Death on Opening Night (Booker & Fitch Mysteries Book 2) by Liz Hedgecock & Paula Harmon

Author:Liz Hedgecock & Paula Harmon [Hedgecock, Liz & Harmon, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: White Rhino Books
Published: 2023-04-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Fi’s attempts to make an early exit with Dylan were thwarted. She was just one of many parents trying to persuade their teenagers to leave the theatre. They were met with ‘In a minute, Mum’, ‘I’ve got to say goodbye to Chloe’, or ‘You don’t understand. This is it’. Hugs were exchanged, and fond farewells.

‘Won’t they be seeing each other at school tomorrow?’ Jade asked.

Fi rolled her eyes. ‘If I’ve learned anything, it’s that you can’t hurry a teenager.’

Eventually, Inspector Falconer came into the foyer and ordered everyone off the premises. With much sulking, they complied.

‘It’s so mean,’ said Dylan, as they walked down the street. ‘Nothing would happen to us, anyway.’

‘Because you’re invincible, I suppose,’ said Fi.

I remember when I believed that, thought Jade. How wrong I was.

‘Night, Jade,’ said Dylan, as they approached Crystal Dreams.

‘Jade’s coming back to ours for a quick cuppa,’ said Fi. ‘You can game for a bit if you want.’

‘On a school night? What’s got into you, Mum?’

‘We’re talking strategy,’ said Fi. ‘We may not be able to run our stalls in the theatre any more, so we need to talk tactics.’

‘Oh, business,’ said Dylan, and loped moodily along.

Back at Coralie, Fi made tea and waited while Dylan collected a large glass of milk and an assortment of snacks before retiring to the gaming end of the boat. ‘Theatre work’s really physical,’ he said, carrying a tray with his glass, a bowl of cereal, a peanut butter and jam sandwich and a packet of crisps. He pulled the curtain across, and thirty seconds later doom-laden music began playing.

‘Let’s sit at the kitchen table,’ said Fi. ‘Not that Dylan will care what we’re talking about, but I’d rather he didn’t hear anything if he comes back for more food.’

They made themselves comfortable and Fi placed a packet of chocolate digestives between them. ‘Good job I had thinking biscuits in. Now, where do we start?’

Jade studied her. ‘You seem to have perked up a bit.’

Fi looked surprised, then considered. ‘Yes, I have. I’ve been trying to work things out on my own and getting nowhere. Two heads are better than one, and all that.’

‘True.’ Jade wondered how to say what she had in her mind, and decided to go for it. ‘Do you mind if I’m frank with you?’

Fi smiled. ‘That depends on what you’re about to say.’

‘Well…’ Jade took a biscuit, just in case. ‘From what you’ve told me and what the inspector said in the theatre, everything points to Andy. So why don’t you think it’s him?’

Fi took a biscuit and sipped her tea. Jade waited. ‘The inspector probably thinks I’m blinded by love,’ she said. ‘Or lust. But it isn’t that. On the face of it, yes, it’s plausible. An ambitious actor keen to make his mark is overshadowed by the arrival of a famous co-star he doesn’t respect. What would be more natural than trying to get rid of her?’

Jade grinned. ‘I’m not sure your counterargument is doing quite what you want it to.

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