Big Pickle: A Secret Boss Romantic Comedy - JJ Knight Page 0,62
from her. I didn’t set an alarm.
The woman, a friend of the old manager Susan, confessed immediately. However, she insisted it was only her second time to go in.
But she did tell the officers Susan told her they’d been doing this for months and not to worry. This was enough evidence for them to go after Susan. The investigation is only beginning. When the accountant provided documentation of losses exceeding seventy thousand dollars, the charges moved into the felony range. The whole matter became a big deal.
When I get out of the shower, I have calls from my assistant, the lawyer, and my father.
I return Dad’s first.
His voice booms, and I have to hold the phone away from my ear. “What the hell’s going on?”
“Nice talking to you, too, Dad.”
“Don’t give me any lip, boy. I’ve heard about a fired manager and major losses. And nobody down there even knows who you are?”
Apparently, he had spoken to Audra. Or Max.
“We’ll file with the insurance. They’ll investigate. The police are on it.”
Dad hesitates for a moment, then busts out in a hearty laugh. “No wonder your books were so bad. You sure got yourself into a hell of a mess.”
“I’ll clean it up, Dad.”
“You want me to come down there?”
“No. It’s fine. We’re handling it.”
“I reckon you’re going to stay there for a while and make sure everything’s tied up?”
Like I have a choice. I may not have a manager anymore.
“I will. I’ve been here for a couple of months. I know how everything runs.”
“Glad to hear you’ve taken some interest in your business. Maybe if the insurance kicks in, your losses won’t be quite so bad this year.”
Right. The competition. “I don’t have a chance of winning,” I say. “I’m trying to get everything under control.”
“Well, your brothers and I are here if you need anything.”
I skip the other two calls, instead quickly heading to my car. I need to get to the deli. It should have opened half an hour ago, but I don’t know if it did. For all I know, Nova never showed up to unlock the doors.
But when I park out front, I’m somewhat relieved to see customers seated inside.
Kate and Lamonte work the lunch line. Nova has to be somewhere if they got in. I push through the door, but the moment Lamonte sees me, he breaks away to cut off my path.
“Is Nova here?” I ask.
“I told that girl you would break her heart. I had no idea it would be like this.” Lamonte’s withering expression could peel paint off a wall.
“You didn’t answer the question.”
Lamonte is undeterred by my attitude. “Nova isn’t here. She called me, and I got the keys. I’m taking over the role of assistant manager until she can finalize it, I guess with you.”
I look around the deli. A few customers have taken an interest in our conversation. Kate has her head down. She doesn’t even want to make eye contact.
“Is Nova with her mom? She’s not answering any calls.”
Lamonte crosses his arms over his chest. “I don’t think you’ll be hearing from her. Look, we can run this deli without you. You take your fancy self back up to New York or the Riviera. You seem to like it best. And girls in string bikinis.”
I grimace.
Lamonte snorts. “Yeah, I stalked Jace Pickle. I saw you with all those actresses. All the beaches. I don’t think you’ve worked a day in your life.”
“I did here.”
“Whatever. You just move along. We’ll get the locks changed. Nova said as soon as you’re safely out of Texas, she’ll come up and change the combination on the safe. You can scoot on out of here.”
He takes a step toward me, aiming to escort me out the door.
“This is my deli. I could fire you.”
“You assume we even want to work for you anymore? This is about Nova. She’s got dreams, mister. She needs this job for those dreams. So, you get on out of here and let her live her dream. Let her make her money and go back to school. She doesn’t need you, or anybody else to get it done.”
Lamonte is right. If I stay here, Nova will quit. And that will set her back.
“Will you tell Nova something for me?”
Lamonte shrugs. “Maybe I will, and maybe I won’t.”
I plunge on. “Tell her I always intended to confess as soon as we caught the thief. I didn’t have to stay here once we knew it was happening. I didn’t want to