Free Gypsy Girl by Kathryn James Page B

was telling the truth. “Yes. I had to defend myself. No one else was there to help me. The next time I saw them was this morning.”
    I told him everything, how Milo had pulled faces at us through the hotel window, and how I’d seen him and his brothers go into the staff car park.
    “Hmmm.” The policeman didn’t look totally convinced. “You’re the family stopping on Langton’s land, aren’t you?”
    “What’s that got to do with it?” I asked.
    Before he could answer, a voice shrieked, “Leave her alone!” It was Sabrina, blazing towards us. “She never did anything! Let her go.”
    She was in full princess mode, long, dark hair billowing, high heels tapping, her eyes blazing. She glared at the whispering waitresses as she pushed her way through them. “I can hear you! I can hear what you’re saying about me sister! You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
    They backed away from her and looked helplessly at the manageress, who was hurrying along behind Sabrina.
    “Go!” the woman told them. “Get back to work.” She bustled forward. “Now, what’s going on out here? What’s happened to Gregory?”
    I expect she was hoping that her bride’s chief bridesmaid wasn’t about to get arrested before the big wedding on Saturday, especially as I was the one who paid all the bills. The chef, who was still hanging around enjoying himself, told her all that had happened, and in the end the policeman let go of me and put his notebook away. I rubbed the finger marks on my arm.
    “So I’m not a suspect?”
    He cleared his throat. “For now, no. I’ll go and talk to Gregory, hear his side of the story. But I might have to ask you some more questions. So go home and stay out of trouble.”
    “But what about Milo—”
    Sabrina pushed me and gave me a warning look. “Sammy-Jo, leave it.” For once she was taking control. She turned on the policeman, who took a hasty step back, away from her. “You better secure the crime scene.” She poked him in the chest. “And get forensics onto this. Sammy-Jo never did nothing.” Then she spun round to me. “Wait here. I’ll go and get the car.”
    She stomped off through the thinning crowd, as everyone slowly drifted back into the hotel. In the end there was just me, Rocky and the policeman, who was waiting for support officers to arrive.
    “So tell me all,” said Rocky, quietly. “How come you were with Gregory Langton?”
    I shrugged. “He works at the hotel.”
    He didn’t look convinced.
    “I didn’t know he worked here,” I insisted. “I’m not guilty.”
    “Never thought you were.” He grinned. “You’d never beat anyone up. But I think you’re guilty of something. I told you. I hear rumours.”
    “Right back at ya. I hear them about you.”
    He shook his head. “No, don’t try to deflect me. You’ve got secrets, Sammy-Jo. You’re up to something. Something dangerous. Something that gives you the name Gypsy Girl.”
    “I told you. It’s not me. It must be someone else.”
    He gave me this long look. “I don’t think so.”
    Luckily I was saved by Sabrina. There was a loud revving of an engine, and her car shot round the back of the lorry and screeched to a halt in front of us. Sabrina’s idea of slowing down is to jam her foot on the brake as hard as she can. I threw myself gratefully into the passenger seat.
    Rocky stood back, still watching me. “I’ll find out if it kills me,” he said.
    “Don’t bother.”
    Before I could shut the door, Sabrina leaned over me. “What’re you doing here anyway, Rocky?”
    “He wants a receipt, that’s all.” I rummaged about in the glove compartment. “Here it is.”
    I handed it to Rocky and slammed the door without another word to him, and sank back in my seat.
    “Thanks for coming to the rescue,” I said as we set off.
    But she was back on planet Sabrina. She was glancing at her reflection in the rearview mirror as she drove. I could tell she was worrying about