happening with the homeowners’ association, especially since Russ hadn’t put much credence into the HOA’s power. Finally Bill and Lindsey decided they’d needed to step in and do something drastic to help Greta, before she lost her home. And apparently they’d had to do it on the sly because they knew that Russ was too prideful to accept help from anyone, and Greta was too reticent to go against Russ.
So they contacted me. And lied. Outright duped me, figuring no trouble would come of it because they “just knew” Greta and Russ would love the makeover once they saw it done.
Only Russ came down with the flu that was going around and went home early. And died.
And Greta, grief-stricken, lashed out.
The logistics of it all amazed me. Like how had they gotten Russ and Greta out of the house for the whole day? Turns out Russ and Greta went to the gym together every Thursday morning, and Russ went straight to work afterward. Greta, after swimming her laps, usually went home, but today had made plans to meet with Lindsey Lockhart to do a little shopping, go to lunch. Apparently a rare treat.
They’d been together when I called Lindsey, left the message about the dead guy in her yard.
Sitting in the truck, I ran my thumb over the pewter watering can key chain Riley had given me for my last birthday.
There was hope for me. Hope that once Greta had a chance to think things through, she would change her mind.
Would let me finish the yard.
Wouldn’t sue.
I pushed open the TBS door, and the set of chimes an-nounced my presence.
60
Heather Webber
Ana jumped up, out of Tam’s throne chair.
The chimes continued to jangle, snapping my last nerve. I yanked the set off the door and flung them outside into the row of boxwoods lining the path.
Ana’s eyes went wide. “Bad day?”
“No, no. Not at all.” My gaze swept over the reception area. Five people I didn’t know looked back at me, all wearing the same expression. Wide eyes and open mouths.
Probably I didn’t make a good first impression, what with chucking the chimes out the door and all.
Sue me.
“Um, Nina. I set up some interviews with some prospects for Tam’s job. To fill in, while she’s gone.”
I checked them out. All still wore that
Two men, three women. All looked respectable, and I had trouble figuring out what they’d done that landed them in Ana’s world. I’d never gotten a single guess right, so I didn’t try too hard.
All in all, Ana’s probationers had worked out for me. I’d gotten burned only a few times. Like the time Pedro Cho drove away on one of my John Deeres, never to return. Or the time Ike Hughes took a deposit for a job and disappeared. The authorities tracked him to a Disney Magic cruise ship, where he’d been whooping it up with Mickey on my dime.
I thought again about not hiring any more probationers.
“Ana, I don’t think—”
“What’s a few interviews?” she asked, hands on hips.
All I wanted to do was wrap up a few loose ends, go home, shower, and crawl into bed for the next three days.
Then I spotted a box of Almond Joys on Tam’s desk, with a bow on them.
61
Bobby. He sent me Almond Joys on a regular basis.
I sighed. What was I going to do about him? The last time he’d dropped me off at home after dinner, he looked at me with those big blue eyes and asked, “Can I come in?”
I’d lied and told him Riley was home.
Ack.
I’m sure he knew I lied, but he didn’t call me on it. He just kissed me till I couldn’t breathe and walked away.
“Nina?” Ana asked.
Thinking of Bobby lightened my mood. It always did.
“All right,” I reluctantly agreed. “Send someone into my office.”
“Mary Hernandez?” Ana said. “You’re first.”
