Read Between the Tines

by Susan Sleeman

  She leaned over me, her eyes wide. She studied the screen then shook her head. "Nah, none of them."

  I jabbed my index finger at Nathan. "Not even him?"

  "Nope, never seen him before."

  "Are you positive?"

  "Yeah, why? Did you think he did it?" She sat on the corner of my desk, tipping over a stack of mail.

  How could this be? I was certain she'd identify him. I slumped back on my chair. Nathan Jacobs was a creep and a wife beater, but not a killer. I was back to square one. A square that now included querying receptionist, Angie.

  "You have an employee key card to get through the factory gate, right?" I tried to keep the excitement of my quest out of my voice, but it sneaked in.

  "Sure, yeah."

  "Can I use it to go see Angie?"

  "Oh, no. Absolutely not. It's for employees only, and I don't want to risk getting fired."

  "But you could take me to see her, right?"

  Eyes wary, she nodded. I didn't wait for full agreement, but jumped to my feet. Ouch, ouch, ouch. Even my toenails ached from the tub incident. Still, I grabbed Daisy's arm and dragged her out of the office. "C'mon. We're going to the factory."

  "But I have to finish the—"

  "I'm the boss. If I say you can go, you can go." We rushed toward a startled Hazel and Mr. T. "We'll be gone for a while. Call Teri if you can't handle things."

  "But Paige—" Daisy whined as I opened the door.

  "No, buts Daisy, we're going." I hauled her outside and nearly hefted her into my truck. "Buckle up while I get in."

  Keeping an eye on her in case she tried to escape, I rushed around the front of my truck. I know this bordered on kidnapping, but Daisy didn't always know what was best for her. Ahem, okay, so maybe I was equally as guilty, but it was always so much easier to see another person's faults than mine. At least it was easier to admit.

  Reaching to put my keys in the ignition, Daisy snagged my arm. "Paige you have to listen to me."

  I sighed. I guess I wasn't very good at kidnapping either. "Fine, but you're not going to talk me out of going to the factory."

  "My key card. It's in my purse under the counter."

  I felt a flood of heat rush to my face. "I'll wait here while you get it."

  She slipped out and skipped, yes, skipped inside. Since I had this unexpected time, I should think about what else I needed to do at Pacific Pickles while I was there. I had to talk to Irene about whether she saw Gary on Monday morning, and she could hopefully shed some light on Barney Rubble and Gary's Fatal Attraction woman, the two I'd vote in as the most likely killers at this point. Hopefully, I could pull Irene aside for a moment.

  Daisy rushed from the shop, her arms jutting out at odd angles. She jumped into the passenger seat, humming The Bangle's eighties hit, Walk Like an Egyptian. And I'd thought of her as Russian sage when all this time she was from Egypt.

  Truck in gear, I backed onto the street and headed for the factory. The temperature was warming so I flipped on the air conditioner lest I wilt Daisy. She sat back but fidgeted as I drove. Maybe she didn't want to go to the office, as she was worried she'd get in trouble over ruining the Briny costume.

  I gave her a comforting smile. "Everything going okay with Briny?"

  Her face perked up. "You won't believe what happened. My boss said she was so sorry I had to find Gary. Then she told me I did such a good job of keeping most of the costume safe that she wasn't mad about the gloves. She even apologized for not having the suit altered to fit me. Remember that's why I was in the woods in the first place. Anyway, they decided to have two Briny characters and I get to stay on permanently so they're sending the suit out for alterations. Isn't that great?"

  "Sure is. See, things can work out."

  She laid a fragile looking hand on my arm. "And they'll work out for you and Adam, too. You never did say why you broke up."

  And I didn't want to now, but her compassionate smile and tone of voice urged me to share. "You'll probably get mad at me when you hear this, so I'll apologize before I start. I was helping Karen by looking into Gary's murder for her."

  She didn't look hurt, but confused. "So why did you say no to me, then?"

  "When you asked me, I hadn't told Adam about helping Karen yet. I knew he'd be against it so I was waiting for the right time. Then when he asked me not to do this for you, I was afraid to tell him about Karen."

