Cain shook his head. “I hope he doesn’t have to deal with anything too serious in this building. He doesn’t look as if he’s got the energy to shout, ‘Oi! Stop!’ let alone run after someone.”
Julia nodded again. She frowned. “He’s been in there a while. Would you go and check on him?”
Cain moved towards the room and went in. He returned a moment later, one hand pushing the cleaning trolley, and the other hand holding onto Fred’s elbow.
Fred gave Julia an embarrassed smile. “I had a bit of a turn in there. That bloomin’ trolley is heavier than it looks. Is there anything else you need? Shall I walk you to the lift?”
Julia stole a quick glance at the wall clock behind reception. They’d already been there ten minutes and hadn’t started their cleaning yet. She gave Fred a kindly smile and said, “No, thank you. I know where I’m going. Ellen showed me around last Friday.”
Cain took his hand off the trolley and placed it on Fred’s other arm. He helped him back to his chair and Fred sank into it with a happy sigh. “Thank you. I’ll probably see you in a bit. I do my rounds every hour, I make sure everything is as it should be.”
A worried expression crossed Cain’s face. “Do you want me to do your rounds with you?”
Fred waved a hand at him. “No need. I can cope. I used to be in the army, I know how to look after myself.”
Cain looked unsure as he took hold of the trolley and pushed it towards Julia. Julia shared his look but there was nothing they could do for Fred.
When they were in the lift, Cain said, “It’s not right, having someone like Fred working here.”
“He’s not our concern, but I know what you mean. You can nip down and check on him later if you like.”
“I might just do that.”
The lift doors opened on to floor seven. Cain insisted on pushing the cleaning trolley. Julia decided to let him.
They walked into the offices of Inkwell’s Insurance. Julia explained, “Most of the employees have gone home now. There are a few supervisors hanging around, I think they have a meeting with the manager at six-thirty to talk about the day’s business. The manager has a corner office on the next floor up. I think this part of the floor is for telesales.”
“What does that mean?”
“They deal with quotes for insurance. Ellen said they deal with motor and house insurance. They used to deal with life insurance but they don’t any more.” She nodded towards the top end of the room. “That section at the far end deals with claims.”
Cain let out a little snorting noise. “My gran used to say that insurance companies were quick to take your money but would never give it back when you made a claim!”
Julia smiled. “That’s what my dad says too. Right! Let’s start on the bins.”
Cain didn’t move. His attention was caught by something. Out of the corner of his mouth he muttered, “Julia, if looks could kill, you’d be stone-cold dead right now.”
Chapter 4
Julia looked over to where Cain had fixed his attention. She jumped as she met the steely-eyed glare of a young woman.
Still talking out of the corner of his mouth, Cain said, “Who is she? And why is she looking at you like that?”
Julia shrugged. “She’s one of the supervisors. Ellen introduced me to her on Friday. Her name is Lorraine Carver. She was all smiles on Friday. I don’t know why she’s looking at me like that, I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong.” Julia lifted her head higher. “Let’s find out what her problem is.”
Cain hissed, “Don’t get into a fight! I don’t want to have to get Fred!”
Julia ignored him, pasted a bright smile on her face and strode towards Lorraine. “Hi! Do you remember me? I’m Julia Blake, we met on Friday. I’m doing the cleaning on behalf of Ellen Parks this week.”
Lorraine blinked and the hostility fled from her eyes. She flicked back her shoulder-length brown hair and gave Julia a false smile. “Of course I remember. Are you ready to start scrubbing? Or whatever it is that you cleaning women do.”
Julia’s smile faltered. “I’ve got my colleague with me, Cain Andrews, he’s over there. I’ve signed in at reception. Has everyone left for the night?”
“The plebs have. Just management left.” Lorraine flicked her glance down to Julia’s footwear, smirked and then looked back at her face. “I suppose you have to dress like that for comfort. I could never wear flat shoes, they’re so unflattering.”
