Frayed Edges

by Terri Reid

  “Hey, what’s up?” he asked without preamble. He paused, listened and sighed. “Yeah, well that makes a whole lot of sense considering what Mary just overheard.” He paused again. “Sure, we can be there in about ten minutes.”

  He hung up the phone and turned to Mary. “Granum has officially lawyered up,” Bradley said. “They want to postpone our interviews with Angela and Darren until they can have their lawyers present.”

  Mary shook her head. “You know, I realize that I just told Ruth she shouldn’t jump to any conclusions until she has all the facts,” she said. “But Angela Tate…”

  Bradley nodded. “Yeah, sometimes you aren’t jumping, you’re being pushed. So, Alex wants us to meet him at Imperial Palace for lunch. Is that okay with you?”

  “That sounds great,” she replied, her stomach echoing her statement. “I think Mikey wants Chinese food.”

  Bradley held the conference door open for her. Mary walked out into the hallway and then stopped. “I’d really like to go back into the lab one more time before we leave,” she said. “If that’s possible.”

  Bradley smiled at her, then patted his uniform pocket. “I must have dropped my pen somewhere,” he said to Mary. “Have you seen it?”

  She smiled back. “I’m sure the last time I saw you with it was in the lab,” she replied. “I’m sure you were taking notes.”

  He sighed. “Well, then, I guess we’ll just have to go back to the lab and look.”

  They walked down the hall, away from the elevator and back towards the lab. Pushing open the door, they entered and saw Darren and Angela in an animated conversation in Darren’s office. The conversation came to an abrupt halt when Angela noticed them. She hurried to the office door.

  “I’m sorry, but perhaps you haven’t received the call from our lawyers,” she said, her face brittle. “We won’t be speaking with you today.”

  Bradley nodded. “No, we received the call,” he said. “And we were on our way out when I realized I must have left my pen in the area by the interns. I’ll just pick it up, and then we’ll be off.”

  “If you don’t mind,” Angela said, “I’ll accompany you.”

  “Be our guest,” Mary replied with an easy smile.

  The walked around the corner towards the work stations and were surprised when a side door opened and Chandler walked out, blood smeared all over his plastic gloved hands, a satisfied smile on his face. He wasn’t aware of the others as he made his way back to his work station. Mary noted that he had another ghost rat on his shoulder.

  “Chandler,” Angela exclaimed.

  Chandler froze, looked up and swallowed nervously. He whipped his hands behind his back and shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I was just…just finishing up on an experiment.”

  “Is everything okay?” Bradley asked.

  Chandler nodded. “Yeah, it is now,” he said.

  Bradley glanced over at Mary and she nodded stealthily, so no one else noticed. The pen quietly dropped from its concealment in Bradley’s hands to the floor.

  “Is that your pen?” Mary asked, pointing to it on the floor.

  Bradley bent, picked it up and examined it. “Sure is,” he replied. He turned to Angela. “Thank you for your cooperation. I’m sure we’ll be seeing you soon.”

  Bradley and Mary turned and walked back through the lab.

  “I wonder what she’s going to say after we leave,” Bradley whispered.

  “She’s not very good at waiting for the right time and the right place,” Mary replied softly. “Should we see if we get lucky?”

  They both paused for a moment just after they turned the corner. Mary held onto a table, pretending she was adjusting her shoe. Moments later they heard Angela’s voice chastising Chandler. “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked. “I specifically ordered no more animal experiments today.”

  “I didn’t think anyone would see me,” Chandler admitted. “I thought it would be safe.”

  “You need to stay away from those rats, Chandler,” she said. “I’m getting tired of warning you.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Chandler replied, his voice apologetic. “I’ll try.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Mary and Bradley walked in silence until they were inside the cruiser, seat-belted and driving away from the facility. “I don’t know about you,” Mary said. “But that last incident with Chandler raised him on my creepy suspect list.”

  “What do you think he was doing?” Bradley asked.

