Trudy's Diary Page 3

  Daisy sat down and opened her notebook. As much as she loved her computer, she couldn’t give up her real paper and pencils.

  “What do you have in mind?” Mark John asked, finally turning around and sitting down at his desk.

  Daisy spent several minutes fleshing out some of the ideas she had jotted down for the articles. Mark John seemed to like the direction she wanted to take, and she was thrilled because her approach was going to require a lot of research. That was her favorite part of the job.

  “I’m sorry about earlier,” Mark John said as Daisy stood up to leave. “It’s been a long morning.”

  Part of Daisy wanted to ask what was going on, but part of her was pretty sure she’d hear more than she wanted to know.

  It wasn’t long before her hunch was confirmed.

  Chapter 8

  Jude came into Daisy’s office about mid-morning and perched on the edge of Daisy’s desk.

  “What are you working on?” she asked.

  “An assignment,” Daisy replied tersely. It was none of Jude’s business, and she knew it would annoy Jude if she refused to give any information about it. “I’ve got a deadline, so if you don’t mind telling me what you need…”

  “All right. I was wondering if you’d like to go out for lunch today.”

  Now she had Daisy’s attention. “You want to go out for lunch with me?” she asked, not sure she had heard Jude correctly.

  “Yes. My treat. I thought we should get to know each other a little better.” Strange, waiting until Daisy had worked at GHR for so long to seek to get to know her better, but Daisy agreed, curious about Jude’s motives.

  “We can go to lunch, but only if I’m able to get this article written,” she said, hoping Jude would take the hint. She did. After telling Daisy she’d come by at one o’clock, Jude left, closing the door behind her. She didn’t mention Mark John’s earlier behavior, but Daisy figured she would learn more at lunch.

  She was able to get right back into the paragraph she had been writing when Jude interrupted, choosing to focus solely on her work rather than the odd conversation that had just taken place.

  But as lunchtime grew closer and her stomach started growling, Daisy’s thought began to turn toward lunch with Jude. She put a few finishing touches on her document, hit “send,” and cleaned up her desk, wondering all the while what was behind Jude’s seemingly innocent invitation. It was unlike her to seek to spend any time with Daisy outside the office, and the request to have lunch together had come out of nowhere. Come to think of it, I have no idea what Jude does for lunch every day. I don’t know where she lives or what she drives or what she likes and doesn’t like. I only know that she’s the senior editor because she doesn’t let me forget it.

  Promptly at one o’clock Jude opened Daisy’s door. “Ready?” she asked brightly.

  Daisy grabbed her canvas tote bag and slung it over her shoulder. Jude glanced at the bag but said nothing as she tucked her petite designer clutch under her arm. Daisy generally liked being tall because it made her feel powerful and confident, but next to Jude as they walked to lunch she felt frumpy, gangly, and underdressed.

  When they reached the restaurant Jude had chosen, a doorman ushered them inside, where a cool, dark space provided a quiet, refined destination for diners who lunched on elegant entrées and sipped sparkling water or stronger libations. Daisy would have been happier with a visit to the Pita Palace and an iced tea, but this would have to do. She sat down across from Jude, wondering where the conversation would lead. Clearly Jude intended it to go somewhere.

  But the niceties came first as they ordered from a small but expensive menu and the server laid napkins across their laps. Daisy couldn’t help but reach for hers to do it herself as the server’s hand came across her torso.

  Once they had ordered, Jude gazed around at the other diners as if looking for someone she might recognize. This was definitely the type of place where one would go to see and be seen. Finally Daisy could stand it no longer.

  “Jude, this lunch invitation was unexpected. Is there something you wanted to talk about?”

  “Actually, yes. I was serious when I said we should get to know each other better, but it’s more than that. I wanted to talk to you in private about Mark John.”

  Ah, now the truth comes out, Daisy thought. She hid her smile as she raised a glass of water to her lips.

  “What, specifically, would you like to discuss about Mark John?”

  Jude sighed. “I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I wanted to reiterate that you should probably look to spend less time with Mark John while you’re at work. It’s rather unseemly, to be honest.”

  “Unseemly how?”

  “You don’t want to be giving anyone the impression that you’re, shall we say, interested in Mark John for reasons that have nothing to do with work.”

  “You mean like I’ve got romantic feelings for him?”

  Jude shifted in her chair and looked around the room again. “Yes. That’s exactly what I mean. Do you have romantic feelings for him?” Jude turned an intent gaze on Daisy. Daisy almost laughed out loud.

  “No, I can assure you of that. I have no romantic feelings for him whatsoever.” She was surprised when Jude tilted her head and gave her a confused look.

