( chapter 3, part 3… )
“Well, in what way, pray tell, do you mean my visage?” inquired Miss Henrietta Delores Suffridge with sincere curiosity.
The two officers gave slightly hesitant looks to one another before the younger of the two produced a magazine enclosed within a transparent plastic police evidence bag towards Henrietta’s face at eye level so she was able to see her circled with red marker face upon the cover.
“I see. And this was found at a crime scene?” Henrietta asked incredulously.
Officer Merkley bulked slightly upon his face at this question, obviously showing his inexperience as a rookie officer.
“We are not at liberty to say, Miss Suffridge,” quickly stated Officer Stevens as he noticed the change in demeanour upon his partner’s face.
Miss Henrietta Delores Suffridge just slightly smirked in a belligerent manner and raised her eyebrow at this response.
The two officers seemed perturbed at talking to a woman of her renown, obviously showing their lack of training at trying to hide their incompetence in front of her.
“I trust that you understand me perfectly, officers. Am I a person of interest in this case of yours?”
Officer Stevens took this question in stride, answering it to the best of his ability.
“We have reason to believe so, yes. The victim of our case had it in his pocket,” Officer Stevens said plainly.
“Victim? So, a murder?” asked Miss Henrietta Delores Suffridge in mock surprise with bated breath.
Inwardly kicking himself the fool for revealing information best left unsaid but unable to put the cat back in the bag, Officer Stevens resigned himself to merely nodding in the affirmative and replying bluntly, “Yes, Miss Suffridge,” .
Henrietta merely gave a curt laugh in reply at this as Officer Merkley sheepishly withdrew the evidence from her field of vision and placed it back within the inner jacket pocket of his uniform. The two policemen just shied away their downcast faces of shame from Miss Henrietta Delores Suffridge until she spoke up once more.
“Please, do not trouble yourselves. I have never held a grudge for the boys and ladies in blue. If there is anything I can do to help, I am more than willing to aid you, officers,” Henrietta said without a second thought, her words of clarity and understanding making the two rookie officers ease upon their faces and demeanour instantly.
Henrietta knew that the world was a trying place at times and she meant what she said, willing and eager to do anything to help the city she lived in. That was, after all, her purpose in the Fashion world.
( to be continued… )
