Murder of a Royal Pain

“I’ll make sure to do that, but you keep in mind that breaking and entering is a felony.” Skye knew there was no reasoning with a Doozier in denial, but had to give it her best shot. “You’d better get home before Glenda comes back looking for you.”

“Yes, ma’am. I need to skedaddle.” Earl slid out of the car. “I’ll come back later to get rid of the spooks for you.”

As Skye walked Earl to his car, she noticed that the driver’s-side window had a spiderweb crack. She pointed to the broken glass. “What happened here?”

“I thought my window was rolled down, but I found out it was up when I put my head through it.”

“I see.” Skye was surprised the glass had been clean enough for Earl to make that mistake.

She waited until the Ghostflusher got into his Buick and drove away; then she headed back toward the old American Legion hall. As she stepped inside, she heard a police siren approaching. Evie must have gotten a signal on her cell phone. Skye blew out a long breath. There was a riddle for you: How many times did the police have to be called to the Promfest haunted house before they caught the one who put the lights out?

CHAPTER 21

Save the Last Dance for Me

Once the police took Zinnia Idell away for unlawful possession of a firearm, the haunted-house rehearsal went smoothly, and A Ghoul’s Night Out opened for business. It was a rip-roaring success, with a continuous stream of customers from the moment they opened the doors until they shut them at ten thirty.

At ten thirty-five, Skye was already out of her costume, into her street clothes, and looking for Evie. She found the chairwoman counting the night’s receipts.

Positioning herself between Evie and the ticket booth’s only exit, Skye said, “We need to talk.”

“I told you I’d talk to you when I have time. Didn’t you get my note? Do I need to call Officer Quirk?”

Skye pulled over a chair and sat, continuing to block the doorway. “This won’t take long.” She had no intention of letting Evie leave until the blonde had answered her questions. “And after you hear what I have to say, I doubt you’ll want Quirk involved.”

“What are you talking about?” Evie had shed the gracious demeanor she generally showed the public.

Skye ignored the question, and asked one of her own. “When you and I bumped heads last Friday at the haunted house, why did you run away screaming?”

“Duh.” Evie looked at Skye as if she was an idiot. “I had just seen someone who looked exactly like you lying dead on the ground. I thought you were a ghost.”

“How did you know the woman was dead?”

“I put my compact mirror to her lips.” Evie shuddered. “She wasn’t breathing.”

That made sense—well, as much sense as anything was making in this case. Skye had nearly had a meltdown herself when she’d seen her own spitting image sprawled lifeless on the floor. “Why were you there to begin with?”

“Countess Dracula comes on right in the beginning, so my bit was over. I was using that passageway as a shortcut to get outside to my car.”

“Why were you going to your car?”

“It’s none of your business,” Evie snapped. “You’d better leave me alone, or I’ll have my husband talk the school board into firing you. I’m exhausted and I’d like to finish here and go to bed.”

“Your own or Dr. Paine’s?” Skye had decided a little shock treatment might make Evie more cooperative.

“What are you talking about?” Evie carefully rubber banded a bundle of bills, avoiding Skye’s stare.

“I saw you Thursday afternoon.” Skye raised an eyebrow. “It seemed like quite a thorough checkup.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Of course you do.” Skye noted that Evie was no longer threatening to call the police or have her fired. “You, Dylan Paine, and the dental chair of love. I took a picture with my cell.” Not that Skye had any idea if her phone even had a camera, but Evie didn’t know that.

Evie wilted. “Are you going to tell my husband?”

Skye’s voice was firm. “Not if you answer my questions.”

“What do you want to know?”

“How long have you been having an affair with Dr. Paine?”

Evie counted on her fingers. “About a month.”

“Why would you risk your marriage and everything you’ve worked for on Promfest to have an affair with a man who screws anyone in a skirt?”

“What do you mean? I was the first time he strayed.” Evie’s tone was earnest. “The chemistry is too much for us. Dylan and I both feel bad about cheating on our spouses, but we don’t seem able to stop.”

“I see.” Skye eyed the blonde thoughtfully. Was Evie really that naive? “There has to be another reason.”

“Well.” Evie gave a nervous little laugh. “He did promise to force Annette to give me the chairmanship of Promfest.”

Skye smiled to herself. Now she was getting somewhere. “How was he going to do that?”

“He never said,” Evie answered. “I thought maybe he would threaten to divorce her. Her position in the community was dependent on being married to a successful and wealthy man. She never worked or had a career of her own. Heck, she didn’t even finish her first semester at Joliet Junior College.”