The Secret Passageway

Chapter Fifty

Janelle stared at the open panel in the wall—the murderer’s route of escape. And she, Janelle Weaver, had discovered it!

         She glanced up at the ceiling. “Thank You, God!”

Lifting the phone on Jed’s desk, she buzzed Ben’s extension. When he answered, she could hardly contain her excitement. “Ben! You’ll never believe this. I found a secret passageway out of your dad’s office.”

         “Really?”

         “Yes! Come over here and see for yourself.”

         He paused. “Give me a few minutes.”

“What?” The phone clicked in her ear. “Ben, wait!” Hanging up the phone, she huffed out a breath. Why wasn’t he excited?

Bending down before the opening, she stuck her head into the passageway then squeezed through and stood. The passage was narrow, not more than two feet wide, and made more narrow by old boxes that lined one wall. One high window, far down the stretch, let in light, plus there were high vents against the office side that shed a little light.

         “Janelle?” Ben’s voice came from inside Jed’s office.

         “Ben! Look what I found.” She squeezed back into the office. “It’s a narrow passageway that runs behind your dad’s office, Helga’s office, and Howard’s office. There must be an exit at the other end. This is how the killer left the room.”

         Ben bent down and poked his head in for two seconds before standing back up. “I never knew this was back here. How’d you get in?”

         Janelle closed the panel and pressed the deep circle in the chair rail. Once again, the panel  silently popped open.

         “Wow.” Ben folded his arms. “There must be a button to press on the other side. I bet the murderer sneaked in without Dad knowing what hit him.”

         “It had to be a surprise.” Compassion filled Janelle. Even though Jed Thorne was a mean person, she felt sorry for the man. The murderer had no right to snuff out Jed’s life. 

She squeezed back through the opening. “I’ll look for a way to open it from in here.”

         Inside the passageway, unfinished walls lined the space. She pushed the panel closed, then moved her hand around and struck something metallic.

         “Oh, here’s a light switch.” She pushed the switch and looked down the passageway. Bare bulbs, strung across the ceiling at intervals, lit up the narrow space. Right next to the light switch was another button. She pressed it. Sure enough, the panel opened without a sound.

         She bent down to look into Jed’s office. “Let’s explore, Ben. I want to find out where this hallway ends up.”

         He took a deep breath. “There’s no way you’re getting me in that narrow confinement.”

         “Oh, I forgot you have claustrophobia.” Janelle stepped back into the office. How could she forget being stuck in the elevator with Ben Thorne? It was the start of their relationship—at least, getting to know each other better.

         But would he ever view her as more than his receptionist? More than a good friend?

         Glancing at his watch, Ben walked to the door. “I have to get to work. I’ll call Sheriff Horton so he can—”

         “No!” She ran to him and grabbed his arm. “Don’t call the sheriff. I’m going to search for clues.”

         “But Janelle, you might disturb the evidence.”

         She looked into his dark blue eyes. “Ben, don’t you know by now that I want to solve this case? I don’t want Sheriff Horton to solve it, and I don’t want my dad to solve it. This is my case, and I’m going to bring this criminal to justice.”

         He raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you can do this by yourself?”

         “I found the secret passageway, didn’t I? The Lord led me to it. He knows who killed your dad, Ben, and I’m praying He will show me who did it.”

         Placing his hands on her shoulders, the gaze in his eyes deepened. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you, Janelle.”

         For a moment she became tongue-tied. Was he going to kiss her?

         Then, with a sigh, Ben dropped his hands and turned to the door. “I need to get back to work. Let me know what you find.”

* * *

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