Julia could feel her eyes narrowing. What was Lorraine’s problem? She hadn’t been this hostile on Friday. It wouldn’t do to upset Ellen’s clients so Julia forced her smile to remain in place. “We’ll get on then.” She turned on her heel and walked back to Cain.
Cain said, “She’s still glaring at you.”
Julia looked at the cleaning trolley. “She’s obviously jealous of my work attire. Cain, we’ll start at this side of the office. Empty all the bins into this big bin bag here on the trolley. Ellen told me that the staff know to put dry stuff only in their bins. If this trolley bin bag gets full we’ll have to go down to the basement and empty it.”
Cain wrinkled his nose. “Why can’t we leave the full bag to one side and then take all the full bags together.”
Julia gave him a wry smile. “Health and safety. Some poor so-and-so might trip over this huge bag and hurt themselves. This is an insurance company, don’t forget. When we’ve made a good start on the bins, I’ll get the vacuum out and get going on the carpets.”
Julia directed Cain towards the end of the office. His nose screwed up as he look around him. “It looks like some sort of prison in here, worse than prison. At least we had more room. Do people sit at those booths all day long? They can’t even see their colleagues with all those partitions up.”
“I couldn’t work here, I’d feel like a battery chicken. It’s not for us to judge. Let’s crack on.”
Between them, they soon had the first two dozen desk bins emptied. As they approached the middle of the office, Julia could feel Lorraine’s eyes on her again. The young woman was standing near her desk, a mobile phone at her ear. Her voice became louder as Julia and Cain approached. “Yeah, I know. Qualifications are so important. I’d hate to end up in a dead-end job.”
Cain said under his breath, “I can run her over with the vacuum cleaner later if you like.”
Julia gave him a small smile. “Let’s just ignore her.” She reached for the bin next to Lorraine’s desk. “Oh! This one has got liquid in it!”
Lorraine ended her call and gave Julia a cool look. “Is there a problem?”
Julia picked the bin up. “Yes. This one’s got liquid in it, these bins are for dry things only.”
Lorraine shook her head and tutted. “Can’t you sort it out? Isn’t that your job?”
Julia caught the gleam of malice in Lorraine’s eyes but ignored it. “Yes, I can deal with it but I will be letting your manager know. Ellen said that’s the correct procedure for when this sort of incident occurs.”
Lorraine stiffened. “Is it? I didn’t know that.” She flicked her hair back over her shoulder. “I’ve a management meeting to go to.” She quickly stalked away on her shiny high heels.
Cain said, “I bet she poured some liquid into that bin to make things difficult for you.”
“I think so too. I don’t know what I’ve done to upset her. I’ll put this bin on the trolley, it’ll need a good wash.”
Julia and Cain carried on with emptying the bins. Cain said, “I quite like doing this kind of work. It’s nice and quiet, no one to bother you to make sure you’re doing everything right.”
Julia nodded. “I do like my clients but it is nice to come somewhere where no one knows your name.”
They both jumped as a man’s voice shot out, “Julia Blake! Is that you?”
Julia grinned as she looked over at the man who had called out her name. Realisation suddenly dawned as she saw Lorraine standing closely at his side. So that’s why Lorraine had taken a d
islike to her.
Chapter 5
“Who’s that?” Cain asked.
“Don’t you recognise him?” Julia asked.
“Nope. Should I?”
“You might in a moment. Come on.” Julia walked down the office and towards the man who was standing up and smiling at her. Lorraine’s look of hate was even stronger now.
The man spoke, “I thought it might be you! Lorraine told me on Friday that there was going to be a different cleaning woman this week. When she described the new woman I thought it might be you! Now you know where I work.” He looked towards Cain. “And you must be Cain, the one who does an amazing job on my windows.”
Cain’s eyes narrowed as he studied the man in front of him. His finger suddenly pointed towards the man. “Ha! Star Wars Man! It’s you!”
Julia shook her head. “Sorry, Cain tends to give our clients nicknames based on what they have in their homes. Cain, this is Joe Ingram.”
