Chapter Thirty-seven
At five
o’clock on Monday afternoon, Ben opened his door and looked into the outer
office. He was determined to leave on time tonight, especially since Aunt Ida
had promised to make his favorite pot roast for dinner.
If she didn’t forget.
Janelle sat at her desk, talking on the phone. Ben gazed
at her a moment, thinking how pretty she was, remembering when he told her he
cared for her.
What kind of sorry sentimentality was that? He had never
let his emotions run away with him before.
She looked up at him, her green eyes gazing into his. Ben
felt his insides turn to mush.
He hated mush.
“Ben?” She placed her hand over the receiver. “This is my
dad. He wants to talk to you.”
Normally he would take the call in his office. Instead, he
found himself walking to Janelle’s desk. She handed him the phone.
“Hello, Mr. Weaver?”
“Hey, Ben! I was just telling Nellie I hired on for a new
case. It’s a missing person dilemma up in Canada. I’ll have to leave town for a
few days. In fact, I’m calling from the St. Louis airport.”
“Oh?”
“But don’t worry, Ben. I’ll wrap up your case when I get
back. The murderer will be behind bars before you know it.”
He swallowed. The
murderer. “Thank you, sir.”
“It’s George, remember?” He chuckled. “See you later.”
Ben murmured a goodbye and handed the receiver to Janelle
who hung up the phone. It gave him the willies to think that the person who had
murdered his dad could be someone Ben saw every day. He hoped Mr. Weaver was
right about catching him. Or her.
Janelle huffed out a sigh. “My dad still thinks—”
A loud crash came from Howard’s office.
She jumped. “What was that?”
“I don’t know.” Ben strode to Howard’s office.
Janelle followed. “I hope he’s okay. What if he had a
heart attack, or something?”
Her question made Ben’s own heart constrict. After all, a
murderer was on the loose. He slipped open the door. “Howard?” His eyes
widened.
Behind him, Janelle gasped.
* * *
I have a feeling Janelle is going to take advantage of her dad being out of town...
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