Free Deadly Reunion by Elisabeth Crabtree Page B

actually, he was Hope's best friend, but we were all close. We were like the three musketeers growing up.”
    “What about Crystal?” Kyle asked.
    “Her sister, Melodie, is my friend, so Crystal was naturally included.”
    “You three graduated together? So , are Crystal and Melodie twins, too?”
    “No , they're a year apart. Crystal was left behind in junior high. She got in some trouble and failed her classes.”
    “What about your director friend ?”
    “He was my next-door neighbor,” Grace said, heading back to the dessert table.
    “Are you talking about me?” Adam asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “Talking about me behind my back. You ought to be ashamed, Holliday.”
    Grace smiled. “Adam. There you are. Where have you been?”
    “Consoling Crystal. She's convinced she was robbed.”
    “She's handling her loss gracefully, is she?”
    “As only Crystal can.” Adam reached out and grabbed a brownie from the table, nearly bumping into Kyle.
    Kyle held out his hand. “I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ve actually been introduced, yet. I’m Kyle Drake. Sorry, I must have forgotten my business cards,” he said, patting his coat pockets.
    Grace rolled her eyes.
    “That’s all right,” Adam said. “I didn’t ask for one.”
    “I loved your last movie.”
    “Everyone did.” Adam turned back around and eyed Grace up and down. “I have missed you. What say you and I take a turn on the dance floor? Here, you don't mind holding this, do you?” Adam asked, as he took Grace's plate from her hand, and passed it to Kyle.
    “No , not at all,” Kyle said testily.
    Grace found herself being pulled onto the dance floor. “That was kind of rude, wasn't it?”
    “I'm sorry.” A dam sighed and shook his head. “I've had a bad day, and I have a feeling it's about to get worse.”
    “What happened?”
    “Crystal is insisting on a recount.”
    Grace was incredulous. “For Reunion Queen?”
    “She apparently took a poll before the reunion , and knows how many were voting for her and how many for Hope. She suspects Hope rigged the vote somehow.”
    “That's ridiculous!” Even as the words left Grace's mouth , she knew it wasn't so ridiculous. Hope was bound and determined to win tonight. She must have been the one to bribe the band to play that song, but would she rig the vote and take a chance on being caught, just so she could dance with Tom? “What does Tom think about it?”
    “He thinks it’s ridiculous , too.”
    Grace glanced over Adam’s shoulder. “Do you know where Hope is?” She ought to warn her sister that Crystal was going to try to make trouble tonight.
    “I don’t know , but take a look over there,” he said, jerking his head to the left.
    Grace followed his gaze. Eric and Diana Collins were dancing in the corner of the room. They were both laughing, as Eric attempted to dip her. “Amazing. How long has this been going on?”
    “I have no idea. It’s rather spooky. I keep expecting one of the m to go for the other’s throat at any moment.”
    Grace frowned. Crystal was standing a few feet away from the dancing couple , her arms folded across her chest. A scowl twisted her features.
    Grinning, Adam said, “Maybe there’s hope left for Tom and, well, Hope.”
    “I wish , but I doubt it. Speaking of my sister, do you see her yet?”
    Adam stood on his tiptoes. “There she is. She’s holding court at the table next to the stage.”
    “I'd better go talk to her. You want to come?”
    Adam nodded. Grace could hear laughter and her sister's voice as they approached the table. Adam wasn't kidding when he said she was holding court. Hope sat on top of the table with the silly crown sitting on her head. A throng of admirers, mostly men, stood around her, hanging on her every word. “I once did this photo shoot on the Riviera. Completely naked. The sand was carefully arranged so that you couldn't see anything, but it was such a thrilling