just feel safer if I knew someone was keeping an eye on them.â
âSure,â Sebastian said, still looking confused. He stood up and Maggie opened the bench, carefully placing the shoes inside.
âThanks,â Maggie said. âI really appreciate it. I know theyâll be safe here,â she added, pointedly looking around the room.
She headed back toward the stage and I checked out my suspects. Colin was staring at Maggie. Fiona was fixated on the bench. At first I thought Jamison didnât care at all, but I caught him giving the piano a furtive glance. They were all still contenders.
I pulled out my phone. NOW , I texted George.
A second later a fire alarm blared through the entire theater. Lights flashed over the theater exits. The dancers stopped in their tracks and covered their ears.
âYou have GOT to be kidding me,â Jamison screamed over the ringing. âWe DO NOT have time for this.â He threw down the papers he was holding. His face was bright red and a vein in his forehead pulsed in anger. I thought I had seen him mad before, but that seemed downright calm compared to the level of fury now emanating off him.
The dancers began exiting the building. âWhere do you think youâre going?â Jamison yelled.
âItâs a fire alarm . . . ,â Nicole began.
âDo you smell smoke? Do you see flames? Does it feel hot in here to you?â Jamison asked.
âNo,â Nicole said hesitantly.
âThen thereâs no fire! This is a false alarm. You will stay and you will prepare. We open in four hours.â
My jaw dropped. I couldnât believe Jamison wouldnât allow his dancers to evacuate during a fire alarm. That had to be illegal. Not to mention my trap wasnât going to work if the theater stayed full. We needed to do something.
I scurried over to Bess. âTell him he has to evacuate.â
âWhat?â she said. I couldnât tell whether she couldnât hear me over the blaring alarm or she couldnât believe what I was asking.
âYou have to tell him to evacuate!â I repeated, louder this time.
âWhy me?â
âBecause you look like youâre part of the theater staff,â I said. âHe wonât listen to me dressed like this.â I indicated my leotard and tutu.
âHeâll bite my head off,â she said.
âJust stay firm.â
Bess took a deep breath and marched toward Jamison. âSir,â she said confidently. The alarm masked the nervous quiver I was sure was in her voice.
âYes?â Jamison asked, feigning innocence.
âThe law mandates that you evacuate during a fire alarm.â
âThereâs no fire. This is just an annoyance. Please go back to sweeping or whatever chore you fill your day with.â
Bess set her jaw defiantly. âIf the fire department arrives and the building is not evacuated, they will issue a fine.â
âServes you right for having a faulty fire alarm. Imagine if it had gone off during a performance!â Jamison hissed.
Bess narrowed her eyes. âI will make sure they issue the fine directly to you personally. And I should add that itâs quite hefty.â
Jamison paused for a beat. Then, finally, âAll right, everyone get your coats.â He turned to Bess. âThese are dancers. Their muscles need to stay warm.â
If I hadnât been trying to maintain a low profile, I would have jumped for joy. A sense of pride swelled through me. The first time Bess had gone undercover, sheâd blushed and stuttered, and her cover had been blown in less than thirty seconds. She had come a long way since then.
As the dancers filed out of the room, I discreetly slid down between the seats and hid. The floor was cold and dirty. There are times when being a detective isnât really glamorous.
Finally the theater was empty. Now the real waiting began. If the culprit wanted to rattle Maggie,