“I’ll just see for myself.” She marched down the hall toward Connor’s office. She shoved open the door and looked stunned. “He’s not here.”
“I told you he wasn’t.”
“Well, why is his car still here?”
“Elsie, I don’t know. He didn’t tell me anything.” Nicole moved to the desk. “There’s nobody here but me and I was getting ready to lock up and leave.”
“I’m confused. Do you suppose he walked someplace?”
Nicole shrugged.
“And he didn’t tell you where he was going?” Elsie eyed her suspiciously.
“He didn’t tell me anything at all about leaving.”
Elsie picked up the legal pad and looked at it. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
“What is it?”
“He wrote a note, and I bet he forgot to give it to you. It says: Friend picked me up for dinner. I’ll come back for my car. Connor.” She looked at Nicole. “You were telling me the truth.”
“I have no reason to lie to you, Elsie.”
“Well, I wasn’t sure. After all, you are a nice-looking woman and Connor is a man. I wasn’t sure if you had set your sights toward a relationship with him or what.”
Nicole straightened. “I assure you that any relationship I have with Connor is strictly a business one.”
Elsie laughed. “I’m sorry to rile you. I was just trying to protect my interest.”
“So, you and Connor have a serious relationship?”
“On my part it is. I’m working to make it serious on his part, too.”
Thankfully the phone rang and interrupted. Nicole picked it up. She greeted the person then said, “I have someone in the office now, but if you’ll give me your number, I’ll be happy to look it up for you and call you back.” She wrote down a number and turned to Elsie. “If there’s nothing else, I need to get this done so I can go home.”
“There’s nothing else. I might as well go on over to the club. If Connor happens to come back before you leave, tell him to meet me there even if he has had dinner. There’s a dance and he’ll enjoy it, I’m sure.”
“I’ll tell him.”
They walked to the front office together. The entranceway door opened and a rotund lady with a pile of white hair on top of her head entered. “Oh, good. You’re still open. I want to pay my insurance ’cause it runs out today.”
“You just caught me.” Nicole moved behind the desk. “Your name, please.”
“Ida Wilkins.”
Elsie started out the door and turned. “You won’t forget to tell Connor?”
“I won’t forget, but I don’t expect him back before I leave.”
Elsie closed the door and Nicole turned to the client.
After taking the money from Mrs. Wilkins, Nicole walked her to the door. As soon as the older lady stepped outside, Nicole closed the door and locked it. She picked up the phone and buzzed Martin’s office. “Elsie is gone, and I’ve locked the door. You can come out now.”
“Thanks.”
Nicole turned to the computer and looked up the client she needed to call back. She found his policy and printed a copy of the section of his liability which was in question. She returned his call and told him she was putting it in the mail. When she turned around, Connor was standing in the doorway to the hall.
She grinned. “Man, you owe me.”
He grinned back. “I know I do.”
She clicked off the computer, switched the phones to the answering machine, took her purse out of the bottom drawer, and stood to leave. “Now that I’ve finished my day’s work and lied like a pro for you, I’m going to go home and hope Lita has a good dinner. I’m hungry.”
“You’re right I do owe you, so I’ll be happy to take you to dinner.”
She blushed. “I wasn’t hinting for you to buy me dinner, Connor. I’m sure Lita has already cooked.” When he looked disappointed she added, “How about I take a rain check for another night as your payment for services rendered?”
He walked her to the door and looked through the blinds over the glass section of the door. “Damn! Elsie is sitting in that spot where she parked earlier.”
“She doesn’t trust anyone, does she?”
“Doesn’t look like it.”
“I’ll go out and lock the door and head home. She’ll then realize there’s nobody else here.” She clicked off the lights. “Sorry, but it wouldn’t look right to leave them on.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Nicole.” He touched her elbow. “Thanks again.”
“No problem.” She slipped out the door and locked it behind her. Without looking toward Elsie’s car, she headed up the street.
