Page 22 of Sleigh My Heart

He turned the corner and entered the coffee shop in the middle of the mall. If there was anyone who knew the employees of this mall better than him, it would be Shanti. Everyone who lives on caffeine stops in the Caffeinated Bean for a cup of joe or a pop.

“Hey, Nick! I didn’t see you this morning. The usual?”

Shanti’s wide smile appeared over the machines and steam as she prepared a customer’s latte.

“Sounds good.” He watched while she finished with the college-age girl’s coffee and waited for her to start his. “Shanti, do you know a woman working in the mall named Margarita?”

“Hmm, not sure. It sounds familiar. What does she look like?”

“Not sure. But she sings.”

She set his black coffee on the counter. As she rang up his order, she scrunched her brows. “Oh, are you talking about Rita? She works at the plus size shop next to The Gap?”

“Is she dating Cliff, the seasonal maintenance guy?” Nick tapped his credit card on the machine.

“The big guy with a beard? Yeah, I think so.”

“Thanks, Shanti. You’re the best.” Nick raised his cup to her in a salute, then left.

Now to see if this Rita was working. Nick downed his coffee as he crossed the mall to the plus-size women’s clothing shop. He walked in and a pretty woman in her early thirties was stocking shelves. Her long black braids hung down to hips that swayed to the song playing through the speakers. As he got closer, he could hear her singing that Mariah Carey Christmas song. Wow, this had to be her. The lady had some pipes on her.

He cleared his throat.

She jumped. “Oh, you scared me.”

“Sorry.”

“Can I help you?” The blush deepened her cheek color.

“Are you Margarita?”

Her perfectly shaped brows knit together. “Who wants to know?”

“Me. I’m Nick Jolley, head of mall security. Do you know Cliff Garmen?”

“What did he do? He promised he was done with that life.” She dropped a hand to her hip, one long red and green nail tapped.

“Nothing that I know of. I just have a couple questions. Do you know where I can find him?”

“I haven’t seen him in a week. I figured he blew me off for that floozy at Claire’s.”

“If you hear from him, please let me know.” He handed her his card and left. Time to do a little digging into Cliff and Jonny’s employment files.

***

The maintenance area sat in the back center of the mall. A cavernous room with everything from landscaping gear to signage. Off to the right was a small office with a plaque on the door. The word manager was in bold capital letters.

Michelle knocked… Nothing. She pressed an ear to the door. Silence. Slipping a gloved hand around the knob, she turned it. The door opened. She glanced over her shoulder. No workers.

“Hello?” She stuck her head in. A messy desk, covered with papers, a disposable coffee cup, and a half-eaten donut sat in the middle of the room. Moving inside, she left the door open. She wasn’t breaking and entering. It was unlocked. She touched the coffee cup—cold.

She checked the time: 4:35p.m. Quitting time? But wouldn’t they clean up? Or at least lock up?

The door creaked. Michelle glanced over her shoulder. A tall, skinny man in overalls with the name Junior on his chest leaned against the doorframe. There was something familiar about him.

“Excuse you. This is my office.”

She faced him. “I’m Officer Swenson. Are you the manager? I have a couple questions about Jonny Staniski and Cliff Garmen.”