Best Girl Read Online Free PDF Page A

good time. I was cool with that. I just wished I was having a good time. Brooke’s was in a building on a corner, the name lit up in big orange letters over the front door.
    I didn’t feel it, but I knew that confidence was everything. So I held up my head and walked like I knew where I was going. I opened the door to Brooke’s and stepped inside, my heart loud in my ears.
    I’d arrived early so I wouldn’t have to compete with the music. As usual in a club, the lighting was low. But this place sparkled—the bottles behind the bar to the right, the wall sconces, the shiny wood floor. A guy with a shaved head stood behind the bar wiping glasses.
    â€œI’m looking for Brooke,” I said.
    â€œThrough that door.” He pointed to one side. “Office on your left.”
    I opened the door to a short hall. In front of me, a staircase marked Private led to the second floor. A door to the left said Office . On the right a wider door tempted me. I opened that one a crack and saw a large room set with round wood tables. A girl and three guys were setting up on the low stage at the front. One day, I thought, that might be me.
    I headed toward the office door. I knocked and was surprised when it opened. A pretty auburn-haired woman stood there watching me. Not young, but hot.
    â€œCan I help you?”
    She was wearing jeans and a long turquoise shirt cinched at the waist with a leather belt.
    â€œI’m looking for Brooke.”
    â€œThat’s me,” she said, waiting in the door.
    â€œI wanted to talk to you about Freddy Allan.”
    Her eyes grew wide.
    â€œHe was my father.”
    Her jaw dropped, and then she flung the door open. She grabbed both my hands. “Freddy’s little girl! I can’t believe it.” She studied my face. “You grew up so pretty. You have his eyes.”
    I wondered at this, since his eyes seemed so sad in the picture. But I was pleased, and felt myself go red.
    She pulled me into the room and sat me down in a chair opposite her. “So tell me about yourself. What’re doing these days?”
    I hadn’t expected this reaction. “I’m styling hair right now, but I want to get into music.” I’d never said that out loud to anyone besides Shelley. Was kind of afraid to say it. What if it never happened?
    â€œWell, like father, like daughter,” she said. “When you have something, I’d love to hear it.”
    My heart skipped. “Wow! That’s awesome! Better get practicing.” I waved in the direction of the door. “You have an amazing place here. Stu told me about it. He said to come.”
    Her expression changed, the smile suddenly forced. “When did you talk to Stu?”
    â€œUh, well…” Did she know he was in town? I didn’t want to be the cause of trouble between them. “I wanted to talk to him about my dad. I heard they were fighting at the end.”
    She looked away, embarrassed. Must’ve had her own secrets. “Yeah, well, two guys with hormones. They were together all the time. Mostly on a bus. No surprise they were fighting.”
    â€œDoes Stu have a temper? Is he violent?”
    â€œWhat’re you asking?”
    â€œHow mad was he? Mad enough to kill?”
    She stared at me. “Carol killed Freddy. Everyone knew that.” Then she softened. “I know she was your mother, and it’s hard to accept…”
    â€œWhat if she didn’t do it? What if someone else killed him?”
    She took in a breath. “Whatever gets you through the night.”
    â€œI just need to know.”
    â€œWell, it wasn’t Stu. He’s big and loud, but he’d never hurt anybody.”
    â€œWere you there, that last night?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œWhat happened after the show?”
    â€œSame thing as always. We all went back to the dressing room. They brought in some food. After we ate, we did some drugs. The guys