Murder at Barclay Meadow Read Online Free PDF Page B

gave me a crooked smile. “Do you really believe that?”
    â€œYes.” I nodded. “I do.”
    â€œAre you always this nice?”
    A loud sniffle distracted me and I looked over at two girls embraced in a tight hug, their faces tear-streaked and blotchy. A boy wrapped his arms around them and squeezed. A sob erupted from one of them. I looked back at Rhonda. “Can I ask you something?” I stepped closer. “What was your reaction when you heard she drowned?”
    â€œI couldn’t believe it. I can’t imagine Megan ever going near a river.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œShe was terrified of the water. I know, a stellar athlete like her, but she had a bad experience. She fell in a pool and couldn’t swim. I had to fish her out.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œWe were at the club and, well, I didn’t have to watch Chelsea because she was already jumping off the board. Anyway, after that, Megan hated the water. I don’t think she ever learned to swim.”
    â€œWhy…” I stared at the ground as this new information sunk in. I looked back up. “None of this makes any sense.”
    She frowned. “What are you getting at?”
    â€œThe police said Megan fell off a dock and drowned and you say she was terrified of the water. And she hadn’t been swimming because her backpack was strapped on, and again, she wasn’t a swimmer. So, how did she end up in the river? It’s like you said; it wasn’t voluntary. Did someone push her?”
    â€œWow.” She crossed her arms. “You’ve really thought about this.”
    â€œDo you think I’m crazy for doubting the police?”
    â€œJust between you and me…” Rhonda kept her voice low. “I think Megan could have easily been in some sort of trouble.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œYou may have noticed she was rather pretty?”
    â€œStunning.”
    Rhonda rolled her eyes. “The girl was an attention magnet—always in the middle of some sort of predicament. It was like the television network, TNT: we know drama.”
    I bristled. How could she be saying such things about a young woman who just died? I hugged myself and rubbed my arms. Rhonda reminded me of the kind of person who might yank your chair away right before you sat down.
    â€œWhat?” She frowned. “You look shocked.”
    â€œI’m just taking it all in.”
    â€œYou might as well know…” She shrugged. “I tell it like it is.”
    â€œI’m not a big fan of secrets, either.” A heavy, gray cloud shadowed the sun, instantly chilling the air. A breeze kicked up my skirt. I smoothed it down and looked up at Rhonda. “What sort of trouble could she have been in?”
    â€œThe latest drama was with a professor at John Adams.” Rhonda pushed her sunglasses on top of her head. Her skin stretched tight across her cheekbones. “Megan was after this internship he was offering. I swear, she wanted to be the next Anna Freud. And apparently this guy is a big shot in the field—just got some fancy grant.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Megan was sleeping with him.”
    â€œOh.” I reared back. “Did she report him?”
    â€œWhat’s to report? Sounds to me like it was her idea.”
    My mind went back to the headline: “Psychology Professor Receives Prestigious National Grant.” “Do the police know about the professor?”
    â€œThe police? I don’t think anyone knew except Chels.”
    â€œWhy did she transfer from Delaware?”
    Rhonda scowled. “How do you know about that?”
    â€œYou just told me, remember?” I smiled. “You said Megan played soccer with your daughter.”
    She studied me for a moment. “I have a feeling people underestimate you.”
    â€œI wouldn’t know.”
    â€œUh-huh.” She gave me a wry smile. “Anyway, that’s