"My gut says she's not."
"Your gut or something lower?" At my glare, Stone held up his hands. "I'm trying to keep you alive. That's my job."
He was right. I knew he was right.
"Okay. Run deeper checks. Triple-check everything. Another round of interviews."
"And the polygraph?"
"Fine. Anyone we're seriously considering gets polygraphed."
"Including Julia?"
"Especially Julia." I met his gaze. "If she's clean, I'm hiring her. But we do this right."
Stone gathered the folders, stood. Paused at the door. "You know what worries me most?"
"What?"
"Even if she passes every check, even if Forrest finds nothing, even if she's exactly who she claims to be—she's still adistraction. You're about to expand into new territory. You need focus. She's going to be a problem."
"Maybe."
"Not maybe. Definitely." He studied me. "And you're going to hire her anyway, aren't you?"
I should say no. Should tell him I'd be objective, rational, smart.
"Probably," I admitted.
Stone shook his head. "At least you're honest." He opened the door, before looking over his shoulder. "For what it's worth? I hope I'm wrong about her. I hope she's exactly who she seems. Because if she's not—"
"I know. Concrete shoes. Sleeping with the fishes. All the clichés."
"I was going to say 'heartbreak,' but sure, death works too."
He left.
I sat at my desk, staring at Julia's folder.
Stone was right. I was compromised. Making decisions based on attraction instead of logic.
But something about Julia felt... right. Beyond the physical attraction, beyond the way she made me laugh. Lately I’d been bored with life. Even planning the expansion deal with Big Sal hadn’t been enough to fill the void.
But Julia had been genuine talking about that horse race. Passionate, alive, real. There was also something mysterious about her. She interested me in a way no one had in a long time.
Either she was exactly who she claimed, or she was the best actress I'd ever met.
I pulled out my phone, texted Stone:Schedule second interviews for this week.
His response came immediately:Already done. Thursday.
Of course he had.
I opened Julia's file again. Studied her photo.
"Who are you really?" I murmured.
Only one way to find out.
