Murder of a Pink Elephant (17 page)

Skye allowed, “Yes, I understand that, but his parents have told us how difficult the homework is for him and how much time they spend helping him in the evenings, so I don’t think it’s quite as simple as just plain laziness.” She paused, then pointed out, “And he does have auditory processing and visual-motor difficulties, so he does have to work at least twice as hard to produce what other students are able to do in half the time.”

Darleen glared at Skye. She opened her mouth, but Skye said quickly, “But this is a team decision, so let’s hear what everyone else thinks.”

The principal, the boy’s parents, and the regular education teacher agreed with Skye and felt he still needed services. As Skye finished up the paperwork, Darleen stalked out of the room without saying another word.

Skye shook her head and continued to write. It had been a busy day. She’d had eighth grade annual reviews scheduled every forty-five minutes, starting at eight-fifteen, and it was now nearly four o’clock. The law required that the school hold a meeting every year for all students receiving special education services. During this gathering, the student’s progress was reviewed against the goals set in their Individual Education Plan and a new IEP was written for the next year. Eighth graders had the honor of going first in the process, in order to give the high school extra time to prepare their schedules for the next year.

After handing the parents their copy of the IEP, Skye hurried to her office, grabbed her coat and purse, and rushed to her car. She drove as fast as she could to the police station but when she arrived Wally was already gone for the day and she was forced to leave another message.

While she drove home, she wondered if she should have insisted the dispatcher call Wally back to meet with her. A glance at her watch convinced her she didn’t have time for
that. Simon was picking her up at five and it was already four-thirty.

A couple minutes later, she pulled into her driveway, ran inside—throwing her coat on the hall bench as she raced into her bedroom—and flung open the closet door.

“So, Bingo, what should I wear?” Skye asked the black cat who was now sitting at her feet.

The feline was staring into the closet’s depths with an intensity that suggested he was about to choose an outfit for her.

But the cat didn’t answer and she started to push the hangers back and forth. “What hasn’t Simon already seen me wear a hundred times? That’s the problem with an exclusive relationship; your clothes get old too fast.”

Bingo yawned, exhibiting needlelike teeth and a pink tongue. He lifted his back leg and started washing.

“You’re right. The benefits far exceed the drawbacks. But that still doesn’t give me a clue as to what to put on.” She pulled out a velour leopard-print shirt and a pair of black silky pants. “Is this appropriate for a bowling alley grand opening?”

Bingo didn’t look up from his bath.

“A lot of help you are.” Shoot! It was already quarter to five and Simon hated it when she was late.

There wasn’t any more time to second-guess her choice of outfits. She tore off her school clothes and stuck her arm through the sleeve of the blouse.

The doorbell was ringing as she inserted a gold hoop into her ear. She grabbed her shoes and ran to the foyer. After a quick peek through the window, she flung open the front door.

Simon stepped in and whistled. “You look great.”

“Thanks. It’s really sweet the way you always notice.” Skye slipped on black loafers and snatched her coat from the hall bench. “Are you nervous about tonight?”

“No. Why?”

“You’re wearing one black shoe and one brown one.” They both looked down at his feet.

“Damn. We’ll have to stop by my place so I can change.” The tips of his ears were red. “Are you ready?”

They drove over to Simon’s and he ran inside. Skye waited in the car, using this bonus time to fuss with her hair and touch up her makeup. A few minutes later Simon returned wearing matching shoes and a sheepish grin.

The bowling alley was housed in a brick building close to forty years old. Simon parked his Lexus in the lot on the west side of the entrance.

As they walked to the front Simon pointed upward. “What do you think?” A new sign hung above the door. Previously called the Gold Strike, the alley was now named Bunny Lanes. “Sort of sappy, huh?”

Skye’s voice caught in her throat and she couldn’t respond right away. Simon’s relationship with his mother had come such a long way since November when Bunny had first appeared in Scumble River. Back then he wouldn’t even talk to her. But after sharing a harrowing experience where Simon was nearly killed, mother and son had at least partially cleared the air. Still, after twenty years of hurt feelings and misunderstandings, it would take more than a few months to entirely heal the breach.

Skye took Simon’s arm and squeezed. “I think it’s a great name. Your mom must be thrilled.”

