Riven - Jerry B. Jenkins [50]
“Uh-huh. Well, you realize I’m not interviewing you for the position. My job is to assure the state Department of Corrections and the federal government that you comply with all requirements for personal and professional integrity. Ever been convicted of a crime?”
“No.”
“Ever been arrested?”
“No.”
“Should you have been?”
“Pardon?”
“Ever done anything that should have got you arrested, but you got away with it?”
Thomas chuckled. “No.”
“Cheat on a test, steal from your mother’s purse, shoplift a piece of candy from the store?”
“Believe it or not, no.”
“I don’t believe it, but I can’t prove it, and such are not worthy of a polygraph, so I’ll have to take you at your word.”
Thomas wondered why he felt guilty. He really wanted this woman to believe him. “I lied to my mother once,” he said. “Told her something was mine when it actually belonged to my brother.”
She looked amused. “You devil you. So what happened?”
“Conscience got the better of me and I wound up confessing.”
“Get punished?”
“Oh yeah. Big-time spanking.”
“You don’t say. That’s the way I was raised too. How old were you, Thomas?”
“Eight.”
Ms. Byrne erupted in laughter. “Better put that in your file, hadn’t I? FBI may want to look into it.”
“I just wanted you to know I’m not perfect, but I really haven’t ever done any of those other things you suggested.”
June Byrne was suddenly all business, flipping through her printouts, brow furrowed. “You once got a refund from the Bible college you attended, but it was twice what you were owed.”
“That’s right. You people are certainly thorough. I noticed they had overcharged me for some extracurricular stuff I never took advantage of, so I was owed something like a hundred and fifty dollars.”
“One hundred sixty-eight dollars and seventy-three cents.”
“Right, okay.”
“It was a choir bus tour that you never went on.”
“Right. I had paid for it but then couldn’t go.”
“But they reimbursed you twice.”
“Yes, they did. And of course I returned the extra.”
“How long did that take?”
“Well, let’s see; it’s been years. Seems to me it came on a Thursday, I had to work the next day, then came the weekend, then I mailed it Monday, so they got it probably the next Wednesday.”
“You held it almost a week?”
“Not really. I mean, I didn’t deposit it or anything. I returned the same check they sent me. The school never mentioned a problem.”
“It’s not a problem, Reverend Carey. It’s just a question, and interesting. Unlikely to become an issue. And then there’s the matter of four speeding tickets in the last twenty years, one citation for excessive lane changing, and one for double-parking. You’re aware that last is a federal offense?”
“Excuse me?”
Ms. Byrne grinned. “A little NCIC humor, Reverend. Lighten up.”
“Oh! Sorry.”
“Your credit reports look clean—a little heavy on credit card debt, not unusual for those in your line of work. Late on one card payment, late on your mortgage twice, but—”
“Oh, I’m sorry, but that’s incorrect, ma’am.”
“I’m listening.”
“Grace and I have never owned a home, never had a mortgage. And to my knowledge, we’ve never been late on a rent check either.”
“The mortgage part was a test, Reverend Carey. Making sure you’re paying attention.”
“Believe me, I am.”
“Is it not true that you are currently overdue on your rent for the parsonage to the Rural Bible Chapel in Oldenburg?”
“Oh, for the love of all things sacred! If you have the time, I’ll gladly tell you that story, and trust me, I won’t leave out one detail.”
“Do tell.”
Forest View High School
Brady’s mind raced as he dialed Dennis Asphalt & Paving. Of course he knew what this was about. It amazed him that in seconds he could concoct more than one elaborate tale, never even considering just gushing the truth and begging Alejandro’s forgiveness.
As soon as Alejandro came on the line, he said, “Hey, Brady, sorry to bother you at school,