Free Crowning the Slug Queen (A Callie Stone Mystery Book 1) by L.M. Fortin

applications and putting them back in her bag. “I need to get to the theater for practice anyway.”
    “Let me know if you have any more questions. And if you need help on the day of the pageant, I can probably get away for a few hours.”
    “I’ll remember that and let you know,” said Callie. “I really appreciate your help.”
    Callie could have sworn Zeke growled at her as she went out the door. Mama bear, indeed.
    She drove back through town to the Newsome Center, parked her car and went in. The interior of the center was designed to reflect the beauties of the Pacific Northwest and featured deep green carpets and exposed hardwood beams. The center itself was unique for more than its architecture. In true Skinner spirit, the building had been built as the result of an arts foundation of local citizens and not as part of a commercial enterprise.
    Callie opened the door to the main theater and went in. The Straub Theater was the gem of the building. It had unparalleled acoustics, much of it due to the innovative ceiling. The architect had designed the ceiling to look as if large pieces of ribbon were woven in and out of each other. Callie felt as if she were inside a large round basket or a Christmas present. Each woven piece was tan in color and tipped on the edges with a light green stripe.
    The seating area was empty except for Callie, and at first all she could hear was the whoosh of the air conditioning.
    Then, behind the curtain, off to stage right, Callie thought there might be two people having a low voiced, but intense conversation. She began walk down the aisleway so she could go to the stage and meet whichever contestants had arrived first.
    A woman with a low voice said, "None of these things are for you, so back off!" Then there was a small crash and the sound of glass breaking. Callie said, "Hello--who's there?"
    She climbed the stairs on the right side. As she went around the curtain, she could see the stage door a few feet away was beginning to swing close. Apparently whoever was here, didn't want to be seen. Her feet crunched on something and she looked down to see shards of glass on the floor.
    A voice behind her said, "You look like you dropped something," and she jumped.
    Turning around she saw a short man with brown hair that was thinning on the top and thick round glasses. From his flannel shirt, jeans and the array of tools around his waist, she recognized his type--stage manager. One of the members of the extended tribe of event organizers.
    "No, this wasn't mine. I heard something break a minute a go and came up to have a look, but there's no one here now. I suppose we should clean this up?"
    He eyed her warily. "And by we, do you mean me?"
    "No, if you get a broom and dust pan, I'll help."
    He seemed to brighten at this. He went out the stage door and came back with a broom. "Do you want to sweep or hold the dust pan?"
    "I'll hold the dust pan." She was curious to see if she could figure out what had broken by seeing the pieces all together. "By the way, I'm Callie. I'm helping out with the pageant. I'm taking Polly's place."
    He nodded. "I figured that's who you were as you're the only one dressed like a real person instead of a spangledy slug. I'm Wade and I keep everything right back here in the stage area."
    "Nice to meet you Wade." Callie crouched down and held the dustpan while Wade swept. At first she didn't think any of the pieces were going to be large enough to be identifiable. Then, a large chunk landed in the dustpan.
    "What do you think this is?" she asked as she held up the piece for Wade to see. It was a small hollow cone of twisted glass about two inches long and the only thing Callie could think of that it looked like was a unicorn horn. Only one end was broken off, but the narrower end was smooth and round with a hole in the middle of it.
    He took the piece from her. "I don't know. Maybe the arm of a starfish or something?"
    "Well, we're thinking along the same lines. I was