she’d win the pageant, a collapsed Venice didn’t worry her. Unlike Randi and Donna, who were determined that the pageant go on as scheduled, Juliet seemed unconcerned about the future of Miss Celosia.
Evan came down the aisle, wiping his brow. “Are you ready for the judges now, Madeline? I told them you were officially investigating these disturbing incidents, and everyone’s agreed to help you as much as they can.”
“Thanks, Evan.”
He took a deep breath and blew it out. “They’re waiting for you in my office. I’ve got to find Percy. He’s being very difficult.”
Chuck Hofsteder, Kimberly Dawn Williams, and Benjy Goins were sitting in Evan’s office. Chuck offered me a chair.
“You’re not seeing the Miss Celosia Pageant at its best, Madeline. I apologize.”
Kimberly Dawn Williams got out her compact and added another layer. Whoever supplied her with eye shadow was making a fortune. “I still can’t believe you gave up the pageant circuit, Madeline. It’s opened so many doors for me.”
“I had other interests,” I said.
“But isn’t the detective business dangerous?”
“So far, I’ve managed to stay out of any gun battles.”
She finished larding on the blue eye shadow. “I don’t imagine Celosia would have any sort of battles.”
“You’re not concerned about this latest break-in?”
She shook her head. Not a strand of hair moved. “Just some kids playing pranks. We’ve had some trouble with vandalism at the high school, too. Evan’s making sure the building is locked.”
“Did he call the police?”
“I don’t think we want any more negative publicity.”
“I’ve noticed how quickly news gets around in Celosia. He can’t keep this kind of thing a secret for long.”
Kimberly Dawn turned to Chuck. “How is Evan handling that, Chuck?”
“He had Chief Brenner come by,” Hofsteder said. “He advised Evan to keep the door locked.”
She rolled her eyes. “How helpful.”
“Well, nothing was stolen. Amps, microphones, CD player, all sitting here. All that video equipment Benjy brought from the TV station, untouched. Brenner’s thinking some kids got in, got to horsing around, and knocked down the set.”
Kimberly Dawn looked satisfied. “That’s it, then. The show will go on.”
“Let me ask you about this show,” I said. “Who stands the best chance of winning?”
Chuck was so eager to answer, he almost raised his hand. “We all know Juliet can be a little difficult, but strictly off the record, she’s our best chance at winning Miss Parkland this year. Seriously, I think that girl could go all the way.”
“And we’ve got a little score to settle with Dixley,” Benjy Goins said.
Dixley’s a town about the size of Celosia, located a few miles south of Parkland.
“You have a rivalry with the Miss Dixley Pageant?”
“It was an absolute scandal the way their girl took second place at Miss Parkland last year,” Chuck said. “She didn’t have a tenth of the talent our girl did. Those judges were blind and tone deaf.”
“So, unofficially, you feel Juliet is the best choice.”
Kimberly Dawn didn’t look as pleased as the men. “We’re not just going to give her the crown. She’ll have to prove she’s worthy.”
“I think her talent is the best,” Benjy Goins said.
“Did anyone stay here last night to practice her talent?”
“No, Evan sent them home. He doesn’t like to wear everyone out.”
“Did any of you stay?”
“We weren’t needed last night, so no, we weren’t here.”
“Do any of the contestants smoke?”
Kimberly Dawn looked appalled. “They’d better not!”
Chuck pointed to Evan’s desk. “Evan’s the only one who smokes, and he’s trying to cut down. He keeps a pack in his desk for emergencies.”
At that moment, Evan, with Cindy in tow, came in, wringing his handkerchief and mopping his brow. “I can’t decide if I’m upset or not,” he said. “Percy has quit. He says the girls are
Evan came down the aisle, wiping his brow. “Are you ready for the judges now, Madeline? I told them you were officially investigating these disturbing incidents, and everyone’s agreed to help you as much as they can.”
“Thanks, Evan.”
He took a deep breath and blew it out. “They’re waiting for you in my office. I’ve got to find Percy. He’s being very difficult.”
Chuck Hofsteder, Kimberly Dawn Williams, and Benjy Goins were sitting in Evan’s office. Chuck offered me a chair.
“You’re not seeing the Miss Celosia Pageant at its best, Madeline. I apologize.”
Kimberly Dawn Williams got out her compact and added another layer. Whoever supplied her with eye shadow was making a fortune. “I still can’t believe you gave up the pageant circuit, Madeline. It’s opened so many doors for me.”
“I had other interests,” I said.
“But isn’t the detective business dangerous?”
“So far, I’ve managed to stay out of any gun battles.”
She finished larding on the blue eye shadow. “I don’t imagine Celosia would have any sort of battles.”
“You’re not concerned about this latest break-in?”
She shook her head. Not a strand of hair moved. “Just some kids playing pranks. We’ve had some trouble with vandalism at the high school, too. Evan’s making sure the building is locked.”
“Did he call the police?”
“I don’t think we want any more negative publicity.”
“I’ve noticed how quickly news gets around in Celosia. He can’t keep this kind of thing a secret for long.”
Kimberly Dawn turned to Chuck. “How is Evan handling that, Chuck?”
“He had Chief Brenner come by,” Hofsteder said. “He advised Evan to keep the door locked.”
She rolled her eyes. “How helpful.”
“Well, nothing was stolen. Amps, microphones, CD player, all sitting here. All that video equipment Benjy brought from the TV station, untouched. Brenner’s thinking some kids got in, got to horsing around, and knocked down the set.”
Kimberly Dawn looked satisfied. “That’s it, then. The show will go on.”
“Let me ask you about this show,” I said. “Who stands the best chance of winning?”
Chuck was so eager to answer, he almost raised his hand. “We all know Juliet can be a little difficult, but strictly off the record, she’s our best chance at winning Miss Parkland this year. Seriously, I think that girl could go all the way.”
“And we’ve got a little score to settle with Dixley,” Benjy Goins said.
Dixley’s a town about the size of Celosia, located a few miles south of Parkland.
“You have a rivalry with the Miss Dixley Pageant?”
“It was an absolute scandal the way their girl took second place at Miss Parkland last year,” Chuck said. “She didn’t have a tenth of the talent our girl did. Those judges were blind and tone deaf.”
“So, unofficially, you feel Juliet is the best choice.”
Kimberly Dawn didn’t look as pleased as the men. “We’re not just going to give her the crown. She’ll have to prove she’s worthy.”
“I think her talent is the best,” Benjy Goins said.
“Did anyone stay here last night to practice her talent?”
“No, Evan sent them home. He doesn’t like to wear everyone out.”
“Did any of you stay?”
“We weren’t needed last night, so no, we weren’t here.”
“Do any of the contestants smoke?”
Kimberly Dawn looked appalled. “They’d better not!”
Chuck pointed to Evan’s desk. “Evan’s the only one who smokes, and he’s trying to cut down. He keeps a pack in his desk for emergencies.”
At that moment, Evan, with Cindy in tow, came in, wringing his handkerchief and mopping his brow. “I can’t decide if I’m upset or not,” he said. “Percy has quit. He says the girls are
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