A skinny man in an ill-fitting brown suit and thick black-rimmed spectacles stood testing the mic as if it hadn’t just been used to serenade the people now staring up at it. The band’s front man was looking at the interloper like he wouldn’t mind shoving him off the stage. The man in the brown suit reminded Maggie of her chemistry teacher, Mr. Marshall, and she instantly disliked him. He was clearly the principal and seemed to relish the opportunity to hear his voice echo around the room A policeman stood next to him, his arms akimbo, his stance wide, his face....familiar. Maggie wrinkled her nose in confusion. She knew him....
The answer came almost instantly, and Maggie almost jumped up and down in excitement. It was Clark Bailey -- Chief Bailey, she supposed she should call him. He was handsome in the way men are when they are solid and trustworthy. His shoulders were broad, and his big frame was well-proportioned and trim. Though his face was serious, his manner conveyed calm, and his tone was mild as he took over at the microphone.
“Students, we want to let you get back to the dance right away. We just need some information, and we would appreciate your cooperation.” The man looked out across the upturned faces and waited for the excited chatter to cease.
“We got a report earlier tonight of a stolen car. We found that car here at the school just a few minutes ago, parked out in the back parking lot.” Voices rose in question and wonder and Maggie felt her lungs seize and her breath hiss out in dismay. Johnny glanced down at her, his eyebrows raised in question. Maggie looked away, her mind racing to find a way out of the disaster that was hurtling toward her.
Chief Bailey continued. “The doors were unlocked, and we’ve recovered the key. No harm done. But we still need to know who is responsible.”
Maggie moaned in abject horror and then bit her lip to keep more from escaping. Johnny was staring at her in wonder, and a small smile was playing around his mouth. He leaned in until his lips touched her ear, and in spite of her fear, she shivered at the brief caress.
“Why, Maggie....are you a car thief?”
Maggie shook her head adamantly, her blue eyes wide and beseeching. “It’s not what you think,” she mouthed, her voice so low only he could possibly hear.
“Maybe there’s a reward for the apprehension of the little thief,” he mouthed back, one eyebrow quirked. Maggie’s eyes widened even further.
“Please help me get out of here, Johnny.” Maggie gripped his hand and turned into him, her lips barely moving, her eyes trained on the officers now stationing themselves at every exit. “I promise I’ll tell you everything. I’m really not a bad girl.”
Johnny’s eyes twinkled, and his lips twisted wryly. “Yeah, I was afraid of that.” He gripped her arm and led her to where a tall blond kid stood with a glass of punch, hanging on every word spoken by the girl who swayed in front of him, her skirts swishing to and fro as she looked at him coyly from beneath her lashes. Peggy Wilkey was a very attractive girl, and Maggie held back a little, suddenly remembering that Peggy was Johnny’s date for the evening.
Johnny leaned toward Carter, sliding an arm around his shoulder as he conveyed something neither Maggie nor Peggy could hear. Carter wasn’t as discreet.
“Oh man, Johnny! You didn’t! I shoulda known you had somethin’ to do with it!” Carter groaned and then threw his head back and laughed. Johnny just shook his head indulgently and smacked Carter in the center of his forehead, stopping him mid-chortle.
“I need you to get Peggy home. Can you do that, Slick?” Johnny turned to Peggy and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Carter will take good care of you, Peg. It looks like I’ve run into a little trouble, and with your daddy being who he is, I think it’d be better if I got out of here. Thanks for coming with me tonight; you look beautiful.”
Peggy looked from Johnny to Maggie, and there was a fleeting wistfulness in her gaze. It disappeared when Carter raised his glass of punch and said happily, “I’m taking Peggy Wilkey home! Thank you, Jesus!” Everyone within earshot started to laugh, and Peggy blushed prettily, her attention now riveted on the boy who was so obviously smitten by her.
Johnny grabbed Maggie’s hand and began heading for the entrance doors like he didn’t have a care in the world. Chief Bailey had parked himself in front of them, along with a young officer who barely looked older than the kids he was questioning. Maggie had thought Johnny would find a back entrance or devise a distraction. Nope. He was walking right up to Chief Bailey, easy as you please. Maggie looked around in panic, wondering if she should abandon Johnny and try to exit on her own, maybe hide in the ladies’ bathroom until the prom was over so she could sneak out after the police had gone. Her eyes landed on a figure slouched against the back wall. He had watched her walk across the floor, her hand in Johnny’s. He tipped his chin at her now and raised his hand in a jaunty wave. Maggie didn’t wave back. She had no desire to encourage Roger Carlton in any way. She looked around for Irene, but the crowd was thick, and several couples were making their way to the exits, curious about the stolen car and wanting in on the action.
“Hiya, Chief Bailey,” Johnny called out as he neared the policeman.
“Hi Johnny. You haven’t been out stealing cars this fine evening, have you?” The police chief spoke without rancor, but his eyes were sharp, and Maggie figured he didn’t miss a whole lot. Her gut twisted anxiously. Johnny’s hand tightened briefly around hers. He pulled his car keys out of his pocket and handed them to Clark Bailey.
“You know what I drive, don’t ya, Chief? I can’t very well drive two cars at once, now can I?”
“No, but I actually heard that it might have been a lady driving the getaway car. I’m afraid I don’t know your date, Mr. Kinross.”