Alex Harris 00 - Armed

I mused. “Why would she sell eyes on the black market? There’s not a lot of money in it.”
    “Maybe she ran some sort of scam with the hair and repair kits and mannequins, too. You just haven’t found out yet. Leave it to the police. It’s in their capable hands. Once they question her, she’ll probably spill the beans on all sorts of nefarious things. Speaking of police how is the fine detective today?” Sam asked.
    My eyes twinkled and a smile formed on my lips. “He’s, well…he’s perfect.”
    “Is he now?”
    “He kind of asked me out but we got interrupted by Mr. Absher’s arrival.” I leaned back and folded my arms. “I started thinking there’s too much flannel in my life.”
    “Did you say flannel ?” Sam asked.
    “I did. I never thought about it before. I wear flannel pajamas, I have flannel sheets, I wear flannel shirts in the winter.”
    “We do live in Connecticut.”
    “I know. But I think I need to jazz up my life. Get some of those silky sheets, maybe something from Victoria’s Secret.”
    “Aren’t you jumping the gun a bit? You still haven’t gone out on a date with the man.”
    I waved my hand. “Details. I know we haven’t gone out yet. But we will. And I don’t know how to explain it, but there’s something more. I feel…well, I feel like he’s the one.” I held up my hand at my sister’s attempted protest. “No. It may sound crazy. It does sound crazy, but I just know. Sam, he ate the blue ones.”
    Sam threw up her hands in defeat. “Well, hell, if he eats the blue ones he’s got to be the right one.”
    “Why are you smiling?”
    “Remember what you said the night we talked about Peter? One of your Winston quotes.”
    “‘If this is a blessing, it is certainly very well disguised’,” I said softly.
    Sam nodded. “See, it did all work out for the best. You may have just met the man you will spend the rest of your life with.”
    “Yes, but someone had to die for it to happen.”
    “Oh, Alex, don’t let this terrible murder keep you from going after something good. If you and John are meant to be, you would have met sooner or later.”
    “‘There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.’”
    “Winnie, again?” Sam asked with squinted eyes.
    “How come you never think I can come up with this stuff on my own?” I asked with mock hurt. “I can be profound.”
    “Yes, but you wouldn’t have as much fun if you weren’t quoting old Winston. Though I wonder if you really enjoy the quotes or just look forward to annoying the rest of us.”
    I smiled surreptitiously, leaving Sam to draw her own conclusions.
    I worked for several hours more on the new account happy to be back where I belonged. A pale sun peaked through the windows where only a few hours before a light snow had dusted the panes. All was right with the world and I conveniently pushed that nagging tug of my subconscious back where it belonged.
    Sometime in the late afternoon I got interrupted by a rather voluptuous young woman looking for a job as a masseuse. I suggested she apply at the various health clubs in the area.
    I had just settled back at my desk when I heard the door, which, once again, I had forgotten to lock.
    “Joanne? What are you doing here? I thought you were home sick,” I said testily. With the murder all but solved I wanted nothing more to do with Joanne.
    She stood in the reception area and held her car keys in one hand but no purse. “I’ll make this short. I wanted to know if you’re planning on recommending me to Mr. Poupée as a replacement for Elvira?”
    “I haven’t given it much thought,” I lied, staring at her eye.
    “Well, think about it now,” Joanne said forcibly.
    “Look. I’m really busy right now. What does it matter whether or not I recommend you? If you want the job, then apply for it.”
    “Mr. Poupée wants you to find the replacement and he won’t even look at my résumé if you don’t put in a good word.”
    I invited Joanne back to my office and considered the request. She certainly had ambition. What was wrong with that? I considered myself ambitious, though I hoped more tactful and kind in my dealings with people than Joanne. “My plan is to recommend several possible candidates. He’ll be making the final decision.”
    “So you’ll put in a good word, then?” Joanne started for the door.
    I wanted to ask her a few questions while I had her here and needed to stall the woman. “Why don’t you