  “Well, whatever it was, the rat lost,” Mary replied. “He was wearing another rat ghost on his shoulder when he walked out of the room.”

  Bradley turned off Highway 20 and onto South Street towards Imperial Palace. “I remember back when I was studying criminal justice that cruelty to animals in children was a forewarning of other criminal behavior,” he said, and then he continued. “And it’s also a sign of someone who was abused.”

  “Well, he’s not a child any longer, and it seems like this might be a problem. His work station was covered with rat ghosts,” Mary said. “Much more than any of the other interns. So, it must mean something.”

  Bradley pondered Mary’s words for a few moments. “But his behavior during the questioning,” Bradley said. “He looked genuinely surprised when we told him about Ruth’s death. And distraught.”

  “You’re right,” she said. “He was on my least likely list. But, sociopaths can look you straight in the eye and lie. I’m not saying he’s a sociopath, but there are plenty of believable liars out there.”

  Bradley turned down IHM Boulevard and into the parking lot for Imperial Palace Restaurant. “Well, it will be interesting to get Alex’s take on all this,” he said. “A different perspective.”

  “I agree,” Mary replied. “Now let’s get inside. I’m starving.”

  After they placed their orders, they shared the results of their visit to Granum.

  “Everything seems to point to Granum,” Alex said. “But is this just too easy? Are we missing something?”

  Picking up a crab Rangoon, Mary broke a piece off and nibbled on it before answering. “I think what separates this from just a random shooting or from another motive is the disappearance of the backpack with the information about the seeds,” Mary said. “Ruth was not very good at keeping a secret from her fellow interns, so would those conversations have been overheard? It sounds like her findings could have put Granum in financial risk.”

  Alex nodded. “Okay, let’s go with that premise,” he said. “Her report, if finished and published, could have devastated Granum. There are a lot of other ways to bury information like that. The confidentiality clause you mentioned. They could have made good on their threat of a law suit. They could have paid her off. It happens all the time. There are so many other options than cold-blooded murder. Why do it? Why take the risk?”

  “What if Granum didn’t know about the problem with its seeds?” Bradley asked. “What if the secret isn’t a Granum secret, but a Darren and Angela secret? What if they assured Granum that everything was fine, but changed the reports? What if their careers and reputations were on the line?”

  “That makes cold-blooded murder a more reasonable, if you’ll forgive my choice of words, option,” Mary said. “Angela or Darren or both don’t have the financial resources of Granum. They could only bluff, and when they saw Ruth wasn’t caving to their bluff, they had to get rid of the problem.”

  “Okay. Yes, that’s a viable scenario,” Alex said. “But would they call in a corporate lawyer if they wanted to hide the secret?”

  Mary shrugged. “I guess it all depends on if the lawyer is in on it or not,” she said.

  “Good point,” Alex replied.

  Their food was served, and they waited until the server left before they continued their conversation. “So,” Alex said, while picking up a water chestnut with his chopsticks. “Why would any of the interns be involved?”

  Mary stabbed a piece of sweet and sour chic
ken with her fork and shook her head. “I really don’t know if they are,” she said. “They all admitted to knowing about Ruth and her special project. They all seemed to like and admire her. What’s their motive?”

  “Good question,” Bradley replied. “But what if the disappearance of the backpack was intentionally done to throw us off track? If they all knew, they all would know we would be looking in that direction.”

  Mary froze, her fork halfway to her mouth, and turned to Bradley. “Crap. You could be right,” she said. “They were all at Granum because they were smart. Smart enough to steer the focus of an investigation in a totally different direction?”

  Alex picked up a piece of steamed chicken. “So, this conversation has widened the field rather than narrowed it,” he said. “And what other leads haven’t we followed?”

  “Well, Sonja mentioned that Ruth used the labs at the community college to do her research,” Mary said. “So, I thought if you could get me access, Alex, I’d check those out tonight.”

  “Mary, I can do that,” Bradley offered. “I don’t like the idea of you going alone.”

