Dream a Little Scream Read Online Free PDF Page B

surprise.
    Odd. Unless he had such a sanguine temperament that nothing rattled him? Most of the audience members seemed shaken up by the event, and a few women were crying softly into tissues and dabbing their eyes.
    â€œWhat happens next?” Ali asked, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. Her usual poise had vanished and she looked ready to burst into tears herself. I shot her a sympathetic look when Sam stepped in and took charge of the situation.
    â€œWe have to send the crowd on their way,” Sam said quickly. “Let’s dispatch them quickly and don’t let anyone touch the food.” She gestured to the long table with half-eaten desserts and piles of plastic plates. “Keep everything exactly as it is. We may need to bag it.”
    â€œYou’re going to take the food?” Ali asked incredulously. “Do you mean as evidence?”
    â€œPossibly. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
    â€œWhat exactly do you expect to find?” Sara nudged my shoulder a little as she squeezed between us. Sara’s a good friend, but she’s first and foremost a reporter, and I wondered if she hoped for an exclusive on what might be a newsworthy—if tragic—event. If this was foul play it would certainly put her byline on the map if she could file a story direct from the scene. I almost expected her to whip out her pocket tape recorder to capture Sam’s remarks.
    â€œNothing yet.” Sam’s voice was clipped. “Nothing at all. So let’s not make problems where none exist, okay?”
    â€œOf course not. I would never do that!” Sara looked first at me, then at Ali, for validation, her voice ringing with indignation.
    â€œSam doesn’t mean anything by it,” I said, leading Sara away from the head table. “She’s a detective; it’s her job to be suspicious, remember?” Olivia was sniffling and gathering up the bookmarks and the contents of Sonia’s purse. The other crew members, a couple of cameramen, a sound guy, and a lighting tech packed up their equipment, whispering to each other. Two women staffers touched Olivia on the arm and then grabbed their purses and headed out the door.
    â€œWe’re finished here, right?” The lighting tech picked up the last of the klieg lights and nodded at Olivia.
    â€œAbsolutely,” she snapped. Her eyes were brimming with tears as she scooped up some index cards and dropped them into the bag. I knew she would have to face a tough situation at the hospital. The next half hour might prove to be the most difficult of her life. Would she like some company or would she consider it an intrusion? Olivia was so self-contained, it was hard to predict.
    â€œAli and I could come with you, if you like,” I ventured. “In fact, we could drive you, if you don’t feel up to it.”
    â€œNo, I’d rather go alone. You’ve done enough.” Her voice was as dark and flat as the ocean on a cloudy day.
    â€œI’ll call you from the hospital,” Sara said to me in a lowvoice as Olivia scurried out of the shop. A beat passed between us. “Either way.”
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    â€œMost of the Dream Club members are here, so we might as well hold an impromptu meeting,” Persia Walker suggested a few minutes later. We’d just ushered out the last guest and put a CLOSED sign on the shop door. Sam Stiles had left for the station house to make a report and we’d left the remaining food untouched, as she’d ordered.
    â€œWell, for heaven’s sake, let’s not hang around here, let’s go upstairs,” Dorien said. She shivered and rubbed her upper arms. “This place is giving me the creeps. For all I know, we’re standing right in the middle of a crime scene.”
    â€œA crime scene? Nonsense,” Sybil Powers cut in. “Sonia had some sort of major allergic reaction, and it was certainly