Chapter 13
Nicole was almost home when the beige BMW pulled close to the sidewalk beside her. “Hey, you good-looking actress, would you like a ride?”
She laughed. “Connor, what are you doing here? I thought Elsie had you cornered in the office.”
“As soon as she saw you walk out, she roared off. I waited a few minutes to make sure she wasn’t coming back then decided I owed you a ride home.”
“But I’m almost home now.”
“I know. Come on. I’ll take you the rest of the way.”
She moved to the passenger side. “It’s about a block and a half on the left.”
“I know. I brought you home before, remember?”
“I remember.”
Before they could say anything else, he was pulling into Lita’s driveway beside a blue Ford Sedan. “Looks like an unmarked police car.”
“Oh, I hope not,” she whispered.
“Don’t you like the police?”
“I don’t know any police officers, so I have no feeling about them one way or the other. I’m just afraid something has happened to Dora.”
“I didn’t think of that.” He glanced at her. “Want me to come in with you?”
She started to tell him not to bother, but decided maybe it would be a good idea to have him along. “I would appreciate it, if you don’t mind.”
He turned off the motor and hopped out of the car. He was on her side before she could get the door open.
“Thanks,” she mumbled when he took her arm. She hoped the little twinge running down her spine wasn’t noticeable.
She opened the front door and he followed her inside. She called out, “Lita, I’m home.”
“In the living room, dear.”
“Connor is with me,” she said as they entered the room.
“Why, Connor, it’s so good to see you.” Lita held out her hand.
“Hello, Mrs. Mancini.” Connor nodded to the two police officers.
“These are Officers Collins and Milo.” She looked at the detectives. “And this is my boarder, Nicole Lynch and her boss, Mr. Connor Cottingham.”
“Yes.” Trudy Collins nodded. “We’ve met Ms. Lynch at her office.”
“I remember you from the drunk driving case a couple of years ago, Mr. Cottingham.” William Milo stared at Connor. “You’re not the man we met at the office the other day. I thought he was her boss.”
“That was Paul Cottingham,” Nicole explained. “I actually have three bosses. Mr. Martin Cottingham and his two sons, Paul and Connor.”
“I might add Ms. Lynch is a valuable asset to our company. She’s the one who actually runs things there and in a way, we all work for her.”
The officer lifted his eyebrow without comment.
Nicole looked at Lita. “Is Mrs. Hildebrand okay?”
“Her condition hasn’t changed. Janice called me today to report on her mother.”
Nicole wanted to tell Lita about Janice’s call to the office, but she decided to wait until they were alone. “I’m glad. It frightened me when I saw the car outside.”
“Actually, Ms. Lynch, we came by to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind.” Trudy Collins looked directly at Nicole.
“Of course I don’t mind. May I sit down?”
The officer motioned Nicole towa
rd the sofa. Connor followed her without speaking and sat beside her.
“Now, what did you want to ask me?” Nicole put her purse on the floor at her feet and sat back.
“Would you prefer that we interview you in private?” William Milo asked.
“No. I’d like Mr. Cottingham and Lita to be here.” She glanced at Connor. “Do you mind staying?”
“I’ll be glad to.”
“Very well then,” Milo said and looked at his partner.
“Ms. Lynch, where were you last Thursday morning?” Ms. Collins asked.
Without missing a beat she said, “I was at work.”
“Can you vouch for her, Mr. Cottingham?”
Nicole didn’t give him time to answer. “Mr. Cottingham was out of the office that morning, but his brother, Paul Cottingham was there.”
“Did you see anyone else that day?”
“We had a few people come in to pay their insurance and Paul’s wife and daughter came in at lunch time and picked him up. I think she said they were going to the club.”
“Do you remember who came in to pay their bills?’
Connor butted in. “We can get the names. Ms. Lynch always gives the person a receipt and fastens the carbon to the check or money. We have a record of all the names and addresses.”
“Would that receipt have the time and date on it?”
“It has the date, but I’m not sure about the time.”
