Alex Harris 00 - Armed

to get to the bottom of this as much as anyone.” I looked into the old man’s eyes and hoped with all my heart my searching would not lead back to him…or Dolly. “Now,” I stepped back from Mr. Poupée, “what did you find out from Mr. Absher? Oh damn! I never told the police about the card.”
    Mr. Poupée settled himself behind his large desk and steepled his fingers over and over. “I mentioned it to Detective Van der Burg yesterday. I’m very anxious about this call, Alex. It might clear everything up. Of course, I need to tell Oliver the terrible news and I’m not looking forward to that. Detective Van der Burg said he would come by so I’m waiting for him before I make the call.”
    John, coming here? Something fluttered deep inside. Something I hadn’t felt in quite some time.
    “I hate to ask you, Alex, but Joanne is out today and I need some letters typed up. I could ask Ruth but she’s always being interrupted by the phones. Would you mind?”
    “Not at all. As a matter of fact I’d welcome some busy work. Where’s Joanne?”
    “Ruth said she called in sick again. Her back gives her more problems.”
    I had only typed the first paragraph of the first letter when Detective Van der Burg entered.
    “Ah, Detective, you’re here,” Mr. Poupée said, as he appeared in the outer office. “Good. I’m anxious to make the call. Please, come into my office. You too, Alex.” He looked at Detective Van der Burg as if to ask his permission.
    John nodded and I joined them. Maybe being on the good side of a cop had its perks.
    “I’ve got the number on my speed dial. It will just take a minute. Good morning. I’d like to speak with Oliver Absher please.” We waited for Mr. Poupée to be connected. “Hello. Is that Joyce? This is William Poupée. I called on Friday to speak with Mr. Absher. Is he available?” Mr. Poupée sat perfectly straight, the phone clutched tightly in his hand. “He’s on his way here? I don’t understand. You mean he’s coming to Connecticut? Yes, yes. What time? Well, yes, I imagine he should be arriving shortly. Thank you, Joyce.” Mr. Poupée hung up with a perplexed expression on his face. “She said he’s on his way here. Left this morning on an early flight.”
    “Did she say why?” I asked.
    “No. Evidently he arrived back from the West Coast yesterday afternoon and asked her to book him a flight as early as possible this morning. She booked him a car, too. Well, I’m very confused.” Mr. Poupée shook his head. “I don’t think he knows about Elvira. I didn’t mention it to Joyce on Friday as I thought I should be the one to break the news.”
    “When is he due in?” Detective Van der Burg asked.
    “He took an early flight so I guess he should be here in,” Mr. Poupée glanced at his watch, “about forty-five minutes to an hour. That should give me just enough time to make a few calls.”
    We took the hint and left Mr. Poupée’s office closing the door behind us.
    “Would it be too much trouble to ask for a cup of coffee?” John asked.
    I went across the hall to get it for him along with a cup of tea for me.
    “I think I’ll just sit in here and wait if you don’t mind.” He took the cup from my hand. “I drink entirely too much of this stuff.”
    “I know what you mean. I drink gallons of tea.” I returned to the terminal and picked up where I had left off, keenly aware that John had his eyes on me.
    “You look different today.”
    I stopped typing. “I do? How so?”
    He cocked his head from side to side. Adorable.
    “Rested. And no mascara smudges.”
    I laughed. “I got a good night’s sleep. I think Mr. Absher is going to be able to turn this whole thing around for us.” I reached into my purse and pulled out mini bags of M&M’s tossing one to John.
    He placed the cup of coffee on a side table and popped several M&M’s into his mouth. “Yeah, you may be right. He just might be able to wrap it up completely.”
    I picked out three blue ones and placed them on the edge of the desk where John took them and popped them into his mouth. Okay. The man ate my castoffs. Waste not, want not. “Do you think that’s a possibility?”
    “We won’t know until we speak with him, but from the reference in the card it seems like he might have some knowledge about whatever bothered Mrs. Scott. At this point I’m assuming the two are connected.”
    “Hmm.”
    “Alex. Yesterday at the funeral I wanted to ask you something.” John