7: Time-Share Secretary
The opaque glass door to the outer office bore the words LAW OFFICES. Strange. Lorna said Harry Gould was so proud to have his own practice, yet he hadn’t printed his name on the door.
DeeDee opened the generic door on a small waiting room, empty except for a remarkably attractive girl working at a console. Her nameplate read Hyacinth Owens. If it had read Delilah, temples might have fallen.
“Hi, I’m DeeDee Byerly. Are you Mr. Gould’s secretary?”
The young woman seemed flustered. “Well, yes, I guess I am.”
DeeDee smiled her best and handed her a dozen red roses wrapped in green tissue. “These are for you, then, with my condolences. Harry’s death was such a tragic loss.”
Hyacinth Owens might have been Herod receiving the head from Salome, another redhead. “I–I don’t…know what…to say.”
For a moment DeeDee thought the girl wasn’t going to accept. That would be a first. She’d used flowers to gain entry into seemingly impossible places.
“Who are they from?”
“From me. I’m a friend of Harry’s mother, Lorna Gould. I thought how upsetting his death must be for you, so I brought flowers to make you feel better.”
Now the girl reached out with both hands for the flowers. “Thank you so much, it’s very thoughtful of you.”
Hyacinth had a breathy, whispery voice, forcing a person to pay close attention to hear her-a most feminine quality. Men must die for her. “You’re so lovely, my dear.” And she was, with glossy black hair, cafe au lait complexion and truly luscious lips. What she did for a sweater was truly awesome, doubly so. Maybe Harry did more than dictate to his secretary.
“I like your make-up. It looks positively-well, professional.” Doreen gave her top-of-the-line smile again. “I love your name, Hyacinth. It’s my favorite flower-and a perfect name for you.”
“Well, thank you.”
Hyacinth Owens was being won over. No surprise in that. “Have you been Harry’s secretary very long?”
She looked flustered again. “That’s just it, Mrs.-”
“Call me DeeDee, everyone does.”
'Okay, DeeDee. I’m Harry’s secretary…and I’m not, just as this is Mr. Gould's office…and it’s not. This is a cooperative law office. Five lawyers, each with his and, in one case, her own clients, share space here. They also share expenses, telephone, computers, office equipment-and clerical help. It saves them money, quite a bit I understand.”
“How very interesting. You’re a sort of time-share secretary, like hotel rooms at a resort.”
Hyacinth laughed, brightening an already pyrotechnic face. “Another girl and I, yes.”
“You did some work for Harry?”
“Oh yes, quite a bit.”
“You knew his clients?”
“Some of them. Lola also works here, but she’s off today.”
DeeDee glanced around the office. “Have you a vase for the flowers? We really should put them in water.”
“Oh, of course.”
She hoped Hyacinth would leave the room, giving her a moment to look at papers on her desk. But the time- share girl only went to a filing cabinet on the adjoining wall and extracted a vase from a bottom drawer.
“Did Harry have a lot of clients?”
Hyacinth began arranging the roses in the vase. “To be honest, Mrs.-ah, DeeDee, not really. He was just getting started, but he was a fine lawyer and he would-”
“I have no doubt. May I see his office?”
“The police have sealed it off pending, you know-”
She sighed. “Oh dear, Lorna will be so disappointed. I promised her I’d pick up Harry’s appointment book for her. She wants it as a keepsake. You do understand.”
“I do, I do, but there’s a problem.” Hyacinth looked distressed. “His calendar and appointment book are missing. I assume the police took them as evidence.”
“That explains it, I’m sure.”
“But there’s a backup on the computer. I could make a printout for you.”
“You are a love.”
The secretary sat at the console and pushed some buttons. Nothing came on the screen. She pushed more buttons. Still no display.
“How strange. Mr. Gould’s files aren’t here. Maybe he moved them. I’ll check FIND.”
DeeDee watched her call up a display, then type in GOULD. A few seconds later the computer reported, UNABLE TO FIND GOULD. Hyacinth tried other key words.
‘I don’t understand it. Mr. Gould’s files are missing! Everything about him has been erased!”
“Are you sure? When did you last use them?”
“Let me see. Not yesterday, that’s when we found…him. The day before, yes, I’m sure I typed a letter for him.”
“Is the computer working? Maybe it crashed.”
Hyacinth punched some keys. The console lit up. “The files of the other lawyers are here. Harry’s is the only one missing.” Then she smiled. “Not to worry. Everything is kept on a backup disk.” She opened a metal box on her desk. “Each lawyer has his own disk. It protects each one’s privacy.”
“I’m sure.”
Her slender fingers stopped, then flipped through the discs again. “Why it’s gone! What could have happened to it? I always keep it here in this file.”
“It’s not your fault, my dear, the police surely have it.”
Now Hyacinth smiled. “Of course, that must be it.”
DeeDee could barely contain her excitement. Harry Gould had been murdered by whoever erased his files. “Is Harry’s suicide note on the computer?”
“No, he apparently wrote it, then erased it.”
“How did the police-”
“It was left on the printer.”
She nodded. There was much to think about-and tell Walter. “Thank you, Hyacinth, you’re so sweet and you’ve been so much help.
“DeeDee, if you’re going to see Mrs. Gould, will you ask her what I am to do with Mr. Gould’s messages?”
“He’s still getting messages?”
“Just one. It came in this morning by e-mail. I don’t know how to reply. It seems personal.”
A moment later DeeDee read:
Did Sophia contact you? I’m trying to reach her.
There was an e-mail address and phone number, 614 area code. Boston. The name on the message was CYN. Maybe sort for Cynthia. Clearly Harry Gould and Cyn, even Sophia, were acquainted.
“Do you know either Sophia or this Cyn?”
Hyacinth shrugged lovely shoulders. “I’m afraid not. That’s why I think it must be personal.”
“I’m sure you’re right. Lorna will know what to do.”
8: Super Sleuthing
He heard the phone ring and was momentarily confused. Which one, house or cell? He chose the wireless and heard, “Where are you?” Doreen sounded agitated.
