The Tiara on the Terrace by Kristen Kittscher Page B

did.
    â€œFrom nineteen-ninety’s memorable choice of the Venus flytrap to last year’s bird-of-paradise that Scott Maxwell chose to represent our own sliver of paradise here in Luna Vista, we’ve seen some amazing selections over the years.And now we have it. Jim’s final gift to us all,” Lee said as the queen’s tiara spiraled from the depths of the pedestal compartment and appeared on the velvet lining. “The official symbol of the 125th Winter Sun Festival!”
    The crowd clapped soberly as the tiara filled the outdoor screens with its glittering fake diamonds. The camera panned across the fancy metalwork and zoomed in on the flower insignia at the front of the crown. “A Coral Beauty rose,” Harrison Lee announced as the unmistakable folds of petals came into view. For someone who didn’t seem all that broken up yesterday, he sure was milking the moment. The applause grew louder.
    I leaned forward to catch Grace’s eye, but Lauren Sparrow blocked my sight line. Her face was drawn, but she looked much more together than she had the day before. Her outfit—an Asian silk jacket and dark pants—somehow managed to be both festive and serious.
    â€œHow fitting that Jim Steptoe left us with a symbol of love and friendship.” Lee’s voice echoed across the lawn. “Now which of Luna Vista’s own lovely roses will wear it? We take many characteristics into consideration when we select our Court,” he said, sounding an awful lot like one of his late-night ads as he mugged directly into the local news cameras lined up near the white tents. I found myselfwishing Trista would spill her iced tea and short-circuit the soundboard.
    â€œBut, most of all, we look for effortlessness. The Festival is no beauty contest. The Royal Court is made up of smart, talented young women who are shining ambassadors for our community just by being themselves,” he said.
    If Grace had been sitting next to me, my ribs would be cracked from her elbowing. I shot off a quick text to her with a smiley face.
    â€œBefore we honor those ladies, let’s take a moment to pay tribute to the people who made it possible for us to gather here today. In my book, they’re Luna Vista royalty too.”
    Trista pulled her cap lower as Harrison Lee looked toward the volunteers at the soundboard. For someone whose regular speaking voice was a shout, it was surprising how much Trista hated being in the spotlight—even to be thanked.
    Harrison Lee’s blinding white smile filled the outdoor TV screens. “Officer Grady? Can you please stand?”
    I frowned. Why did we need pay tribute to a police officer? Trista looked back at me in shock as Officer Grady stood up from his seat in the row in front of her and pretended to humbly wave away the crowd’s cheers.
    Lee bumped the microphone as he clapped over-enthusiastically. “We couldn’t be more grateful to PaulGrady and his fine team at the LVPD for quickly determining the cause of Jim Steptoe’s accident. It isn’t easy kicking off our Winter Sun Festival under the shadow of tragedy, but thanks to their thorough investigation, we have closure. We can move forward—with full peace of mind. We salute you, officers.”
    My chest tightened. Closure? A little more than twenty-four hours had passed since we’d eavesdropped on the police in the float barn. Pink-faced Officer Carter’s voice echoed in my mind. Homicide, he’d said. We’d heard him right. He’d said it would take weeks to investigate. How could they have tied everything up so fast? My heart started to race.
    Grady sat back down again. I turned to Grace. Staring straight ahead, she looked at Harrison Lee as if he’d grown a second head. Next to her, Lauren Sparrow wore an almost identical look. Her Royal Court program dropped to the ground and abruptly fluttered shut.

Chapter Seven
Royal Upset
    G race locked her