“George? To what do I owe the pleasure?” Geena’s voice was warm with a hint of amusement.
“Hi, Geena. Andi and I are both here. How are you?”
“Probably better than you two.”
“What makes you think so?” George was grinning from ear to ear. He loved talking to Geena.
“Because we talked only two weeks ago, which means it’s another six days till our next scheduled social call. The only reason I can think of for you to call me earlier is that you need my help. Hi, Andi, by the way.”
“Hi, Geena.”
“You’re wise beyond your years, Geena. We’re in the middle of a case and an agent from the FBI is giving us some grief. We’re also suspicious as to why she’s involved with our case in the first place. Do you think you could do some digging?”
“I can certainly try. What’s her name?”
“Agent Susannah DeCapristo.”
“Hmm, can’t say her name rings any bells. Then again, the agency is huge. Give me a few days.”
“Thank you, Geena. You’re the best.”
“I know.” She ended the connection, which was typical for her. She loved having the last word.
“The queen is in position.” Andi tapped the screen to get back to the main menu.
“Did you just compare Geena to a chess piece? You don’t even play!”
Andi shrugged. “It just came to mind.”
“Well, it’s not incorrect. Let’s hope Geena can find something useful for us.” George set the blinker before he turned onto the long driveway leading to the parking lot of Paradise Home.
Shelby Delaine was already waiting for them in her office when the receptionist led them there. She asked them to take a seat and then stared at them from behind her desk. Shelby was in her early sixties, if George had to guess, a plump woman with a mass of dark hair that surely had once been as black as a raven’s wing but was now interspersed with enough silvery strands to make it look lighter. Her whole demeanor was that of a woman who was used to taking charge and doing hard work.
“Detectives George Donovan and Andrew Hayes. I have to admit I don’t know what to make of your request for an appointment. The officer asking for it was quite evasive.” She raised one slim brow.
“I’m sorry if Officer Kaustrowitz came across as impolite. He’s fresh from the academy and still learning.” George thought it best to give this preemptive apology to appease the director. “As to why we wanted this appointment, we’re investigating the death of Suzie Monahan, and I understand she was an employee here?”
The way Ms. Delaine’s eyes hardened didn’t bode well. Next to him, Andi leaned back a bit, indicating George should take it more slowly.
“Yes, Mrs. Monahan was in our employ.” The director didn’t say more.
George put on his best smile reserved for charming older women. It had no visible effect. He sighed inwardly. It would have been preferable if Shelby had started talking of her own volition.
“Ms. Delaine, let me be frank. We’ve already talked to Tucker Monahan, Suzie’s husband. We know about her kleptomania.”
The director’s eyes turned to flint, and her expression hardened to the point where George thought she could double as a marble statue in the Uffizi Gallery. And then he understood.
“We’re not here to investigate as to why you let somebody with a psychological condition work in your house. On the contrary, we find it admirable that you gave her a chance.”
“Until it bit me in the ass.” The amount of self-deprecation in the woman’s voice almost made George flinch.
“You took a chance on somebody who apparently didn’t have it easy in life. Even if it didn’t work out, you at least tried. Which is more than most people would have done. I’m sure Suzie appreciated it, even if her illness proved stronger in the end.”
It had been the right words. The director visibly relaxed. “She was such a good nurse. The old folks loved her. And she was so sure she had a handle on it.”
“Is that the reason you didn’t write anything about it in her employer’s reference?”
“That and I knew she wouldn’t have been able to get another job. She promised she would look for a job with fewer temptations. Plus, I’m not entirely sure if a medical condition such as this doesn’t fall under medical confidentiality. It’s a very gray area, and I had no intention of getting caught up in a lawsuit.”
