Free Sour Grapes (A Savannah Reid Mystery #6) by G. A. McKevett

was a large window with leaded gla.s.s. An outside light cast its glow through the golden glass, giving the hallway a pleasant, Midas-touch ambience.
    Savannah was more than halfway down the hall when
    she noticed that one of the doors-2C--was ajar. She heard voices, females voices, coming from within the
     
    TO0111.
    Normally she wouldn't have bothered eavesdrop
     
    t3Z Li.11. MC/Cellar
    ping on what was probably a frivolous conversation. But something in the tone--an almost ominous, very serious note to the voices--caught her attention. Silently, she took a few steps closer and listened.
    "Don't worry about it," one of the girls said. "Now I wish I'd never even told you about it."
    "Well, you did tell me, and I am worried. I'm really worried. And if you were half as smart as you think you are, you'd be worried, too."
    Savannah heard rustling in the room and got ready
    to step away from the door if necessary, but the girls continued talking.
    "I told you, I thought about it for a long time. It's gonna work out just the way I planned. Everything's set, you'll see."
    "I don't know. I've got a bad feeling about this. I think you should tell your folks. That's what I'd do if I were you."
    "My folks! You've gotta be kidding. They're the last people I want to know about this. . at least until it's all settled. Then I'll tell them, and they'll be cool about it."
    "And if they aren't?"
    "They won't have anything to say about it, will they?" "You'd better be careful. You could get hurt." "Naw, if anybody gets hurt, it isn't going to be me.
    Guaranteed."
    Again Savannah heard activity inside the room. "Come on," one of the girls said. "We've gotta get downstairs before Mrs. Lippincott misses us."
    "You go ahead. I've got one more quick phone call to make, then I'll be down."
    Savannah had time to take a couple of steps backward
    before the girl emerged from the room and
     
    21
    1,0
    closed the door behind her. She was lovely, petite, with glossy black hair cascading in waves to her waist. She had big, golden-brown eyes that grew even wider when she saw Savannah standing there.
    "Oh," she said. "Who. . . who are you?"
    "My name is Savannah Reid. I'm working Security for the pageant. Just making my rounds. And you are. . . ?"
    "Francie Gorton. I'm one of the contestants."
    "Nice to meet you, Francie. Is everything all right?" The girl gave a furtive glance at the closed door. "An,
    yeah. . . I. . . everything's fine, I guess."
    Savannah put on her best soft, big-sister face. "You don't sound too sure to me."
    "Yes, I'm sure. But I have to get down to dinner now. I'm late."
    The girl started to pass Savannah in the hallway, but Savannah stepped in front of her, reached out, and laid her hand on her shoulder. "Is there anything I can do? If there's a problem, maybe I can help."
    Francie glanced at the door again, and for a second Savannah thought she might be about to open up and
    confide in her. She obviously needed to; her eyes were full of fear, and she was visibly shaking.
    "No, really. You can't help. I mean.. . . it's not my thing."
    Savannah pointed to the closed door. "Is it her thing? Does your friend need my help?"
    The girl shook her head, and for a moment, sadness replaced the fear in her eyes. "No, Barbie knows everything. If you don't believe that, just ask her. She never needs anybody's help. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really have to go downstairs."
     
    1
    041 1KLULIZVG46
     
    Savannah released her. "Yes, of course you do. If you :flange your mind, and you want someone to talk to, I'll 3e around. Okay?"
    "Yes, thank you very much. You're nice. . . for a 3ecurity person. No offense."
    Savannah smiled. "Gee, thanks. I'll take that as high 3raise. Have a nice dinner, and good luck with the
    3ageant."
    As Savannah watched her hurry away, she could hear he low murmur of the other girl's voice on the oppoate
    side of the door. When she had first heard the roice, she'd thought she recognized it Barbie Mathews, all right. That