I chuckled. “I’m sure. But I can’t ask them to pay for my lifestyle without contributing.”
“You’re still thinking as a human. Your happiness is theirs. Their wealth is yours. They won’t know how to think any other way.”
She was right, that was a foreign concept to a modern American human woman. I wasn’t sure that would ever sit right with me, but it was worth talking to them about. Maybe we could work out a deal where we took turns working, that way we all contributed but also got to have fun.
While I was thinking about that, my phone rang, and I had to stand up to pull it out of my back pocket. I felt a little fear at the sight of Jim's number.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Bec,” Cheryle said.
“Is Jim okay?” I asked.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “He’s awake and talking but confused. He doesn’t remember anything, but the doctors say that’s normal.”
“I’m so relieved,” I said. “When I didn't hear back when I texted Jim’s phone, I thought the worst.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “His family has been calling and texting me nonstop for updates. I didn’t check Jim’s phone until I needed to call you for a favor, but that’s no excuse. You left several messages and I should’ve texted you. I feel horrible that I made you worry!”
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m so happy he’s going to be okay. What favor can I do?”
“The silent alarm at Jim’s office is sending his phone an alert,” she said. “He doesn’t want me to call the police, but I can tell he’s concerned.”
“I can go over there and check,” I said. “If anything is wrong, I’ll call you first before calling the cops.”
“That’s perfect,” she said, her voice heavy with relief. “He’s got a lot of sensitive information in that office. He’s worried that one of his client’s ex-husbands might’ve broken in to find her currentaddress. He wants to warn her if necessary, but he doesn’t want to scare her if it’s just some teenagers being dumb.”
“I’ll go over there right now,” I said, urgency making me pace a tight circle while I talked. “I’ll call as soon as I know something.”
“Thank you, Bec,” Cheryle said. “Could you visit the hospital tomorrow? I think talking to you would make Jim feel better.”
“Of course,” I said. We talked a little longer about what time was best and then I ended the call and looked at Ysabella. “Can you take Hugo back to my place after he and Muggsie are done playing?”
After a short rest, Hugo had found a stick and talked Muggsie into playing tug-of-war.
She nodded. “Certainly. Is everything okay?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I said. “But I really need to go check”
“Certainly,” she said, waving me off.
Focused on doing something that would make Jim feel better, I rushed to my car. It was only when I was halfway there that I realized I didn’t have a purse and I hadn’t told the guys I was leaving. I always carried a little cash in the car, so I’d pick up Bear Buns on the way back to apologize.
Thankfully traffic was light, and I was there in fifteen minutes. The front door was closed but when I pushed, it opened. I knew I’d locked it, so this wasn’t good.
I eased it open and poked my head inside. There were some papers on the floor, but nothing else looked out of place. The place reeked of pot. There was a head shop next door that had heavy bars on the window. I bet some stupid kids thought they could get in there through our office.
Both annoyed and relieved, I walked all the way inside. “Whoever’s in here, please leave now, and I won’t press any charges.”
As the front door closed behind me, I expected some sullen teenagers to walk out of Jim’s office. The person who stepped into view shocked the hell out of me.
“Gale!” I exclaimed.
“Finally the person I’ve been looking for!” she said. “Did you find Hugo? I need him!”
“I called you,” I said. Now wasn’t the time to tell her that I knew about her illegal activities. I needed to get her to my condo, then the twins could help me.
“My phone account got hacked,” she said. “I haven’t been able to do anything. Damn hackers! They want crypto currency to release my account. Can you believe that?”