Cain nodded, a smile on his face. “I love your apartment! All that Star Wars stuff. And the posters! Have you actually been to all those comic conventions? Even the ones in America?”
Joe ran his hand through his short brown hair and nodded. “I know it’s not the thing for a thirty-four-year-old to be doing, but I just can’t help myself. I admit it, I’m a geek.”
Lorraine finally spoke, her tone cold, “Even geeks have to grow up sometimes. Circumstances change and you have to think about other people.”
Joe’s smile dropped slightly and he turned to Lorraine. “I know that. We’ll talk about it later.” He looked back at Julia. “It’s so good to see you here. And to finally meet Cain too. When I thought it might be you who was coming here, I told Lorraine that I was lucky to have you. I told her that I couldn’t live without you! Didn’t I, Lorraine?”
“You certainly did.”
Julia could almost see the ice drop from her words.
Lorraine placed her hand protectively on Joe’s arm and said, “We’d better go, we’ve got our management meeting. You can talk to the cleaner another time.”
Joe gave Julia a pretend grimace. “We have to report the day’s business back to Karl every evening around this time. Have you met Karl? Karl Rayburn? He’s the manager.”
Julia nodded. “I met him briefly on Friday. We’ll be cleaning his office soon.”
Lorraine tightened her grip on Joe. “We really have to go.”
“Are you two a couple?” Cain asked, an innocent look on his face.
Bless him, Julia thought. That was exactly what she wanted to know but didn’t have the nerve to ask.
Joe gave Lorraine a smile and said, “Yes, we’ve worked together for years but only recently started dating. I don’t know what she sees in an old man like me!”
Lorraine gave him a tight smile. “You’re only nine years older. We’ve been dating for eight weeks and two days.”
“That’s very precise,” Julia couldn’t help but comment.
Lorraine gave her a look that sent chills down her back. Lorraine turned her back completely on Julia and Cain. “Joe, we have to go now. Don’t forget that you’re still trying to create a good impression on Karl.”
Joe sighed. “That’s true. Julia, I’ve got an interview coming up soon for a great job within the company. I’ll tell you all about it later. And I’ll have to introduce you to my supervisor, Ivor. Watch out though, he’s got a reputation as a ladies’ man.”
With her back still turned, Lorraine said, “I think your cleaning friend will be safe.”
Joe gave them a friendly wave and walked away. Lorraine still had her hand on his arm as if she was worried he might run away.
When they walked out of the office, Cain said, “So that’s why she hates you. She thinks you’re a threat to her relationship with Joe. Wow. Doesn’t she realise that you’re much older than Joe?”
“Not that much older. Anyway, the only relationships I have with my clients are business ones. Right. Let’s get back to our cleaning. I’ll get the vacuum out. They have a vacuum on each floor which saves us having to lug one about. Can you finish the rest of the bins?”
“I can. The trolley bin is nearly full,” Cain advised her.
“Do you want to take it to the basement and empty it?”
Cain shook his head. “No. I don’t want to go on my own, thanks.”
Julia stared at him. “Why not?”
Cain gave a small shrug and looked away. “I don’t like basements. It could be haunted. There could be rats down there.”
Julia tutted. “Have you been watching horror movies again? You know you can’t deal with them. The basement is well lit. I didn’t see any rats when I went down there on Friday.”
Cain gave her a pointed look. “You won’t see them but they will be there, hiding in the shadows, waiting to pounce. I’ll go down with you but I don’t want to go on my own.”
Julia studied his face. He did look genuinely worried. “Okay. I’ll vacuum and then we’ll go together. Okay?”
“Okay. Thanks.”
It was another fifteen minutes before they were ready to go to the basement. Cain pushed the cleaning trolley into the lift and Julia hit the B button. She gave Cain a push. “You don’t have to stand so close to me.”
Cain took a small step away.
The lift doors opened. Cain said, “You can push the trolley now.”
Julia gave a small shake of her head and put her hands on the trolley. “Are you going to walk at my side, or cower behind me?”
“Cower behind you.”
