Alex Harris 00 - Armed Read Online Free PDF

think it odd she gave me the key and the code for the alarm,” I said in a clear voice. “But my parents are good friends with Mr. Poupée and his wife, as I’ve mentioned, and my agency has provided temporary staff there for many years.”
    “So you weren’t upset in the slightest to be left alone?” the detective pressed. “Surely, you would have thought Mrs. Scott should stay to help you finish?” Detective Van der Burg now had his elbows resting on his knees, the pad and pen dangling from his fingers. Despite his casual position, I felt him zoning in on me for the murder. But why?
    “Well, I-I guess I thought it strange at first, but it didn’t make me mad or anything,” I stammered, my bravado of a few minutes ago taking a hike. “Mrs. Scott really didn’t seem herself yesterday. She seemed agitated and forgetful. So when she asked me to stay, while it seemed odd, I assumed she had good reason for not staying herself. And, of course, now we know she had plans to meet Mr. Poupée.” I hit my forehead with the palm of my hand causing both of the men to jump. “Damn! The mailing is still in the trunk of my car.”
    “You can drop them off at the post office today. I won’t say anything,” Detective Van der Burg managed a smile, which I found quite dazzling.
    “What did you think of Mrs. Scott?”
    Back to reality. I picked up a pencil and tapped the end on my desk, faster and faster.
    “I didn’t know her well on a personal level. She could be gruff at times but also very efficient. She had high standards, but modern technology intimidated her.” I stopped the tapping and look sternly at Detective Van der Burg. “Detective, I don’t feel comfortable talking about someone who just died. I’m not trying to besmirch her good name. Mrs. Scott was a nice person. She had her idiosyncrasies just like anyone else.”
    “Fair enough. You said you heard the phone ring last night?”
    “Yes, I did. As I carried the boxes out to my car the lobby phone rang. And it rang once before earlier. I didn’t answer it. I just assumed they had a night service or answering machine.”
    “So you took the boxes out, your car is covered with snow. Did you see anyone? Hear anything? How about footprints?”
    “I didn’t see anyone. As for footprints, I’m not sure. I didn’t take much notice. I’m sorry. I just wanted to go home and it’s pretty dark out there even with the lights. I concentrated more on my car hoping it would start.”
    “Was the front door locked?”
    I thought about this for a moment. “No. I don’t think so. Is that significant? Is that how the murderer got in?”
    Detective Van der Burg looked directly at me, his serious grayish-blue eyes boring right through me. “It’s a mannequin factory. Says so right on the sign out front. It’s located quite a way from the main road. It’s not exactly the right weather for a leisurely stroll down the block. A block, by the way, that’s pretty much out in the middle of nowhere. So exactly why would someone choose to walk into the building last night, for no apparent reason and leave a dead body behind?”
    His blunt description took me aback. “I don’t know, Detective. It’s your job to find out.” Probably the wrong tone to take with the police.
    “You go back into the building after putting the boxes in your car and look for a shovel. Your search leads you out to the factory.”
    “Yes. That’s correct,” I answered sheepishly.
    “Is something wrong?” he asked, suddenly stopping his note taking, pen poised above his notepad.
    “It’s just that, well…” I began, irritated he picked up on my hesitation. “I’m afraid of mannequins. Well, dolls, actually. So I really didn’t want to go out there, but I didn’t see any other way.” A glimmer came into his eyes along with a slight upward turn at the corners of his mouth. Damn! I felt a blush coming on.
    “What else are you afraid of?” Detective Van der Burg asked, now looking