A Penny for Your Thoughts by Mindy Starns Clark Read Free Book Online Page B

the lot, I finally chose some slightly loose navy slacks, a tan blouse, and a large but comfortable pair of sneakers. Though it seemed pointless to change just now, I couldn’t stand the tweed suit any longer; I just had to get it off. Once I was dressed, I helped myself to the basket of toiletries in the bathroom, washing my face with scented soap, brushing my teeth with a stiff new toothbrush. I would still need to pay a visit to a store for some underwear and other necessities, but this would do for now.
    I pulled my hairbrush from my purse and redid my chignon, catching sight of my face in the mirror. I looked worn out, I decided, with dark circles just starting to show beneath my blue eyes. You’re not as young as you used to be, I thought as I stared at my reflection. At 32, I was beginning to realize that my body couldn’t bounce back from this endless activity the way it once had.
    Turning from the mirror, I exhaled slowly, wondering where to begin with my investigation. I usually started in a rather meticulous way (or, according to my friend and coworker Harriet, an overly obsessive way)—by setting up my files, going through the initial paperwork given to me by Tom, gathering what information I could from the internet and other sources. This time, however, I wasn’t investigating the legitimacy of an organization but rather the murder of a human being. Undoubtedly, this case would require an altogether different approach.
    Still, no matter what type of investigation it was, step one was always the same: Set up an information database on the computer. Using my laptop I quickly installed the framework, creating thenecessary categories but leaving most of them blank for the time being. As I gathered information, I would load and organize the data into this framework. Then, as the investigation proceeded and I needed to double-check, cross-reference, or sort facts, I could use the computer to help organize my data—and my thoughts.
    Once the database was set up, I saved what I had done, then shut down my computer and carried it to my car. I had decided to start the official investigation by returning to Wendell Smythe’s office. There were a few things I needed to know in order to begin.
    As I got in the car and started it up, I prayed for insight and for the stamina to see this thing through. My prayer continued as I drove toward the city, retracing the route we had driven earlier. If I were to be successful in this investigation, I knew I would have to put it completely into God’s hands, trusting Him to reveal things to me in His way, in His own time.

    I stopped by the Perskie Detective Agency first, eager to get going on the case but knowing I couldn’t do this at all without the proper authority. Duane Perskie turned out to be a big ex-football player-type of guy with an easy smile and a heavy Midwestern accent. As we chatted in his office, I found myself laughing at his jokes, wondering how he knew Tom, what their connection was. I had long ago ceased to be impressed by the variety and extent of my boss’ connections. It often seemed that no matter where I was going or what I was doing, someone somewhere who knew Tom was there to help me out.
    By the time I reached the Smythe building, it was just after one in the afternoon. The parking garage was full, but I finally found a spot on the very bottom level, at the end of the row. Glancing at my watch as I headed for the elevator, I tried to calculate just how long the police had been here. My hope was that their investigation of the crime scene was finished and that it was no longer secured.
    I rode the elevator to the sixth floor, seeing the familiar signs for Smythe Incorporated and Feed the Need in the hallway as I got off. I turned right and stepped into the reception area, pleased to find the desk there empty. Without missing a beat, I opened the glass door into Feed the Need and strode purposefully through. The place was much more subdued than it had