three

The cry had come from the litigation section. Coffee forgotten, I ran back down the hall and sensed rather than heard David’s footsteps behind me. Inside the central room, the door to Jack Harding’s office stood open. Dani was standing next to her desk, staring at the open door. A man I recognized as Roger Wilkinson came to his doorway, a puzzled look on his face. I maneuvered around them and stepped through the door to Jack’s office. A girl, not much more than high school age, her blonde hair in a ponytail, stood frozen in the center of the room. A sickly odor filled the air. Jack’s body was slumped over the desk, a letter opener jutting from his neck. Scattered papers were pinned beneath him. Blood spatter marked the framed diplomas on the wall. Jack Harding was very dead.

The only sound now was the quiet moaning of the young woman. The files she’d been delivering had fallen to the floor. I fought against the feeling welling up from my insides and grasped her shoulders, turning her around to lead her out of the room. David stepped back from the doorway as I led her out. Nora and Roger and the two secretaries, now pressing in to see, made way for us.

“Yvonne,” David said, “are you all right?” The copy clerk raised her eyes to him and opened her mouth but couldn’t speak. David’s face was pale. He took one step inside the corner office, then backed out. “I’ll call the police.” He turned to face the others. “We should all get out of here and wait in the lounge.”

“What?” Roger said. “I can’t possibly …”

“I’m sorry. I want everyone out.”

“Is he dead?”

“Yes.”

Yvonne’s weight pressed against me. She was threatening to sink to the floor. Dani rushed forward and together we half-walked the girl down the hall to the small couch in the staff lounge. We helped her into a sitting position and covered her with a blanket from the emergency supply cabinet.

“She’s in shock.” Dani placed a hand on Yvonne’s forehead. “We might need paramedics too.”

“Good idea.” I hurried after David. He’d picked up Muriel’s phone and was describing our plight to the 911 operator. I whispered, “Paramedics too.” He nodded in response. He relayed the request and replaced the phone in its cradle. He turned to me. “What the hell, Julia …”

We heard a shout from the corridor. “What’s going on? Where is everybody?”

David groaned. “That’s Ira. Let’s get back.” Roger was explaining the discovery of Jack’s body to the new arrival as we entered the lounge.

Ira’s gray hair straggled over his collar and a smudge of blue ink marred the pocket of his shirt. He turned and stared at Yvonne. “What’s wrong with her?” No one answered.

“We need to lock the litigation section.” David slipped a single key on a small metal ring out of his pocket. He handed it to me. “Julia, go lock the main door. Then call down to the reception desk and tell them to advise everyone in the firm that this floor is off limits.” He turned to the others. “Anyone expecting a client to arrive?” He was greeted with silence. “Okay, good. Then we’ll all stay here while we wait for the police.”

“I need my purse and things,” Nora whined. “Dani, can you gather up my things? I can’t possibly go in there now.”

Dani stared at her boss. “You can’t go back to your office, but it’s okay for me?” She shook her head and sighed.

“What’s the matter, Nora? Since when are you so sensitive?” Ira snickered. Nora narrowed her eyes, skewering him with a look that could have shriveled a wild boar.

David ignored the exchange. “Your personal belongings are safe in there. You can get them later. I don’t want anyone touching a thing until the police arrive.”

I took the key from David’s hand and walked the length of the corridor. My knees were wobbling and my hands were shaking so badly I could hardly fit the key into the lock. When Jack Harding was alive, I’d made sure to avoid him. Now I had absolutely no intention of opening that other door and going near his body. I managed to get the department door locked on the third try and returned to the lounge.

Yvonne’s complexion had taken on a gray sheen. I sat next to her and took her hand. “You’re safe. You won’t be left alone. I promise.” Yvonne turned to face me and nodded silently. Dani perched on the edge of the couch next to the young girl and put an arm around her shoulder.

Nora was pacing back and forth in front of one of the windows. “Somebody give me a cigarette,” she demanded. “I feel sick.” She sat down at the opposite end of the sofa from Yvonne, holding her head between her hands.

“No smoking here, Nora,” Roger remarked in a judgmental tone. He pursed his lips. “Although you do have the distinction of being the last of the dinosaurs, someone who still smokes at the office.”

