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"There is no connection. Can I grab some coffee?"
I followed her to the coffee pot I had plugged in on the kitchen counter. She poured a cup. Her hands were shaking as she lifted it to her lips.
"Sit down. We aren’t opening this place until you talk," I said.
The rain started to come down. I held up my hand for her to wait for me. Thor was huddled near the back door. I brought him into the small space where the time clock was. I closed the door that led to the kitchen.
Janie’s face resembled a white sheet. Eyes downcast, she took a deep breath.
"I don’t know him well at all. Every once in a while he comes in here. When he first came he asked for me to serve him. I didn’t know why. I thought he just wanted good service and had watched me." So far she had not looked at me. Instead she gazed at the dishwasher. "One day when I left Roasted Love, he met me at the corner. My brother was going to pick me up since my car was in the shop."
I noticed her fingers laced themselves in and out several times.
"What did he want?" I asked.
"He asked me if I wanted to earn some extra money. He knew everything about me. He knew I was a single mom and had two kids to raise by myself. When I asked him how, he smiled and said he would see me the next day when I opened up."
"Was this before or after Jacob was arrested for Michael’s murder?"
"It was a day or so before."
Janie bent her head and began to cry. Her voice rose to full-blown sobs. I waited. The composure I hoped for didn’t come. While her shoulders shook, I thought about the implications of what may have gone on between the Senator and my server.
"Did he ask you to plant evidence in Jacob’s office for him?"
"No. He just asked if I had seen any notes Jacob may have written to Michael." By now she was down to sniffling. "He wanted me to look around Jacob’s desk before anyone got here. I didn’t see any and told him that."
"What was his reaction?"
"He was very angry and told me to do a better job. Then he left in a huff. I wanted to tell you, Laila, but he is powerful. He knew everything about me and that scared me. His wife is up there, too, if you know what I mean."
/> "No, I don’t know what you mean."
"She is in charge of some kind of research place. I heard someone once say she had prestige of some sort. Someone like me can’t refuse important people like the Simms, Laila."
Everything Janie had said so far helped me draw more conclusions. I didn’t want to lose her confidence in me. I patted her hand and got her a fresh cup of coffee.
"I’ll go out and open up. You get yourself together and we will figure this out when we get a break. Don’t worry for now. And from now on, avoid James Simms. I can vary your hours here so you don’t have a set pattern."
"I have to be home for my kids in time."
"I’ll make sure of that. I’m thinking of having you come in a half hour later and maybe stay a half hour later or something like that."
A weak smile told me she was glad to unburden on me. As for me, the load only increased. It was possible Janie played a bigger part than she was telling me. She had access to the place before we started the day. I wondered how she felt when I had told her I would come in earlier.
The rain had stopped and the sun was trying to come out. I remembered Thor and took a dog biscuit to him before I let him outside.
"I wonder if I foiled her plans for more crime by coming in earlier," I said to Thor. Almond eyes told me he agreed with me.
Chapter Twenty One
That afternoon when Janie clocked out, I told her to let me know if she heard from James Simms again. My eyes scanned the street in front until Janie pulled from the employee parking area. Uneasiness crept over me. Something was just not right.
"There is someone on the phone who wants to talk to you, Laila," said Lily. "It is someone answering the ad for more help."
I took the call in Jacob’s office and set up an interview for the caller for the next day. Then I called Daniel. His voice sounded like he had just awakened thanks to my call. I remembered he worked the night before.
"I’m sorry," I said. "I forgot you were on call last night. Were there any emergencies?"
