Startling News

Chapter Forty-nine

Ben looked up at the knock on his door. Since Janelle was in his dad’s office, she couldn’t screen visitors. He rubbed a weary hand over his forehead. He wasn’t getting anything done today. “Come in.”

         The door opened, and the scent of perfume entered his office with Corrine Hackle. She must have just sprayed some on.

“Hello, Ben.” Holding a black purse under her arm, Corrine was dressed in a shiny red satin blouse and pencil-thin black skirt.

         “Uh, hello. Have a seat, Corrine.” He motioned to one of the two chairs in front of his desk. “What can I do for you?”

         The air stirred as she gracefully sat down, and Ben almost sneezed at the sweet smell.

         She leaned forward. “I was hoping you would accompany me to lunch. There’s a new restaurant between here and St. Louis that has marvelous entrees. My treat, of course.”

         He took a deep breath, and coughed. “Sorry, I have too much work today.” Was she here to take another stab at asking him to liquidate his company and work for her?  He needed to put her on the defensive. “You know, there’s a few people around here who think you murdered my dad.”

         Her painted lips parted. “Ben—”

         “I never did get a clear testimony about what happened between you and Dad that day. Sheriff Horton says you were closed-mouth when he talked to you, too.”

         She sat back and folded her arms. “What happened between your father and me is no one’s business but our own.”

         “Except that he was murdered, Corrine—and the bra was made by your company, and the scent of your perfume was in his office.”

         “Someone tried to frame me. Isn’t that obvious?”

         “But you were in his office that afternoon. I’d like to know what you were doing there.”

         She huffed out a breath. “All right, I confess.”

         Ben raised his eyebrows. “You killed him?”

         “I confess—that Jed Thorne was the only man I ever loved.” Her eyes brightened with tears. “I know your father was ruthless, and he had other women, but he loved me, Ben.” She sniffed. “And I loved him. In fact, we were talking about getting married, and then­­—” She pulled a tissue from her purse and covered her nose. “His murder ruined my whole life.”

         Ben sat back. Married? Corrine Hackle as his stepmother? Was she telling the truth? 

If not, she was a very convincing liar.

* * *

Tomorrow we’ll see what Janelle has discovered. Until then, God bless!