Chapter 25

“YOU MURDERED REVA!”

“K ill her!” Grace screamed, pointing at Reva. “Do it, Rory. Do it now!”

But Rory wasn’t in the doorway.

The security guard stood there, looking slightly confused. Michael stayed in the hall and peeked wide-eyed around the doorframe.

“Kill Reva!” Grace shrieked. “Please, Rory! Please kill her for me!” She took a stumbling step toward the guard.

The guard’s eyes hardened. His hand went to his gun.

“No!” Reva shouted at him. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about!”

“Yes, I do! I want you to kill her. Please, Rory, why won’t you do it?” Grace covered her face with her hands. “Why won’t you help me?” she sobbed.

Keeping his hand on the gun, the guard glanced at Reva.

Reva took a shaky breath. “You’ll have to take her to the police,” she told the guard. “She killed two people. But take it easy with her. She’s sick. She needs help. I’ll call her mother.”

The guard nodded and took hold of Grace’s arm. She glanced up at him. “You’re going to help me, aren’t you, Rory?”

“Sure. Come on.” Gently, the guard tugged on Grace’s arm and led her out of the room.

“Wow,” Michael breathed. “That was weird, huh?”

“Very weird,” Reva agreed. “But it’s over, Michael. And, Michael?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for coming in when you did,” she told him. “You saved my life.”

“No kidding?” Michael’s eyes lit up. He whipped out the fake knife. “The Evil Avenger to the rescue!” he shouted, and raced down the hallway.

Reva smiled. The horror is finally over. I’m not in danger anymore. Grace will be taken care of.

Slowly, she slumped to the bed, looked up Grace’s number again in the student directory, and called her mother. She explained what had happened to a horrified Mrs. Morton.

“Those poor girls,” Mrs. Morton sobbed. “I’m so glad you’re all right, Reva. I’m leaving for Shadyside right now—Grace’s doctor is coming tomorrow. Maybe my poor Grace will really be cured one day.”

Maybe, Reva thought. But I wouldn’t count on it.

Reva said good-bye and hung up. Feeling exhausted, she started to lie back on the bed. Then she remembered her father. She had to tell him. Quickly, she punched in his office number at Dalby’s.

He answered on the first ring.

“Daddy? I—I have to tell you what happened,” Reva announced. Then she blurted out the whole horrible story about Grace.

“And you’re sure you’re all right?” Mr. Dalby asked anxiously when she finished.

“I’m fine,” she assured him. “My throat’s a little sore and I’m tired. But I’m really okay, Daddy. I feel so bad about Traci and Liza, of course. And Grace, too. I mean, she’s sick. But it’s all over, Daddy, isn’t that great?”

“It’s wonderful,” he agreed.

“And now I can go ahead with the fashion show,” Reva told him.

“Huh?” Mr. Dalby cried. “After all that’s happened, isn’t that the last thing you want to do?”

“Definitely not,” Reva replied. “Grace was right about one thing. The show was really important to me. And it’s even more important now.”

“But—”

“Please, Daddy, let me go ahead with it!” Reva begged. “I need something to help me forget all the horrible things that have happened. And everything is ready—the scarves and the set and the music. We could have a show tonight!”

“Tonight? What about the models?” her father asked. “Didn’t you plan on having three of them?”

Reva thought fast. “Yes. But couldn’t you get two of the store models to replace Traci and Liza?” Forget what color hair they have, she thought. Just as long as they don’t trip over their own feet, I’ll take them. “Daddy?”

“Well...” Mr. Dalby hesitated, but only for a few seconds. “I suppose you’re right, honey. Doing the show will take your mind off things.”

“And it will be good for business, too,” Reva reminded him.

Mr. Dalby grunted. “All right. I’ll line up a model for you. There’s not enough notice to do it tonight. The store is open until ten tomorrow. So how about tomorrow at seven for the show?”

“Perfect! Thank you, Daddy!” Reva cried. “I’ll see you later!”

