Page 45 of Penny For Your Thoughts
“Us. I’m part of the equation too.”
My cousin smirked and spun back to his text-ridden screen. “Take care,sidekick.”
“Jerkface. Keep me posted on baby Ruiz.”
“Will do.”
***
At Evergreen, I signed in and inquired where I might find Diem, relaying that he had been working in the surveillance room all day. I earned a curious side eye from the receptionist before she pointed to a hallway instead of asking whatever was on her mind.
As I wandered in the right direction, attention on my phone and the text conversation I’d been having with Memphis, a man called my name.
I spun, glancing back down the desolate hallway from where I’d come and found Aaron Daily hustling after me, his dress shoes clipping on the laminate floor. He looked spectacular as always. If I didn’t think he would get the wrong idea, I would ask the man where he shopped because his was a style I could get on board with.
Aaron glided to a stop beside me and adjusted his tie. “Tallus. I’m so glad I caught you. How are you?”
“Good.” I thumbed over my shoulder. “Just looking for Diem.”
Aaron ignored the statement and continued as though I hadn’t spoken. “I located some of Hazel Krause’s photo albums. Might have told a white lie, but I convinced her son to collect what he could from home.”
“You asked Leroy?”
Aaron touched my arm, rubbing once. “Relax. I didn’t tell him why I needed them. He claimed they were buried in a closet at home.He brought a few the following day during a visit. Hazel gave me permission to pass them along. I explained why you needed them, but I’m not sure she’ll remember. They’re in my office.” He motioned over his shoulder. “Do you want to grab them? I was about to pack up for the day.”
“Oh, um, sure.” Dislodging from his grasp, I checked the time on my phone. I had about thirty seconds before Diem sent out a search party, but I had asked for these photographs, so I couldn’t exactly tell Aaron no. Especially since he’d gone out of his way to get them.
Aaron’s office wasn’t far, so I followed him down the hall.
“I heard rumors that Hazel’s grandson was hired to investigate some missing money.” Aaron ushered me inside his office.
“His name’s Diem, and yes, it’s why I’m here.”
“I know his name.” Aaron sized me up and down. “You work together, right?”
And live together and sleep together, I wanted to add, but offered a charming Tallus smile instead. “That’s right.”
Instead of digging up the albums, Aaron balanced an ass cheek on the edge of his desk, casually crossing his arms like we had all the time in the world. The look in his eyes changed. He caught his bottom lip in his teeth. “Is it serious?”
For a heartbeat, I thought he meant Diem and me, then I realized he was talking about Elwood’s missing money.
“Yes.” I cocked my head. “Don’t the staff know what happened?”
“Not really. They’ve kept the details thin. When problems arise, the board gets cagey. That’s how you know when something’s really wrong. Plus, the police showed up last week. Everything was hush-hush, but since they spoke with a few of Elwood’s nurses, the truth came out.
“I heard there was stolen money or fraud of some kind. I figured it was a minor incident since nothing seemed to come of the police visit, but then I heard Benaiah Scarrow brought in a private investigator. Then, yesterday morning, the head staff of each department was called into a mandatory meeting to review visitor protocol. It seemed odd since most departments don’t deal with visitors. So,” He licked his lips, “What’s the scoop, Detective?”
“I’m not a detective, and I can’t tell you anything.”
“Confidentiality and all that. Yeah, I get it. A guy can hope. Are the police still involved?”
“So far as I know, but I really can’t go into detail.”
Aaron seemed to consider that for a moment as though trying to sort out the severity of what we were investigating, then he shook it off, and the charming smile I’d seen a few times returned.
Pushing off the desk, Aaron snagged two photo albums from beside a printer and handed them over. “I hope these help with your project. If there’s anything else I can do…”
The syrupy tone gave the offer a devious edge, but I pretended not to notice. Aaron was a player, and I’d met a hundred guys exactly like him. HeknewDiem and I were dating. He knew we worked together, but he liked to pretend otherwise. Whatever game he was playing wouldn’t work. If he was fishing for information on the case or looking for a clandestine date, buttering me up wouldn’t help.
