More Harry Hogan stories!
Harry Hogan glanced at the ringing telephone and groaned. Janet Thorne. What bee did she have in her bonnet now? In his mind, she was nosy, but he also knew she never meant any harm. He picked up the receiver. “Good morning, Mrs. Thorne. What can I do for you?”
“Good morning, Detective.” Although he’d retired from the police force several years ago, she still used his former title and he’d given up correcting her. “Actually, I hope you can do two things for me.”
“I’ll do what I can,” he said, unwilling to make a blind commitment.
“First things first,” she continued. “Our Church Ladies Group is having a fund-raiser to purchase some new equipment for the children’s playground…”
“I’ll be happy to make a donation,” he said, hoping to speed up the conversation. That was the other thing about Janet Thorne – she was practically a saint when it came to community volunteer work.
She laughed. “We’ll take that too, but I was hoping you’d order a cold plate, and…”
“I’ll take two!” he said quickly.
“And…” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken, “…we need volunteers to do the deliveries.”
“When?” Harry asked.
“Next Saturday morning. Can…”
“No problem. I’ll be there and I’ll still take the two cold plates.” He raised a hand in greeting to his volunteer working partner, who had just arrived.
“Thank you, Detective.”
“Always happy to support a good cause.” He was about to replace the receiver when he realized she was still talking and he fell silent. After a minute, he said, “Mrs. Thorne, I’m sorry, I got distracted when Ms Blackett came in. Could you run that by me again?” He switched the phone to speaker mode so Bertie could hear as well.
“I think there’s a prowler lurking in the trees at the back of the building here.”
Harry saw Bertie draw her eyebrows down as he slowly shook his head. “Have you reported it to anyone?” he asked.
“That’s what I’m doing now, Detective Hogan. I’m reporting it to you.”
Bertie’s eyebrows went up this time and Harry asked, “What about the building manager?”
“He’s too young,” Mrs. Thorne replied. “He doesn’t take anything I say seriously.”
Harry grinned. That didn’t surprise him. “Did you call the police? It’s their job to investigate things like that.”
“And tell them what? No one else seems to have seen anything. They would just dismiss it as an old woman’s imagination.”
Harry choked back a laugh by faking a cough. She was probably right about that too. “Ms Blackett and I will drop by and get the details from you. When will be a good time?”
“Is ten o’clock okay?” she asked.
“Sounds good. We’ll see you then.” Harry disconnected the call, leaned back in his chair and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, as he caught the wide grin on Bertie’s face, he frowned. “Don’t say a word,” he warned, “or I’ll send you to see her alone.”
“Oh, no you won’t,” Bertie said. “I had enough of her matchmaking attempts while I was at the library. I’m not giving her a chance to start again!”
“You too?” Harry threw back his head and laughed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mrs. Thorne was waiting for them, with her apartment door open, as they stepped off the elevator on the second floor.
