Page 25 of In the Line of Ire

"Yes,sir!"

"Great!Step into my office and I'll get you a name pin," said Oliver as wewalked off the stairs and went through another heavy door that ledinto a narrow corridor. "My office is right here. If you needanything, come and see me, although anyone you ask will be morethan glad to help you out. Since I’m in the office and you’re onthe shop floor, we’ll barely see each other. I'll stamp your timecard at the end of the week and you can pick up your paycheck fromme too. As a policy, we don't tolerate any tardiness but we alsoappreciate that it can happen for reasons beyond human control, soplease call us right away if you get delayed for whatever reason.Here's your schedule and your name pin. Please wear it at all timeswhen in the store."

I tookthe name pin and attached it to my blouse pocket.

"I'llshow you the restrooms and the employee breakroom. Your schedulelists your personal break times. Then I'll take you downstairs toyour section. Ron probably told you that we wanted a new salesgirlin the accessories department. Do you know very much about purses,wallets, and all that kind of stuff?"

"I readlots of fashion magazines," I told him. "And I'm very good ataccessorizing."

"I'lltake your word for it since I don't know a Vuitton from a KateSpade."

"Well,one's French and..."

Oliverwaved his hand. "I don't need to know! I'm just glad you do. Therestroom is here," he said, waving at the doorway as we passed."Please keep it as clean as you hope to find it. And here's thebreakroom. Pick out any empty locker and store your personalbelongings inside there. The microwave, dishwasher and refrigeratorare for everyone to use but I suggest you plainly label anythingyou put inside the fridge. Did you bring your lunch?"

"No, Ithought I'd get a sandwich somewhere closeby today."

"TrySally's in the food court. They make great sandwiches. Ah, here'sour new area manager," he said, raising his hand. "He's justvisiting from the head office for a couple of weeks to see howwe're running things here. You're both new so maybe you can helpeach other out."

Iturned, my fake smile ready and poised but when I saw the areamanager, my eyes bugged and my smile faltered.

"Lexi,meet Adam!"

"Hi!" I squeaked as Special Agent Adam Maddox stepped intoview. He was wearing a blue suit and an open-necked, white shirt. Apin that readAdam, AreaManager, was attached tohis breast pocket.

Maddoxbarely blinked as he assessed me without any shame. "You're the newsales assistant?" he asked.

"That'sright!" I squeaked again.

Oliverlooked alternatively between us. "Do you two know eachother?"

"I knowLexi's brothers," said Maddox smoothly.

"Throughwork," I chirped at the same time.

"I onceworked with Lexi's brother," added Maddox.

"We knoweach other socially," I said, my comment overlapping his. "That isto say, Adam worked with my brother and I met him then." I closedmy mouth before I confused the situation any further.

"That'sgreat," said Oliver. "Adam, can you take Lexi down to the shopfloor and get her set up? I have to return to my office. Lexi, ifyou need anything else, we're all about the teamwork here. Everyoneis happy to help you out and eager to show you the ropes." He mimedpulling on rigging ropes. Why he needed to do that, I had no idea,but I did like Oliver's friendly nature. He gave us both a smallwave before he disappeared through the door.

"Whatare you doing here?" Maddox and I hissed at each other inconcert.

"Workinga case," we both whispered back.

"Youfirst," said Maddox.

"Why me?You're already established here! What are you doinganyway?"

"Exactly! I got here first. So spill. That's therules."

Ithought about his logic for a moment. If I were him, I would dependon the rules too. "Okay, fine. Counterfeit purses are being soldout of this department store and at least one other store that weknow of in the mall. The mall board hired the agency to investigatewho's behind it before they get the police involved."

Maddoxnodded thoughtfully. "This other store, would it happen to be thesame one where a woman was found murdered?"

"Yes!Heavenly Handbags! I discovered the body. We wondered if she mighthave been in on it or maybe she stumbled across something inprogress."

Maddox'seyes widened in alarm. "Damn! Are you okay?"

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