The Third Message novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: Prove It

In January, I was running my solo's entrance for the director.

The fourteen dancers in the spring concert sat along the wall to watch.

Then the studio door opened.

Bree stood there in a cream coat with a folder against her chest.

The director turned. "Can I help you?"

"I'm so sorry to interrupt," Bree said, in her softest voice.

"I'm Lana's best friend. I came because I can't stay quiet anymore."

Miles was at the back of the room with the music cues.

He went still.

I put my hand up before he could move.

"Let her talk," I said.

Bree walked into the middle of the floor, and fourteen dancers watched her.

She opened the folder.

"Lana cannot do the double pirouette in her audition tape," she said.

"She has a nerve injury. Her surgeon has not cleared her for turns."

A few heads turned toward me.

"I have the letter." She held up a page.

"Her doctor's office faxed it to me. It says no turns for another six months."

"Who authorized that?" the director asked.

"Her sister did."

"I don't have a sister," I said.

Bree's chin trembled. "You see how she is? She lies about everything."

"That letter is private medical information," the director said. "Where did you get it?"

"I told you. From her family."

"She called the exchange office eight times," June said from the booth speaker, bright and clear.

"I have the log in a safe."

Someone in the second row snorted.

Bree pushed on, louder.

"She cheated her way into this program. She edited her tape."

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