Another Suspect

                                                  Chapter Four


Janelle glanced at her watch. Five more minutes and her first day of work would be over. 

        She pulled a green notebook from the top desk drawer, wishing she could see Ben before she left. He had stayed in his office the entire day. Maybe he was one of those workaholics who stayed late into the evening. Evidently his father worked late, too.  
        Opening the notebook, she wrote Possible Suspects at the top of the first page.
        The outer office door opened. A woman, dressed in a designer fuchsia suit, entered on a cloud of perfume. 
        She smoothed her blondish hair with bejeweled fingers. “Well, you must be the new receptionist. You’re a pretty little thing.” Her voice was cultured, self-confident. “Let Ben know I’m here.” She sniffed, taking a seat under Jed’s portrait.
        Janelle picked up the phone and buzzed number two.
        Ben’s baritone voice answered. “Yes?”
        “Uh, there’s a woman here to see you.”
        “Who is it?”
        Why didn’t she ask her name? Janelle sat a little straighter as she met the woman’s dark eyes. “Your name, please?”
        The woman huffed out a breath. “He knows who I am. Just tell him Corrine is here.”
        Janelle spoke into the phone. “Corrine is here.”
        “Oh.” Ben paused. “I didn’t realize it was so late. Tell her I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
        She gave the message to Corrine, who didn’t even acknowledge it. Janelle went back to her notebook, trying to look busy while she studied Corrine. Was she Ben’s wife? It had never occurred to her that Ben Thorne might be married, but he couldn’t be married to this woman. She looked old enough to be his mother, even though she was well preserved for her age.
        And just as plastic as that mannequin. 
        But Corrine was much better dressed. Her hair and makeup were perfect, as if she were ready to attend a wedding—or a funeral, which reminded Janelle of the murder.
        Her attention on the notebook, she wrote Helga’s name under Possible Suspects. Helga was a definite suspect. She wrote down Elliot’s name, even though she knew nothing about him. Then she glanced at Corrine. What did she want with Ben?
        Helga’s office door opened. “Yanelle—” She looked across the room and her eyes narrowed. “Corrine Hackle! I thought I smelled a skunk.” 
        Corrine raised perfectly tweezed eyebrows. “Helga, dear.” She dropped her gaze to Helga’s toes then looked back up to her face. “I see you’re still letting yourself go.” 
        Helga folded her arms. “And you are trying to hornswoggle the new boss, no doubt.”
        Corrine smirked. “Oh, Ben and I have a wonderful relationship. Of course, nothing you would know about.”
        Janelle could see the claws coming out. In another second they’d be scratching and spitting. 
        Helga drew her lips into a firm line and then turned to Janelle. “It is time to leave. I vill see you tomorrow morning at eight-thirty.” 
        “Okay.” Janelle slipped the green notebook back into the desk drawer.
        Helga locked her office and walked across the room, her head held high. Corrine's eyes followed, and the smirk stayed in place.       
        Ben stepped out of his office. “See you tomorrow, Helga.” 
        She didn’t even look back as the door closed behind her. 
        “Ben.” Corrine stood, her demeanor changing to sweetness. “It’s been so long. I haven’t seen you since the funeral.” She raised her arms and hugged him.
        He stiffened.
        Good! Ben didn’t like Corrine any more than Helga did.
        Corrine let go. “I’m so glad you agreed to meet with me for the evening.” She slipped her arm through his and turned toward the door. “We can catch up on old times.”
        “Yes.” He disentangled himself from Corrine. “Let me turn off the lights and lock up.”
        Ben went back to his office as Corrine, standing like a runway model, waited for him. Janelle took the opportunity to slip out the door and away from that sickeningly sweet perfume. She would hate to spend the evening with Corrine Hackle, and evidently Ben felt the same way.
        Janelle pushed the down button beside the elevator. The doors opened with a jerk and a stop, then rolled back. She positioned herself in the back corner of the car as Ben and Corrine walked up.
        “Uh, maybe we should take the stairs.” Ben paused outside. “This elevator hasn’t been working well lately.”
        “The stairs?” Corrine pulled him inside. “You expect me to walk down four flights?” 
        The doors lurched twice then banged shut. Janelle’s stomach gave a jolt as the car descended. She watched Ben study the floor numbers on the inside panel while Corrine squirted herself with more perfume. Janelle tried not to cough. Finally the doors jerked open. 
        “Thank goodness,” Ben muttered under his breath. 
        Either he was claustrophobic or that perfume was asphyxiating him. 
        He motioned for Corrine to precede him. With a queenly air, she stepped out of the elevator into Thorne’s Bra and Girdle Company store. Conversations swirled as shoppers wound their way between racks of bras. 
        Janelle moved forward, thinking Ben’s chivalry would extend to her, but he took a step toward the door, bumping into her.
        Ben turned with the same distracted expression he had worn earlier. “Oh! I’m sorry! Uh, what was your name? Yolanda? Sorry, I didn’t realize you were back there.”
Yolanda? “No, that’s—I mean—my name is, uh, Janelle.”
“Janelle?” His gaze was intense, his eyebrows drawn down. “Not Yolanda?”
        She shook her head, willing her heartbeat to slow down. “Helga calls me Yanelle. But my name is Janelle. Janelle Weaver.”
        “Oh.” Ben’s eyebrows lifted and a slow smile appeared. “Janelle, with a J.” He gave a little laugh and shook his head. “That Helga.” He continued to smile, as if they shared a secret.
        “Ben!” Corrine looked around a tall rack. “What’s taking you so long?”
        His smile disappeared. “Sorry, Corrine.” He looked back at Janelle and winked. “See you tomorrow.”
        Janelle gave a wistful sigh as she watched him weave his way between scantily clad mannequins. She wished she knew Ben Thorne. What kind of man was he? All she knew was that he was handsome, distracted, and claustrophobic. 
        And what did Corrine Hackle want with him? 
        There was only one way to find out. She would follow them.

* * *
We’ll see what happens tomorrow. 
Until then, God bless!