Alibi High

Charlotte reached into her purse and pulled out her lipstick. “Ah, well. I guess I was thinking more of faculty and staff. I guess I would say no, it doesn't really apply to her.”

“So she does come in here?”

She ran her lipstick over her lips, then puckered rubbed them her lips together . “I've seen her car in the lot when I've driven by. I think she came in to get a student's file one weekend because she had to ask me about it. But, yeah, I would say the rule doesn't apply to her.” She dropped the lipstick back into her ba ck g . “And I don't mean that in a bad way. I don't think it should apply to her. She has a pretty big job and I don't think it would be feasible for her to not have access on the weekends.”

I nodded. I thought the same thing, but it didn't change the fact that she was someone who absolutely clearly had access to the building. I wasn't sure that she had any real motive to arrange a theft of computers, but it sounded like she definitely could've gotten into the building if she wanted to.

“I mean, she answers to the board,” Charlotte said, zipping up her bag. “But bottom line is that she can pretty much do what she wants. And, again. I'm not saying that in a negative way. It's just part of the deal.”

“Sure,” I said. “Makes perfect sense.”

“I would n 't want her job,” she said , wrinkling her nose . “Couldn't pay me enough.”

I nodded, thinking the same thing. Having to answer to too many people and not being able to please all of them. The stress level had to be really high.

“One more question before you go,” I said, switching gears.

“Sure.”

“ Can Any chance I can sign you up for the talent show?” I said. “I know the kids like you and they'd love to see you up on stage doing something silly.”

“Well, I'm totally capable of making a fool of myself,” she said , grinning . “But I'm afraid I can't that night. I have a prior commitment that I can't get out of.”

“Really? ” I couldn't hide the disappointment in my voice. “ I was genuinely hoping I could get your name on the list ,” I said, disappointed. .”

“I'm so sorry,” she said, standing and slinging the bag over her shoulder. “Believe it or not, I'm playing poker that night.”

“Poker?”

She nodded, then shook her head. “Yes and I'm an idiot for agreeing to it. I'm actually playing in a tournament. Up at River Star?”

River Star . T was t he Indian casino about forty five minutes north of Moose River. The Indian casino I'd never set foot in. The Indian casino that my ex-husband had spent too much time in.

“It's some sort of charity benefit tournament,” she explained. “A friend of mine asked me to play months ago and , after a whole lot of badgering I finally agreed.” She laughed again and shook her head. “I don't really even know how to play. I probably should've just donated some money and skipped the tournament.”

I nodded and tried to push a smile onto my lips, but I couldn't deny that I was disappointed that Charlotte wasn't going to be at the fundraiser. I had just assumed that , even if I couldn't get her on stage, she' s d at least be there for moral support. She was the one friend I'd felt like I'd made in three days of being there and I was sad she wouldn't at the very least be in the audience.

“I'm so sorry,” she said again. “I feel terrible. If there's anything I can do to help get it ready, I'd be happy to do it. I just can't be there that night. I promised my friend and I already paid the entry fee.”

“Oh, no, I understand,” I said. “It's short notice and people can't rearrange their entire schedules.”

“I would if I could.”

“I believe you,” I said, managing a smile. “And thanks for saying that. I appreciate it.”

She nodded and spun her keys on her index finger. “Okay, I'm gonna get going. Don't stick around too late. Your family probably misses you.”

“I won't,” I said. “See you tomorrow.”

She waved and left.

I looked down at my list. I had fifteen names after striking my deal with Mr. Riggler. That was pretty good, considering I'd started the day with zero. I wanted at least twenty and I'd made some good progress. I didn't want to let not having Charlotte Charlotte's news there put me in a funk.

Charlotte or no Charlotte, the talent show was a go.

TWENTY SEVEN

My phone starting buzzing like crazy around five - thirty.

First it was Jake asking when I was coming home.

Then Will.

Then Emily.

Then Sophie.

And then Grace borrowed Sophie's phone to ask the same thing.

I was fairly sure it was a coordinate d effort, but I got the message.

I was wanted at home.

I'd managed to create a schedule for the night of the show, ordering the acts in a way that I thought made sense. I made notes about things I wanted to get done the next day and packed up my bag. I cut the lights and headed out to the parking lot.

I was almost to the car when I heard heels clicking on the pavement, followed by Evelyn Bingledorf calling , “Daisy! Oh, Daisy!”

I stopped just sort of my car and turned around.

She was walking at a fairly good clip , having just exited the building. , headed right towards me. She carried a black leather briefcase in her right hand and a phone in her left, a reminder that even when she left the school, she probably wasn't really off-duty.

“How was your day?” she asked, coming to an abrupt stop when she reached me. “Successful?”

“I think so ,” I said and . I told her about the sign-ups I was able to procure.

“Oh my,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “You really did have some success. Nice work.”

“Thank you.”

“I'm sure it's going to be an excellent show ,” she said, glancing .” She glanced down at the phone in her hand, then back to at me. “And I'm sorry I'm going to have to miss it.”

My mouth dropped open. “What?”

“Something's come up at the last minute,” she said, frowning. “I've tried like the devil to move it, but I've been unsuccessful.” She shook her head. “So utterly frustrating. However, it's something I can't skip out on. Prism must have a presence at this appointment.”

“Oh,” I said, not bothering to hide my disappointment. “Alright.”

“Of course, you'll have my full support right up until that day,” she said, nodding, as if her enthusiasm might make her absence less of a big deal. “Anything you need, it's yours and any time you need from me, it's yours.”

Unless, apparently, something more important came up.

“Alright,” I said, ducking tucking my chin in, the evening breeze cool under the cool evening breeze . “Thank you.”

“I'm truly very sorry, Daisy,” she said , her voice appropriately contrite . “If I could change this, I absolutely would. But I just cannot. Not this time. Bad timing.”

“I understand .” ,” I lied.

“Excellent,” she said, using her favorite word. “Well, then. I wil 'l l see you in the morning. Have a fantastic evening.”

She flashed me a bright smile, then walked off to her car on the other side of the lot.

I hit the clicker on my key chain, pulled open my door and tossed my bag onto the passenge r seat. I pulled the door closed behind me and sat there for a minute , processing what I'd just been told . Headlights flashed behind me and I watched Evelyn Bingledorf drive out of the lot in some sort of shiny, expensive looking car.

I was disappointed. And pissed. I couldn't believe she the figurehead of the school wasn't going to be at the fundraiser, the event she'd basically dumped in my lap because I happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She'd impressed upon me how important it was for multiple reasons, subtly letting me know there just how much was pressure on me to execute the fundraiser . She'd mentioned several times how it was going to be the thing that jumpstarted donations and how important it was to make an impression on the community.