The Easter Egg Murder (4 page)

7

Monday, April 10, 2000, Late Afternoon

Harrie and Ginger
had planned for months before opening Southwest Editorial Services. Ginger had been a high school English teacher for years, teaching Creative Writing. Harrie had her bachelor’s degree in English but had also taken courses to qualify as a paralegal. She’d worked at a law firm for more than ten years where she routinely prepared briefs and other legal documents for the attorneys. Now they had taken the plunge and established their own business.

At first, they worked from Ginger’s house, taking over a spare bedroom
. When this arrangement proved to be unworkable, a small inheritance from Harrie’s grandmother and an equally small withdrawal from Ginger’s savings account allowed them to lease a small space.

The fledgling company offered transcription, editing, and résumé preparation to writers, professors, and graduate students, mostly at the University of New Mexico
. They both relished leaving their old jobs for something that would allow them more flexibility and a chance to run their own company.

When Philip Lawrence offered his goddaughter and her partner the job of transcribing and line editing his book about his career in the United States Senate, they found themselves with more work than they could comfortably handle. They hired a series of part-time typists
. When the senator added the new book about the cold case murder of Kathleen Finn to their workload, they realized they had to get a full-time assistant. They hoped to find the ideal person during the afternoon’s interviews.

After the next to last candidate departed, Harrie moaned,
“If this is the best we can get, we might as well stop sleeping and do all the work ourselves.”

T
hey had interviewed three strange candidates. First came the gum-smacking high school senior with her exposed midriff revealing a pierced belly button. Next was the vampire-wanna-be, a black-draped young woman who announced she couldn’t type. They didn’t bother to ask whether it was because of her long dagger nails or lack of skill. But the topper was the woman who resembled a female prison guard straight out of the Third Reich. She reminded Harrie of the horrible Miss Trunchbull in the movie
Matilda
.

Ginger grinned at her friend. “Hang in there a little longer, Sweetie.
The next one is the one. You’ll see.”

“And you know this how?” Harrie crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows.

“Because, she’s the one I told you about who worked for the managing partner at Steve’s law firm. I met her years ago, and really liked her. The partners depended on her completely.”

They heard the front door open, and Ginger introduced Harrie to their final appointment of the day.

Caroline Johnson was an attractive woman who looked to be in her early fifties, tall and slender with a graceful elegance. She had short and smartly styled blonde hair. Skillfully applied makeup completed the business-professional appearance. She wore a dove-gray business suit and carried a slim briefcase from which she produced two papers.

“Hello Ms Vaughn. Nice to see you again.
I brought you each a copy of my résumé.”

Ginger said, “Please, call me Ginger. We’re not that formal around here.”

Caroline smiled and nodded. “Ginger it is, then.”

They spent the next half hour discussing the job requirements and the salary. As Harrie listened to Caroline discuss her employment history, she couldn’t believe their luck.

Harrie said, “Forgive me, Caroline, I can’t help but wonder why you’re willing to consider this position. From what I see on your résumé, this job seems far below your skill level.”

A gentle smile played across Caroline’s face. “I suppose it does look strange from your perspective
. When the law firm hired me almost thirty years ago, I had just finished paralegal training. I considered myself lucky to have such an opportunity and wanted to learn all I could. I worked for the senior partner for more than twenty years. When my employer died a year and a half ago, I was devastated and took a month off to think about my future. I went back, but lasted only two months. It just wasn’t the same anymore. I told the remaining partners I needed a change. I had invested my money well, and could afford to take a chance on doing something else.”

“What did you do?” Harrie asked.

“Well, for as long as I can remember, I wanted to own a bookstore. I love books and being around them. So I opened a small bookstore in a strip mall on Louisiana, just north of Menaul. The timing was bad, though. Within six months of opening my store, that huge discount chain, Books, Bagels and Things, opened two blocks down the street in the mall.”

“And you
decided to throw in the towel?”

Caroline sighed. “I suppose that’s what I did. I found a couple
that wanted to open an arts and crafts store, and they were delighted to take over my remaining lease.”

“It must have been very disappointing for you,” Ginger said.

“It was, but I found the experience taught me something important about myself. My dream of owning a bookstore was more fantasy than reality. The books were great. Dealing with all the customers wasn’t. So I decided I wanted something that could make use of my skills, doing work I enjoyed. I didn’t want the stress or pressure I had at the law firm. And, as I said, I’m financially secure enough that the salary really isn’t important. So to me, this seems perfect.”

