Page 92 of Hale Damage
“I’ve called the bank, and there’s apparently some kind of glitch because the system flags it and won’t let the direct deposit go through. Mindy said she gave them the official name change paperwork withEspinoza, but the account manager insisted they had to put the account under McCoy. That was her married name.”
“Because that’s what matched her driver’s license,” I surmise.
“That’s what I’m assuming,” Sharon says, lifting her shoulders in a shrug. “I really am sorry, Mr. Hale. I’ve been doing my best to get Mindy the money she’s worked for, but unfortunately, I don’t control the bank.”
“I know you don’t, and I appreciate the effort you’ve put in. Which bank is it?”
“Reliant Bank and Trust. The branch down the street from here.”
I nod. “I know the bank president. I’ll go down and talk to him. The next payday is tomorrow, and if it’s not straightened out by then, I want you to change Mindy’s name to McCoy in our system and send it that way. For both payroll periods.”
“Will do. And good for you, sir. You should do everything you can to hold onto Mindy. I’ve never seen such a hard worker. She’s so bright and always has a smile on her face. You’re very lucky to have her.”
My smile is tight and uncomfortable. I wonder what Sharon would say if she knew I was trying to get rid of my bright, hard-working assistant.
I’m ushered immediately into William Gladstone’s office at Reliant Bank and Trust. The pot-bellied man stands and shakes my hand enthusiastically.
“Remington Hale, how are you?” he asks heartily.
“I’m doing well, except I’m having a problem with your bank.”
His jowls quiver as we sit down. “A problem? With which account?”
“With my payroll account for the business. My payroll director has sent over a direct deposit for my assistant’s wages, but your bank keeps denying it.”
The wrinkles in his forehead grow deeper and he turns to his computer. “What’s the employee’s name?”
“Mindy Espinoza, but from what I understand, you have her surname as McCoy.”
He types for a moment and then nods, giving me a sad smile. “I see where the deposits have been denied due to not matching up with the name we have on file.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “And do you also have the paperwork showing the courts have officially changed her name to Espinoza?”
William clicks something with his mouse and nods. “I do see that, but unfortunately, I would need her license to verify that. Our bank doesn’t accept temporary licenses, which is what she tried to use. Her old license still says she’s Mindy McCoy, so that’s what we went with.”
“Well, just change it,” I say.
He laughs nervously, a high-pitched sound that grates on my nerves. “I wish I could, but we have to be careful of identity thieves. The temporary licenses are too easy to manipulate. That’s why we need the real one. We should be able to get this straightened out as soon as her new identification comes in the mail.”
He sits back like the matter is all settled, but it’s far from over in my mind.
“Surely you’ve dealt with bank clients getting divorced before, right?”
William nods eagerly. “Of course we have.”
“And sometimes their names change,” I prompt.
“Well, yes.”
“You have court documents stating her name is now legally Espinoza, so I don’t see what the problem is.”
“The license…”
“Fuck the license, William. I will vouch for the fact that Mindy Espinoza is not, in fact, an identity thief. She just wants the paycheck she’s entitled to.”
His eyes widen and those damn jowls twitch again like he’s an old hound dog. “I’m not sure…”
I cut him off again. “And I’m not sure I want to bank at an establishment that can’t use some goddamn common sense.” Leaning forward, I rest my forearms on his desk, and my voice goes scarily low. “Between my personal holdings and all the Hale Cosmetics accounts, do you have any fucking clue how much money I have in this bank, William? And do you have any fucking clue what it would do to your bank if I have every cent transferred to First National by the end of the business day?”
