Alex Harris 00 - Armed

agency. I wouldn’t know the first thing to do and besides, I rather doubt Detective Van der Burg would let me get involved.”
    “Alex, you have a wonderful way with people. It couldn’t hurt anything if you asked a few questions.”
    “Mr. Poupée, after last night, I just don’t think I can come to the factory right now. I’m sorry.”
    “Of course,” he said softly. “I’m being insensitive. I forgot you were the one who found her. Forget I even asked. I’ll let you get back to work.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

    I put the phone down feeling guilty at not helping a friend but I had to think of myself. The images of the night before would probably never go away so for the time being I needed to stay away from the factory.
    “Alex?”
    I brushed a tear from my cheek and looked up to see Millie and Sam standing in the doorway.
    “There are two policemen here. With a shovel ,” Millie whispered.
    “A shovel?”
    Sam stepped into the room. “Send them in, Millie. No! Wait!” She gestured to me with two fingers under her eyes.
    I quickly pressed the pump on a container of hand cream I keep on my desk and dabbed some under my eyes as Detective Van der Burg and Officer Corliss walked into the room.
    “Good morning, Ms. Harris. We’d like to ask you a few more questions,” Detective Van der Burg looked at Sam. “Alone, if we may.”
    “It’s alright, Samantha,” I reassured my sister.
    “I’ll be right next door if you need anything,” Sam said, while glaring at the police officers. Sometimes it’s really nice to have an older sister.
    Detective Van der Burg and Officer Corliss took the two seats across from me. Officer Corliss laid the shovel on the floor by the chair.
    “You seem to be having a real problem with that stuff.”
    I ran a tissue under my eyes, acutely aware of the smirk on Detective Van der Burg’s face. So much for a sexy, sultry look. “I can’t seem to stop crying. There.” I dropped the tissue in the trash and folded my hands in front of me.
    Still smiling, Detective Van der Burg began. “I know a lot of this will be a repeat of last night, but please just answer the questions. Tell me why you went to the factory.”
    I sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly. “They needed to get a mailing out so I offered to come in.”
    “You said you didn’t often help in situations like this.”
    “No, not usually, but with the holidays…” I let my explanation trail off before beginning again. “And Mr. Poupée is a good client and a friend.”
    “What time did you arrive?”
    “Before noon. Maybe eleven-fifteen. Mrs. Scott showed me to the mailroom and I worked on the mailing for the rest of the day.”
    “Did Mrs. Scott stay with you?”
    “No.”
    “Did you exchange words with her when you arrived?”
    “Exchange words?” Damn. This didn’t sound good.
    “Did you have an argument?”
    I shook my head. “No. Of course not. She was a client.”
    Detective Van der Burg paused while he consulted his notes. “Ruth Grant, the receptionist, said she heard raised voices coming from Mrs. Scott’s office right after you arrived. Also, earlier in the morning when you and Mrs. Scott spoke on the phone. Does this ring a bell?”
    I swallowed and thought for a moment. I wanted to convey how innocuous the situation was—despite what the receptionist had interpreted. I inhaled slowly, willing my words to come out calmly.
    “I called earlier to speak to Mr. Poupée. Mrs. Scott told me he was unavailable. I’d been trying to reach him for several days regarding an upcoming project.”
    “Well, he’s a family friend. Why couldn’t you just call him at home?”
    “I don’t work that way,” I said indignantly before I could stop myself. “I try to keep my business dealings totally private from my personal life.”
    “So you and Mrs. Scott had words?” Detective Van der Burg said, his eyes firmly on me.
    I met his gaze with calmness—a ploy I hoped masked my increasing nervousness. Sweat, and pretty soon perspiration, would start running down my face.
    “No. As I told you last night, she seemed flustered and probably answered more forcibly than she normally would have.”
    “Then when you arrived at the office?”
    My eyes momentarily settled on the shovel. “When I got to the factory, I mentioned again how I really wanted to speak with him. She still seemed flustered and she snapped at me so I dropped it.”
    Detective Van der Burg smiled and leaned back in the chair.