“I made it to the bathroom down on one. Let me see if it’s empty in here so I can talk.” In the background, Bonnie voice echoes as she asks, “Is anyone in here?” It must be empty because she launches into her tale. “Okay. So, it turns that Spencer and Gail had a thing.”
“A thing? Spencer and Gail? Human resources Gail?”
“That’s the one. They were having an affair.”
“Right. She was married.” And in her late sixties, if I recall. “Quite an age difference.”
“Yeah.” She takes one of those breaths you do when you finally catch up. I feel the relief too. “Somehow, someone found out about the affair and brought it to Mac’s attention.”
Interesting. “Who?”
“No idea. Maybe one of the other human resources people?”
Maybe.
“The little bird who told me this also mentioned that there was some money missing.”
“Really? From where?”
“Not sure it’s even true, so I’ll have to get back to you about that.”
I haven’t moved from my spot on the steps leading down and out of Hudson’s building. Deciding to sit to hear the rest, I put the phone on speaker and set it on my lap. “Is there more?”
“Yeah. So, this part relates to you.”
“Me?”
“Remember how you didn’t complete a formal complaint against Spencer that day? One in writing?”
Yes. “Uh, huh.”
“My tiny bird told me that Mac found out about that and got really pissed.”
“Why?” Why would he care? And I think I know who her bird is. Sheila.
“He’s terrified you’re going to sue.”
“I don’t understand. How could I sue? As far as I could tell from the employee handbook, Spencer followed the rules on my firing.”
“Because, girl, now that we know about Gail and Spencer, it’s going around that she swept that complaint right under the rug to protect herlov-ah.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
“And if that’s the case, you were definitely retaliated against and then wrongfully terminated.”
“It seems that way.” I knew that part already.
“Itwasthat way. You should call a lawyer.”
I snort. “You need money for an attorney.” And besides… if I had money, I’d use it for rent or to pay Hudson back.
“Besides, I’m not keen to sue McAllister. It’s not Mac’s fault Spencer is a creep and Gail’s a terrible person.”
“He’s ultimately responsible for the people he hires.”
I’m quiet, mulling all of this over. “I don’t know.”
“I do. You need to, at the very least, talk to a lawyer. A lot of them will give you a free initial consultation.”
