Sleuthing on the Sly

Chapter Five

Ben held the door open for Corrine. As they exited the store, she grabbed his arm and hung on.

Like a leech.

Walking with her down the cracked sidewalk, he barely noticed the passing traffic on Main Street, the only busy street in Greenvale, Missouri. The June sun was bright, even at five o’clock, with a pleasantly warm temperature.

He took a deep breath, trying to fill his lungs with fresh air, but car exhaust and Corrine’s perfume filled them instead. Her words filled his ears.

Ben decided she wasn’t going to use her wiles to get him to agree to one of her schemes. And he was sure this dinner date involved a scheme.

When they reached the parking lot behind Thorne’s, he opened the black BMW’s passenger door and waited as Corrine got in. At least this car was paid for. It had been willed to Ben from his dad—one of the few expensive things he didn’t have to sell.

         He walked to the driver’s side. Several spaces over, Janelle unlocked a dented green Honda. The wind lifted her brown hair and blew it around her face. She sure was pretty. Amazing he didn’t notice how pretty until he almost stepped on her.

         With a sigh he climbed into the BMW. If only he had a dinner date with Janelle Weaver instead of Corrine Hackle.

* * *

         Janelle shifted into reverse and backed out from the parking space. She followed Ben’s shiny black car to the street and waited. He turned on his left blinker, and Janelle did the same. She peered through the dark tinted glass of his back window but couldn’t make out anything inside. Ben turned left onto Main Street. She waited as several cars passed, then also turned left.

         “Should I follow them, Lord?” She whispered the prayer.

She usually didn’t spy on people, and now she was having second thoughts. But she had to solve this murder case, and this was what private eyes did—chased down every lead, every suspicion.  

Corrine Hackle certainly seemed suspicious.

         Slowing down, Janelle let two cars ease in front of her. Ben drove several miles, leaving the old part of town.

Janelle had lived in Greenvale all her life, so she was familiar with Main Street. They passed tiny box houses, then newer, larger homes. She glanced down Evergreen Road, the street where she had grown up, and where she still lived with her dad.

If she took too long, Dad would wonder where she was. Okay. She would find out Ben’s destination, then go home.

After another mile, the Greenvale Mall came into view on the left, and Ben’s car slid into the turn lane.

Janelle thought of the restaurants at the mall—a bunch of fast food places, a Chinese take-out, and Thorn’s Restaurant.

They were probably going to Thorn’s.

She turned, five cars behind Ben. He passed the mall and sped on. The other cars turned out of the way.

Oh, great!

She slid down in her seat. Where was he going? This road led out into the country. The only restaurant this way was Hillaker’s—the most expensive restaurant in Greenvale.

Helga had said Thorne’s company wasn’t doing well financially. So why was Ben taking Corrine there?

* * *

Until Monday…may the Lord give you a wonderful weekend!