  She smiled at him. “First, thank you,” she said. “But if Ruth appears, you’re not going to be able to see her or get any information. And second, you need a good night’s sleep. But I have a solution. I can take my new assistant.”

  “Stanley?” Alex asked with a smile.

  “Exactly,” Mary replied.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  “Dadgummit, why you decided to get involved with this tomfoolery I’ll never know,” Stanley grumbled as they walked across the dark parking lot towards the Agricultural Science building.

  Mary stopped in her tracks and turned to Stanley. “Are you serious?” she asked.

  “As a long-tailed cat in a rocking chair factory,” he replied.

  “This was your idea,” she exclaimed. “You were the one who told me to take on this job.”

  “Yeah, well, that was afore I knew I’d be wandering around dark parking lots in the middle of the night,” he said, glancing over his shoulder.

  “Stanley, come off it,” Mary said, placing her hands on her hips. “What gives? You, of all people, are not nervous about walking around at night.”

  He studied her for a moment as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Iffen I tell you, you’ll stay calm?” he asked.

  She took a deep breath and held it for a moment. “Stanley, I’m cold, pregnant, and I have to go to the bathroom, again,” she replied. “My hormones are messing with my emotional stability. I can’t sleep at night and I am right now, at this very moment, craving another Crab Rangoon. So, I’m not promising anything, okay?”

  His eyes widened slightly, and he took one small step away from her. “You’re getting a might ornery, Mary,” he replied. “But I reckon it’s better I tell you now.” He paused for another moment.

  “Stanley, please remember the ‘I have to go to the bathroom’ part,” she urged.

  “Okay. Okay. I just don’t have a good feeling about this,” he said. “I ain’t one to put much stock in intuition, but this just don’t smell right.”

  She nodded. “I agree with you,” she said simply. “Now, let’s go inside.”

  She started forward towards the dark building while Stanley stood frozen and surprised, watching her go. Finally, with a shake of his head, he hurried forward to catch up. “You agree?” he asked her as they moved together towards the building.

  “Uh-huh,” she replied.

  “Then why are we doing this?” he asked.

  She sighed, glanced over at him for a moment, and then kept walking. “Because the reason you’re feeling like there’s something in there, is because there’s something in there.” She shrugged. “And we need to find out just what it is.”

  He paused for a moment, trying to figure out her logic, and then Stanley nodded. “Well, o’ course we do,” he said gently. “We have to find out.”

  “Thank you, Stanley,” she said.

  “Don’t worry, girlie,” he replied. “With me by your side, ain’t nothing going to happen to you or little Mikey.”

  “That’s what Bradley said,” she said, continuing to walk towards the entrance.

  “What?” Stanley asked, surprised.

  She looked over her shoulder at the old man. “Bradley said he was sure I would be safe because you would be with me,” she replied, pleased at seeing the smile wash across Stanley’s face. “He knew you would protect me.”

  Stanley inhaled sharply, puffing his chest out slightly, and nodded with confidence. “Well, o’ course he’d say that. He knows there’s a warrior inside this body. I may look a little older, but I still got it.”

  Mary bit back a smile and nodded. “I believe that was nearly exactly what Bradley said, too,” she said, pulling the key out of her pocket and putting it into the lock.

  Stanley grinned. “Well, what are we waiting for?” he asked. “We got a case to solve.”

  Mary laughed. “Why, yes. Yes, we do.”

  Chapter Thirty-three

  The Science and Agriculture Building was built in the 1970s, and the architect tried to duplicate the popular Prairie Style made famous by Illinois architect Frank Lloyd Wright. But unfortunately, although the outside had clean lines and a modern look, the sprawling inside was dark and closed in, even on the sunniest days. Tonight, even with the emergency lights placed every ten feet in the center of the ceilings, the halls were filled with shadows that made Mary feel a little more than anxious. The dim fluorescent lights didn’t even reach the walls on either side.

