will follow once I get settled.”
    “Wow!” Skye shook her head in awe. “You really travel fast and light.”
    “Yep.” Spike sat back down, then continued, “On Saturday when I was going through my predecessors’ desk, I found a tip about government corruption in an Illinois small town. He’d scribbled a note that said no one was interested in a downstate scandal and shoved it in a drawer.” Spike made a face. “I disagreed, and when I showed it to my new boss, she concurred. Which is why I’m here.”
    “What town are you investigating?” Skye asked as she sat next to Spike on the bench.
    Spike didn’t answer right away, and Skye held her breath. If it was Scumble River, her family was in for a hard time. Skye’s uncle was the mayor, which pretty much put her whole family smack-dab in the middle of every new controversy in town.
    “Not here, but that’s all I can say.” Spike’s voice had sharpened. “I can’t risk being scooped. This could be a big story for me.”
    “No problem. As long as it isn’t my hometown, I’m happy.” Skye gave her a thumbs-up. “Are you at the PD to ask questions for your story?”
    “No.” Spike shook her head and her straight black hair swung back and forth. “I’m waiting for Bunny to get done. The chief is interviewing her about Saturday’s murder.”
    Skye frowned. “I thought he was going to talk to her last night.”
    “I gather he