“No, it doesn’t have the time,” Nicole said.
“I see.”
Officer Milo said, “And when did you go to lunch, Ms. Lynch?”
“Right after Mr. Cottingham and his family left.”
“Did you come home to eat?”
“Yes.”
“Did you eat alone?”
“Yes. Lita wasn’t here.”
“Did anything happen while you were having lunch?”
“What do you mean?” Nicole frowned at him.
“Did the phone ring? Did you see anyone? What did you eat?”
Nicole shrugged. “I think I had a cheese and turkey sandwich.”
“Was that all?”
“No. I wasn’t full after the sandwich so I made a bowl of the leftover soup we’d had the night before.” She smiled slightly. “I actually made two bowls. The first one ended up all over me and the floor. I cleaned up the mess and then got a second one. I didn’t drop it.”
“I told you all of this when you were here before.” Lita butted in.
“Please, Mrs. Mancini. We want to hear what Ms. Lynch has to say,” Officer Collins said quietly.
Officer Milo went on. “What were you wearing, Ms. Lynch?”
“I had on my printed silk blouse. I remember because it has a white background and I was afraid the tomato stain wouldn’t come out. It’s one of my favorite blouses.”
“What did you do with the blouse after you soiled it?”
“I was afraid I was going to be late getting back to work, so I ran up and changed quickly. I didn’t have time to wash the blouse so I put it in the sink to soak, hoping this would keep it from staining.” She smiled at Lita. “When I got home, Lita had found it and laundered it for me.”
“Have you worn the blouse since that day, Ms. Lynch?”
She thought a minute. “I don’t think so.”
“Would you permit us to see the blouse?”
She frowned. “Why in the world would you want to see my blouse?”
“Do you not want us to see it?”
“I don’t care. I just think it’s strange that you want to.”
“I’ll come with you to get the blouse.” Trudy Collins stood. “That is if you don’t mind us seeing your room.”
“Why should I mind?”
Connor stood. “Why would you want to see her room? Is Ms. Lynch suspected of something?”
William Milo looked at him. “No, Mr. Cottingham, she isn’t. We’re only checking some things we were told.”
Connor didn’t answer him, but looked down at Nicole. “Want me to come with you to get the blouse?”
“Please do.”
“I’ve kept my mouth shut and tried to be nice to the police, but I’m getting frustrated.” Lita’s voice was high pitched. “Now, I’ve heard about enough. Nicole has done nothing wrong, and I don’t appreciate you people coming here and...and...” She clutched at her breast and leaned back.
Nicole leaped to her feet. “Lita, are you alright?” She moved beside the older woman and took her hand. Turning to the officers she said, “You can ask me any questions you want to and you can take anything of mine you need, but you may not come here again and upset Mrs. Mancini.”
“I’m sorry—”
“Connor, would you please go upstairs and get the blouse for them. My room is the last one on the right. You’ll recognize the blouse because it’s the one with the geometric figures and I’ve worn it to work several times.”
Trudy said, “Maybe I should go...”
“You just wait right here. He’ll get it for you.” Nicole turned back to Lita who looked like she was trying to keep from smiling.
In a few minutes, Connor returned with the blouse. “Is this the one?”
“Yes,” Nicole said. She took it off the hanger and handed it to the officer. “I expect my blouse back in good condition. As I said, it’s one of my favorites.”
After the officers took the blouse, they left without asking any more questions.
Chapter 14
Jeff Bowie sat back with a sigh. He’d done it. He’d found Dora Hildebrand’s daughter. He couldn’t believe he’d been able to sort through the convoluted mess in such a short time. But there was no question about it. She was the right one.
“This would make a damn good mystery novel,” he said with a chuckle. “Who’d ever believe such a hoax had been played on poor Mrs. Mancini. And it was all for revenge. And the deal with Mrs. Hildebrand was done for money.” He shook his head. “Of course most of the time crimes are committed for one or the other.”
