Page 17 of Home Again

“I just found out what he’s paying her. It’s not even minimum wage, and he has her on salary, and I know that she works more than forty hours a week.”

“You’ve got to be shitting me.”

“I’m not.”

Gianna threw down the file and grabbed the one that said Neil on it. With him, she found a letter written three years ago that looked like some bogus employment contract, that showed him getting a fifty-cent raise. It went on to state the original terms of employment which stated no paid vacation, five paid holidays, and no health insurance. Gianna felt her eyes begin to burn with tears.

She explained to Jada everything she read. “That’s not legal, is it? He has to provide health insurance, right?”

“No honey, small employers don’t,” Jada whispered.

“Why didn’t they quit?”

“I don’t know what kind of jobs are available there in that little town.”

“But Lazar has a lot of money, you hacked his bank accounts! He’s a cheap, stinking, gnarled, skeezy, lint-licker!”

“Yes, he is,” Jada said soothingly. “But this isn’t what we’re after. You need to keep on track, okay? We need information that will help us find your mom. If we can find something on him that will help us blackmail him so he will tell us what he might know about your mom, or any information on Etta Rose, then we’re golden.”

Gianna wiped away her tears on the sleeve of her hoodie.

“You’re right. Did you find anything to help break into the desk drawers?”

“Yeah, I’m going to need you to crawl under the desk and find out the maker's mark. It should be listed on a brass plate.”

Gianna stuffed the files that she had gone through back into the credenza and started to crawl back to the desk. At least the office was carpeted.

When she got under the desk, she couldn’t see anything. It was too dark. “Hey, Jada, I’m going to have to call you back. I need to turn on my phone’s flashlight to see anything under here, and I don’t know how to operate two functions at once.”

“You could use my phone,” a low voice rumbled.

Gianna screamed, jerked up, and slammed her head on the bottom of the desk.

“Owwww,” she cried. She fell onto the floor in pain.

“What the fuck is happening?” Jada screeched.

Gianna curled up into the fetal position and squealed when a warm hand gently touched her back.

“Calm down, honey, I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s me, Sebastian. I need to see how badly you hurt yourself.”

Gianna whimpered and reached around to the back of her head. It felt hot and she could swear she already feel a lump forming.

“Can I help you out from underneath there?”

“Sebastian, what’s wrong with Gianna?” Jada demanded to know.

His touch was tender as he drew her out from under the desk. Gianna looked up into his concerned eyes. “Can you sit up?”

She nodded, then regretted it. “I’m fine,” she said as she pushed herself up into a seated position then slumped back against the desk.

“Would somebody tell me what the fuck is going on?” Jada yelled.

Gianna closed her eyes, knowing she was in a ton of trouble.

“Your partner in crime smacked her head on the bottom of the desk. I’m trying to see how bad it is.”

“Do you have any medical training, SEAL boy?”