Birdieâs for a couple of candy bars. So, yeah, Iâll take one if theyâre as good as you say they are.â
âLetâs go over to that bench away from the cranes. Iâm a little concerned about my head.â
He followed and sat down after me. The bench shuddered from his weight. I unwrapped the foil and pulled a napkin from my bag. I placed three muffins on it and held them out to him. He was such a large man, eating just one would be as satisfying as a Chiclet.
He took a bite and chewed. âI see why Jackson likes you stopping by.â He peeled off the rest of the paper wrapper and finished the first muffin.
âThanks. Iâm also trying to drum up interest in the café.â I crossed my ankles. âIâm Rosalie, by the way.â
He brushed his hand on his pants. âNameâs Calvin.â He grimaced. âPlease call me Cal. My old man is Calvin, and Iâd like to keep it that way.â
I hugged my tote. âSo, Cal, why did everyone get laid off? Did something happen?â
âOh yeah. You could say that. Like a big lump of cash got stolen out of the trailer. Only people allowed in there are the foremen so they can get their payroll. And the only time they can go in is if the CFO is in there. Rest of the time itâs padlocked.â
âSo why pay them in cash?â
He peeled the paper from another muffin. âThe cash is for the day laborers. We bring in all kinds of extra guys and pay them on a daily basis. Theyâre not on any payroll. When we start the drywall, landscaping, ductwork, all that kind of big stuff, we bring in temporary workers.â
âWhy not cut them a check?â
âYou ask a lot of questions.â His eyebrows dipped. âLet me just say this. Most of them donât have bank accounts. You can use your imagination to figure out why.â
âI see. But how can you be so sure it was a foreman? Was the lock broken?â
He shook his head as he chewed. âWhoever it was must have memorized the combination. We changed it every week, but this guy got in there anyway. Boss has an alarm on there now.â
âGood idea.â I thought for a moment. âCouldnât it have been someone from within your company?â
He laughed and wrapped the napkin around the last of the muffin cups. âOnly one guy allowed to do payroll. He protects that money like itâs his firstborn. And he is none too happy that a whole lot of it is gone.â
I looked up at him. âHow much is a lot, Cal?â
âWe think the guy got away with over five hundred K.â He smiled at me. âSound like a lot to you?â
Â
T HIRTEEN
I drove down the lane to my home with the convertible top down, a warm breeze ruffling my hair. I was exhausted but exhilarated as I reflected on another successful day. The lunch crowd had been even bigger than breakfast, and the specialâfalafel sandwiches, herbed red potatoes, and a Greek saladâhad been a big hit.
Dappled sunlight streaked through the canopy of tall cedar limbs over the drive, and I took in the scent of freshly mown grass. I slowed my breathing and reminded myself to savor this momentâmy café had opened, and people showed up. A lot of people. And they liked it. Not to mention I just managed to glean some valuable information from a strapping young construction worker. I couldnât wait to tell Glenn. I forgot how compelling it was to work toward righting a wrong.
Later, refreshed from a shower, I was looking forward to putting my feet up and having one glass of wine to celebrate a successful day. I slipped into a tank and a pair of shorts and toddled downstairs, my wet hair already spiraling into ringlets. As I passed by the front door I noticed Tyler perched on the stoop. Oh, good, I thought. I could use a Tyler fix.
âHey,â I said as I opened the door. I was startled to see a woman seated next to him.
Tyler looked
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