He frowned. Did he make a mistake calling the hospital and posing as her son? Of course they hadn’t told him much. She was still in a coma and she might or might not come out of it. He guessed he’d have to sit on the information until she went one way or the other.
He then wondered what he’d do if she didn’t make it. Maybe the Mancini woman would want to know who’d been harassing her. Maybe her houseguest would want to know what happened in that mall bathroom. Maybe Janice Hildebrand would want to keep everything quiet.
His frown turned into a grin. “This information might be more valuable to me if Mrs. Hildebrand does kick the bucket.” He chuckled. “Wouldn’t that be some turn of events?”
The door to his office opened and he whirled around. His mouth fell open and he stared at the revolver pointed at his head. “No, please.”
The assailant moved closer.
“I don’t understand. I thought...”
The gun touched his head.
He was too scared to react. Had he been more observant he’d have seen the gun was in the left hand, but a dagger was in the right one.
“I’ll destroy all the evidence...”
The gun came down on the top of Jeff’s head and he slumped forward. Checking to be sure he was unconscious, the intruder smiled and slipped the gun in his coat pocket.
He then pulled the three files from under Bowie’s body and laid them on the chair in front of the desk. Lifting Jeff Bowie’s head, he slit his throat and let the head drop to the desk. He then lifted the right arm and plunged the dagger into Jeff Bowie’s side and back several times.
The killer picked up the three files and flipped them open. “Damn. This would’ve ruined everything.” Looking back at Jeff Bowie’s body, the killer continued. “Sorry about this, man, but I couldn’t let you foul things up now.”
The killer took Jeff’s finger and smeared it in the blood. On the side of the big desk calendar he forced the finger to write some letters.
The killer then folded the files, slipped them under his coat, and went out the door.
* * * *
It was almost midnight and Connor lay on his back with his hands behind his head. He’d been in this position for a long while, but sleep still eluded him. For the first time in a long time it wasn’t the death of his family that kept him awake. Tonight it was Nicole Lynch.
He couldn’t get her and her room off his mind. It was a beautiful room. Neat, clean and well appointed, but he felt it was the work of Lita Mancini which made it such a warm and inviting place. There was very little in the room to tell him about Nicole. Then there was her closet. For a beautiful young woman, she had almost no clothes. He couldn’t help wondering why. There were no accessories. No scarves. No shoes. No purses. Remembering Sue Ann’s closet, he didn’t think this was normal. When they were married, his wife’s closet had spilled out almost every time the door opened. After her death it had taken him a full day to pack all her things to give to charity.
Connor knew he shouldn’t have done it, but because he’d been so taken aback by the lack of clothes in Nicole’s closet, he’s stepped into the bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. It was almost as bare.
Something was going on with her and he couldn’t figure it out. He almost prayed it wouldn’t be something to take her away from the office or from him. Of course she had no idea she was beginning to be so important to him. He had to keep her and everyone else in the office in the dark about that.
He smiled into the darkness. After the police left, Lita had confessed her almost fainting spell was an act to get them out of the house. Of course Nicole gently scolded her for scaring them. Lita took it good heartedly then insisted he stay for dinner. He refused at first, but when Nicole took hold of his hand and said, “Oh, please stay, Connor. Lita is a wonderful cook and I know whatever she has you’re sure to like it.”
Lita served a roast with succulent gravy, mashed potatoes, and steamed broccoli. For dessert she had apple pie. The meal turned into a pleasant time and after dinner they retired to the living room and played a few hands of gin. About nine Lita excused herself saying she was going to her room to watch a favorite television show.
Connor knew he should have left, but instead he found himself being led by Nicole into the small den off the kitchen. She said it was her favorite room to watch television and motioned for him to take the comfortable recliner. She sat on the sofa with her feet tucked up under her. Several times during the movie they were watching he had the urge to join her, but he fought it. He kept telling himself, she is an employee and you mean nothing but a paycheck to her, so cool it. Keep your mind off her and anything you’ve had fantasies about between the two of you.
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