  “May I ask why not? I mean, he’s certainly attractive. And smart.”

  It was Daisy’s turn to tilt her head and stare at Jude for a moment. “So now you’re wondering why I don’t have feelings for Mark John? I’m afraid I don’t really understand where this is going.”

  “I just mean that in my opinion Mark John would hold a certain appeal for any woman. Don’t you agree?” Daisy took her time before answering. Something was beginning to dawn on her--something she should have seen before now.

  Jude had feelings for Mark John. Suddenly Daisy recalled the looks Jude gave him at work. The smiles, the flirtatious eyelash-batting, the eagerness to please him.

  Now this conversation was beginning to make a little more sense. Jude was both jealous and insecure in her feelings; she was wondering if there was something about Mark John that other women didn’t find attractive. She was the type, thought Daisy, who would fall for someone just because every other woman wanted him. If someone didn’t want him, Jude would naturally want to know if there was something she was missing.

  “Oh, he’s definitely attractive,” Daisy replied after several moments. “It’s just that I have no interest in men whatsoever at this point.”

  “Are you a lesbian?” Jude asked. Daisy was glad the food hadn’t come yet because she would have choked over the extremely personal nature of the question.

  “No, Jude. I’m not, though I can’t think how that might be any business of yours. I’m just not interested right now. I love my work and that’s enough for me.” Jude gave Daisy a bewildered look as Daisy sat back to allow the server to place her lunch in front of her.

  When he had slipped away, Daisy picked up her fork, then put it down again. “Jude, I think it’s time we come clean with each other about everything. If we’re going to continue working together we should not keep workplace secrets from each other.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I think you have feelings for Mark John. I’ve seen how you look at him. It’s obvious that you like him, and I’m embarrassed to think I didn’t realize it before now. So don’t worry about me. I am completely uninterested in workplace romance, and whatever you and Mark John choose to do is your own business. But I also want you to understand that I don’t appreciate being interrogated over my feelings about my boss. It makes me feel uncomfortable and it’s just plain weird.”

  Jude’s shoulders relaxed as she took a sip of her drink. “I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m very sensitive about my feelings for Mark John.”

  “Well, if you’re worried about me trying to compete against you for his affection, you can cross that off your list.” Daisy s
miled. Jude actually looked like she was beginning to relax. Maybe she should give some thought to Mark John’s marital status, though, thought Daisy.

  “Do you feel better now that everything is in the open between us? I know I do,” Daisy said.

  “Yes, I do feel better,” Jude admitted, a sheepish look replacing her smile. “Thanks for understanding.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. Just keep me out of it,” Daisy said.

  “I will, I promise.”

  For the next several minutes the two women ate lunch, talking only about the food and the decor of the restaurant. All the while, though, questions were swirling in Daisy’s mind and finally her curiosity took over.

  “How do you feel about Mark John being married?”

  Jude set her fork down slowly. She didn’t answer right away, though she stared at Daisy, almost inviting a challenge.

  “I’m not all that concerned.”

  Daisy decided to change the subject. “Was Mark John okay when he came in this morning?” she asked.

  Again, Jude was silent for several moments before answering. Finally, after folding her napkin and placing it in a tidy square on the table next to her, she spoke.

  “He found out his wife is having an affair.”

  Since noticing the picture of Fiona was missing in Mark John’s office and given his behavior, Daisy had harbored a hunch that he had somehow found out. Her secret about Fiona was apparently no longer a secret.

  “How did he find out?” Daisy asked.

  “Fiona’s lover called him and told him,” Jude said, toying with her spoon. Daisy raised her eyebrows, inviting further explanation, but none was forthcoming. She figured it might be wise to stop asking questions.

  The meal, which had started on an uncomfortable note, had come full circle. Jude signaled for the bill and paid it, quickly scrawling her name on the credit card receipt while Daisy waited, noticing with a glance that Jude was a stingy tipper. When the elegant senior editor of Global Human Rights Journal preceded Daisy out the door, Daisy took a ten dollar bill from her tote bag and placed it on the table next to the receipt. Outside, Jude told Daisy that she had to run to the drugstore before returning to work and headed in the opposite direction. Daisy was sure Jude simply wanted to walk back to work alone.

  When Jude returned to the office, she closed her door and didn’t emerge before Daisy left for the evening. Daisy was not disappointed--she hoped Tuesday would be a better day.

  It wasn’t.

  Chapter 9

  When Daisy got to work Tuesday morning the thing she noticed first was the silence. The lights were on and she could smell coffee, but she didn’t hear the tap-tap-tap of the receptionist’s computer, she didn’t hear the sound of printers or copy machines or phones. No one sat at the reception desk. Jude’s office door was closed and Mark John’s stood open with the lights off.

