Free Death Loves a Messy Desk by Mary Jane Maffini

pounded on the desk. “I hope you’re happy now!”
    Fredelle reached over and touched his arm gently. “Goodness, Robbie. What is the matter with you? You have to calm down. Please.”
    He jerked away from her touch. “Calm down? Calm down? I’m not going to calm down. I’m mad as hell and I’m fed up. I’ve had it with this place. I’ve had it with these people and I’ve had it with you.” He shook his finger under her nose. As a terror tactic, the gesture didn’t do it for me. Sure, the crash of the door into the glass wall had been dramatic, but the finger pointing? Not so much.
    Even so, Fredelle backed away and raised her hands in submission. “All right, okay. Please tell me what is wrong.”
    His voice hit a new register, and the red flushed face turned almost purple. Robbie leaned farther forward and tapped his finger on Fredelle’s collarbone. “You know what’s wrong. You had it in for her. You want to get rid of her.”
    I felt I had to intervene. I stepped between Fredelle and Robbie. “You’re mistaken there. Fredelle has nothing but respect for Barb Douglas. She is making sure that Barb is treated fairly.”
    “Fairly? That’s a laugh.” He turned and banged on her desk. A pink china cat jumped. “Fredelle brought you in to put the nail in Barb’s coffin. To humiliate her in front of this crowd of . . .” He turned back toward the door and stopped.
    Dyan stood watching us. She was in full bitch mode, a scarlet smirk playing around the corner of her enhanced lips. Playing against the stereotype, she held a watering can, now suspended over the peace lilies. Autumn had been passing behind her and now stood rooted to the rug, her hazel eyes wide and one hand to her mouth.
    “You see. Look at them. It’s all for entertainment. And you—” This time he poked my collarbone with his index finger. “You made sure they got a great laugh out of the whole thing at her expense. She was the best thing to ever happen around this stinking hole and now you’ve got rid of her.”
    I decided against telling him that the poking of fingers on collarbones technically constituted assault. Sometimes you have to pick your battles. I took a step back and found my voice. “What do you mean, ‘got rid of her’?”
    “She’s not here at work, is she? We had a significant software installation planned for today. Well, no one can do it without her, so you’re all screwed.”
    Fredelle said, “Robbie, I will go and speak to Barb. I must assure you she was not the target of any unkindness from me or from Charlotte. I like and respect her, although I am aware that not everyone does.” Fredelle and Robbie turned to glare at Dyan. I suppose I did, too. “But as office manager, I should have prevented this from happening. I will apologize to Barb.”
    Autumn had rushed over from her desk to see this scene and now gazed openmouthed. One hand was over her heart now, and her mouth stood open. Dyan rolled her eyes and gave Autumn a nudge. “Apologize? To Miss Piggy? As if.”
    I said, “You don’t owe anyone an apology, Fredelle, although I believe other people do. You were kind and considerate. This whole situation has been misinterpreted and stirred up by others. I will be happy to speak to Barb and explain what really happened.”
    Robbie stared at both of us, his color still dangerously high. “What is the matter with you? Are you deaf?”
    “Well, yes, a little bit, Robbie, you know that,” Fredelle said. “But—”
    I sputtered, “I don’t think you should talk to—”
    “She probably left town for good. And you know what, Fredelle Newhouse, you can apologize until the day they bury you, it won’t change what you’ve done here. And I will see that you pay for it.”
    Autumn pressed herself against the exterior wall and Dyan deftly jumped aside as Robbie stormed out of the office. As he passed Dyan’s cubicle, he swatted at her tiger lilies and sent vase and flowers flying onto the