Murder by the Book (A Lucy Little Mystery 1) by Gina LaManna

Author:Gina LaManna [LaManna, Gina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery, janet evanovich
Publisher: LaManna Books
Published: 2021-07-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

My second attempt on the bike went slightly smoother than the first. My dad tightened up the brakes and slapped a helmet on my head, and I felt like a five-year-old off to her first day of school. And then I headed to school.

Aside from a slightly dented front of the bike, it worked fine this time around so long as I avoided mostly using the brakes. Highland High—a bit repetitive, in my opinion—was located on a shaded street. It was a private school, tucked in a residential neighborhood between towering oaks and sturdy brick houses, just across the street from a local coffee shop and ice cream parlor and Luke’s Lawn Supplies.

I successfully braked without using a cop car for leverage outside of campus and pulled out my phone. I fired off a text to the number that Violet had used to get in touch with me.

Me: How do I know which bike is yours?

Violet: The violet one.

I kicked off again and did a lap around the school grounds as slowly as I could without bringing attention to myself from the bored-looking security guard at the front gate. It didn’t take long to spot the bike rack around back, and it took even less time to spot Violet’s bike. If I’d just taken a second to look, I wouldn’t have needed to ask for a description.

Violet’s bike was as colorful as her socks. Rainbow-colored tape spiraled around every metal bar. Glitter sparkled off every surface in uneven patches. There was a tiny license plate affixed to the back rimmed by gaudy fake diamonds. The pedals were spray-painted a pastel violet. Her bike was even worse than mine, especially considering she’d made it that way on purpose.

I did another loop around the school, then pulled over next to a gigantic dumpster that blocked me from sight of the bike rack. It was probably ridiculous to sit around and wait for something to happen. I could easily be here all day.

What’s worse was I didn’t have any other place I needed to be. Just as I’d gotten settled in to wait for the tire slasher, my phone buzzed, then belted into a loud jingle. So much for my superspy status. I fumbled to get the phone out of my pocket and quickly clicked answer without looking at caller ID.

I never answered my cell phone without looking at caller ID, and there was a reason for it. Mostly so that I wasn’t surprised by who was on the other end. But I’d been so nervous about being caught staking out school grounds that I’d forgotten all about my rule, and it had come back to bite me in the back.

“Lucy?” A deep voice flooded the line. “I was hoping you’d answer.”

“Is this Kent Karr?” I sounded as gobsmacked as I felt. Not a great look for me.

He gave a light laugh. “You don’t have to use my full name every time you talk to me. Kent is just fine.”

“But you’re...” I cleared my throat, chased away the fangirl.

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