Suspicious Minds (Squeaky Clean Series, Book 2) by Christy Barritt Page A

fitting. How did someone with droopy cheeks, saggy eyelids, and earlike sideburns get to impersonate Elvis? They looked nothing alike. The man didn't even sound like the King of Rock'n' Roll.
    The crowd didn't seem to mind. Several people were dancing on the grass in front of the stage. It would have looked much more romantic if they hadn't been bundled in huge winter coats. And if there wasn't a hound dog singing.

    I pulled my sweater closer and wrapped my arms over my chest. The wind nipped at my nose and ears and anything else it could get its frigid little hands on. I really should have planned better. I should have brought a coat and a hat and ear plugs. How was Ito know I'd ditch class and go to the beach?
    I mingled, throwing in a little two-step now and then so I wouldn't look out of place. I wanted to get a good look at the people present. I wanted to catch Hank after the show and grill him like a hot dog.
    Wouldn't Sierra have a fit if she knew my carnivorous thoughts?
    The song ended. Everyone in Elvis's dog pound applauded. I gazed up at the stage. Elvis needed to lose a few pounds before wearing his hip huggers again. I wanted to look away but felt morbidly curious. Despite the man's imperfections, he didn't seem to have a confidence problem. He smiled broadly at his fans. He wiped his sweaty brow with a handkerchief.
    Before I realized what was happening, the limp fabric landed on my forehead. Hands surrounded me. In self-defense, I grabbed the sweaty kerchief.
    The lady beside me scowled. I really didn't want the soggy memento, but I wasn't about to give it away to people who obviously despised me. Instead, I stuck it in my sweater pocket.
    DNA, baby.
    Elvis grinned at me. And continued grinning at me. Was he waiting for a reaction?
    To make him feel better, I let out a fake squeal and threw my hands in the air.
    Satisfied, he turned his attention to everyone else. About time.
    "This next song is dedicated to a colleague of mine, Darnell Evans. This community lost a great entertainer when Darnell passed. May he rest in peace.
    He started singing "Love Me Tender" I crept to the corner of the stage and turned to get a better look at the crowd. These were true fans, coming out on a night like this to hear the man. What caused people to idolize a man like Hank? Did they truly appreciate his talent? Or maybe they were just hanging on to a time in their life when they felt happy and carefree. Maybe they'd take what they could get. And with Darnell out of the picture, what they could get boiled down to one man: Hank Robins.

    Some couples swayed to the music, arms wrapped around each other and eyes misty. My lip jerked back in a half-frown when I saw the happy couples. Did people think Parker and I were happy? Were we? Or was I just getting my feathers ruffled for no reason? I didn't have time to think of it now.
    The gathering consisted mostly of people over forty. Probably about fifty of them all together. I cast aside my judgments and got to the task at hand. I started at my left, looking for anyone suspicious. Nothing even close, unless you counted the man with the comb-over. Did he think he was fooling anyone? You're going bald, dude.
    At the very thought of the word dude, my thoughts jerked to Chad with his laid-back beach lingo. Should I have told him I was going here tonight? Nah. Keeping him close was one thing. Having him attached to my hip was another.
    My gaze skidded to a halt at a blond standing on the fringe. Even from where I positioned myself, I could see that her roots were in major need of a touch-up.
    Lynette Lewis.

     

AS SOON as Hank sang the last song, I released the breath I held. I couldn't take any more of this torturous butchering of classic songs. Finally, I could question the man and go home.
    Except the crowd started screaming for an encore.
    Were these people insane?
    If they considered Hank Robins to be entertaining, then yes.
    I rubbed my temples as he started into "Jailhouse Rock"