Murder in the Second Row Read Online Free PDF Page B

men
exchanged seats, Pippa shot Tamara a look with all the blunt force
of a lead pipe in the library.
    Jessica tiptoed
out of the Rose Room and left them to continue the rehearsal.
     
    Construction
was going well onstage. Howard and Gazza were bolting together the
flats for the back wall, which was currently lying face down on the
stage.
    ‘That girl’s
going to cause trouble,’ Jessica told Howard. ‘She’s just thrown
herself all over poor Phil in rehearsal – I thought Pippa was going
to have a fit. Who do you think would win if they actually came to
blows?’
    ‘Pippa, hands
down. Tamara would just slap and scratch but Pippa can pack a
decent punch. I’ve seen her in combat classes at the gym and you
wouldn’t want to mess with her!’
    ‘That Tamara
wants neutering,’ said Gazza. ‘Only way to deal with a sex kitten.
Remember the last show she was in? She worked her way through
nearly every guy in the place. It was “Here today, on Tamara” right
up to Final Night party.’
    Howard snorted
in appreciation.
    ‘Let’s hope
Adam can keep her under control,’ said Jessica. ‘At least she can’t
seduce him.’
    ‘Want to bet?’
said Howard. ‘I reckon Adam swings both ways.’
    ‘Maybe, but if
he does, I’m damn sure he’d pick someone with more class than that
little tart!’
    ‘Ooh, put your
claws away, girl! Do you fancy Adam yourself then?’
    ‘No! Of course
not. How could I possibly fancy him when – ‘she clasped her hands
to her chest, ‘my heart belongs to… Austin!’
    Howard and
Gazza threw down their spanners in disgust.
    ‘Jessica!’
    ‘Oh, don’t even
say that. Get out of here. Go and make us a coffee, woman.’
    Jessica
chuckled as she walked past Gazza and pushed his cap down over his
eyes. Out in the Green Room there were newspapers spread across the
floor where Nick and Stewart were busy painting chairs for the
hotel scene.
    ‘Got time for a
coffee break? I’ll even make it for you if you ask me nicely.’
    Nick leapt to
his feet.
    ‘Oh, and just
how nicely would you like me to ask you, Jessica?’ His voice was
velvety and his brown eyes were full of mischief.
    ‘Down, boy! I’m
only offering coffee.’
    ‘Oh all right
then.’ He sighed. ‘Blonde with two legs, please.’
    She rolled her
eyes. ‘I suppose that’s milk and two sugars, is it? What about you,
Stewart?’
    ‘The s-same,’
he stammered, ‘but I can make my own. I mean, you don’t have to do
it.’
    ‘It’s all
right, Stewart. You’re pulling your weight – even more than the
others since you’re onstage as well as doing construction. I’m
perfectly happy to make you coffee now and again. Aren’t you needed
for rehearsal today, then?’
    ‘No, Adam’s
just working with principals for the next few sessions.’ He smiled.
‘I’m going to help Nathan paint the scenery when it’s built. He’s
amazing. You should see these awesome sketches he did for his class
project. They’re incredible.’
    ‘Good. I look
forward to seeing what he’ll do with the set.’
    She picked her
way across the newspaper to the kitchen and lined up a row of
scuffed glass mugs ready for coffee.
    When she
delivered Howard’s to him on stage, he was patting his tool-belt
and looking round distractedly.
    ‘Have you seen
where I put my pencil?’
    ‘Again?’
growled Gazza. ‘I’m going to tie a string round it and staple the
other end to your arm one of these days. Here.’ He threw Howard a
chunky red carpenter’s pencil and took the coffee Jessica handed
him. ‘Thanks.’ He tipped his cap back and drank long and thirstily,
then handed her the warm empty mug and got back to work.
     
    Just a week
later and she was doing coffee duty again, preparing for a quick
production meeting before the Sunday rehearsal and construction
session. She filled the cups and took them into the Rose Room where
Clara-Jane and Gert were already seated on the sagging sofa. On the
table in front of them were piles of clothing and