  "Asked? He didn't ask. He forbade you to do it."

  "See, this is why I didn't tell him about Karen. Then at dinner last night he found out."

  Her eyes scrunched up. "Why'd you keep on helping her if he was against it?"

  "I had to. She was so upset over Gary's death and this was the only way I could comfort her."

  "I know what you mean. A couple a years ago, my sister moved to California. The only thing that could make me feel better was to go shopping. And I did. Boy, howdy. I spent one hundred dollars in one day. Hid it from Earl. Then he got the credit card bills and figured out what I did. He was mad for a good long time. Man, that guy is so smart. I can't hide anything from him."

  I so wanted to blurt out most anyone could have figured out her secret, but she was trying to be helpful so I kept it to myself and concentrated on navigating the final turn into the employee parking lot.

  "Hey, I know," she shouted. "Remember last month when Earl got mad at me for spending all my time gardening and threatened to leave me and you offered to talk to him to help get us back together?"

  "Yeah, but I didn't have to. He couldn't stay away from you."

  "I know, right. Wasn't that sweet?" She blushed and giggled. "I could do the same thing for you. I could explain to Adam how you had to do this. He'd believe me. I'm sure he would."

  I shook my head so hard, I got dizzy. "Probably best to let me talk to him first." Second in line to enter the parking lot, I pulled to a stop behind a silver SUV and waited to pull forward. "I'll need that card now."

  "I told you. It's for employees only." She unclipped her seatbelt and leaned over me. She couldn't reach. She planted her feet on the passenger's seat and stuck her upper body out the window.

  Thankful no one else waited to enter, I held my breath and tried not to breathe on her. The gate swung up, Daisy wound down, and I pulled through, following the path of the SUV to the first available space. The SUV's driver hopped out. Nathan Jacobs. Made sense. He'd probably dropped the beaten wife at home, maybe smacked her around a bit more then headed back here.

  "Look, that's Nathan Jacobs. You're sure he's not one of the guys who harassed you?"

  "I'm sure."

  No, I won't give up on thinking this creep was the killer. "Let's catch up to him so you can get a better look at him." I shoved open my door and yelled, "Nathan, hey Nathan. Wait up, would you?"

  He turned around and held a hand over his eyes to shield the sun. I ran ahead of Daisy, each step sending shooting stars of pain through my legs. What was I going to say when I reached him?

  C'mon, Paige, think.

  Panting, I stopped in front of him. His focus was fixed behind me. I turned. Daisy sprinted our way, looking like a Bay Watch lifeguard. Nathan seemed mesmerized. Good, this would be how he would ogle her, so if he was guilty she'd certainly recognize him.

  I caught my breath. "So Nathan have you thought of anything else that might help me find Gary's killer?"

  "Hmm, what?" He slowly looked my way. "What did you say?"

  "Gary's killer. Did you think of anything else that might help?"

  "I really am far too busy to spend much time thinking about that." He returned his gaze to Daisy who'd stopped next to me, not at all out of breath like I had been from the run.

  I waited until he realized he was staring which was far too long for my liking and definitely had made Daisy uncomfortable.

  He cleared his throat. "If you'll excuse me, I'm late for a meeting."

  "That hospital visit must have been unexpected," I said.

  His eyes and mo
uth shot open looking like one of those rubber heads you squeezed to pop out the eyes and tongue. "How did you hear about that?"

  I turned so he could get a clear view of my cheek. "I was a patient in the ER."

  "Yes, well, like I said, I'm late." He spun and marched off.

  "Well?" I asked Daisy. "Is he one of them?"

  "How many times am I going to have to tell you no before you believe me?" She stormed toward the building.

  Great, I'd made them both mad. I didn't care if Nathan was upset. In fact, any day I could trouble a man who beat his wife was a good day in my book, but Daisy was my friend. She was also my way into Pacific Pickles and I desperately needed to get inside if I had any hope of unearthing Gary's killer.

  Chapter Nineteen

  I caught Daisy at the entrance and slipped in front of her. "I'm sorry, Daisy. I believe you. I just want him to be guilty so badly I couldn't leave it alone."

