Note: This 'Beauty Contest Murder' is on my fictionpress account as well so you'll see why I didn't get the names mixed up. Hope you have time to go over there on my page and check out the stories. Bill Thompson is an OC on my fictionpress account so he's not for real.
The next day, Mallory was with Claudia at the public library. Claudia knew this search was getting nowhere and it was getting boring as well. She wasn't so sure what to do now if there wasn't anyone interesting in the mystery genre for her to try. She sighed a loud sigh but not loud enough for everyone in the library to hear. Claudia wanted to get this over with and soon.
"Thanks for being here, Mal," Claudia whispered.
"You're welcome. I hope we can find somebody," Mallory said.
Claudia hoped so. She was disappointed about her parents throwing her Nancy Drew books into the dumpster. She wondered how they figured that one out without anyone not knowing where she kept the books. It also made her wonder if her parents found out about her eating junk food and keeping it well – hidden. That she'll have to find out.
Mallory thought she found a writer Claudia might like. Mallory waved her over.
"What?" Claudia whispered.
"I think you might like this guy," Mallory whispered back.
"Who is he?"
Claudia had never heard of this writer whose name was Bill Thompson.
"A mystery writer."
"Oh."
The book was titled The Beauty Contest Murder. Claudia laughed silently to herself that the title sounded strange.
She and Mallory both read the summary of the novel. It wasn't one of his latest novels, both girls could tell. Mallory opened the paperback book.
She saw the copyright said it was printed in 1996.
"Long time ago," Claudia whispered as she saw Mallory nod her head.
"True," Mallory whispered back.
"Think we should give him a chance?" Mallory asked.
"I think that title sounded strange."
"I agree, Claudia, but I guess he had his own ideas."
Mallory and Claudia read what the book was about:
At a pageant she was involved with, Lynda Conway tries to solve the murder of a victim that was part of the contest. Would Lynda be able to find out the name of the victim and who the murder was?
Unlike a lot of fictional writers, Bill tried to keep his summaries on his books short so he wouldn't do any spoiler alerts. Mallory could tell that made sense.
"Should we take this one, Claudia?" Mallory asked.
It was the only copy of the book left in the shelf.
"Okay. It better be good," Claudia said.
"We'll find out but what it was about sounded interesting," Mallory whispered back.
The two girls headed to check the book out.
Claudia and Mallory headed to Claudia's house. Claudia thanked her friend.
"You're welcome. Anytime, Claudia," Mallory said, "and let me know what you think of it."
"Will do," Claudia told her.
After she said that, Claudia shut the door in her bedroom. She opened to chapter one. Before reading the first word of the book, Claudia thought to herself, 'This better be good.' Then she turned to the first word in the book. This is what she saw on page one:
Rain was raining lightly as Lynda Conway drove away from the gas station. Her son, Sam and her daughter Michelle should be with the neighbors. Both son and daughter were a bit young to stay home alone. Sam was eleven and Michelle was seven. Lynda pulled into the two – car garage once the garage door opened automatically.
There was no need to drive the car to her neighbors' house since they were right next – door. After unbuckling the seatbelt, Lynda climbed out of the passenger's seat. She grabbed the keys out of the ignition before locking the car. She thought she'd leave the garage door open so she and the kids could walk through together.
Walking to her neighbors' house, which was a two – story house with a one – car garage, a gate, garden, kitchen, bathroom, living and dining room, you name it. To tell the truth, her neighbors weren't rich at all and neither was she. The house she walked to at this minute happened to be a house of a cop.
Lynda pushed her brown hair away from her face. The hair was only shoulder length but it got wet because of the rain. While ringing the doorbell, Lynda felt her feet tapping on the 'welcome' mat. The deputy's wife came to answer the door. She was pretty for someone in her early fifties.
Lynda noticed the woman looked like she was in the middle of a bath because she saw the woman's red hair was wet and she had a royal blue towel over her waist. The woman looked like her hair was starting to turn gray.
"Hello, Lynda. Won't you come in?" she asked.
"Thank you, but maybe next time, Melanie. I came for Sam and Michelle."
Lynda watched as Melanie yelled to Michelle and Sam their mother was here. That's when she heard footsteps. The kids ran to greet Lynda.
Lynda said, "What do you say to Mrs. Brown?"
"Thank you," both said in unison.
"Thank you for what?" Lynda asked.
"Thank you for letting us stay," Michelle said.
"You're welcome."
Lynda and Melanie said a quick good – bye once Sam and Michelle walked out, backpacks in hand. Michelle's backpack had the Disney princess theme while Sam's was a sports theme. The three walked into the kitchen without a word. Sam and Michelle probably ate supper. She'd recently judged a beauty pageant here in Las Vegas this afternoon.
The show she was at today was a big deal, but it was supposed to continue tomorrow. She'd enjoyed the outfits she hadn't liked. This was the kind of job title she had – beauty pageant judge. She'd often share pictures of the beautiful girls on facebook. She hadn't yet posted on facebook.
It was time Sam and Michelle get a start on their homework. All of his life, Sam had dreams of becoming a detective. He'd had fun watching crime shows on TV and read thrillers. He usually did figure out who the culprit was. He was now reading a new paperback of James Patterson's Alex Cross novel.
She then asked Michelle and Sam if they had done their homework yet.
"Yes, Mom. We did it while waiting for you," Sam told her.
"Oh."
She usually let Michelle and Sam eat supper at Melanie and Dennis's house if it got too late for her to come home to do the cooking.
While Sam and Michelle were under the covers that night, Lynda logged on to her facebook so she could share with the public the pictures she took while at these types of pageants. Lynda had been doing this kind of job for over nine years now and had loved this job since then.
