While Ginny said she checked McKenna’s references and past employer, had she run a background check? Doubtful. And there were other odd remarks. When Ginny said she needed him in the office. Not wanted, needed. Had she meant something by the remark? The night they’d been locked in AJ’s office, McKenna said, “With the way things are going with us working together so far, I’ll be lucky if I still have a job when Ginny returns, and I won’t go through that again.”
Was there something in her past she didn’t want him and Ginny knowing?
Definitely time for him to check into McKenna’s background. Deciding to start with his grandma to determine for sure what she’d done, he went to see her, but found her in physical therapy.
He could contact the company Big Stake Games used for background checks, but that would take time. Zane smiled. What good was having the chief of police for a good friend if he couldn’t get a background check in a pinch?
Fifteen minutes later when Zane walked into the police department’s front office. He smiled at the older woman behind the desk, the town’s dispatcher-office manager. “Good morning, Marjorie. Aren’t you a fine sight who’d brighten anyone’s morning?”
“You think you can waltz in here and disrupt our day?” Though AJ was the chief, word around town was Marjorie really ran the department. People complained about her gruff and tough attitude, but his handful of interactions with her had been pleasant enough. That didn’t mean she was a complete pushover.
He shook his head and plastered a serious look on his face. “I wouldn’t dream of bothering y’all if it weren’t important. Since you know AJ’s schedule better than he does, can he spare a few minutes for me?”
“It’s about official business?”
I fear the woman I’m involved with took me for a fool and about six grand.“Yes, ma’am. I wouldn’t lie about that.”
The older woman eyed him up and down, before telling him to head into AJ’s office. “You can have five minutes. Not a second more.”
“Thanks, Marjorie. What would AJ do without you?”
She grinned. “You remind him about that. Annual review time’s coming up.”
Once inside his friend’s office, Zane sank into the chair in front of the desk. He nodded toward the closed door. “The boss gave me five minutes.”
“I should knock you upside the head after the little surprises you left here,” AJ said.
“You deserved that and more for your stunt.” Zane’s insides twisted at the reminder of that night. Of McKenna and what a fool he’d been. “I need your help. What do you know about McKenna?”
AJ’s right eyebrow crooked upward. “You’d know more than me.”
“I’m asking in an official capacity.”
AJ straightened and shifted into chief mode. “What happened?”
“Nothing for sure.”
“She hasn’t had any parking tickets. No one’s reported having problems with her.”
Zane leaned forward bracing his arms on his thighs. “Why would someone who worked in Houston as a wedding planner take a job here as Ginny’s assistant? Am I the only one who thinks that doesn’t make sense?”
“Haven’t you heard? Moving to a small town to get away from big city life is the trend. Maybe that’s what McKenna wanted.”
Zane shook his head. “Driven career women only leave a job for a better one or a raise. But she took a lower level position, and I bet she took a pay cut, too. Why do that unless she was desperate?”
“Have you asked McKenna why she took the job?”
Zane explained though he hadn’t asked her directly, she’d mentioned Lucky Stars had potential and wanted to help it grow.
“What’s really going on?” AJ stared Zane down.
Damn. Combine his chief of police intensity with years of knowing Zane and intimidating didn’t begin to describe AJ’s look.
Resisting the urge to confess his every sin, Zane remained still. What could he say? He had a missing shadow box. An employee with an unknown past. No evidence a crime had occurred. Nothing solid only his suspicions. Even if he leveled with AJ, what could his friend do? Probably nothing.
“When I leave, Ginny will need to rely on McKenna more. I want to make sure she’s worthy of her trust.”
“How well did Ginny check her background before hiring her?”
