Before we parted ways, the four of us decided to divide and conquer with the potential suspects and victims. Gilly and Scott would focus on Hughes, Nelson, and Moore. Ezra and I would take Leah, Brian, and Mary Jane. We all agreed that if any of us ran into Biff, we’d try to connect with the actor, but it didn’t seem likely. I had a feeling the pretend corpse was the man behind the camera.
The gymnasium was still rocking with ’80s music spilling out into the halls.
“If you were going to off your spouse or partner or whatever and make it look like an accident, how would you go about it?” I asked Ezra.
He gave me a sly grin. “I’ve never really thought about it.”
“You weren’t married long enough,” I said with a laugh.
“True.” He chuckled. “This is a school, and there are lots of strings being pulled to make this mystery happen. But I’m just not sure what someone could do to make a real death look accidental. It’s not as easy as people might think. And it’s hard to kill someone without leaving any evidence behind.”
“Tell that to the thousands of killers who get away with it every year.”
“For now,” he said, “but not forever. Look at all the cold cases being solved these days because of DNA.”
“True.” I pointed up the hall toward the offices. “Look, there’s the detective guy. Only, he has on the gray wig, so I guess he’s Principal Hughes now.”
“Let’s take the hall before the gym,” Ezra said. “Scott and Gilly have him.”
“You really don’t like him, do you?”
“He raises my hackles. Still don’t know why.” We turned right before the corridor and headed down the hall toward the escape classrooms.
Once we were out of earshot of the other guests, I said, “Maybe he has done some television or movie acting. He reminds me of Jerry Orbach.”
“The guy from Law and Order?”
“Yeah, him.” I gave the tip of my nose a squeeze. “He’s got the same honker.”
Ezra choked on a laugh. “It’s possible. But until I can settle it in my head, I don’t want to spook him. You already said he’s probably not the guy from the visions.”
“Emphasis on probably.”
“I trust your instincts.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder as we walked up the corridor. “I love that about you.”
“And here I thought you only loved me for my—”
“There you are!” a woman exclaimed, cutting Ezra off just as he was getting to the good stuff. I groaned as Velma and Daffney fast-walked in our direction. Velma waved her hand. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you, Nora.”
I narrowed my gaze at her. “Why?”
My question seemed to take Velma aback. “Because, well, you know. To compare notes and catch up.”
I felt bad for my abruptness. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to come off the way it did. We’re just really focused on the, uhm, game.”
Daffney was gawking at Ezra. What was her deal with him? I mean, I got it. Ezra was a good-looking man. Even so, her interest seemed a little blatant considering I was standing right next to him. Daffney blushed when she noticed I’d caught her staring. She glanced away at the floor and said, “I’m sure you were busy. I told Velma not to bother, but you know how she is.”
I didn’t. I hadn’t seen the sisters in over thirty years. I had no idea what either of them was like. “No worries. We can catch up tomorrow. Why don’t you guys meet us for breakfast?”
Velma brightened. “Absolutely.” She patted the air in front of me. “I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been up to since the good old days.”
Inwardly, I groaned. I wasn’t one of those people who thought of the past as magical. I was grateful for all my experiences, but frankly, my best life was right now. “Great,” I said.
“Ladies,” he said as he took my hand. Ezra gave them a slight nod. “Later.”
“Bye.” I waved and let Ezra lead me away from the sisters. “Is Daffney acting suspicious, or is it just me?”
“She gives me the willies,” Ezra said. “She keeps staring at me.”
“Because you’re a handsome guy.” I tugged his beard. “Even with all this fur.”
“Ow,” he said, brushing the hair down. “As soon as the district attorney in Kansas City brings charges against the dockside drug ring, I’ll shave.”
We’d carpooled with Gilly, Pippa, Jordy, and Scott, so we hadn’t really had a chance to talk about what he’d gone through during his weeks in Kansas City or what it meant for him now that he was home. I had assumed he was done with all that business, but maybe not.
I frowned at him. “Is there a chance you’ll have to go back? I mean, undercover.”
“Not too likely.”
“But there is a chance.”
“A slight one.” He put his arm around my shoulders and gave my upper arm an affectionate tickle. “I don’t want you to worry, though.”
“Easier said than done.” I patted his hand. “How about I stop worrying when you get to shave?”
“Deal,” he said. He leaned over and brushed his beard against my cheek.
I giggled. “Stop.”
The hallway door to the back of the gym was open. I saw the Flock of Seagulls guy and the blonde cheerleader walk through the kitchen doors. He looked like a man on a mission.
“Hey, there’s two of our suspects.” I gestured toward the gym. “Real names are Tim Dean and Lynn Gleason, I think.”
“Good memory,” Ezra said. “Let’s go see if they’re the lovers we’re looking for.
We hurried down the hall to the open door. There was so much noise from the gym, I wasn’t too worried about being overheard. We quickly moved through the doors into the kitchen.
I heard muffled voices in the back but couldn’t make out what they were saying.
Ezra gestured to get my attention then mouthed the word, “Closer.”