“Oh, give me a break. Who would care? Dani …?”

“What?”

“Do you have a smoke?”

“Yeah.” Dani reached into her pants pocket and passed a cigarette and lighter to Nora. She smiled at Roger. “I guess Nora’s not the last.”

“David, this is ridiculous,” Ira grumbled. “You’re treating us like criminals.”

“No, I’m not,” David replied. “All of you need to settle down. It’s very important we stay together and don’t touch anything in Jack’s office or the central room. You can stay here or you’re welcome to use my office. But we wait.”

Roger had slumped into a plastic chair, his legs stretched in front of him. He was immaculately dressed in a gray suit, coordinated shirt, and a striped tie. His dark hair was touched with silver. He looked less upset than annoyed. Karen, the other secretary, sat at a table near the coffee machine fidgeting with her hair. Her complexion was pasty, the color of uncooked dough.

I caught Ira staring at me. “Who do we have here?” he asked with a suggestive smile.

“This is Julia,” David answered. “You remember her, don’t you?”

“Obviously not well enough,” he leered, exposing a mouthful of stained teeth. I ignored him.

“Why don’t you just shut it, Ira,” Nora huffed. She began to pace again, then stopped and turned to Dani. “Where’s Suzanne? Why isn’t she here?”

“She isn’t in,” Dani responded. “Look, I don’t know about anybody else, but I need coffee. I’ll make a few cups. I’m sure we can all use some.”

The young copy girl started to rock back and forth and cry in spite of Dani’s moral support. Ira glanced at her. “Can someone get her to be quiet?”

Dani frowned. “Can someone grow you a heart? She just found Jack dead, for chrissakes.” Ira’s head jerked back as if Dani had slapped his face. Nora observed the exchange between the two and smiled coldly.

The elevator doors dinged and we heard a commotion in the hallway. David left the lounge and walked toward the elevator bank. We heard him greeting the new arrivals. He reappeared in the doorway followed by two men. The older detective was short and stout with fair hair. The younger man wore a brown tweed jacket and dark rimmed eyeglasses. He looked like he’d been abducted from a high school chemistry class.

The shorter man spoke. “Good morning. I’m Sergeant Ralph Sullivan. This is Officer Nick Ray. We’re with the Homicide Division of the San Francisco Police Department.” They held up their badges with the seven-pointed star of the SFPD. “We’ll talk to each of you individually and take a more formal statement within the next few days. Please be sure you are available to us if need be.” The sergeant turned to David. “I understand everyone here works on the 41st floor?”

“Yes,” David replied. “It’s only the litigation section on this floor. The rest of our offices are on the 40th. I’ve asked the reception desk to keep anyone from coming up on the elevator. The man who …” David took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. “My partner, Jack Harding … he’s been murdered.” David’s complexion paled. He turned to me. “Julia, you have the key?” I passed it back to him. He turned away and led the detectives down the hallway to Jack’s office, returning a few minutes later. “The detectives will take each of you into my office to take your statements. I’m closing the firm early and I want everyone to leave here as soon as we’re done. You’ll be allowed to collect your personal belongings under supervision and if you’d like help getting home, I’d be happy to call a taxi service.” He looked around the room. “Could someone notify the answering service? Julia, if you don’t mind, I could use your help for a short while until all this is done.”

Karen looked up quickly. “I can stay and help too.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that, Karen, but I think we’ll be fine,” David replied.

“Okay then.” She smiled, patting her forehead with a napkin. I wondered if she was actually taking everything in.

Sergeant Sullivan reappeared in the doorway. “I’ll speak with whoever discovered the body first and then each of you one by one. After that, you’re free to go. My officers will assist you in removing any personal items.”

Yvonne attempted to stand. “That would be me. I found him.” Dani helped her to her feet and watched silently as Yvonne was escorted down the hall to David’s office.

When they’d cleared the doorway, Nora said, “Christ, what a mess. I’d say Jack got exactly what was coming to him.” Roger laughed mirthlessly in response.

I caught David’s eye. He returned my look with something that said, Later.