Reva said good-bye, then quickly got Ellie’s phone number from Information and punched it in. When Ellie picked up, Reva quickly explained the situation. “The show is at seven tomorrow night. I’ll be there at six. But could you go a little earlier and make sure everything’s ready?”

“Sure,” Ellie replied. “No problem. I’ll let Maria know, too.”

“Great. I’ll meet you in the showroom at seven.” Reva hung up and clicked her nails on the bedside table. What next?

Pam, she thought, and snatched up the phone. “Pam!” she cried, when her cousin answered. “You are not going to believe what happened!” Once again, she explained about Grace and the murders.

“That’s awful!” Pam exclaimed. “I feel so terrible about Liza and Traci. But somehow, I can’t help feeling bad for Grace, too. That poor girl.”

“Hey, what about me?” Reva asked. “I almost got strangled, remember? Anyway, forget all that. I have some fantastic news—Daddy’s letting me go ahead with the fashion show.”

“Really?” Pam cried. “After all the horrible stuff that happened?”

“It’s good business.” Reva rolled her eyes. Of course, Pam didn’t have a clue about business. She should be grateful Reva had taken over the scarf show. “People are still going to shop, you know. Especially at Christmas.”

“Oh. I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am,” Reva agreed. “The show’s tomorrow night, at seven. You and Willow should get down to the store right away and get to work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Hanging up, Reva hurried into her private bathroom to take a long, soothing bath.

The horror is all over, she thought, smiling to herself.

And I’m right back where I belong.

On top.

• • •

Pam glanced at her watch. Six o’clock. She sighed and bent over the long green scarf she was working on.

She and Willow had been at Dalby’s all day, making more scarves. Usually Pam enjoyed it, even in the small, airless room Reva gave them. She loved working with the material, seeing her very own designs come alive.

Why wasn’t she enjoying it now?

On the other side of the table, Willow tossed down a cherry-red scarf and clicked her tongue in disgust. “That’s the third time I messed up the stitching! I’m a total klutz today. I don’t feel like working at all.”

“Me, either,” Pam told her. “I keep thinking about Traci and Liza. I mean, Grace strangled them with our scarves. I know it’s not our fault. But it’s all so sick. I just can’t seem to get excited about the show.”

“Yeah,” Willow agreed, fingering her gold nose hoop. “Two people are dead. It’s just so awful.”

Pam nodded. “I should be glad about the show, I suppose. Reva says it’s good business.”

“Reva would,” Willow declared with a snort. Then she shrugged. “I guess I shouldn’t complain. Somebody has to think about business. And maybe we’ll make some money, at least.”

“Right.” Pam inspected the green scarf. “Speaking of Reva, I’m going to check with her and see if she wants to use this scarf tonight or save it for the next show. She should be here by now.”

Picking up the scarf, Pam left Willow and went down the hall to the showroom.

The big room was dim and shadowy. The only light came from a weak bulb somewhere behind the revolving doors.

Pam stepped in and waited for her eyes to adjust.

What was that noise?

It sounded like breathing. But not normal breathing. Gasping, almost.

Was someone there?

Pam moved cautiously down the center aisle, peering through the darkness.

The raspy breathing continued.

Pam took a few more steps. Then she stopped suddenly.

Reva!

Pam’s cousin lay in front of the revolving doors, sprawled on her stomach, her red hair shining in the weak light.

Someone knelt next to her, bending over her. A guy, Pam saw. She heard Reva gasp again, a choking, guttural sound that sent a chill down Pam’s spine.

The guy stayed on his knees, bending over Reva.

Pulling at something.

At what?

Hurrying forward, Pam saw a flash of red around Reva’s neck.

And more red in the guy’s hands.

A scarf!

A red scarf!

He’s killing her! Pulling the scarf tighter and tighter!

Strangling her!

With a shriek, Pam flew onto the stage. She threw herself at the guy, knocking him off-balance. He fell with a thud. But Pam barely glanced at him. Terrified, she bent over her cousin.

Reva lay still.

The horrible choking sounds had stopped completely.

“She’s dead! You murdered her!” Pam cried, dropping to her knees beside Reva’s still body. “You murdered Reva!”

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20