More Clues

A long chapter today, but this will tide you over for tomorrow, too, since it’s Christmas day and I won’t be posting then.

Chapter Thirty-five

At the fourth floor, Janelle stepped out of the elevator. She was thankful it worked now, but getting stuck in the elevator last week with Ben was a blessing. Otherwise, he might never have noticed her.

She walked to the door with the gold letters that read Thorne’s Bra and Girdle Company. Had it only been one week since she started working here? So much had happened. She realized she was wearing her lavender suit, the same one she had worn last Monday.

Maybe she should wear this suit every Monday. It would be her personal tradition. As she touched the doorknob, men’s laughter at the end of the hall floated toward her.

Someone was in Jed Thorne’s office.

She tiptoed down the hall. The door was ajar, and she peeked through the one-inch opening. Ben Thorne, wearing a suit and tie, stood in front of the massive desk with his hands on his hips, concentrating on what the other man was saying.

Janelle gave a wistful sigh. How could one guy be so dashingly handsome?

Ben said something and pointed toward the window. The men moved further into the room, out of Janelle’s line of vision. Who was the other man?

She would figure it out.

Ben had been looking down as the other man spoke. That meant he was shorter than Ben, with his eyes on the level of Ben’s chin.

Hmmm… Janelle tapped her lip. Elliot was the same height as Ben, and Howard was  taller. It couldn’t be either of them.

She stepped closer to the door and listened. The other man was speaking.

“I could wrap up this case in a week. Maybe three days.”

No! Janelle opened the door. “Dad! What are you doing here?”

Both men turned as she stepped into the room. Her dad wore his PI trench coat and stood with his feet apart, making him even shorter than usual. He held a notebook and pen in his hand.

Dad adjusted his glasses. “Going right to the source, Nellie. Sheriff Horton gave me all his notes on the case, and I’m tying up some loose ends for him.”

Janelle folded her arms. “And I suppose you’ve figured out who the murderer is, as well as his motive.”

“Actually, no. I still have some work to do.” Dad closed his notebook, turned to Ben and held out his hand. “Good to meet you.”

Ben shook his hand. “Thanks for your help, Mr. Weaver.”

“Call me George. If I have any more questions, I’ll give you a call.”  He smiled and left the room, passing Janelle on the way out. “You have nothing to worry about, Nellie. This case will be wrapped up in a couple days.”

She pressed her lips together as he strode toward the elevator. Mr. George Weaver would not steal this case from her.

Ben cleared his throat. “Your dad seems like a great guy. I hope he can figure it out.”

She sighed. “Dad rushes in where angels fear to tread.”

“I noticed that.” Ben perched on the edge of the desk, letting his right foot dangle. “Have you recovered from the kidnapping?”

“I think so.” There had to be another way out of this room.

“I saw the article in the paper.”

She nodded, glancing around. All the wooden panels had been pushed and pulled, and there was nothing behind the paintings.

“A few of the facts might have been fabricated.”

“Huh?” She focused her attention on Ben.

“The article, in the newspaper.” Ben’s blue eyes stared into hers. “Some of the facts seemed exaggerated.”

“Oh, that.” She gave a little laugh. “Especially the fact that I was bound and gagged, and the fact that I was given bread and water to eat.” She shook her head. “I would have been thankful for some bread and water, actually. I wonder where that reporter got his information. Dad refused to let me talk to him.”

“I didn’t talk to him either, but Elliot gave him some info.” Ben folded his arms. “The reporter also talked to a couple of deputies, as well as Vinson and Klein.”

“No wonder the facts are wrong.”

Ben nodded. “I’m glad those two are behind bars and I don’t have to pay them back. But I want to pay off Dad’s credit cards.” He stood. “I have his house up for sale. If it sells, that will take care of the debts. If not…” He shrugged. “The Lord will have to take care of it.”

“How much are you asking for his house?”

“A million dollars.”

Janelle’s lips parted. “A million? For a house?”

