Read Online FM for Murder by Patricia Rockwell - Free Book Online
Authors: Patricia Rockwell
Tags: Mystery
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He then sat in the chair with an exhausted sigh.
Bernice entered with the coffee tray which she placed on the desk. Daniel served Vickers, knowing from experience that he preferred it black with two sugars. The men sipped and enjoyed the warmth of the office and the brew for a few moments.
“So,” said Daniel, finally, breaking the silence, “let’s see that business card.”
Vickers reached into his pocket and removed his wallet from which he withdrew a small rectangular card. He handed it to Daniel.
“Sylvester Jax,” said Daniel, reading the imprint. “Private Investigator. And you think he’s the best?”
“Of the ones I interviewed,” replied Vickers.
“Missing persons, fraud, identity theft,” read Daniel. “Well, he seems experienced in a number of areas. Let’s give him a try.” He picked up the receiver of his office telephone and dialed the number on the card. After a few rings, there was an answer.
“Mr. Jax?” asked Daniel. When he was assured that he was addressing the private investigator himself, he continued speaking, “My name is Daniel Bridgewater. I’m President of Bridgewater Carpet Manufacturing. Our company lawyer Harold Vickers has recommended you for an investigating job. I understand he spoke with you recently. Yes. I was wondering if you might be able to come to our plant? No, it’s not a business investigation. Actually, it’s quite personal, but I’d rather discuss it with you here in my office than at my home. I believe you’ll understand when I explain the particulars to you. You could? That would be excellent. See you then.”
“He’s going to do it?”
“We’ll see. I hope. If he doesn’t, I will.”
“Daniel…”
“Harold, I’m going to find David—one way or the other.”
Chapter 9
The present--Monday morning, December 17
It had been such a hectic weekend that Pamela was finding Monday actually restful as she relaxed on her office sofa, munching a crunchy Mexican veggie roll-up that Rocky had made for her. She always enjoyed peeking in her brown paper bag to discover what treat her husband had concocted for her to eat each day. He also provided her with a thermos of herb tea; today’s specialty was pomegranate and he’d slipped in a chocolate coconut bar for dessert. She was in heaven—her mind far, far from the sordid doings that had consumed her interests yesterday.
Then she thought about the poor disc jockey. Another death in just over a year. No, this hadn’t really occurred on campus, but the victim was a student—and an instructor. It brought back to Pamela in vivid detail the days last year when she had discovered the body of her colleague Charlotte Clark strangled to death with a cord from a headset in their computer lab.
Her students this morning were all agog with tales of the disc jockey who had been murdered while on air. She didn’t mention to them her own personal involvement in the case—what with Rocky having to go down to console Trudi Muldoon and then, on top of everything, to run into Detective Shoop. What were the chances that he would be working this case! He had given her nothing but trouble during the investigation of Charlotte’s murder. Of course, she mused, he was there at the end. Which was a good thing, she thought, otherwise the killer would have made her his second victim. Luckily Shoop and his men had arrived in time and saved her. She probably shouldn’t be so hard on him, but she just couldn’t help it. He stood in her way at every turn, trying to prevent her attempts to…to…to…what? she wondered. To solve the mystery, she realized. He probably just wanted all the glory for himself. Oh, that’s ridiculous, she realized. He was just doing his job—and part of his job was to protect me. After all, I am a civilian. Shoop wasn’t used to a civilian trying to solve a crime. He kept ordering her to cease and desist. She laughed to herself. I guess I was a bit headstrong, she thought. Oh, well,
Bernice entered with the coffee tray which she placed on the desk. Daniel served Vickers, knowing from experience that he preferred it black with two sugars. The men sipped and enjoyed the warmth of the office and the brew for a few moments.
“So,” said Daniel, finally, breaking the silence, “let’s see that business card.”
Vickers reached into his pocket and removed his wallet from which he withdrew a small rectangular card. He handed it to Daniel.
“Sylvester Jax,” said Daniel, reading the imprint. “Private Investigator. And you think he’s the best?”
“Of the ones I interviewed,” replied Vickers.
“Missing persons, fraud, identity theft,” read Daniel. “Well, he seems experienced in a number of areas. Let’s give him a try.” He picked up the receiver of his office telephone and dialed the number on the card. After a few rings, there was an answer.
“Mr. Jax?” asked Daniel. When he was assured that he was addressing the private investigator himself, he continued speaking, “My name is Daniel Bridgewater. I’m President of Bridgewater Carpet Manufacturing. Our company lawyer Harold Vickers has recommended you for an investigating job. I understand he spoke with you recently. Yes. I was wondering if you might be able to come to our plant? No, it’s not a business investigation. Actually, it’s quite personal, but I’d rather discuss it with you here in my office than at my home. I believe you’ll understand when I explain the particulars to you. You could? That would be excellent. See you then.”
“He’s going to do it?”
“We’ll see. I hope. If he doesn’t, I will.”
“Daniel…”
“Harold, I’m going to find David—one way or the other.”
Chapter 9
The present--Monday morning, December 17
It had been such a hectic weekend that Pamela was finding Monday actually restful as she relaxed on her office sofa, munching a crunchy Mexican veggie roll-up that Rocky had made for her. She always enjoyed peeking in her brown paper bag to discover what treat her husband had concocted for her to eat each day. He also provided her with a thermos of herb tea; today’s specialty was pomegranate and he’d slipped in a chocolate coconut bar for dessert. She was in heaven—her mind far, far from the sordid doings that had consumed her interests yesterday.
Then she thought about the poor disc jockey. Another death in just over a year. No, this hadn’t really occurred on campus, but the victim was a student—and an instructor. It brought back to Pamela in vivid detail the days last year when she had discovered the body of her colleague Charlotte Clark strangled to death with a cord from a headset in their computer lab.
Her students this morning were all agog with tales of the disc jockey who had been murdered while on air. She didn’t mention to them her own personal involvement in the case—what with Rocky having to go down to console Trudi Muldoon and then, on top of everything, to run into Detective Shoop. What were the chances that he would be working this case! He had given her nothing but trouble during the investigation of Charlotte’s murder. Of course, she mused, he was there at the end. Which was a good thing, she thought, otherwise the killer would have made her his second victim. Luckily Shoop and his men had arrived in time and saved her. She probably shouldn’t be so hard on him, but she just couldn’t help it. He stood in her way at every turn, trying to prevent her attempts to…to…to…what? she wondered. To solve the mystery, she realized. He probably just wanted all the glory for himself. Oh, that’s ridiculous, she realized. He was just doing his job—and part of his job was to protect me. After all, I am a civilian. Shoop wasn’t used to a civilian trying to solve a crime. He kept ordering her to cease and desist. She laughed to herself. I guess I was a bit headstrong, she thought. Oh, well,
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