Zeke Forbus was at his desk in the Justice Center writing a report when his intercom buzzed. “I’ve got a caller on line two for a detective who’s working on the Ames investigation,” the receptionist said. “Though he works from sun to sun, a detective’s work is never done.” Forbus sighed. The receptionist laughed. “I’ll take it, Millie.” “Detectives,” Forbus said as soon as he punched line two.
“Ask Arthur Briggs’s secretary what Daniel Ames said when he called her the afternoon her boss was murdered,” a muffled voice said. Then the line went dead.
Zeke Forbus flashed his badge and told the receptionist at Reed, Briggs that he wanted to talk to Renee Gilchrist. Then he took a seat and leafed through a magazine while he waited for Renee to appear. As soon as she walked into the reception area, Forbus remembered her. She was tall and sleek and easily distracted him from the article he had been reading. “Ms. Gilchrist?” Forbus said. When she nodded Forbus showed Renee his identification. Renee looked nervous. “I’m one of the detectives investigating the murder of Arthur Briggs. We spoke right after your boss was killed.” “Oh, yes. I remember.” “Is there someplace quiet where we can talk now?” “There’s a room down the hall that’s not being used.” “That’ll do.” “What’s this about?” Forbus smiled. “Why don’t we get settled first.” As soon as they were inside, Forbus shut the door and motioned Renee into a seat. The room was small and the air close. Forbus moved slowly to the table and took his seat, staring at Renee the whole time and not saying a word. The detective enjoyed using his size to advantage in a situation like this and he felt a surge of pleasure when Renee lowered her eyes. He had intentionally scooted his chair close to her so their knees were almost touching. “After we talked the first time I wrote a report.”
Forbus pulled three folded sheets of paper out of his inside jacket pocket and pushed them across the table. Renee looked at the report nervously but did not reach for it. “Read it,” Forbus ordered. Renee hesitated, then started turning the pages. When she finished she looked at the detective expectantly. “Anything missing?” he asked.
“Missing?” “Yeah. Is there anything that you should have told me that’s not in there?” Renee looked confused. “What do you mean?” “I got a call from someone who thinks you’re concealing information in this investigation.” Renee’s shoulders hunched a little and she looked down at the table. “Ms. Gilchrist, how did you and Daniel Ames get along?” “Okay. Fine.” “Care to elaborate.” “He… We worked together.” “Do you like him?” The question seemed to startle Renee.
“Like him?” she repeated. “Well, I mean, he’s a nice guy, sure.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, Ms. Gilchrist. You two ever date?”
“No! He did a lot of work with Mr. Briggs. I just saw him in the office.” “So you’d have no reason to cover for him, to conceal evidence that would prove he killed your boss?” “Certainly not,” she answered, but there was a tremor in her voice. Forbus smiled. He leaned back and studied Renee. She shifted on her chair. “Then I suppose you have a good reason for not telling me about the phone call you got from Ames on the day your boss was killed?” Renee hesitated.
“Did he call you, Renee?” Forbus demanded, putting emphasis on the secretary’s first name. “Do you understand that it’s a felony to obstruct a police investigation?” Renee’s eyes dropped and she fidgeted in her seat. “I’m gonna ask you once more: Did you get a call from Daniel Ames on the day Arthur Briggs was killed?” “Yes,” Renee answered, her voice barely above a whisper. “Good, Renee. You just took the first step toward staying out of jail. Step two is to tell me what Ames said.”