Ginger
asked Caroline to step outside for a few moments so that she and Harrie could discuss their decision.

Caroline rose
. “Certainly. Take all the time you need. I don’t want you to feel rushed to make a decision.”

After Carolyn was out of earshot,
Harrie said to Ginger, “You do realize we’re not executives, and this woman is an executive assistant?”

Ginger laughed. “
You may not think of us as executives, but we own this enterprise. We run it, we direct it, and we need a keeper! Besides, she’s content with the salary we’re offering. What could be better?”

“True, but don’t you think she’s overqualified? Isn’t it strange she’s willing to take this job?”

Ginger nodded, “Okay, but I think she explained all that. If it’s something less stressful she wants, I can see why she considers this the ideal spot. Do you have other reservations?”

“I guess not
. . . not really. If you think she’ll work out, I’m all for it. God knows, we’ll never find anyone remotely as good as she is to take this gig.”

“So it’s agreed, we’ll tell her she has the job if she wants it.
”

Ginger
asked Caroline to rejoin them and said, “We’d like to offer you the job.”

Caroline beamed at them. “I’d be delighted to accept.”

Harrie said, “How soon could you start?”

“Well, this is Monday. How about I start first thing Wednesday morning?”

Harrie was surprised. “That’s wonderful, but we need to get you a desk and supplies.”

Caroline picked up her briefcase. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll do an inventory first thing Wednesday, and we can discuss what you ha
ve in mind for any equipment or furniture.”

Ginger sighed. “Didn’t I tell you, Harrie? This woman is a keeper. Okay, it’s a deal.”

They walked to the front door. Caroline paused and turned back to them. “I think you should know something. I drove by here earlier to make sure I knew where you were located so I wouldn’t be late.”

Ginger and Harrie listened politely, waiti
ng to see where this was going.

“
As I drove by, I noticed a black SUV parked across the street. It had tinted windows and seemed somehow out of place. Then, when I returned for our appointment, I saw it had moved into this parking lot. I could tell somebody was inside, and I had the strangest feeling they were just sitting there, watching.”

Harrie felt the famil
iar coldness start up her neck.

“Just now, while I was
waiting and you were deliberating, I looked outside, and the car is still there. I thought you should know.”

8

Tuesday Morning, April 11, 2000

Harrie stood under a tree, or at least it seemed to be a tree. It was so dark, she couldn’t tell. She didn’t know why or how she got to this place. She smelled wet grass and damp earth. There was a noise, like an animal moving through the bushes. She strained her eyes to see. The dark clouds above parted, revealing a full moon. In its glow, she could just make out a shape that appeared to be a person. She sensed it was a man, and she held her breath as he approached her hiding place. He wore dark clothing with a hooded jacket that covered his head. Dark shadows hid his face.

She watched him move closer, and a cold, clammy sensation washed over her skin. She strained to hear, but there was no sound. She pressed against the tree, willing herself invisible, and watched, terrified. He stopped, listened, and slowly turned his head in her direction. The moonlight shone on him, and where there should have been a face, there was nothing but a featureless head. Harrie squeezed her eyes shut. A scream rose up in her throat, but nothing came out. She felt completely paralyzed. A loud, shrill buzzing broke through the silence.

Her eyes snapped opened, and the darkness disappeared. Harrie’s oversized Siamese cat, Tuptim, lay sprawled across her chest, watching her intently. Her clock radio buzzed angrily. She dislodged the possessive cat, fumbled for the off button and moaned. The clock face showed six-thirty.

Sleep still clouded her brain.
Damn, what was that all about? Why do I keep having these creepy dreams?
She sat on the edge of the bed trying to shake off the dream. She looked down at Tuptim rubbing against her legs and purring lustily. “Tuptim, my little love, I don’t have time to think about this today. I’ll think about it tomorrow.”

The fear in the dream
faded somewhat in the shower, and she forced herself to concentrate on the warm water and fragrant bath gel.
Concentrate on the good
, she scolded herself.
Don’t let the bad stuff into your head.

She thought about Caroline Johnson. It was a stroke of luck she was available and wanted the job. But was it really luck or something else? Caroline
was perfect for the job.
So why are all these questions running through my head? It’s not as though Caroline is a stranger.
Steve and his friends from Snow, Tessler, Knight & McConaghy knew her and recommended her. Harrie leaned into the shower and let the water cascade over her head.

