Her Scream in the Silence (Carly Moore #2) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,115
that since it’s not an official investigation.”
“So what are we going to do?”
“Try anyway.”
“I might know someone who can help us. Let’s go back out into the rec room and see if I can find her.”
He gave me a questioning look. “And does this source have anything to do with what’s in the bag?”
Marco had stayed in the Explorer for my Dollar General errand, and I hadn’t told him what I’d purchased.
I glanced down at the plastic bag. “Let’s just say I’m not above bribery.”
“I like how you think.”
We headed to the recreation room, and I quickly found the two women I’d spoken to the day before. Grumpy Lady was sitting at a table with a middle-aged couple and two teenage girls, looking even grumpier than the day before. Cotton Ball was sitting by herself at a small four-person table, working on a jigsaw puzzle of a covered bridge.
I headed straight for her.
She glanced up at me in surprise. Then her gaze drifted to Marco behind me and her eyes lit up with excitement.
“You came back.”
“I brought a friend with me,” I said, taking a seat at her table.
Marco stood next to her and extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Marco.”
“Gladys,” she said as she shook his hand. Turning to me, she said, “He has a firm grip. Is it true what they say about firm hands?” She winked. Subtle insinuation clearly wasn’t her strong suit, because she followed up with, “The firmer the handshake, the stiffer the boner.”
My cheeks started to flush. “I… uh…”
Marco laughed as he sat next to me, easing onto the chair and leaning his crutches against the table. “A lady never screws and tells, Gladys.”
She chuckled. “And who said I was a lady?”
Marco laughed again and I shot him a grin. He had a nice laugh, rich and warm, and it had a way of making you feel included in a joke but never the butt of it.
When had I become such an expert on Marco’s laugh?
“So,” he said, leaning forward, his eyes twinkling. “I hear you’re one of the experts on this place.”
Her chest expanded and she looked inclined to start strutting around like a peacock. “Some people say that.”
“I need information on one of the new employees.”
A scowl crossed her face. “Shane Jones.”
“That’s the one.”
“I don’t know a whole lot about him,” she admitted. “He’s only worked here a few weeks, but he’s a menace. Like I told your girl, he’s been stealin’ things, and the staff won’t do anything about it.”
“Well, maybe I can help with that,” Marco said. “But first I need the scoop on him.”
“You’re wanting to look at his employment file,” she said with a sly grin.
Marco rolled his shoulders in a lazy shrug. “Perhaps. And if I was lookin’ for it, where do you suppose I might find it?”
“You’d think it would be on a computer,” she said in disgust, “but this damn town is stuck in the Dark Ages.”
“So new hires fill out a paper application?” Marco asked.
“Yep.”
“And where do they keep those?”
“Office down in the west wing,” she said. “And good thing for you that no one uses it on Sunday afternoons.”
“Lucky for me indeed.”
“But the door’s locked.” Gladys glanced up, her eyes twinkling. “What’s a key worth to you?”
Marco released a short laugh. “Gladys, you’re quickly becomin’ my new favorite person.” Then he winked at me. “Sorry, Carly.”
I grinned back. “Hey, priorities.” I pulled one of the puzzles out of the bag in my purse and slid it across the table to her as if it were a hundred-dollar bill. It was a 1000-piece puzzle of a mountain.
She slid the box over to her. “Got any more of these?”
I took out another 1000-piece puzzle of a still life with a ceramic water pitcher and fruit.
She reached into a pocket of her pants and pulled out a key, setting it on the table. “This is a master and gets into everything.”
“You just carry it around with you?” Marco asked in disbelief.
“This place is boring as shit,” Gladys said. “Sometimes we like to get into things.” She held his gaze. “Like the employee lounge. That has lockers.”
“And where might those be?” he asked in a conspiratorial tone.
“Next to the office.”
Marco put his hand over the key and picked it up. “Carly, wait here.”
I leaned over next to his ear. “Wouldn’t it be less noticeable if I search?” I asked quietly. “You’re bound to attract attention on your crutches.”
“But if I get caught, I’m fairly certain I can talk