It was almost 10:30 by the time I got into the office. When I opened the door, Carla just hesitated long enough to let me know she was timing me. "You know, I'm not paying you for this unexcused lateness."
"You don't pay for any unexcused lateness anyway."
"I'm just kidding, boss."
"I know, so am I." I walked over to Carla and gave her a quick kiss.
"Hey, no you don't. Come back here." Carla grabbed me by my belt and yanked me back to her. She stood up, wrapped her arms around me and gave me a big kiss.
"There, that's better!"
"Yeah! That was better. Let me try this again." I walked back out into the hallway and closed the door. I reopened the door, Carla hesitated as before, but this time I didn't give her a chance. "Good morning Schweetheart." I walked over to her, picked her up from her chair, wrapped my arms around her and dipped her backwards as I kissed her, just like a romantic kiss in an old detective movie.
"Wow! Now that's more like it!"
"Any calls?"
"Oh yeah! Mrs. Armacost called, would like you to call her when you get in. Holly Armacost called a little while ago, apologized that she missed your call last night, and said to call her when you get the chance. And there were two messages from old clients, just keeping in touch. Oh yeah! David Schmidt wants you to call him after 12, and Sergeant McNally at homicide wants you to call him when you can."
And imagine, she did all of that from memory. Holly, being inexperienced at this, sure knows how to play. That was a good move on her part, just in case Carla had any ideas about her and me.
I went into my office and there were the notes just as Carla had told me. I called Sergeant McNally first. He was just checking to see if I knew anything about a body found in the city last night. He thought it may have been a missing person where their family may have contacted me. Nope, I could account for all of the missing persons cases I had recently worked. I couldn't bail him out on this one.
Then I called Teresa Armacost. She told me that Benjamin came home around 8:00 last night. "He claims he was at a sports bar."
"He was at a sports bar."
"He was?"
"Yes, he was. I saw him there. He was there with a few people from his office. He even saw me."
"Were you following him?"
"Well sort of, but in a very inconspicuous way. I was sitting at the bar a couple seats from your daughter..."
"Holly?"
"Yes, Holly. He was talking to her and recognized me. He just said hello and introduced me to your daughter. That was it. She's a very cute girl."
"What was Holly doing there?"
"I heard her say something about meeting a couple friends from school."
"She didn't come home last night. When I got worried, Ben said she was staying at Sharon's. That's a friend of hers at school. She stays there sometimes."
"Yeah, Sharon. That's the name she mentioned to Benjamin."
"Oh. I guess everything is okay then."
"Did he go out last night at all? I mean, like, to the garage?"
"Come to think of it, when he took the trash out, he took a while."
"What time was that?"
"I think it was around 9 or 9:30."
Gee, I wonder what time David Schmidt got home last night. "Okay, Teresa, I'll be watching him. Is everything still set for Friday night?"
"Friday night? Tomorrow? Why, yes, it is. How did you know about tomorrow night?"
"I didn't know it was a secret."
"It isn't. I just sort of forgot to tell you about it."
"Okay, then. As long as everything is good to go."
"Yes, but how did you find out about it?"
"That's my job Teresa. I have to know those things."
"I'm sorry, Mick. I really forgot about it. Are you going to be there?"
"Of course. But under no circumstance let on that you know me."
"How are you going to be there?"
"I'll be driving someone there. Make sure the drivers get taken care of, okay? It will give me an excuse to mix in with some of the other, more privileged folks."
"Oh, I can make sure you are taken care of."
"Just remember, Benjamin can recognize me. As far as he's concerned, I'm just playing driver Friday night."
"Okay. I don't know you."
"That's right. Just treat me like any of the other chauffeurs."
"You'll probably be the only one."
"I doubt it. Unless something happens between now and then, I'll see you tomorrow night."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow."
I hung up and immediately dialed David Schmidt's office.
The secretary answered. I could tell it was the same one that greeted us yesterday.