  She stood mute, eyes cast down.

  "He beats his wife," I said.

  Her head snapped up. "He does? How do you know?"

  "What I said to him about seeing him at the hospital? His wife had come in for help, but before anyone could get there to help her, Nathan arrived and dragged her out. So I thought it would be fitting if he went to jail."

  "Totally, but he didn't do anything to me."

  "Which means he doesn't have a motive for murdering Gary. So let's go in and talk to Angie to see if she can help us figure out who might. Okay?"

  "Okay, but why would these guys want to kill Gary?"

  I'd forgotten I was talking to Daisy. I needed to spell things out clearly. "If Gary videoed the men harassing you, one of them might have killed him to keep him from showing it to anyone."

  "Oh, I get it. Gosh, I didn't think of that." She grabbed my wrist. "Let's get going, then."

  Inside, we found a smiling Angie sitting behind her desk, and no sign of Nathan. Daisy rushed over to Angie. "This is my friend, Paige. We think the guys who harassed me killed Gary."

  Angie's large eyes got bigger. "Really?"

  Shaking my head, I stepped up to the desk. "Ah, no, not exactly," I said to calm Angie down. "We think they might have wanted Gary to come to some harm."

  "Same dif," Daisy said. "If Gary got them on video they'd want to kill him."

  "Video? What video?"

  I'd never tell Daisy anything again. Never. Nope never.

  "Ah, Angie," I said keeping the bruised side of my face from her view. "That's not been determined, so if you would keep it to yourself I'd appreciate it."

  "Sure," she said after looking at Daisy.

  "We were wondering if you knew the names of the guys who were harassing Daisy?"

  She shook her head. "Daisy's the only one I heard of having this problem. And believe me, after she told me about it, I asked other women here."

  "So you can't think of anyone we could talk to who might have seen these guys in action?" I asked more because I was frustrated than because I believed she would give me an affirmative answer.

  "Shoot," Angie said. "Why bother asking around? Once one of them finds out Daisy's here today they'll find her."

  Daisy slapped her palm on her forehead something she did so often maybe it was giving her brain damage and adding to her normal clouded approach to the world. "Why didn't I think of that? They always show up when I'm in marketing to get my check."

  "And when they do show up, I can take pics with my cell," I said, growing as agitated at Daisy.

  "C'mon, let's go up there and wait." Her turn to drag me.

  "Thanks, Angie," I called out. "Remember don't tell anyone about the video. Actually, don't tell anyone about our visit at all."

  "My lips are sealed." She mimicked locking her lips and tossing away a key.

  Daisy slid her card through the reader, and I followed her into the space filled with clacking keyboards and the hum of conversation.

  "Try to be extra alluring," I whispered as we approached the marketing department.

  She grinned. "This is fun. I like catching a killer."

  She sauntered forward like a model on the runway stopping to drape her lithe body across a desk with a woman sitting behind it. The woman's mouth gaped open.

  "Hi, Tonya," Daisy said, fluttering her eyes at the woman. "Nice weather we've been having."

  Tonya's mouth open and closed a few times before she said, "What are you doing, Daisy?"

  "I was in the building so I thought I'd stop in and visit."

  "Not like this, you won't. Get off my desk." Her voice rose with each word.

  "Oh, but this is so comfortable," Daisy said and arched her back in a position that no one would believe was comfortable.

  "I mean it, Daisy," Tonya shouted. "Get off my desk."

  Heads peeked from behind cubby walls and Mary Stills marched out of her office. "Tonya, what's going on out here?"

  "This." Tonya rolled her eyes and jerked her head at Daisy.

  Before Mary could question Daisy, I rushed forward. "I can explain this, Mary. How about we go into your office for a minute."

  "Fine," she said and spun around.

  I was surprised at her agreement much like she seemed to be surprised that I was out here causing a commotion. She picked up pickle-covered signs from a chair and held out her hand.

  I sat and waited for her to take the chair next to me.

  Her hand shot out. "Your face. What happened?"

