Read Online Hopscotch Homicide (Zoe Donovan Mystery Book 16) by Kathi Daley - Free Book Online

fourteen.”
    “Yeah, me neither. These kids seem so much more focused than I ever was. Alex wants to be a writer. She finally let me take a peek at the book she’s been working on and it’s really good. I bet she could even get it published. Scooter, on the other hand, has decided after two weeks of soccer practice that he wants to play the sport professionally when he grows up.”
    “I seem to remember you going through a phase where you wanted to be a professional skier,” Pappy reminded me.
    “True.”
    “Kids’ dreams usually meet up with their potential at some point. How’s your investigation going?”
    “It’s going,” I said. “I don’t feel like either Salinger or I are getting anywhere, but I guess fumbling around in the beginning is part of the process. I spoke to Lilly, who pointed me toward Trudy Blacksmith. Trudy seemed to think Mrs. Brown was obsessed with her baby for some reason.”
    “That’s odd.”
    “Yeah, I thought so too, but Tawny confirmed that the woman was overly focused on him. I don’t know if that tells us anything important, but it feels relevant.”
    “You’ll figure it out. You always do.”
    I chatted with Pappy for a few more minutes before he went off to find Hazel. I was proud of the way all our students seemed to be comfortable chatting with the adults they’d just met. I had high hopes for all of them in spite of their somewhat colorful pasts.
    “Try one of these Napoleons.” Ellie had walked up and handed me a delicious-looking pastry.
    “This is really good,” I said after taking a bite.
    “I had to be sure I had history covered with a subject-related food,” Ellie explained. “It’s a new recipe I think turned out really well.”
    “It’s great. And I overheard several people commenting on how fun and delicious the food is. At first I wasn’t sure about trying to do a theme, but it seems to have worked out. Phyllis loves cake; have you offered her any yet?”
    “Not yet. I’m making my way around the patio.”
    I glanced over to where Phyllis was talking to Nick. She seemed engaged in the conversation, but I couldn’t help but notice her wandering eye.
    “This may be a bit premature, but it looks like Phyllis might have a little crush on Will Danner,” I said.
    Ellie looked in her direction. “You think so? She isn’t even talking to him.”
    “That’s true,” I admitted. “But I’ve noticed her noticing him.”
    “You think?” Ellie furrowed her brow and took a closer look. “I mean, he’s a widower and Phyllis is single. I imagine they’re close to the same age. I’ve just never known Phyllis to date.”
    “Yeah,” I agreed. “I suppose my overactive imagination might be seeing things that aren’t there. Still, I really think I picked up on a vibe when I spoke to her earlier about Annabelle.”
    “Annabelle?”
    “A cat Phyllis is interested in for Pepper.”
    “She’s getting a cat for one of the girls who boards with her?”
    “Apparently. I’m not sure how Charlotte is going to feel about it, but Annabelle is a small cat with a quiet disposition. I think Charlotte will do fine with her once they get used to each other. I told Phyllis I’d meet with her and Pepper in the morning so they could meet Annabelle, but I have a feeling they’ll get along just fine.”
    Ellie waved to Phyllis, who noticed us watching her.
    “I wonder how Phyllis is doing with the girls,” Ellie said.
    “I asked her that when I spoke to her this morning and she said they were all getting along really well. She sounded sincere.”
    “The only one of the three I’ve talked to so far is Pepper,” Ellie commented. “That girl talks a mile a minute.”
    “Yeah, she isn’t one to be stingy with her words.”
    “It seems like Pepper and Chad are getting along well.”
    Chad Carson, one of the three local kids invited to attend the Academy, was both intelligent and uberperky. It seemed he would do well in school, but he’d demonstrated