  “I shoulda brought a flashlight,” Stanley muttered, staying close to Mary’s side.

  She nodded. “I thought since we were investigating inside we wouldn’t need one,” she said.

  A movement at the far end of the hall had them both scurrying into the shadows against the wall and waiting. “Are you okay?” Stanley whispered.

  “I have to pee,” Mary admitted, her voice strained.

  “Well, not to be unsympathetic,” Stanley whispered back, “but your dadgum pee is going to have to wait.”

  They slowly moved forward, hugging the wall for concealment, to get closer to whomever or whatever moved. A shadow danced ahead and they froze. “Looks like a ghost,” Stanley whispered.

  Mary glanced over her shoulder at him. “Ghosts don’t cast shadows,” she replied.

  “They do in the movies,” he countered softly.

  “And elephants fly in the movies,” she said.

  “You telling me Dumbo ain’t real?” he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

  “Stanley, this is serious business,” she said, trying not to grin. “Stop it.”

  “You still got to pee?” he asked.

  “More than ever,” she said.

  “Hand me your phone,” he requested.

  She dug her phone out of her pocket and handed it to him. A moment later the flashlight on her phone had been switched on, and Stanley was pointing it up the hall. “Police,” he called out. “Freeze or we’re gonna shoot you dead.”

  “Don’t shoot, please,” a strangled voice cried out from just ahead of them. “I’m not armed or anything.”

  “Charlie?” Mary called out. “Charlie Paul?”

  “How did you know my name?” he replied.

  Mary and Stanley quickly moved forward and confronted the young man who was plastered into a corner. “What are you doing here?” Mary asked. “You go to school in Wisconsin.”

  Charlie turned towards them and swallowed, trying to look past the flashlight beam in his eyes. “Ms. O’Reilly?” he asked tentatively.

  “That’s right,” Stanley growled. “And her bodyguard.”

  Mary bit back her laugh and took a deep breath. “Please answer the question, Charlie,” she encouraged.

  “Sometimes, when Ruth was working on her project,” he said, “I’d come by and, you know, bring her some food or something. She was nice to me.” He shrugged. “Not many people are nice to me.
So…”

  “So?” Stanley prompted.

  “So, I wanted to come back here and say goodbye,” he said quietly. “This was kind of our place, but not really. I wanted it to be our place. She just wanted me to be her friend.”

  “How did you get in here?” Mary asked.

  He shrugged. “The doors are open until six,” he said. “I just kind of waited around in the men’s room until after six. Then I went to the lab.”

  “Can you show me the area she used?” Mary asked.

  He nodded. “Yeah, I can do that,” he said. “It’s down this way.”

  “Wait,” Stanley interrupted. “Before you do that, why don’t you show us the bathroom you hid out in. Just so we can corroborate your story.”

  Charlie nodded nervously. “Yeah. Of course,” he replied, changing direction. “It’s down here.”

  Allowing Charlie to get a few steps before them, Mary turned to Stanley. “Why did you do that?” she asked.

  “Cause where there’s a men’s bathroom, there’s gonna be a ladies’ bathroom,” he said. “Folks don’t think clear when they gotta pee. And I want you clearheaded.”

  Mary grinned. “Thank you, Stanley. That was very thoughtful.”

  Chapter Thirty-four

  As Mary walked to the sink to wash her hands, she happened to glance into the mirror and jumped when she saw Ruth’s ghost standing behind her.

  “Ruth,” she gasped. “You scared me.”

  “Sorry, Mary,” Ruth replied. “I’m not used to this whole ghost thing yet.”

  Mary smiled in sympathy. “I understand,” she replied. “I’m still not entirely used to this whole seeing ghosts thing. We thought we’d check out the lab you worked on.”

  “But why…” she began, but the door opening caught both of their attention.

  Sonja stood frozen in the bathroom doorway, staring at Mary.

  “We seem to have made a habit out of meeting in bathrooms,” Mary said to her.