  Note to self. Do not ever fall in the bathtub again when you have to go out in public. Fall only on weekends and vacations. "I fell in the bathtub this morning." Before she could comment again, I rushed on. "This might take you by surprise, but every time Daisy has come in to pick up her check she's been harassed by a group of male employees."

  Mary's eyes turned suspicious, but she leaned forward as if interested in hearing more. "Harassed, how?"

  "Nothing physical, but lewd comments and snide remarks coupled with a lot of back slapping."

  Mary abruptly sat back and crossed her arms. "I don't believe it. I would certainly have seen them."

  Slow down, Paige. You're telling her that another woman was harassed right under her nose, and she's bound to deny it at first. "This has been going on for a while without anyone finding out. These guys are smart. They wouldn't do this in front of you."

  "Then when? I'm the one who gives Daisy her check and has her sign for them."

  I sat forward. "Think back, Mary. I'm guessing there were times Daisy had to wait for you to give her the check. Maybe you were in meetings or on the phone. Another person might have called ahead and arranged a time to get the check, but Daisy doesn't always think in those terms."

  Mary looked like I'd slapped her face, and her tone grew deathly quiet. "Why didn't Daisy tell me?"

  "I don't think she's used to working in a big office, so she didn't know what to do. She talked to her friend Angie at the front desk and Angie told her it was a personnel matter and referred her to Gary."

  "Gary said nothing to me." She sounded defeated.

  "That's because Daisy couldn't identify the men. On Thursday, Gary was going to hook up a video camera to record the men so he could identify them."

  Her mouth fell open. "Did he do it?"

  "We don't know. That's why Daisy's all draped across—"

  "Mr. Brooks to marketing," the male voice on the PA system broke in.

  "That's their signal to come check Daisy out," I said and stood. "I've gotta get out there to take a picture."

  Mary jumped to her feet. "I'll go. I know most everyone in this building. And while I'm at it, I'll give them a piece of my mind, too."

  "No," I stepped in front of her. "If they see you, they'll bolt. Let me take the pictures, and then you can look at it and identify them."

  She nodded, and I didn't wait in case she changed her mind. I rushed out to Daisy and heard male laughter drift my way. I made ready to take pictures and rounded the corner armed and dangerous.

  Three men stood
behind a bank of tall file cabinets. Tonya had fled somewhere, and Daisy was still posing as if in a magazine. The more the men commented, the more she shifted around in various poses. I slyly pointed my phone at the voyeurs and snapped a few shots.

  Suddenly, Daisy pushed off the desk and sauntered my way. "Did you get their picture?" she asked loud enough for Angie to hear in the lobby.

  The men, eyes already on Daisy from her parade across the room, caught on and scattered. Our work here was done. As much as Daisy enjoyed catching a killer, she more likely frightened one away.

  "I got the pictures, Daisy. Can you go downstairs and talk with Angie? I have one more thing I need to discuss with your boss."

  "She's not mad at me, is she?"

  "Not at all. She thinks you're really clever to try to catch these men like this."

  Daisy preened from the compliment and strolled away in a more normal gait. I went back to Mary's office. She was standing in the same place I'd left her.

  "Well?" she asked. "Did you catch them?"

  "Three of them," I said and clicked to the best image on my camera.

  "Young punks," Mary spat out. "Why do men think they can get away with stuff like this? Well, I've had my fill of it."

  I took a step back at her vehemence. "You sound as if you speak from experience."

  She nodded. "Not in recent times. In the past. When I was one of the few women in management and before we taught men how to behave civilly at work." She tapped her finger on my camera. "There's no excuse for this today. I'll have their jobs to be sure."

  You go girl! "Do they work for you?"

  "No, but that won't stop me." She strutted over to her desk and whipped a pen out of a holder. She scribbled furiously on paper then repeated the same thing on another sheet. With the first page in hand, she came back to me. "Here are their names."

  "Ah, Mary," I said and took the paper. "I know you're upset, but can you hold off on taking any action until we find out who killed Gary? If you try to get these men fired and one of them killed Gary over this then you'll tip him off and he might run."