Come Homicide or High Water by Denise Swanson

Author:Denise Swanson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2019-10-31T21:45:50+00:00

Chapter 14

I’ll Come Home to You

As Skye hurried down the high school hallway alongside her intern, she rubbed her temples. Homer had ordered Piper to inform Pru Cormorant that her referral had been rejected. Unfortunately, Skye hadn’t felt as if she could send the young woman into the lion’s den all alone, even if Pru was more a hyena than the king of beasts.

After the PPS meeting was over, Skye had called Dorothy. Once she heard that everything was fine at home, Skye had texted Wally, then told Piper she’d accompany her to confer with Pru. This year, the English teacher had sixth period free, and Skye was intent on getting to her before the end of fifth period. Otherwise she’d have to track her down, which would take more time than Skye had to spend.

“Ms. Cormorant sure lucked out with room assignments,” Piper murmured, keeping pace with Skye. “Hers is one of the few in this school that has actual walls instead of those folding accordion partitions. And windows too!”

“Don’t forget the exterior door. When the weather’s nice, she usually spends her planning periods on a lawn chair outside her room tanning.” Skye lowered her voice. “And unless she calls you Ms. Townsend, don’t call her Ms. Cormorant. It puts you in a subservient position. As if you’re one of her students instead of a colleague.”

“Right.” Piper’s cheeks reddened. “I knew that, but she’s so…so…”

“Intimidating?” Skye suggested.

“Yes.” Piper nodded. “And it seemed to make her mad when I used her first name.”

Skye slowed down and looked into Piper’s eyes before she said, “If you want to make everyone happy, school psychology may not be the best choice for you.” Skye winked. “Although the only profession I can think of that makes everyone happy is an ice cream truck driver.”

Piper giggled, then turned serious and squared her shoulders. “You’re right. I need to toughen up.”

“Just remember, behind Pru’s back most of the staff call her Corny. Not that I condone that kind of thing,” Skye said, then added under her breath, “Even if she is a bully.”

A few steps later, Piper and Skye arrived at Pru’s door just as the bell rang. They waited while the students poured out of the room, and when the last one passed them, they entered and found the aggravating English teacher cooing sweet nothings into her cell phone.

Skye blinked at the affection in Pru’s voice and studied her. There was something different about the woman. Her egg-shaped body and gaunt limbs were the same. Her head still seemed too small for the rest of her. And her skin still had an alligator-like quality after all her years chasing the perfect shade of bronze. So what was it?

Before Skye could decide, Pru noticed them, said something into her phone, then hung up and demanded, “What are you two doing here?”

Skye nudged Piper. She was there to support the intern, but the young woman had to learn how to deal with difficult faculty members.

“I…uh…I mean the PPS team discussed the student you referred and—”

“Speak up.

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