Read Online 1 Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lois Winston
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the photo schedule. After all, it wasn't every
day I found a dead body sitting at my computer. Besides, Batswin
and Robbins had kidnapped my projects and supplies, and there
was a croissant in the break room calling my name. Both extremely
legitimate reasons why I couldn't go ahead with the scheduled
photo shoot.
"So tell me about Erica," I said, making a beeline for the break
room. Anything to take my mind off Ricardo, Marlys, and my
other problems.
"She's worried the police will think she did it," said Cloris as
she and Daphne followed behind me. "They've been questioning
her in the conference room for over twenty-five minutes."
"I expect they'll question all of us," I said.
"For nearly half an hour?" asked Cloris. "They must suspect
something. With me it was slam, bam, thank you, ma'am. In and
out in no time."
"Me, too," said Daphne. "I don't think I was in there more than
two minutes. But you know how Marlys treated Erica. If the cops get
wind of that from anyone, Erica becomes Suspect Numero Uno."
"As soon as the police question her, they'll realize Erica isn't
capable of squishing an ant, let alone whacking her boss," I said as
we entered the break room, an oversized, dingy closet of a space,
outfitted with a compact sink, mini-refrigerator, microwave,
chipped Formica table, and four rickety plastic chairs.
I grabbed a Styrofoam coffee cup off the shelf above the microwave. "Besides, I'm pretty sure the police already have a suspect"
"Who?" they both asked at once.
I lifted the coffeepot off the burner, filled the cup with the last of
the brew, and took a huge swig before I answered. "Me"
"Shut up!" cried Daphne, giving me a hard jab to my upper arm.
The coffee cup flew from my hand, spattering over the counter and
floor.
"Sorry! Didn't mean for that to happen." She ripped off enough
paper towels to sop up all five Great Lakes and went to work on
the mess.
I stared at the now empty coffeepot. My kingdom for a cup of
caffeine!
"I'll make a fresh pot," offered Cloris, noting the desperation
that I'm sure had telegraphed its way from my caffeine-starved
corpuscles to my face. She pulled out the basket of used grounds
and dumped them into the trash. "In need of a fix, huh?"
I grabbed a croissant, collapsed into a chair, and pushed a few
strands of damp hair behind my ear. "Desperate enough to suck
on unground beans."
"I don't get it," said Daphne, trashing the coffee-saturated
paper towels. "Erica, I can understand. But why you, Anastasia?"
"Yeah, why you?" asked Cloris. "Naomi I could understand. She
sure had reason to want the bitch dead. Not to mention Hugo after
the way she walked out on him after he lost control of the company.
"Or Vittorio Versailles," added Daphne. "Remember how he
threatened to kill her yesterday? But not you, Anastasia. Why
would the police suspect you?"
"Yes, do tell."
I turned toward the entrance of the break room. Detective
Batswin filled the doorway.
MOMENTS BEFORE, THE CROISSANT had sent my salivary glands
into flood mode. Now my mouth had transformed into the Kalahari. During an extended drought. I forced myself to swallow. "Detective Batswin."
She wore the same tailored gray suit from last night, but she
had traded the pinstripe shirt for a solid white one and the silver
earrings for a pair of dream catchers. The long black and white
feathers, falling nearly to her shoulders, echoed the light and dark
shades of her hair.
"I think you and I need to have another chat, Mrs. Pollack."
I glanced at Cloris and Daphne. Both had gone as white as
over-bleached poltergeists. They cast worried glances at each other,
then at me.
"I'll bring you some coffee when it's done brewing," said Cloris.
I mumbled my thanks, then feeling like a dead woman walking,
trailed Detective Batswin down the hall to the conference room.
Detective Robbins was waiting for us. Mighty Mouse had replaced Scooby-Doo as the crime-fighting cartoon character
day I found a dead body sitting at my computer. Besides, Batswin
and Robbins had kidnapped my projects and supplies, and there
was a croissant in the break room calling my name. Both extremely
legitimate reasons why I couldn't go ahead with the scheduled
photo shoot.
"So tell me about Erica," I said, making a beeline for the break
room. Anything to take my mind off Ricardo, Marlys, and my
other problems.
"She's worried the police will think she did it," said Cloris as
she and Daphne followed behind me. "They've been questioning
her in the conference room for over twenty-five minutes."
"I expect they'll question all of us," I said.
"For nearly half an hour?" asked Cloris. "They must suspect
something. With me it was slam, bam, thank you, ma'am. In and
out in no time."
"Me, too," said Daphne. "I don't think I was in there more than
two minutes. But you know how Marlys treated Erica. If the cops get
wind of that from anyone, Erica becomes Suspect Numero Uno."
"As soon as the police question her, they'll realize Erica isn't
capable of squishing an ant, let alone whacking her boss," I said as
we entered the break room, an oversized, dingy closet of a space,
outfitted with a compact sink, mini-refrigerator, microwave,
chipped Formica table, and four rickety plastic chairs.
I grabbed a Styrofoam coffee cup off the shelf above the microwave. "Besides, I'm pretty sure the police already have a suspect"
"Who?" they both asked at once.
I lifted the coffeepot off the burner, filled the cup with the last of
the brew, and took a huge swig before I answered. "Me"
"Shut up!" cried Daphne, giving me a hard jab to my upper arm.
The coffee cup flew from my hand, spattering over the counter and
floor.
"Sorry! Didn't mean for that to happen." She ripped off enough
paper towels to sop up all five Great Lakes and went to work on
the mess.
I stared at the now empty coffeepot. My kingdom for a cup of
caffeine!
"I'll make a fresh pot," offered Cloris, noting the desperation
that I'm sure had telegraphed its way from my caffeine-starved
corpuscles to my face. She pulled out the basket of used grounds
and dumped them into the trash. "In need of a fix, huh?"
I grabbed a croissant, collapsed into a chair, and pushed a few
strands of damp hair behind my ear. "Desperate enough to suck
on unground beans."
"I don't get it," said Daphne, trashing the coffee-saturated
paper towels. "Erica, I can understand. But why you, Anastasia?"
"Yeah, why you?" asked Cloris. "Naomi I could understand. She
sure had reason to want the bitch dead. Not to mention Hugo after
the way she walked out on him after he lost control of the company.
"Or Vittorio Versailles," added Daphne. "Remember how he
threatened to kill her yesterday? But not you, Anastasia. Why
would the police suspect you?"
"Yes, do tell."
I turned toward the entrance of the break room. Detective
Batswin filled the doorway.
MOMENTS BEFORE, THE CROISSANT had sent my salivary glands
into flood mode. Now my mouth had transformed into the Kalahari. During an extended drought. I forced myself to swallow. "Detective Batswin."
She wore the same tailored gray suit from last night, but she
had traded the pinstripe shirt for a solid white one and the silver
earrings for a pair of dream catchers. The long black and white
feathers, falling nearly to her shoulders, echoed the light and dark
shades of her hair.
"I think you and I need to have another chat, Mrs. Pollack."
I glanced at Cloris and Daphne. Both had gone as white as
over-bleached poltergeists. They cast worried glances at each other,
then at me.
"I'll bring you some coffee when it's done brewing," said Cloris.
I mumbled my thanks, then feeling like a dead woman walking,
trailed Detective Batswin down the hall to the conference room.
Detective Robbins was waiting for us. Mighty Mouse had replaced Scooby-Doo as the crime-fighting cartoon character
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