The Trouble with Dessert part 2

"Do you think Mr. Hughs killed him?"
"What?"
"Mary, are you in there? I guess the shock is getting to her."
Mary finally focused in on the voices around her. She was back in the break room surrounded by her fellow workers. She had just finished talking with the police. She had told them all that she knew. She didn't share any of the gossip she heard. She felt that it was just gossip, no need to bother the police with non-facts. The others around her all displayed a mixture of concern, curiosity and plain boredom. She looked at Kim, who had been talking to her.
"I'm sorry, Kim. This is all just overwhelming me right now.""I understand. Why don't you go home? I'm sure Mr. Hughs cannot complain. Listen everyone, move out of Mary's way. She needs to go home." Kim started shooing people away.
Mary started to follow Kim's lead when she saw an unfamiliar face.
"Oh, excuse me Mrs. Hughs. I'm helping Miss Jinkins to get out of here," Kim told the new arrival.
"If you don't mind, I would like to have a word with Miss Jinkins," said Mrs. Hughs.
Kim looked back towards Mary. Mary nodded agreement and followed Mrs. Hughs down the hallway. She had never met Mrs. Hughs before even though she had worked for Mr. Hughs for 5 years. He never liked to talk about his wife. Probably because he tried to come on to everyone in a skirt under a certain age. Mary wasn't sure what that age was either. She studied Mrs. Hughs on the way to her office. She was a very good-looking older women. Her hair was still its natural color of auburn. She had a very peculiar color of eyes. She was thin, but not too thin, and tall.
"Sit down anywhere, Miss Jinkins," Mrs. Hughs said after going inside the office and closing the door. "Can I get you anything?"
"No thank you," Mary replied shyly.
"I know this may seem awkward so soon after Mr. Cragicze's death. Were you in the office today when he talked to my husband?"
"Yes, but only for part of it. At one point, Mr. Cragicze asked me to leave."
"Yes. That is what I believed to be the case. Thank you, Miss Jinkins. That is all. Don't worry about your job. I'll make sure you are taken care of."
Mrs. Hughs opened the door. Mary was about to walk out when she thought better of it. This may be her only chance to ask Mrs. Hughs questions.
"Mrs. Hughs, I hope you don't find this offensive. However, I heard a rumor earlier today that Mr. Hughs may be losing his job. Is that true?"
"I am not sure whether it concerns you, on the other hand, it may have affected your job. My husband was close to losing many things. Please, I need to talk to the police now."
Mary nodded and went out. She headed downstairs to her car. After getting in the midst of heavy traffic, she realized she didn't eat. Of course, she had lost her appetite. Now, it was back with a vengeance. She decided to stop at the first place she came to and forget the expense. She could put her lunch for once on a company ticket. Was it a coincidence that the first restaurant was Chez Moniques? She wondered if Mr. Hughs was still there with his latest. She didn't know if she would be shocked either way. She walked into the restaurant. There was a long line. Of course, it was the best restaurant in town.
"Do you have a reservation?" said a highbrow voice.
"Yes, I was to meet Mr. Hughs."
"His reservation was only for two. There are already two people there.""Well, then there must be some mistake because I was to meet him. If I can just go have a word with him, I'm sure everything can be straightened out."
"No, I will call him....Miss,"
Mary had headed towards the direction the Maitre D had looked. Sure enough, there was Mr. Hughs. She was in shock but only because eating with him was CiCi. The receptionist who received the call from Mrs. Hughs to call the attorney. Now it all seemed to add up together.
"Miss Jinkins, may I inquire why you are here?" Mr. Hughs said as she approached the table.
"Sorry Sir, I'll escort the young lady out," replied the Maitre D who had followed her.
"Wait, I came to inform Mr. Hughs of a event that I did not know if he wanted it broadcast publicly.""Go ahead, what is it Miss Jinkins?""Mr. Cragicze was found dead today at the cafeteria.""Serves the old coot! Show people never to eat in that cafeteria! Ha-Ha," Mr. Hughs joked and grinned towards CiCi, who was looking very uncomfortable.
"If that is all Miss Jinkins, please return to the office. I need to make sure we get that report down," Mr. Hughs continued.
"I'm not returning to the office sir. Mr. Cragicze was murdered and I found him. I'm taking the rest of the day off. By the way, you seem to be the prime suspect so don't be surprised to see the police arrive after me."
Mary loved the look of horror on both Mr. Hughs and CiCi's face. Not to mention the Maitre D's face. Of course, now his look of disgust was towards Mr. Hughs and not Mary.
"Mr. Hughs, I believe we need this table, so if you are all through," he left the rest of the sentence hanging in the air.
Mr. Hughs angrily got up and stormed off, leaving CiCi behind at the table.
"There Ma'am, I believe the problem is solved," the Maitre D helped Mary sit down and then brought her back a menu.
"Eat well, it's on Mr. Hughs check," CiCi said after getting over her shock. She started to get up to leave."Please stay, I hate to eat alone," Mary begged her.
"Alright, I will probably be out of a job anyway.""Why?""I work for Mrs. Hughs. From her phone call this morning, I think she knows that I'm having an affair with her husband.""Why did you send the gossip around if you were the mistress?""I didn't.""Then who did?""It was Mr. Cragicze. I heard him telling Kim right after leaving Mr. Hughs office. I told Abey about that phone call. He told me not to worry about it, soon his wife wouldn't be a problem."
"What did he mean by that?""He said that soon he would control the company.""Did he elaborate on that?"
"He just said he was taking care of Mrs. Hughs and her loverboy.""I wonder who her loverboy was?"
"I know that one, it was Mr. Cragicze."