Read Online 4 Four Play by Cindy Blackburn - Free Book Online Page B

jealousies. Ms. Jilton was an excellent educator, but.” Gabby paused. “But I’m fairly certain she was having an affair.”
    “With someone at the school?”
    “I don’t know. I can’t get a clear answer from my principal out there, and I doubt he’ll open up for your fiancé, either. That’s where you come in.”
    “Oh?”
    “You can talk to him, Jessie! His name’s Richard Dempsey. And while you’re at it, you can talk to the other faculty and staff. People will trust you.”
    “Are you kidding? People will not trust me, Gabby.” I pointed toward Sullivan Street. “You do know about the demonstration today?”
    “Which is exactly why people will talk to you. Educators disapprove of book banning. And no one likes the way you’re being bullied.”
    “Oh great. So people will talk to me because they feel sorry for me?”
    “What difference does it make why?” she asked. “Won’t you at least try?”
    I watched Gabby sip her champagne, and for the first time noticed she was in quite a disarray. Like my first guest of the day, my latest visitor wore a business suit. But while Roslynn Mayweather had been clean, crisp, and pressed, Gabby Yates was anything but. Somewhere along the line she had slipped off her pumps, her hose had a run, and her hair looked something like Karen’s does on an average day.
    “You’ve had a rough day,” I said.
    “An understatement. And you?”
    I offered a brief summary of my trials and tribulations, and Gabby did the same.
    “First an emergency session with the school board,” she said. “Then the Clarence Courier called, then the mayor. Then I had a three-hour meeting with the state education commissioner. I barely had time to watch Jimmy Beak’s report this evening.”
    She gave me a sideways look. “At least the book-banning demonstration kept him out of my hair. Thank you.”
    “Don’t mention it,” I mumbled.
    “I thought I was home free for the evening, but then our Congressman caught me on my cell phone on my way over here.”
    “Wow,” I said. “You really do need some bourbon.”
    Gabby held up her champagne glass. “This is quite nice,” she said. “And please don’t get me wrong, Jessie. I love my job—I embrace my responsibilities. But I can’t concentrate on education until this useless tragedy gets cleared up.”
    “You care a lot,” I said.
    “I didn’t earn my nickname for nothing.”
    “The nickname doesn’t bother you?”
    “The Dr. Yikes label means I’m doing my job. Just like the Queen of Smut label means you’re doing yours.”
    I harkened back to something I had read in the paper, and congratulated Gabby on the latest SAT scores for the county.
    She smiled broadly. “I am so proud of our high-schoolers! And our grade-schoolers. Our fourth-grade reading levels are among the highest in the state this year!”
    “Thank you, Dr. Yikes.”
    “You’re very welcome. But if you really want to thank me, you’ll solve this murder.”
    She rummaged around in her purse and pulled out an ID badge. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the photograph.
    “Where did you get that?” I asked.
    “From the back of My South Pacific Paramour .” Gabby rummaged some more and whipped out a lanyard in Clarence High School’s purple and orange colors. She attached my ID and dangled it in front of me. “Here you go. Your hall pass!”
    I grabbed it just as Snowflake got interested. I jiggled it in front of the cat and spoke to Gabby. “You didn’t actually read My South Pacific Paramour ?”
    “Of course I did. But Windswept Whispers is your true masterpiece.”
    I pointed to Sensual and Scintillating . “That one got high marks from Ms. Carlisle also.”
    “Please don’t tell anyone I read romance, Jessie. It could ruin my reputation.”
    My face fell. “Oh no,” I said. “That kind of attitude is the problem.”
    To her credit, Gabby understood immediately. “I’m being a hypocrite, aren’t I?”
    “Sorry, but yes. Many