Not much work got done around the offices of Global Human Rights that day. Daisy was glad when five o’clock came and she could go home, though she knew the evening would bring more of the same--uncertainty, confusion, and a general feeling of foreboding. She wondered what would happen at Global Human Rights if the editor-in-chief was embroiled in a murder investigation. She supposed Jude would take control, at least temporarily.
Over the next couple days Jude managed to rally somewhat and took over the day-to-day basics of Mark John’s responsibilities around the office. She was in frequent contact with him with questions and issues that cropped up.
Daisy had put her Library of Congress research on hold until things calmed down at Global Human Rights. She did as much online research as she could, but spent a good deal of time helping Jude with different tasks of running the journal.
She was sitting on the sofa reading Thursday evening when the phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, saw that it was Grover, and picked it up with a smile.
“Hello?”
“Hi. It’s Grover.” His voice sounded strangled and tight.
“Grover? Is everything all right?”
“No. I need your help.”
Clutching the phone in a vice grip, Daisy was immediately on alert. “Sure. What’s wrong?”
“Remember I stayed to get the money from Walt last Thursday night after the retirement party?”
“Yes.”
“Well, he talked to his friend for so long that evening--you know, the guy you knew from your office?”
“Yes. Brian Comstock.”
“Anyway, they talked for so long that Walt asked me if I could come over to his house to get the money sometime this week.”
“Is that normal?” Daisy asked.
“Sometimes. If the host is too busy to pay me, I arrange a time to get the money later.”
“Okay.”
“I went over there around five this afternoon to get the money.”
“Okay. I don’t understand what’s going on here. Why do you need my help?” Then Daisy had an awful thought. “Don’t tell me he refused to pay you.”
“I got the money. But Walt was murdered after I left. I was the last person to see him alive. The police have been here to talk to me, Daisy.”