Death Loves a Messy Desk by Mary Jane Maffini

magazines, was unlit and empty. Was it just my imagination or did it look more forlorn than usual?
    I’d been looking forward to sharing dinner with Jack. This charity race was eating his life. Never mind, the pooches were hungry and I was stuck making a stir-fry for one. Stir-fries are my signature dish. Actually, they’re my only dish, which is a signature in itself. I’d picked up another tub of New York Super Fudge Chunk and tucked it in the freezer to serve when Jack drifted in. Not that it mattered. I could manage on my own. I may be a small person, but I’m a big girl.

    Fredelle answered on the first ring when I returned her call.
    She said, “Did Barb Douglas try to kill you today?”
    “What?”
    Her voice rose. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but that’s what they’re saying.”
    I said, “Who’s saying?”
    “Please, Charlotte. I have to know. Is it true she tried to run you off the road?”
    I gawked at the receiver. “I don’t even know what Barb Douglas looks like. But someone was definitely driving erratically when I was on my way to your office, and she would have hit me if I hadn’t . . .”
    I heard the gasp. “Then it is true. She tried to kill you.” “I didn’t get the impression this woman was trying to kill me. So I didn’t take it personally. It was a bit shocking, though.”
    “I can’t really believe it. But did you see her?”
    “I saw a woman in an SUV. I saw her face quite clearly. I’ve never seen Barb Douglas before, Fredelle, so it might have been her. She seemed panicky. I don’t believe she even saw me. And it does seem highly unlikely that she’d try to run me off the road just because I’m being consulted on some office procedures.”
    “But our project is really a ploy to do something about her desk.”
    “Did she know that?”
    “No. But she’s very smart. She might have figured it out. Others in the office were making bitchy remarks.”
    “Even if she knew I was the person coming to look at her desk, what would she accomplish by running me off the road? The desk would still be there. Someone else would do something about it.”
    Fredelle’s voice brightened. “Yes. That doesn’t make sense, does it?”
    “Not even a bit. And anyway, some of my colleagues might disagree with me, but people with messy desks can be valuable employees. I’m not sure yet what’s going on with Barb’s desk, and I’ll have to have another look at it to analyze what’s going on, but I do know it’s not your biggest problem in that office.”
    Fredelle couldn’t let go of the previous topic. “But this woman did come straight at you in a vehicle?”
    “I’d just turned off Valley Drive and was heading toward your building. She shot down the wrong side of the driveway like the devil was on her tail, and I had to swerve to avoid her.”
    “You mean, you could have been . . . ?”
    “She was just in a hurry and she wasn’t expecting anyone. That’s all. It was stupid and dangerous and whoever she was, she owes me an apology.”
    Fredelle said, “You are so right. I’ll be speaking to her about it. In the meantime, you have my apology, Charlotte.”
    “Thank you, but not really necessary.”
    “So, you still will take this job? You won’t just leave us in the lurch? Abandon us to . . .”
    I said, “I plan to continue with this job. I’ll have to have a word with Barb Douglas, of course.”
    “Of course.”
    “Since you’re on the phone, I have something to ask you. Are you sure that Barb Douglas has no trouble getting her work done?”
    “No. She’s very prompt. And thorough.”
    “And except for Dyan, does anyone have any problems?”
    She hesitated. “Not really. Everyone is quite pleased with her. She really knows her technology. Very up to date. And of course . . .”
    “Yes?”
    “Well, Robbie is quite smitten.”
    “I figured that out. So if no one is bothered, why is this a problem for you?”
    “Dyan is doing her best to stir up some of the