Alex Harris 00 - Armed

goes, no, I can’t remember anything except for mannequins. They’re creepy.”
    “How about people? Anything there?”
    “No. Not really.”
    “You sound a bit hesitant.” I sat up, hopeful.
    “Nothing strange. More like ego busting. I had a bit of a crush on Monica Ballister. I found her attractive in that large-boned, fair-skinned, German-looking sort of way. She had really pretty green eyes.”
    Green eyes? Monica had brown eyes. I had a feeling Ian had been caught in Emmanuelle’s web.
    “I flirted with her. I did manage to take her to lunch one day, and we got along fine, but no go as far as a long-term relationship goes. I guess you could call her a computer nerd. She didn’t seem to be interested in anything else.”
    “Anything else you can remember?”
    “No. Sorry, Alex. Just your ordinary data entry job.”
    “Well, thanks for your time, Ian. Good luck on your paper.”
    I sat back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling, my eyes absentmindedly focusing on a water spot. So far what did I have? Not a lot. Some rude people possibly capable of murder. I had forgotten to ask Emmanuelle about sending a package but somehow I didn’t think she would ask Mrs. Scott to do anything. And Richard had been out of the country. Mrs. Scott must have sent something of her own, I concluded, giving myself a mental pat on the back for having solved at least one mystery.
    Somewhere down the hall phones rang. I went in search of Ruth.
    “Good morning, Poupée Mannequins. Yes, sir. One moment, please.” Ruth pressed another button, announced the call and looked up. “Good morning, Ms. Harris.”
    “Alex, please. It sure is busy out here.”
    To prove the point, the phone rang again. I walked over to the mannequin display while I waited for the rush to abate. They stood by a beautifully decorated, heavenly scented Christmas tree, lavishly dressed as old-fashioned carolers out for an evening of song.
    I stepped closer and took a good look at the eyes. These seemed to be the Eyes Have It model and I had to admit they looked good. Each caroling mannequin had a different color. From the hues on these specimens, Poupée didn’t just go for the normal eye colors of brown, green, and blue. One mannequin had brilliant sea foam green and another violet.
    “Alex, did you need me for something?”
    I turned back to Ruth. “Yes, if you have a minute.”
    “It’s after eleven so the phones are usually a bit less hectic now.”
    I walked over to the large reception counter and leaned on it. “Yesterday when we talked you said something about not everyone liked Mrs. Scott. Did you mean Emmanuelle?”
    “Well, no. I meant Jerry and Joanne.”
    “Jerry—the factory foreman?”
    “Yes. That’s right. Jerry Gagliano.”
    “Who is Joanne? I don’t think I’ve met her yet.”
    “No, you haven’t. She’ll be in this afternoon. She’s—was, Elvira’s assistant. She’s been out sick since Tuesday. She has a bad back.”
    “I had no idea Mrs. Scott had an assistant. Mr. Poupée didn’t mention it.”
    “Well, it’s not her official title. We don’t have a personnel department per se. Each department head hires their staff. Like Sandy hired Monica, Richard hired Emmanuelle. Elvira hired me. The factory handles all of its own hiring. In addition to all the stuff she did for Mr. Poupée and supervising Andy and me, Elvira coordinated the benefits, retirement plan, and group insurance plans and hired Joanne to help.
    “Would Joanne be in charge of personnel files?” I asked hopefully.
    “Yes. She updates files.”
    “Where does she sit?”
    “Right across from Elvira. In that room next to the coffee room.”
    I had noticed a desk in there.
    “That’s where all the personnel records are kept,” Ruth added.
    “Why do you think Joanne and Jerry didn’t get along with Mrs. Scott?”
    “Well, Jerry’s wife…hold on a minute. Good Morning, Poupée Mannequins. I’m sorry but Ms. Reed won’t be in until this afternoon. Can I take a message? Yes, that would be fine. You’re welcome. Sorry,” Ruth said. “Where was I? Oh yes. Jerry’s wife left him a little over a year ago. Ran off with some geography teacher at the community college. Jerry couldn’t handle it. He’s always been obnoxious.”
    Ruth paused to greet a visitor and to notify someone from the factory their appointment had arrived. “With he divorced and Elvira a widow Jerry thought they should get together. He started bothering her a lot.