Alex Harris 00 - Armed

the diamonds or the murder. She’s done a remarkable job for us. I believe everyone deserves a second chance. And with Richard gone, there’ll be an opening to fill. I’ll keep an eye on her, though, you can count on that.”
    I fidgeted in my seat and, finally finding a comfortable position, asked, “And the museum job? Did you find out, Mr. Poupée, exactly what happened?”
    “Well, Alex, you’re not the only one around here good at figuring things out. In all the excitement I forgot to tell you. I learned that the other firm is in Virginia. Seems Joanne gave them a copy of our proposal. Well, most of it, anyway. Mrs. Scott asked her to makes copies and she conveniently made a copy for herself. Mitch had an interview with this other firm at some point and Joanne went with him. She and the owner started an affair and he promised her a great job if she could help him get a copy of the proposal.”
    “Joanne! Well, I’ll be. So she was just using Mitch.”
    “In a way. She pumped him for information about the design but she planned to bring him along to the other firm once she got her new position,” Mr. Poupée said. “We’ve contacted the museum and the other firm has agreed to withdraw their bid in exchange for our not pressing charges. I told them definitely not. I plan to press charges next week and the museum wants nothing to do with them. I’m also pressing charges against Joanne.”
    “I’ll bet her back problems were fake. She just used that as an excuse to fly down to Virginia and sell the plans, right?”
    “That’s right.” Mr. Poupée stopped, took a deep breath and then continued. “I’ve been an old fool. I never looked around me. Joanne, Richard, Jerry. How could I have been so blind? And Elvira killed.” He shook his head while Dolly reached over and touched his face.
    “Mr. Poupée,” I said, “You can’t take any blame for what happened to Mrs. Scott. You couldn’t have known about Monica. Mrs. Scott didn’t even know at first. And as for the other, maybe next time just don’t give your assistant so much responsibility that you lose contact with your employees. It’ll work out fine. I’ll make sure you get the right person for the job.”
    Mr. Poupée smiled at me and Mom went to make more coffee.

    *****

    The afternoon light faded into night. Everyone, including Dad and Mom, discreetly left John and me alone. Meme gave me a thumbs-up before my mother dragged her back to the kitchen.
    “Alone a last,” John settled next to me on the sofa. “Promise me you’ll never, never take off like that again?” He slipped his arm over the top of the sofa and touched my hair.
    “That’s easy. Before Mrs. Scott, I think the only murder in Indian Cove took place about a hundred and fifty years ago. So I doubt I’ll be around for the next one.”
    “From now on, just leave murder and mayhem to the police.”
    “Yes sir!” I saluted with my left hand.
    “Alex?”
    “If you’re going to ask if you can kiss me, the answer is yes.”
    “No, I wasn’t.”
    I looked dejected. I didn’t know if we’d be able to get past this awkward stage. Had I gotten everything wrong? Was John just a good policeman concerned for a fellow citizen?
    He leaned close to my face and brushed his hand along my cheek. “I wanted to ask if you’re free New Year’s Eve.”