  She went to her own office and turned on her computer, then went to the kitchen. The receptionist and Mark John’s office assistant sat huddled together at the small table.

  “What’s going on?” Daisy asked. “It’s so quiet in here this morning.”

  Both women looked up at Daisy, their faces grim. “You should probably go talk to Jude,” the receptionist said.

  “What’s going on?” Daisy asked again, this time a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice.

  The women exchanged glances, but said nothing.

  Daisy turned around and headed straight for Jude’s office. When Jude called for her to come in, Daisy opened the door tentatively, as if she were afraid of what she might find on the other side.

  Jude sat at her desk, the heels of her hands pressed to her eyes. When she lifted her head up, her eyes were wide and her mascara smudged. She was ashen and her hands shook.

  “Jude, what’s happening?”

  “Mark John’s wife was murdered last night,” she said in a flat voice.

  Daisy inhaled sharply and fell into the seat in front of Jude’s desk.

  “What--I mean, how did it happen?”

  “Someone came into the house and slit her throat. Mark John had been in the office all evening and found her, already dead, when he got home.”

  “Do the police know who did it?”

  Jude shook her head, letting out a shaky breath. “They don’t know. They’re investigating, obviously.”

  “Where’s Mark John? How’s he doing? And what was he doing here last night?”

  “He’s at Brian’s house. You know, Fiona’s brother. The one who’s always coming around here with stuff for Mark John. And Mark John is not doing well, as you might expect. He was here because we were working on a new layout for the journal.”

  “So you were both here last night?”

  Jude nodded.

  “When did you find out about Fiona?” Daisy asked.

  “Early this morning. He said he won’t be coming in for a few days.”

  “Do the police know when it happened?” Daisy asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “How late were you here last night?”

  “I left before Mark John. I was here until about seven, but I think he was here until after eleven.”

  Daisy closed her eyes. “Have the police talked to you yet?”

  “No.”

  “They will--just give them time.”

  “How do you know that?” Jude asked.

  “Unfortunately, I know what it’s like to be part of a murder investigation because I was the suspect in my old boyfriend’s death.”

  Jude gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

  “You had a boyfriend?” Daisy looked at her with a mixture of disbelief and disgust.

  “Yes, though that’s not really the point here, is it?”

  “No. I’m sorry. I mean, that’s terrible. What happened?”

  “I don’t really want to discuss it. But it was an accident and eventually a witness came forward who could corroborate the whole thing.”

  “How did he die?”

  “I’m not going to talk about it any more.”

  “Sorry. That must have been awful.”

  “It was. You know Mark John is going to be a suspect, right?”

  Jude let out a tortured sigh and her shoulders slumped. She looked so unlike the Jude Daisy knew.

  “I know.” She covered her face with her hands.

  “What do you think is going to happen?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. Hopefully they’ll find who did it and Mark John will be off the hook.”

  “There have been those burglaries in Mark John’s neighborhood lately--maybe this was a burglary that went wrong.”

  “Was anything stolen from the house?”

  “I don’t know. Mark John didn’t say.”

  Jude’s phone rang and she picked it up in a flash.

  “Hello?”

  She covered the mouthpiece with her hand. “It’s Mark John,” she whispered to Daisy.

  Daisy made a hand motion asking if Jude wanted her to leave. Jude shook her head no.

  After a few moments Jude hung up.

  “How’s he doing?” Daisy asked.

  “He’s coming into the office for a few files, then he’s going back to Brian’s house to stay for a few days. The police aren’t letting him in his house right now. He sounds awful.”

  Daisy stood up to leave. “I’ll be in my office if you need anything.”

  Before she went into the hallway, Jude spoke again.

  “Daisy?”

  “Yes?”

  “We have to help him. Will you help me clear his name?”

  “I’ll do what I can, Jude. But I’m no detective.”

  “I know, but we can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

  “I’ll help,” Daisy promised.

  Jude nodded her thanks and Daisy left.

  Once in her own office, she couldn’t concentrate. She knew what was in store for Mark John, and she knew the coming days and weeks were going to be st
ressful, painful, and otherwise miserable. And as for helping find Fiona’s killer, it seemed that the police were in a far better position to do that. But she had promised, so now she had to do something.

  When Mark John arrived a short while later, he went straight to his office, closed the door, and didn’t come out for about an hour. Jude went in to see him after a few minutes; when Daisy went to the kitchen for a bottle of water, she could hear their low voices. She couldn’t make out what they were saying.

  Chapter 10

  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?”