Murder at the PTA by Lee Hollis

Author:Lee Hollis
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2020-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Georgina Callis—a short, brassy spitfire, with gorgeous dark skin and a mop top of frizzy black hair—was not pleased. She did not appreciate Maya’s interrupting the final dress rehearsal for her production of Hello, Dolly!, which was to premiere in the high school auditorium Friday evening at eight o’clock sharp.

When Maya quietly approached the free-spirited, artsy Georgina, in her flowing caftan with an African-inspired print, she was sitting in the third row of the theater shouting directions at the six boys dressed as waiters dancing around the diminutive girl playing the title role of Dolly. Maya bent down and asked if she could have a moment with her and was met with a cold stare. Georgina was under enough pressure as it was getting the show ready for opening night, and the last thing she needed was a distraction from a stranger.

Georgina waved her off dismissively. “I’m sorry, we’re in the middle of a dress rehearsal. I can’t talk right now. You’ll have to call my office tomorrow and make an appointment.”

Maya wasn’t ready to give up just yet. “It will only take five minutes. I promise.”

Georgina’s big brown eyes flared. How dare this woman linger when there was so much more work to do. “Who are you again?”

“I’m Vanessa’s mother . . . Vanessa Kendrick?”

At the mention of Vanessa’s name, Georgina’s mood lightened considerably. “Oh . . . Vanessa’s a wonderful talent.”

Maya beamed proudly. “Yes, I know.”

Georgina leaned in conspiratorially and whispered, “I would have cast her as Dolly, but she’s my utility player; I can plug her into any role, and she was the only one who really nailed Minnie in the auditions.”

“She speaks very highly of you. She considers you a role model,” Maya said, not above using flattery to get what she needed.

And Georgina was not above eagerly accepting compliments. “That’s so sweet. I just try to guide her and offer her my support, and maybe a few pearls of wisdom when it comes to performing onstage, but she’s got a good head on her shoulders, that one.”

Vanessa, who had heard from one of her friends that her mother was in the auditorium, came out from backstage with an annoyed look on her face. “Mom, what are you doing here?”

“I just need to speak with Ms. Callis for a few minutes,” Maya said.

Vanessa, embarrassed that her mother had crashed their rehearsal, huffed and stomped offstage.

Georgina suddenly looked worried. “Is this about Vanessa?”

“No, it’s about Maisie Portman.”

Georgina’s face fell. “What about her?”

Maya leaned in and spoke softly. “I’d prefer it if we could talk somewhere more private.”

Georgina stood up from her third-row seat to address the boys onstage. “Look, I know none of you are professional dancers, and a lot of you have absolutely no rhythm, at least none that I can see, so while I’m outside talking with Mrs. Kendrick, can you please go over the dance steps one more time together as a group so you’re all at least moving in the same direction when I get back? Can you do that for me, please?”

The boys mumbled yes and nodded their heads.

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