“She is happy.” Simon pushed open one of the double doors and waited for Skye to enter. “I was surprised at what a hard worker she turned out to be, and she’s pretty smart about running a business like this.”

It was the first time Skye had seen the alley since it had been remodeled. The change was remarkable. The interior had gone from nineteen-sixties brown and orange to a sleek palette of blues with touches of silver.

“This looks wonderful.” Skye turned to Simon and hugged him.

“Thanks.” After returning her hug, he helped her out of her coat and hung it and his own on the shiny new coat rack. “My goal was to modernize the place enough to attract new people but not so much that I’d lose the old regulars.”

Skye hoped Simon had achieved the correct balance. “It might take some people a while accept the new look.” The citizens of Scumble River did not like change. “But I’m sure they’ll come around.”

Skye and Simon continued farther into the building. The bar area had been expanded and enclosed. Etched glass doors led into the newly created room, which now included a small stage and dance floor.

Bunny was placing bowls of snacks on small metal tables as they entered. She tottered over to them on four-inch heels and flung her arms around Simon. “Sonny. This is going to be such a wonderful night.”

“Please don’t call me Sonny.” Simon’s eyes met Skye’s over his mother’s head.

Skye shrugged. Some things would never change.

Bunny turned to embrace Skye. “What do you think? Son … Simon and I make quite a team, don’t we?”

Skye was momentarily distracted by the older woman’s appearance. Bunny had clearly been ordering from the Frederick’s of Hollywood catalog again. Considering Bunny’s past as a Las Vegas showgirl, Skye wasn’t really surprised. Tonight, Bunny was decked out in a black chiffon blouse—its deep V-neck and the cuffs of the sleeves outlined in marabou—and a long black lace skirt that looked modest until she moved and the front slit opened.

“Amazing,” Skye finally managed to choke out before looking at Simon.

He just shook his head.

Skye ran her finger down one of the new chairs. “I really
like these. This blue Ultrasuede fabric is beautiful.” It was a big change from the old Formica tables and torn vinyl chairs.

“Look at the grill.” Bunny tucked an errant red curl into the cascade of ringlets on top of her head, then took Skye and Simon by the arms and dragged them through another set of glass doors. “We’re all set to go.”

This area had also received a face-lift. The countertops were now blue faux marble, and the stools were upholstered in a denim fabric with silver studs.

Bunny handed Skye a pristine menu and tapped the laminated cardboard with inch-long crimson nails, saying, “We added a lot of new items.”

Skye scanned the columns quickly. There was now a nice variety of food instead of just burgers and pizza. “Who’s working the grill?”

“I am.” A young woman stepped out from the kitchen.

Simon introduced them. “Skye, this is our grill manager, Ivy Wolfe. Ivy, this is my friend Skye Denison.”

The two women exchanged greetings and Ivy said, “I know your brother, Vince. My husband used to sing in a band with him.”

Skye asked, “Was your husband Logan Wolfe?”

Ivy nodded.

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Ivy nodded again. “Thank you.”

An awkward silence fell over the group. Skye searched for something more to say, but what was appropriate small talk for such a recent widow? She finally said, “I heard Logan sing on several occasions. He had a great voice.”

“He had many talents.” A strange look crossed Ivy’s face. “Maybe that was his curse.” Skye was dying to ask Ivy to explain, but the young woman turned away, saying over her shoulder, “I have to get back to the kitchen.”

Skye studied the young widow as she walked away. Both
her hair and eyes were a medium brown. She had on black slacks and a cornflower blue polo shirt with “Bunny Lanes” embroidered above the breast pocket. She didn’t look like the type to have been married to a rock star.

Once Ivy was out of earshot Skye said to Simon, “I’m surprised she’s working tonight. He died less than a week ago.”

“She said she couldn’t stand to just sit around an empty house and stare at the walls.”

“Where did she work before here?”

“Wal-Mart.” Simon frowned. “I almost didn’t hire her when she told me she’d been fired but couldn’t tell me why. She said all they told her was she had behaved inappropriately and she didn’t know what she had done.”

“That’s an odd reason to give someone for firing them.”

