Part 37 (2/2)
”I'll let you get that shower.” She bent down for her briefcase.
”Will you let me know what happens when you talk to Clarence?”
”Sure. I'll be in touch.”
”I'm going to plan on getting home early,” she said as she headed for the door.
”Good plan,” he murmured when the door shut behind her. Third time, h.e.l.l, he thought. He'd drowned days ago, and hadn't even noticed.
Natalie arrived at work with a spring in her step, and called a staff meeting. By ten she was seated at the head of the table in the boardroom, her department heads lining both sides of the polished mahogany.
”I'm pleased to announce that the national grand opening of Lady's Choice will remain, as scheduled, for this coming Sat.u.r.day.”
As expected, there were polite applause and congratulatory murmurs.
”I'd like to take this opportunity,” she continued, ”to thank you all for your hard work and dedication. Launching a new company of this size takes teamwork, long hours, and constant innovation. I'm grateful to all of you for giving me your best. I particularly appreciate all of your help in the past couple of weeks, when the company faced such unexpected difficulties.”
She waited until the murmurs about the fires had died down.
”I'm aware that our budget is stretched, but I'm also aware that we wouldn't be on schedule without the extra effort each one of you, and your staff, have given. Therefore, Lady's Choice is pleased to present bonuses to each and every employee on the first of next month.”
This announcement was greeted with a great deal of enthusiasm. Only Deirdre winced and rolled her eyes. Natalie flashed a grin at her that held more pleasure than apology.
”We still have a great deal of work ahead of us,” Natalie went on.
”I'm sure Deirdre will tell you that I've given her an enormous headache, rather than a bonus.” Natalie waited for the laughter to subside. ”I have faith in her, and in Lady's Choice warranting it. In addition...” She paused, the smile still in place, her gaze sweeping from face to face. ”I want to ease everyone's mind. Last night the arsonist was apprehended. He's now in police custody.”
There was applause, a barrage of questions. Natalie sat with her hands folded on the table, watching for, waiting for, some sign that would tell her if one of the people sitting with her had begun to sweat.
”I don't have all the details,” she said, holding up a hand for quiet.
”Only that Inspector Piasecki apprehended the man outside our plant. I expect a full report within forty-eight hours. In the meantime, we can all thank the diligence of the fire and police departments, and get on with our jobs.”
”Was there a fire at the plant?” Donald wanted to know. ”Was anything damaged?”
”No. I do know that the suspect was caught before he entered the building.”
”Are they sure it's the same one who started the fires at the warehouse and the flags.h.i.+p?” Brow furrowed, Melvin tugged at his bow tie.
Natalie smiled. ”As a sister of a police captain, I'm certain the authorities won't make a statement like that until they have absolute proof. But that's the way it looks.”
”Who is he?” Donald demanded. ”Why did he do it?”
”Again, I don't have all the details. He's a known arsonist. A professional, I believe. I'm sure the motive will come to light before too long.”
Ry wasn't nearly as certain. By noon, he'd been with Jacoby for an hour, covering the same ground. The interrogation room was typically dull. Beige walls, beige linoleum, the wide mirror that everyone knew was two-way gla.s.s. He sat on a rock-hard chair, leaning against the single table, smoking lazily, while Clarence grinned and toyed with his own fingers.
”You know they're going to lock the door on you, Clarence,” Ry said. ”By the time you get out this round, you'll be so old, you won't be able to light a match by yourself.”
Clarence grinned and shrugged his shoulders. ”I didn't hurt n.o.body. I never hurt n.o.body.” He looked up then, his small, pale eyes friendly. ”You know, some people like to burn other people.
You know that, don't you, Ry?”
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