Julia pushed the trolley towards the left side of the room. Cain walked closely behind her. Julia stopped in front of a huge metal bin. Cain came to her side and helped lift the lid.
Julia said, “Can you empty the bag into here? Thanks.”
Cain did as he was told. Julia closed the lid and turned to Cain. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” She waved her hand around the room. “And this basement isn’t that bad either.”
Cain pointed towards the back of the basement. “I don’t like the look of that area. It’s all dark and creepy looking.”
“That’s where all the old paper files are kept. Ellen told me about it. Inkwell’s Insurance has been going for years, since 1910, I think. They’ve kept all the paperwork from then. Cain, there’s nothing to be scared of. Come on, let’s have a closer look and I’ll prove to you there’s nothing to be scared of.”
Cain stepped closer to the trolley. “I’m not sure. It looks like the perfect place for rats to hide. Or a basement monster.”
Julia grabbed hold of his arm and marched him towards the end of the room. Cain tried to resist but Julia was stronger.
Julia released her grip as they got closer to banks and banks of metal filing cabinets. It was a bit darker here, and there was an old musty smell, but Julia wasn’t going to make a point of saying that.
“You see, there’s nothing to be scared of,” Julia said.
Cain slowly nodded. “I suppose you’re right.”
A screeching noise shot out and seemed to shatter the air.
Cain screamed and grabbed Julia’s arm. “The rats! It’s the rats! They’re going to eat us!”
Julia was about to disagree when the screeching noise shot out again, along with a strange squeaking sound. She held in her own scream and chased after Cain who was now running at full pelt towards the lift doors.
Chapter 6
Cain was still shaking as he pushed the cleaning trolley on to floor eight. “I told you it was haunted! I am never going down there ever again!”
Julia said, “If it was a rat, I don’t think it would hurt you. Not if you left it alone.”
“That sound didn’t come from a normal rat. It came from a rat that’s grown to gigantic proportions.” Cain shivered.
Julia didn’t have an explanation for the noise. “Let’s try to forget about that now. Are you okay to carry on? It’s the same again in here. Emptying bins and then vacuuming. Ellen told me to do Karl Ra
yburn’s office last.”
“Are you two alright?”
Cain jumped. “Who said that?”
There was a chuckle from Fred as he shuffled towards them. “I did. You look as if you’ve seen a ghost, young Cain.”
“I didn’t see one, but I might have heard one,” Cain confided. “We’ve been down to the basement.”
Fred leant one hand against the wall, his eyes widened. “Don’t tell me that you went over to the old files?”
Cain pressed his lips together and gave Fred a nod.
Fred let out a wheezy kind of whistle. “You’re braver than me. I have to go down there and make sure everything is okay now and again. I must say, it always sends shivers up and down my spine. I take my big flashlight, ready to bash any creature on the head. Did you hear a strange squeaking sound?”
Cain nodded again. “I did. It sounded like it was coming from the undead, a cry of anguish and pain.”
Julia let out a little snort. “You said it was a rat! And now you’ve turned it into a zombie or something.”
Cain gave her a serious look. “Haven’t you heard about zombie rats?”
“No I haven’t! Come on, Cain, we’ve got things to do.” Julia looked closer at Fred. “Are you okay? Do you need a sit down?”
Fred pushed himself off the wall. “No, a quick rest now and then helps my old bones. I’d better get on with my rounds. Call me if there are any security issues.”
Julia said she would although she wasn’t sure that Fred would be able to deal with any security issues.
They spent the next thirty minutes emptying bins and then Julia had a vacuum around.
They worked their way towards the end corner office. The glass door faced them.
Julia indicated her head towards it. “Looks like the meeting is coming to an end. They work long hours here, it’s almost seven forty-five. Mind you, it’s been a long day for us too.”
The office door opened and Lorraine walked out first. The smile on her face dropped when she saw Julia. In an overly loud voice she said, “Joe, I’ll wait in the car for you.” She stalked past Julia, her head held high.
Murder Makes A Claim (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 8) Page 2