Harrie’s
self-imposed deadline to finish reading all the newspaper clippings was in jeopardy. She found it difficult to concentrate. Her thoughts drifted to Senator Lawrence. What did he know about that long-ago murder that would make someone threaten him now? But had he really been threatened? She thought so. What else could her dream of him stretched out next to the dead girl mean?

Last night’s d
ream was completely different. In this one, she was the one threatened. Was it because a car had been parked outside their office last night? What logical reason did anybody have to watch them? All these thoughts and questions swirled inside her head and it started to ache. Enough, she thought. This won’t get the reading done.

As
Harrie started a list of things she wanted to clarify about the news stories, Ginger came in and sat in the chair across from her.

“
Do you think we should try to make an appointment with Philip for this afternoon or wait until tomorrow?”

Harrie considered the situation and her own current mental state as she looked at the pile of papers on her desk
. “I don’t know. There are several items I want to go over with him, but I first want to finish reading these articles he gave us. But if we wait until tomorrow, Caroline will be here, and we need to spend time with her.”

Ginger shook her head. “I wouldn’t worry about Caroline. I’m sure she can teach us a few things about running this place.”

“I suppose you’re right. How about this? Let’s go over these folders until lunchtime. We could send out for sandwiches from the deli and eat in the conference room while we work. Maybe we could be finished with most of them by this afternoon in time to see him. Would that work?”

“Let me call him and see what his schedule is this afternoon. If he’s agreeable, we can take back whatever we’ve finished
and you can quiz him about your list.” Ginger left to place the call.

Harrie
started to put the finished folders in her briefcase, but it wasn’t there. She tried to remember if she had brought it in from the car.
Okay, I’m officially losing it! I can’t even remember what I did three hours ago!

“Ginger,” she called out as she grabbed her keys. “I
’m going to see if my briefcase is in my car.”

It was a bright, sunny, New Mexico day, and she wished she’d had the presence of mind to grab her sunglasses. She put her hand up to shield
her eyes from the intense light and promptly dropped her keys. She was bending down when a deep voice said, “Do you need help, Miss?”

Harrie
rose and swiveled toward the voice simultaneously. Her feet flew out from under her, and she landed unceremoniously in the grass. Before she could move, she felt strong arms pull her up and put her back on her feet.

F
lustered and angry with herself, she now confronted a tall, dark-haired man watching her through sunglasses. A faint smile creased his ruggedly handsome face.

“Is it your habit to sneak up on people like that?” She sounded snippy and antagonistic even to herself. She felt unusually jumpy today.

“I’m sorry Miss. I didn’t realize I would frighten you. I only meant to help.” The smile was gone now, but he didn’t look unfriendly. In fact, Harrie thought he looked concerned and downright gorgeous. A lock of his dark hair lay on his forehead in a way that reminded her of Christopher Reeve in
Superman
.

Then ‘Sunglasses’
spoke again. ‘Are you hurt?’ He bent to look in her eyes, his hands bracing her shoulders.

Oh, that voice
! He even sounds like Superman!

“No, thank you. I’m fine.” She attempted to regain her composure. “You were kind to help. I didn’t know anyone was behind me, that’s all.” She tried to disengage herself from his steadying hands.

“Well, you do seem a mite jumpy, if you don’t mind my saying so.” The grin was back as he released her shoulders.

She looked down, avoiding his gaze. “I dropped my car keys. Thanks for your help, but
I’m in a bit of a hurry, and I have to find those keys.”

Sunglasses leaned over and picked up something “Are these t
he keys you’re looking for?” That grin again.
Honestly, men can be so damned annoying.

She drew herself up to her full five feet five inches, and reach
ed for the keys. She realized her nose just about reached the top of his chest. She managed a tight smile. “Yes, thank you very much. These are, indeed, my keys.”
Yes, indeed, being stilted and tight-assed should show you’re in control!

Sunglasses dipped his head in a small bow
. Then he turned and walked across the parking lot. Harrie gazed after him until she realized she had not moved. She quickly turned away, flustered again.

She unlocked her car
and found the briefcase on the front passenger seat where she had put it that morning. She grabbed it and locked the door. As she headed back inside, Sunglasses was nowhere in sight, but just turning out of the parking lot and heading south on Wyoming Boulevard was a black SUV with tinted windows.