Harold opened the door of the limo, and Frank hopped out.
“Thanks, Harold. I’ll let Ms. Pearson know when I’m ready to return to the hotel.”
“Okay, Mr. Williams.”
Frank walked up the steps and opened the door.
When Ms. Pearson saw him enter the building, she smiled and said, “Good morning, Mr. Williams.”
“Good morning, Ms. Pearson.” He went to her desk. “Tell me something, Ms. Pearson. Do you know Sharon Cooper?”
“Yes, I do. Why?”
“Do you know if she was seeing anyone when she worked here?”
“Yes, she was.” Ms. Pearson appeared curious.
“Do you know who it was?”
Ms. Pearson nodded. “Martin Roberts, why?”
He remembered the name. “Do you know where he lives?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Thanks. Will you ask Mr. Holmes to come to my father’s office?”
She nodded and replied, “Yes, Mr. Williams.”
He went to his father’s office and sat in the chair behind the desk.
A few minutes later Holmes knocked lightly on the door and entered. When he saw Williams, he smiled.
“Hello, Wendell. Please, sit down,” Frank said.
Holmes sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. “I understand you wanted to see me?”
“Yes. I’d like to learn more about Martin Roberts.”
“Okay. What would you like to know?”
“Well, you mentioned he used to work in accounting,” Frank said.
“That’s correct. He left about two years ago. As I mentioned yesterday afternoon, Ms. Cooper used to date Roberts a long time ago—at least, that’s my understanding. I was introduced to him a day or two after I started working here, but I didn’t see him very often primarily because his office was on a different floor. Anyway, I was on my way out of the building one evening and I noticed Ms. Cooper was still at her desk. A dark-haired man with his back turned toward me was sitting in front of it. I commented about her working late, and she asked if I had met Martin Roberts? The dark-haired man turned in his chair. I looked at him and recognized the face. I nodded to her. Then Roberts and I started talking. I guess we talked about five or ten minutes. I guess they had a date or something. Why?”
“Just wondering.”
Holmes digested the information. “Do you think he had something to do with your father’s murder?”
“That’s what I intend to find out.”
Holmes shook his head. “Why would he have waited so long? Ms. Cooper left Chicago months ago.”
“So he wouldn’t be a suspect,” Frank offered.
Holmes considered Frank’s statement. “I’m sorry, Mr. Williams, but I don’t believe the guy I met could kill anyone,” he finally said.
“Why?”
“Why would he?”
“Because he was in love with Ms. Cooper,” Frank replied, “and thought she was involved with my father.”
Holmes sat there, his eyes blinking, but he didn’t say anything.
“You think I’m wrong, don’t you?” Frank asked.
Holmes nodded. “Yes. Besides, you don’t know that he was in love with her.”
“Good point, but I have to find out.”
“I understand. Is there anything else? I should get back to my office.” Holmes wasn’t interested in answering questions about Ms. Cooper and Martin Roberts. He knew Ms. Cooper. And he had met Martin Roberts. As far as he was concerned they couldn’t be involved in Mr. Williams’s death.
“No. That’s all, Wendell.”
Frank watched Holmes leave and then looked momentarily around the office. Finally, he opened a drawer and found a pad of paper and a pen. He wrote:
*Martin Roberts dated Sharon Cooper.
*Was Sharon Cooper involved in my father’s murder?
*Was Martin Roberts?
He read what he had written and tore the sheet of paper from the pad. Then he tore the piece of paper into tiny pieces and threw them into the trash basket that was beside the desk. He realized he had not asked Ms. Pearson if Sharon Cooper and Martin Roberts had stopped dating before she left the company and Chicago. He picked up the receiver and pressed the number for Ms. Pearson.
“Yes, Mr. Williams?”
“Ms. Pearson, do you know if Sharon Cooper had stopped seeing Martin Roberts days or weeks before she left Chicago?”
“To be honest, Mr. Williams, I don’t know.”
“Thanks.”
He had just put down the receiver when the phone rang. He picked it up. “Frank Williams speaking.”
“Mr. Williams, it’s Holmes. Although the secretary that handles personnel files is off today, Ms. Pearson should be able to find the file for Martin Roberts—that is, if it wasn’t destroyed.”
“Destroyed?”
“Yes. We had a fairly new secretary who destroyed several personnel files. Of course, she had been told that she was not supposed to shred any personnel files, but she did. Although she was assigned to another job, she was not very good at it, so we had to let her go.”
“I understand.”
“Anyway, if Ms. Pearson can find the file, she may be able to provide his phone number and address. Of course, neither may be correct now.”
“Thanks. I’ll ask her.” He ended the call and then punched the number for Ms. Pearson. When she answered, he asked her to search for Martin Roberts’s personnel file. She informed him that it may take several minutes—that is, if his folder had not been destroyed. Frank realized the employee’s mistake apparently had become common knowledge throughout the building. He instructed Ms. Pearson to bring the folder to his office—that is, if she found it. Then he put down the receiver and patiently waited.
Several minutes later Ms. Pearson appeared at the office. “Mr. Williams, I found the folder for Mr. Roberts. Since you had asked about his address, I printed it and his phone number on a sheet of paper. You’ll find it when you open the folder.” She handed the folder to him.
“Thank you, Ms. Pearson,” he said as he looked at the folder.
“You’re welcome.” Then she left the office and closed the door behind her.
Frank opened the folder and noticed the sheet of paper, which he put aside on the desk. Then he read the sheets in the folder. Roberts had a bachelor’s and a master’s in accounting. He had been an excellent employee based on his performance evaluations. Frank was impressed. When he finished, he closed the folder and put it aside.
He looked at his watch. It was almost noon. Although he assumed Roberts would be at work, still, he had nothing to lose. He picked up the receiver and pressed the number for Ms. Pearson.
“Yes, Mr. Williams?” she asked.
“Ms. Pearson, I need to call someone outside the building. What number do I punch?”
“Press nine, Mr. Williams, and you’ll hear a dial tone. Then punch in the person’s number.”
“Thank you, Ms. Pearson.” Frank put down the receiver. He thought about what he would say to Martin Roberts. Then he picked up the receiver again and pressed nine, followed by the number that Ms. Pearson had printed on the sheet of paper.
Frank was about to put down the receiver after the fourth ring.
“Hello,” a masculine voice said.
“Mr. Roberts, Mr. Martin Roberts?”
“Yes, who is this?”
“This is Frank Williams. I’m with the Williams Trucking Company. I believe you used to be employed here.”
“That’s right.”
“Well, I’d like to talk to you about a possible opening—that is, if you’re interested?”
“I’m on vacation this week, Mr. Williams,” Roberts said.
Frank thought he detected annoyance in Roberts’s voice. “Well, I may make it worth your while. What do you have to lose by discussing it?”
Roberts didn’t respond.
“Are you there, Mr. Roberts?”
“Yes. All right. When would be a good time?”
“How about four this afternoon, at the company?”
“Okay.”
“I’ll inform Ms. Pearson. She’ll show you to my office.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Thank you.”