Murder of a Sleeping Beauty

Informationen zum Autor Denise Swanson Klappentext Lorelei Ingles was to star in her school production of "Sleeping Beauty! " but now the popular cheerleader and beauty queen is dead. While the police deal with the politics of the case! school psychologist Skye Denison counsels kids and combs for clues! uncovering some shocking revelations about some of Scumble River's most prominent citizens. CHAPTER 1 From Bad to Hearse As a school psychologist Skye Denison had dealt with many recalcitrant teens, but Justin Boward would be the death of her yet. He refused to talk. She was beginning to think his entire vocabulary consisted of yes, no, and the occasional grunt. Although she knew that adolescents tended to be like cats ? neither react when you talk to them ? his lack of response to her attempts to draw him out was starting to make her feel like a failure. A feeling she was way too familiar with already. Two years ago, Skye had been forced to crawl back to Scumble River, Illinois, after finding herself fired, jilted, and broke. It had been hard enough to return to the rural Midwestern town she had escaped as a teenager, but the citizens long memories had made it worse. Hardly a week went by without someone reminding Skye of what she had declared twelve years ago in her valedictorian speech. Back then, the moment the words had left her mouth, shed regretted saying that Scumble River was full of small-minded people with even smaller intellects. She had regretted it even more since shed moved back home. She snuck a peek at her watch as she pushed a stray chestnut curl under her headband. Twenty-five minutes before the Scumble River High School dismissal bell would ring. Once again, she attempted to make eye contact with the teen seated kitty-corner from her at the small table. He ducked his head and studied his chewed fingernails. Justin had not spoken three words in the previous fifteen minutes. Skye searched for some pithy comment. Before she could come up with one, a student she vaguely recognized flung the door open and stumbled inside. The girl bent over, trying to catch her breath, and spoke between gasps. Sleeping Beauty is dead. What? Was this teen-speak for: Run, the cops are here? Was Skye supposed to answer: The gray wolf howls at midnight? Skyes gaze raked the adolescent, who was still hunched over, hands on her knees, standing just past the office threshold. She was dressed in low-riding wide-legged denims and a hooded belly top. Her bleached two-tone hair fell to the middle of her back, and her navel was pierced. After a quick appraisal, Skye decided that the girl probably hung with either the Rebels or the Skanks. Of Scumble River Highs five or six cliques, these were the two roughest. And unlike the teacher-pleasing Cheerleaders, Jocks, and Nerds, they did not volunteer information to adults. What was this girl up to? The adolescent finally straightened and grabbed Skye by the wrist. Something abhorrent has happened. You have to come right now. She tugged at Skyes arm. Hurry! Skye found herself half-running, half-dragged down the long hall. Orange lockers went by in a blur, and the smell of that days lunch caught in her throat. The teen skidded to a halt before the closed gym doors and pointed. In there. Who are you, and what are you talking about? This is just FYI. Im out of here. The girl tried to push past Skye and head back down the corridor. Skye grabbed the hood of her top. Oh no, you dont. Explain. Hey, Cujo, back in your cage. The teen twisted violently, trying to free herself, then turned an anger-filled stare on Skye, who met her gaze without blinking. Finally, the girl shrugged. So, okay, I cut my eighth-period study hall, and I was hanging around here and there, waiting until my buds got out of school. I wanted a cigarette, and knew there was no PE last hour, so I went in the gym. It was dark, but I thought I saw someone on the stage, ...

Product details

• Authors: Denise Swanson
• Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback
• Released: 01.04.2002
• EAN: 9780451205483
• ISBN: 978-0-451-20548-3
• No. of pages: 272
• Dimensions: 107 mm x 171 mm x 17 mm
• Series: Scumble River Mystery; Scumble River Mysteries (Paper; Scumble River Mystery; Scumble River Mysteries (Paper
• Subject: Fiction > Suspense