Page 14 of Tough as Steele

“Wendy.” He knocked again. “It’s Detective Ryder.”

The door to the next room creaked open, and Cook poked her head out. She fixed a tired gaze on Nate. “She’s not there. Don’t know where she is.”

Great. Just what Nate needed. He didn’t appreciate Wendy not following directions, but Cook didn’t need to know he was frustrated. He took a second to let it go. “I’d like to ask you a few questions. How about in Mimi’s office?”

“Sure.” Cook’s drooping eyes narrowed.

“Don’t worry.” He smiled at the rotund woman. “They’re just routine.”

He followed her back down the hall to Mimi’s office. She left a wake of vanilla scent behind her.

Nate hadn’t spent many hours in the large room with the big mahogany desk and bookshelves filled with first-edition collectible books ringing the walls. But Mimi’s passion for books was well known, and she’d given Nate access to any titles he might want to borrow. As a voracious reader, he was tempted, but worry about damaging the pricey collection had kept him from taking her up on the offer.

Still, he could almost see Mimi standing by the library ladder pointing out her favorite stories to him, eyes gleaming and life filling her tired face. She loved this room.

Not so with Cook. She seemed as uneasy as a turkey in November as she settled into one of the plush chairs. Maybe when she visited this room, it was only to receive a reprimand from Mimi, and she associated those negative experiences with the space. Or maybe she’d had something to do with Mimi’s abduction.

Nate planned to find out. He rested on the edge of the mahogany desk. He didn’t want to intimidate the woman, but he did want her to know he was in charge, and that she needed to be forthright with him.

He handed her his notepad and pen. “Will you please write down your full name and social security number?”

Her mouth puckered, but she took the pen and pad. As she noted her information, he gave her a thorough once over. She wore a white blouse and black slacks. Her blouse held fresh tomato stains that almost appeared to be blood but he’d seen plenty of blood stains on the job to know this wasn’t blood.

When she handed the pad back, he glanced at her name, Francis Botke. He’d only ever known her as Cook.

“Thank you, Ms. Botke,” he said.

She waved a pudgy hand. “Nobody calls me that. It’s Francis or Cook.”

“Okay, Francis.” He smiled. “When was the last time you saw Mimi?”

“Lunch in the dining room. She ate with Wendy.” Francis curled her lip and crossed her arms.

Hmm. Trouble among the staff?“Is there something about Wendy that bothers you?”

She clasped her hands in her lap. “Honestly? She’s a bit uppity for me. She acts like she’s part of the Vandervoort family and thinks she’s above me and the housekeeper, Georgia. Me and Georgia have worked together for ten years, and we know our places in the household. We tried to include Wendy in our nightly tea time, but she scoffed and said Ms. Vandervoort wouldn’t approve of someone of her stature joining us. Please. Stature. What stature?”

“Does Mimi encourage that behavior?”

“Oh, Wendy doesn’t act that way around Ms. Vandervoort. Just when she’s not in the room. Then Wendy feels free to drop all kinds of comments about the way Ms. Vandervoort praises her and comments on how she’s family.” Francis shook her head. “I’ve been employed here for almost twenty years, and Ms. Vandervoort never once treated me like family. She’s kind and a wonderful boss, but I don’t even call her by her first name, for goodness sake.”

Clearly, no love lost between Francis and Wendy. “Do you think Wendy could have had anything to do with Mimi’s disappearance?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. But I have nothing to base that on. She does her job and does it well. She’s found a way to keep us away from Ms. Vandervoort most of the time, even serving most of her meals, which I used to do myself. Wendy makes it seem like it’s best for Ms. Vandervoort, but I assure you, that’s not Wendy’s real reason for doing it. Everything she does is for herself.”

Nate couldn’t take Francis’s statement at face value. Not with how much she disliked Wendy. He had to consider that Francis could be exaggerating. “Can you think of anyone else who might be behind Mimi’s disappearance?”

Francis shook her head hard, her silvery cap of curls bouncing. “Ms. Vandervoort is a good employer. She pays well and offers benefits. Sure, she’s particular, but she just wants things done right. After all these years, I know what to do, and we get along just fine. Georgia and Henry too. He’s her driver.”

“But he’s off tonight?”

Francis nodded. “Ms. Vandervoort said she wouldn’t be going anywhere and gave him an extra night off. She’s kind that way.”

“Do you know if he took Mimi’s car or his own?”

“His, of course. As I said, we know our place and wouldn’t dream of using her things for personal use.”

“Did you see anything odd tonight or anyone unusual?”

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