“Yes, and they were so evasive when I called to find out why they let her go, I decided to give her a chance.”

Skye squeezed his hand. “That was nice of you.” Simon was getting as bad as she was about collecting strays and trying to right the wrongs of the world.

Bunny clearly felt she had been left out of the conversation long enough. She took Skye’s hand and said, “You’ve got to see the lanes.”

Skye allowed herself to be pulled to the back of the alley, marveling at how fast the redhead could walk on sandals that consisted of nothing more than thin soles and a single strap attached to stiletto heels.

Simon trailed after the two women.

When they arrived at the railing that separated the alleys from the rest of the room, Bunny swept her arm in an expansive gesture. “The lanes have all been refinished, and we have automatic score keepers and new ball returns. Isn’t it wonderful?”

Skye hugged the older woman. “It’s magnificent.” She
turned to Simon. “I really like the new padded benches. Those molded plastic ones were so uncomfortable.”

“I remember you mentioning something about that.” Simon’s grin was warm and sexy. “Maybe we can try them out after we close tonight.”

Bunny giggled and Skye felt her face flush.

Simon glanced at his watch and his expression turned serious. “It’s already a quarter to six, and we’re opening the doors at seven. We’d better get to work.”

“I’ve got to make sure the bartender has the setups ready and finish putting the snacks on the tables.” Bunny winked at them. “I ordered the extra salty and spicy kinds so people would get thirsty and order more drinks. That’s where the real money is in a place like this.”

Simon gave her a level look. “Remember, Mother, we do not serve anyone who has had too much alcohol.”

“Sure. Gotcha.” Bunny walked off, not at all fazed by his admonishment.

“What do you want me to do?” Skye asked.

“There are balloons and a helium tank in the storeroom. Would you mind filling them?” Simon pointed to the door next to the grill area.

“Sounds like fun.” Skye headed in the direction he had indicated.

“After you get them inflated, attach a ribbon to each one, and then tie them all around the rooms.”

“Got it.”

An hour later Skye had just finished attaching the last balloon to the back of one of the chairs when Bunny hurried past. Skye asked, “Do you know where Simon is?”

“He’s behind the lanes showing the machinery to your dad.”

“My father’s here?”

“Yeah. Your mom’s around somewhere, too.” Bunny twisted her lips. “I offered her a drink, but she said no.”

“Mmm.”
Skye made a noncommittal noise. May had not hit it off with Bunny when the redhead had first arrived at Scumble River, and clearly the relationship hadn’t improved. “It’s getting late. I’d better go find Simon and see if there’s anything else we need to do.”

“If you see your mom, tell her the offer for a drink is still open,” Bunny called as Skye walked away. Bunny wanted to be May’s pal, but the feeling was far from mutual.

Skye found Simon and her father coming out from behind the alleys. Jed had a streak of grease across his forehead and Simon’s hands were black. Both men were smiling.

She hurried over to them and kissed her father’s cheek. “Hi, Dad. What are you two up to?”

“Making sure it’s all set.” Jed was a man of few words.

“Is it?” Skye asked.

“Yep.” Jed looked around. “Where’s your ma?”

“I suspect she’s hiding from Bunny.” Skye gestured toward the entrance area. “Try by the lockers.”

Jed nodded and moseyed away.

“Did the band show up yet?” Simon asked.

“Yes.” Skye nodded. “I saw them come in a while ago.”

“Good. Let’s get everyone together for a toast before we open.”

They gathered all the helpers in the bar, but as Bunny passed out glasses of champagne Skye noticed that Ivy Wolfe wasn’t present. She was probably still trying to get the kitchen ready for action.

Simon raised his glass. “I want to thank everyone for their help. Jed, I appreciate all the time you spent fixing all the odds and ends. May, I’ll bet that’s the cleanest the windows have ever been. And, Mother, you amazed me with your organizational skills.”

“Thanks.” Bunny fluffed her hair. “Too bad that now I’ve finally gotten my head together, my body’s falling apart.”

“Then you must be using some terrific glue,” the bartender interjected, “because it looks pretty darn good to me.

After the laughter died down, Simon continued, “Skye, well, what can I say. You kept me going when I thought the project would never get done. Here’s to you all.”