Free Footprints of a Dancer (Detective Elliot Mystery) by Bob Avey

The address Cheryl Reynolds had given him was for a manufacturing plant on the east side of town.
    An average sized man wearing a clean uniform and a hardhat waved to Elliot and started across the concrete floor of the plant. A few feet in front of Elliot, he stopped and said, “How can I help you, sir?”
    A noisy forklift scooted past and exited through the bay door, disappearing into the yard.
    Elliot couldn’t imagine Gerald working in such an environment. “I’m looking for someone, a former employee of yours, a guy named Stanley Reynolds.”
    He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Melba Jean said you were asking about him. What do you want to know?”
    “I need to talk to him, thought maybe you might know where he is, if he got a new job or not.”
    “Does he owe you money or something?”
    “It’s a little more complicated. What happened here? Why did he lose his job?”
    He glanced over his shoulder and when he turned back, he spoke in a hushed tone. “Look, mister. I don’t know who you are, or why you’re here, but I’ve been told to keep my mouth shut. Besides, the boss man’s coming this way. I’d be careful how I used the name Stanley Reynolds around him.”
    The other man drew near, his face reflecting a mixed bag of emotions. It was lawn-boy, the guy Elliot had encountered at Gerald’s house.
    “Interesting coincidence,” Elliot said, “seeing you here.”
    The first man Elliot had spoken with tried to make an exit, but lawn-boy stopped him. “Get back here, Ben. I might need a witness.” To Elliot he said, “What the hell are you doing here?”
    “People don’t usually answer rhetorical questions.”
    Lawn-boy whipped out a phone and punched some numbers, but when he spoke, his words were directed at Elliot. “You’ve got about five minutes to get off this property.”
    “And if I don’t?”
    As if on cue, several security guards appeared. “Then I’ll have you escorted from the premises.”
    Elliot glanced at the one called Ben. “Pretty strong reaction to a few questions, wouldn’t you say?”
    He didn’t answer.
    “It looks to me like your boss has something to hide,” Elliot continued.
    Lawn-boy made a gesture and the security detail stepped closer.
    Elliot raised his hands, signaling no conflict, and pushed pastthe guards. He strode across the concrete floor and exited through the bay door.
    Elliot drove away from the plant. He couldn’t figure Gerald working in such a place, especially with lawn-boy for a boss.
    Later, as Elliot drove along the streets of Stillwater, he found a burger joint and pulled in. As he walked across the parking lot, a car pulled beside him and the window rolled down.
    It was Ben from the plant. “You got a few minutes?”
    “Sure,” Elliot said. “Come on in. I’ll buy you lunch.”
    After they were seated, the man extended his hand across the table. “Name’s Ben, Benjamin Leeds.” He took a bite of burger and washed it down with some soda. “Sorry about the way I acted at the plant. I think you understand, though. If Bogner knew I was here talking to you, I’d have more to worry about than losing my job. Five years, I’m out of there, but right now I need the money. Anyway, what Bogner did to Stanley Reynolds wasn’t right. I don’t want you to think I’m part of it.”
    “Some honest answers might help.”
    Benjamin Leeds turned away, his eyes focusing on something outside the glass wall of the restaurant. When he turned back, he said, “I’ve been at the plant for thirty-five years. Things were pretty good until Darrel took over, nothing like his old man. Nobody likes the jerk, but more to the point of your question, he’s been messing around with Stanley Reynolds’ wife. Everyone knew about it, except for Stan. If he did, he certainly didn’t show it.”
    “Does Bogner have a habit of fooling around?”
    “You got it right, and then some.”
    Elliot took a drink of soda. He wanted to believe this was