I nodded, grateful I was wearing sneakers and not clunky, clackity heels as we advanced forward. I turned sideways to shimmy around a wire rack of pots and pans and snagged my dress on a utensil hook. The action jostled a crate of drinking glasses. I let out a barely audible hiss as I eased back and detached myself from the metal prong. Ezra raised his brows in a question.
I gave him the OK sign. The voices were coming from behind a closed door. I held up a finger for Ezra to wait. I went back to the crate with glasses and took two of them from their slots. I carried them back to Ezra and handed him one.
He smirked and whispered. “Kickin’ it old school.”
I grinned. “Every chance I get.”
He gave me a quick kiss before putting the open side of the glass to the door. I did the same with mine. The muffled conversation became clearer.
“It’s going good, right?” I heard Lynn ask. “Other than the two who broke the locked drawer in the chemistry room, everyone seems to be having a good time.”
“One guy already made a guess,” Tim Dean said. “He was wrong, of course.”
“I overheard Nellie Lox say she wanted to put our weekend on her Pinstabook channel. Maybe we should’ve let them keep their phones.”
“We all agreed, Lynn. Cellphones give an unfair advantage to players.”
“I know,” she whined. “But we’ve sunk everything into this place…”
“We’re booked through to the end of the summer,” he assured her. “I promise, babe. We’re going to make this work. The only real option, for all of us, is success.” There was a short pause. “Haven’t I always taken care of you?”
“You’re right,” she said.
“What was going on with Buzz and T earlier?” Tim asked.
“Creative differences,” Lynn said quickly. “Don’t worry about them. I’ll handle it.”
A clang of pans followed by a sharp curse startled me. I dropped the glass on the floor, and it bounced against the door.
“What was that?” The words were loud, sharp, and unmistakable on the other side of the door.
Ezra set his glass on a shelf and pulled me into his arms and away from the door. He turned me until my back was against the wall, and before I could yelp, he sealed my mouth with a passionate kiss.
The door opened. “Who’s out here?”
“Damn it to hell,” a man groused. “My trousers have been eviscerated.”
“Is that you, Bob?” Tim demanded.
“Of course, it’s me, you moronic twit.” The overhead lights flickered on as someone flipped a switch. “Why are there two people making out next to canned goods?”
Oops. Caught.
My lids flickered open and staring back at me were the most gorgeous green eyes. In the two years we’d been together, I never tired of this view. Ezra eased back from the kiss. “Hello, gorgeous,” he said.
“Hello, sexy,” I replied.
“What are you two doing back here?” Lynn demanded. She had on a pair of sparkling earrings in the shape of bees and a necklace pendant to match. Very cute and young jewelry, fitting for her cheerleader character. She nervously tugged at her necklace. “This area is off-limits to guests.”
Ezra straightened his jacket. “Excuse us. We were…uh…looking for some place private.”
“Your rooms are private,” Lynn said.
“Sorry.” I held up my hands. “We haven’t seen each other for a few weeks…”
Tim’s expression softened. “It’s not a problem, really. The kitchen and the staff hallway are restricted for a reason, though.”
“Sorry,” Ezra said. “We’ll get out of your hair now.”
“I didn’t mean to sound harsh. Flashbacks,” Lynn added on a laugh. “But I’m not a teacher anymore, and you all aren’t two lovesick teens caught making out in the kitchen.”
The actor who’d played Biff, Sawyer Johnson, came in behind Robert Forester—or Bob, as Lynn had called him. He smirked when he saw us. “You two.” He shook his head. “Get a room.”
Bob moved forward and knocked stuff over on a shelf. The man wasn’t steady on his feet. “I can’t work under these conditions, Dean.” He shook a fist at Lynn and Tim. “ My life was nearly snuffed out.”
“By what?” I asked automatically.
“When I was doing a quick change, I slipped on the floor. I could have been concussed! Some imbecile spilled oil on the…” His words trailed off as he glanced around the room at all of us, then shook his head. “Never mind.”
“Excuse us,” Tim said to Ezra and me. He gestured toward the exit. “It ruins the illusion if you peek behind the curtain. I hope you understand.”
I nodded. “Yeah, definitely.”
The actress playing Ms. Nelson, Tina Rothschild, was at the kitchen entrance. She looked mildly surprised to see Ezra and me walking toward her.
“The kitchen is staff only,” she said.
I nodded. “We were just leaving.”
After we passed by her, I heard her say, “Watch what you’re doing.”
I turned back sharply to see Bob throwing his shoulders back and straightening his suit. “Pardon me,” he muttered.
“Arrogant lush,” Tina sneered. “If I’d wanted to babysit dickheads, I would have kept teaching teenagers.” Her gaze pivoted to me, and she forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Ezra looped his arm with mine. “I think that’s our cue to go.”
“Yep,” I agreed.
After we made our way out of the cafeteria, Ezra asked, “Do you think Ms. Nelson…” He let the question hang.
I picked it up. “…is our mysterious Mrs. P from the vision?”
Ezra nodded.
“She’s definitely at the top of the list.”