Free 045147211X by Denise Swanson

from her purse. Second, call Wally. Third, get out of the wet swimsuit, put on some clothes, and wait for him to arrive. She bit her thumbnail. Was there a fourth item on her to-do list?
    Still in a near trance, she staggered to the locker room, dug out her phone, and dialed her home number. It rang four times and then went to voice mail. She got the same response when she tried Wally’s cell.
    Well, hell! Where was he? He didn’t start work until eight, and although he often went in before his shift officially began, this was early even for him. Maybe he was in the shower. Skye frowned; then, just in case there had been an emergency and he’d been summoned to the police station, she tried his private line. When he didn’t answer, she gave up and dialed 911. At least her motherwasn’t on duty. She really didn’t want to have to deal with May’s maternal fussing.
    “Scumble River police, fire, and emergency,” Char, the dispatcher who covered the midnight-to-eight stint, answered on the first ring. “How can I help you?”
    “This is Skye. Can you send an officer to our house and have him tell Wally that I need him at the high school right away?” She paused. There was no use tying up the town’s lone ambulance since she was certain Blair was beyond any help they could provide. “And Wally should probably contact the coroner to come, too.”
    “Honey, are you okay?” Char’s concerned voice soothed Skye.
    “I’m fine. Just get Wally here right away.”
    Without waiting for a response from Char, Skye pushed the OFF button, then quickly pulled the towel from her duffel, dried off, and slipped on her sweat suit. Tucking her cell into the pants pocket, she secured the locker door behind her, then headed toward the entrance to let Wally in when he arrived. She was chilled to the bone, and she wondered if she’d ever feel warm again. Certainly not anytime soon.
    As she waited, she briefly wondered where Cameron was during all of her screaming. Cameron Unger had been the elementary school custodian, but after his mother was killed, he transferred to the high school position, and Skye had grown used to seeing the young man when she came for her early-morning swims.
    A few seconds later Skye remembered that at their last meeting, in an attempt to cut costs, the board had eliminated the third shift. The building was now empty from eleven p.m. until seven a.m. Which probably meant that nobody was aware of the power outage either.
    Skye immediately fished her phone from her sweatpants pocket and scrolled through her contact list. Shoot! She didn’t have Homer’s home number. She’d have to call Uncle Charlie. As the board president, he’d certainly know how to reach the principal.
    Before she could dial, she saw Wally’s squad car screech to a stop in front of the school. That had been quick. Had he gotten one of her messages, or had an officer already been in the area? There sure hadn’t been enough time for anyone to get to their house with a message.
    Wally burst out of the cruiser and flew up the sidewalk, a look of alarm on his face. Although he wore his uniform, his tie was missing and his wet hair stood on end, as if he’d shoved his fingers through it.
    Skye pushed open the door and met him on the steps. He gathered her into his arms, then ran his hands down her back and sides as if checking her for injuries.
    Finally, his voice husky, he said, “Darlin’, are you okay?”
    “I am now.” She snuggled against him for a moment, then kissed his cheek and withdrew from his embrace, tugging him inside and down the hall. “When I dove into the pool, I found Blair Hucksford’s body on the bottom.”
    “You’re sure she’s dead?” Wally asked as he walked beside Skye.
    “Yes.” She unlocked the door, led him through the dressing room and into the pool area. “I managed to get her out of the water and performed CPR.” Skye lurched to a stop, and her voice quavered when she admitted, “I hope I