When a body is found buried beneath the café Tasha’s parents used to own, the police start looking for a murderer... and their search leads them right to Tasha’s father. Tasha’s sure he didn’t do it. But if he didn’t, then who did?
Tasha has to find out who the real killer is, but everywhere she turns she uncovers someone else with a secret to hide...
They stopped for pizza, which they ate while discussing the show, then Jace drove her home. As they got close to her house Tasha began to wonder whether tonight would be the night. He’d taken her to a concert. Maybe tonight, when he dropped her off at her house, he’d kiss her. Maybe tonight he’d make the change from being her best friend to being her boyfriend. She hoped so. She yearned for it to happen. She felt herself tingle all over as he turned onto her street. Then she froze.
Jace blinked at the sight that greeted them. “There’s a police car outside your house.”
“Two police cars,” Tasha said, amazed she could speak at all with her heart in her throat. The grey car that belonged to detectives Pirelli and Marchand sat behind a patrol car with flashing lights. What were they doing there? What had happened? Had her father been hurt?
She jumped out of Jace’s car before it came to a complete stop and was halfway up the walk when the front door opened. Detective Marchand came out, followed by Tasha’s father and two uniformed police officers. Detective Pirelli followed behind.
“Dad!” Tasha shouted. “Dad, what’s happening?”
Leonard Scanlan, his face pale in the bright glare of the porch light, looked sadly at her. His shoulders rolled in a shrug of apology.
Tasha tried to run to him, but Detective Marchand held her back while her father continued down the walk. As he passed, Tasha saw that his hands were cuffed behind his back. “What are you doing?” she cried. “Where are you taking my father?”
“He’s under arrest, Tasha,” Detective Marchand said in a calm voice.
Under arrest? It wasn’t possible. Tasha looked frantically toward the street. Jace had got out of his car and was watching in stunned silence as Leonard Scanlan was eased into the back of the police cruiser.
“Why did you arrest him?” Tasha demanded. “What has he done?”
Detective Marchand turned to her. “Your father is under arrest for the murder of your mother.”
From The Body in the Basement, copyright 1997 by Norah McClintock. Published by Scholastic Canada, Ltd.