She'd share five pictures from today's show. One picture was with a teenager who recently had a haircut, but it was nice since she had her hair layered. The teenaged girl had on light purple high heels, light tan socks, a pair of star earrings, a necklace, and a red polka dot dress.
Another picture she showed was a thirty – ish old college girl with two pairs of pierced ears along with a fur coat made of silk, curly blonde hair neatly washed and combed, a dress that looked to be more of a special occasion only type of dress. It was black and had a sapphire on one side and the other side had a pearl. The outfit looked a bit pricey but she thought it was lovely.
After finishing up on posting the fifth picture, she heard on the radio there had been a murder.
"We now interrupt this program. Sheriff Edwards had just stated there was a shooting at Treasure Island an hour or two ago. The body was part of a beauty contestant when there was a bullet shooting from the other side of the door.
"She happened to be in her thirties. Today she was wearing a two – pair sets of earrings, fur coat made of silk, curly blonde hair neatly washed and combed, a dress that looked to be more of a special occasion only type of dress. It was black and had a sapphire on one side and the other had a pearl and the outfit was a bit pricey. The name of the victim has not been released."
side and the other had a pearl and the outfit was a bit pricey. The name of the victim has not been released."
Lynda turned the radio off. She looked at the picture. Sheriff Edwards had just described. It was contestant number five. That's when she let out a scream!
Claudia was now interested in what made Lynda scream. She did notice the first chapter was a bit on the short side, so she turned to the next page which was:
The next morning, Lynda showed up to see if the contest was still going to be in progress while she judged the show this afternoon. The acting sheriff, her next – door neighbor, Deputy Mitchell was on the scene once she arrived.
"Good morning, Lynda," he greeted her.
"Good morning," she returned.
"I heard what happened about last night," she told Mitchell.
Sheriff Edwards had been out-of-town for a few days to go on a jury duty here in Las Vegas.
"The news is all over town, Lynda. Even made this morning's headlines," he told her as he shoved it quickly in her hands.
She saw the front page. So Mitchell was right and he wasn't joking, either. The headline read: CONTESTANT DEAD.' She always had hated this kind of thing when victims like the contestant who had entered this contest murdered.
One of the contestants in this year's pageant, was shot the previous night. She had recently entered this contest that was going to continue in the next few days. Lynda Conway, one of the judges, had been a judge to all the past years until today had been involved in the past murders that took place. The bullet that was aimed at the contestant was small. The police have no new information at this time. For now, the contestant's name is to remain unidentified.
The writer who wrote this short piece of what happened last night used the name Jessica Anderson. Jessica was well – known. Lynda wanted to help solve this mystery. Sam and Michelle had school today, so there was no reason to have them around this kind of violence. Not today, anyway.
She decided to ask Mitchell if today was still on.
"Is today's show still going to continue?" she asked.
"I'm afraid not, Lynda. It will have to wait until this is solved," he said, pushing his long bangs out of his face.
His hair was a light – red color. The sign of him needing a haircut was bangs in your face.
"Do we know anything about the person who shot her?" Lynda asked.
"Nothing yet. It's a bit too early to figure this one out. When we have an answer, we'll let you know."
"Thanks. I'll stay tuned."
After that, she drove away. She got back in today's cold weather when she parked her car in front of a bakery. The bakery, Jones and Brown, was small. Costumers would come in and stay if they pleased.
The bakery had a drive – thru. It was nothing fancy. Lynda had never been through it herself. She waited in line for her turn. She was hungry for a donut and wanted coffee to go along with it. Her turn had arrived. Lucas Jones was behind the counter this morning.
"Good morning, Lynda. What can I give you today?" he asked in a professional tone of voice.
Lucas had the bakery's work clothes. The shirt said 'Jones and Brown Bakery' with a matching apron both were the usual boring white. He wasn't tall for his age, she could tell.
"We heard what happened about last night, Lynda. This pageant started a couple of days ago, didn't it?" he asked, pulling a glazed donut with sprinkles.
He handed her the donut and then headed to pour the coffee.
"I heard about it on the radio myself last night, Lucas. I tried to get more info earlier, but no avail."
"We're curious as much as you are, Lynda. Good luck to you on this case," he told her as she paid $3.75.
"Thanks, Lucas. I'll need it."
"Good day, Lynda," he called as he watched her leave.
Now she was hooked. She'll call Mallory now and let her friend know she was already into the book. So she did. She picked up her phone and called Mallory. Of course, she was home. Vanessa, one of Mallory's sisters yelled to Mallory that she had a phone call. As usual, she spoke in rhyme. Mallory took the phone from her sister. She watched as Vanessa left.
"Hi, Claudia," Mallory said.
"Hi."
"Any luck with the book yet?" Mallory asked.
"That's why I'm calling, yes."
"Are you into it yet?" she asked.
"Another yes. Thank you for helping me out. I would like to get into the third chapter," Claudia told her.
"Let me know when you get to the end," Mallory said.
"I plan to do that."
That's when both girls hung up. Claudia was happy that Mallory had introduced her to somebody new. She read the short biography on Bill in the book. Here's what she read:
Bill Thompson is a mystery writer. He was born and raised in Washington, DC and has a wife named Tina who is a chef and owner at her Mexican restaurant. They have one son named Ken who is thirteen. He lives in Detroit, Michigan with Tina and Ken and now is currently working on his next novel.
Claudia saw his book didn't mention he was #1 New York Bestseller like several writers were. She did find his biography interesting. Once she finished his book, she'd go to the library and see for herself if his first book was there. She thought she'd start from there and see if she'll keep reading the series. She thought to herself, 'You have a new fan, Bill. I look forward to your other novels.'
