Mad, Bad and Blonde - Cathie Linz [60]
“It’s from the library.” She ripped it open to find a pile of handmade cards from the regulars of her story time group. “WE MISS YOU,” they wrote over and over again. Maria Sanchez had put a Love Your Library Post-it note on one of them: “You’re not replaceable, please come back.”
Faith sighed. “You walk away, and they pull you back in.”
“Sounds like the Chicago mob,” Yuri said.
“Al Capone had nothing on Maria Sanchez. She’s very determined. Like your friend Caine.”
“Did you two have another fight?”
“No. Did he tell you we had?”
“No.”
“What did he tell you?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why did you think we were fighting?”
“Because you’re always fighting.”
“Not always.”
“No?”
“No. We actually worked together the other night and were cordial.”
“Cordial?” Yuri sounded skeptical.
“I was cordial. Caine was Caine.”
“He’s good at doing that, being Caine.”
“He certainly is. The man has definite trust issues.”
“Is he the only one?”
“No. I have the same issues. I question his motivation. He questions mine. It’s just all so crazy. I never used to be into crazy.”
“And now?”
“I’m eating the man’s sliders and sharing tandoori appetizers with him. What does that say about me?”
Yuri grinned. “That you have good taste.”
“Maybe, but I’d rather have good judgment.” And anyone with good judgment would know she was playing with fire by working with Caine.
The next day, just before five, Faith decided it was time to confront her dad directly. Not that she planned on asking him if he was having an affair. But she needed to start a conversation that would give her some clues. So she cornered him in his office, trying to look and sound casual while doing so.
“Did you see that story online about work spouses?” she asked.
“No.”
“It was interesting. Who do you talk to about work?”
“My brother Dave.”
“Who else?”
“Gloria.”
Faith tried to imagine Gloria as a work spouse but couldn’t. She saw her more as a mix of Jewish mom and drill sergeant.
“Anyone else? Do you talk to Mom about work?”
“Not really.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s not interested. What’s this about?”
“I told you. I saw this article online about work spouses.”
“You mean couples who work together?”
“No, I mean the person at work you confide in and how it can lead to more intimate relationships if you’re not careful.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that with Dave and me,” her dad noted dryly. “In fact, I can guarantee it.”
“So those are the only two people you confide in about work stuff? Dave and Gloria? No one else?”
“I don’t know. From time to time I may talk about a particularly difficult case with one of the investigators.”
Aha! “Has that happened lately?”
“No.”
“What about Renee from Human Resources?”
“What about her?”
“Weren’t the two of you working together on a new employee handbook?”
“Yes.”
“She’s a very attractive woman.”
“Yes, she is. Her partner, Marta, thinks so too.” Her father eyed her suspiciously. “Has your mother been talking to you?”
“About what?”
“About me working too much?”
“Has she said anything to you?” Faith countered.
“She doesn’t appreciate the responsibilities involved in running a business this size.”
“She might if you talked about it with her.”
“Right. I’ll add that to my to-do list. Right after I visit Disneyland.”
“I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you here.”
“I don’t have time for serious conversations right now.”
“You never have time.”
“Now you do sound like your mother. Look, I’ve got to go. I’ve got a dinner appointment.”
“With a client?”
“I’ll be late if I don’t leave right now.”
It was only after he’d left that she realized he’d never answered her question. So she did what any PI daughter would do. She followed him.
Fifteen minutes later she was seated in the corner of a prestigious restaurant. A screen of greenery separated the room where she was seated from the adjoining one where her dad was studying some paperwork and sipping his wine.
She was so focused on him that she didn’t notice Caine until he sat at her table. “Why are you trailing your father?