Ben smiled. It was that slow smile that made her heart melt. “Is that too much?”

He was too much. “Uh, well, I don’t know. It must be big.” Of course Jed Thorne would have a big, expensive home.

“It’s really worth about 2.8 million, but if I get a million out of it, I’ll be happy. My grandfather built the place on the outskirts of Greenvale in the early ’50s. He called it Rosewood Manor.”

“Oh, Rosewood Manor.”

Ben’s brows lifted. “You’ve heard of it?”

Another confession. “Remember when your aunt Ida talked to a girl named Nellie?”

He grinned. “So she told you about Rosewood Manor.” His smile faded. “What other information did she give you?”

Janelle thought back. “She and her husband, Frank, used to live at Rosewood, but then they bought the house on Poplar Road. Frank wanted her to grow roses.” She shook her head. “Ida seemed to have a one-track mind on that subject.”

“I know. She tells me about those roses all the time.”

“Oh, I remember something else.” Janelle pointed at Ben. “Ida got upset when I mentioned that your dad had been murdered, and then she confused his death with your grandfather’s death.”

Ben walked to the window and looked out. “Her mind is really going. Sometimes she seems so confused and other times she’s real lucid. I don’t know what to think about it.”

Janelle stood beside him and gazed down at the traffic on Main Street. “Sounds like a mental illness to me. I studied that in college. She could be getting Alzheimer’s.”

Ben glanced at her. “You think so?”

“Alzheimer’s has three phases—mild, moderate, and severe. Ida is in the mild stage right now.”

“I’d say moderate. You wouldn’t believe how Aunt Ida repeats herself at home.” He sighed. “Drives me crazy at times.”

Compassion filled Janelle. What if her dad lost his mind? It would be hard to live with someone like that.

Ben turned from the window. “The strange thing is, she was always so smart. She worked in a nursing home recording medical records and just retired about six months ago. So if she does have Alzheimer’s, it’s progressing quickly.”

“Maybe it’s a good thing you can keep an eye on her.”

“Yeah.” Ben breathed out a sigh. “But if I sell Rosewood Manor, I’m moving to an apartment. I can’t wait to get that old mansion out of the family.”

“Doesn’t Elliot want it?”

“Elliot couldn’t care less. He bought his own house about fifteen years ago.” Ben walked to the door. “We’d better get back to work, Janelle. I’m glad your dad is helping us find the murderer.”

Janelle followed him. “I’m not.”

Ben stopped and stared at her. “You don’t want your dad to help?”

“No, I don’t.” She folded her arms and leaned against the doorjamb. “It might sound selfish, but this is my case, and I want to solve it.”

Ben grinned. He mimicked her by folding his arms and leaning against the opposite doorjamb. “That’s exactly what your dad told me you’d say.”

She raised her eyebrows. “You guys were talking about me?”

His smile faded. “I think he’s right, Janelle. You should give up the quest.”

“But—”

“Let your dad solve it.” The look in his eyes deepened.

For a moment, Janelle almost drowned in those blue pools. Then she realized he was telling her to quit. “I can’t give up, Ben. Look at all the time I’ve invested, all the clues I’ve gathered.” She looked at Jed’s desk, and the leather chair where he was found—dead.

“But it’s the same information Sheriff Horton gave your dad.” Ben reached out and gently pulled her chin up until their eyes met. “I would never forgive myself if something else happened to you. I—” He dropped his hand. “I really care for you.”

She gave a wistful sigh as she gazed into his eyes.

“Tell me you’ll stop, Janelle. If you continue investigating, you could put your life in danger.” 

She looked away. Danger. Exactly what Dad worried about. “But I can’t give up, just like that.” She had to solve this case, no matter what happened. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”

He stared at her a moment before he shrugged. “We’d better get back to work.”

 

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         Our story will continue on Wednesday. Have a wonderful Christmas tomorrow as you remember the birth of our Savior!