Page 10 of Haystacks and Hoaxes

Rock had anticipated these questions, so he was ready with answers. “Mila disclosed her relationship to you on her job application, so I knew about it from the start. Since the two of you are family, I had no reason to believe you weren’t already informed about, well…everything.” The last part wasn’t entirely true. The more Rock had dug through Mila’s background on social media, the more apparent it had become that she and her stepbrother led very separate lives. Decker wasn’t in any of her pictures, and she wasn’t in any of his. It had been easy to connect the dots.

Decker’s mutinous expression didn’t ease. “Seems to me you would’ve at least approached me for a character reference or something.”

“For your own sister?” Rock continued to play his part, spreading his hands innocently. “To be honest, I was a little surprisedyounever approachedmeabout the topic. When you didn’t, I naturally assumed you were recusing yourself to avoid influencing my hiring decision about a family member.” It seemed like the right juncture to toss in a gentle reminder of any biases his boss might harbor against his stepsister.

Decker pushed away from the door, stalking in his direction. “Why do you feel Mila is the right person for the job? Since she’s spent most of her adult life employed as a makeup artist, there’s no way she has much relevant job experience.”

“She has none.” Rock felt it was best to keep his answers brutally honest. “What she has is a rare gift for capturing what she sees to the most infinitesimal detail.” He opened the manila folder and held out the three sketches she’d included with her job application. “I screened dozens of other applicants. I assure you that her artistic abilities stand head and shoulders above them all.”

Decker accepted the sketches Rock was holding out, claiming one of the chairs in front of his desk while he scowled over them. “She has skill. I’ll give her that.”

Rock snorted. It was an understatement bordering on insulting. “They’re worthy of framing and hanging on the wall. They make you feel like you can step right into the picture.” Before Decker could respond, Rock flipped opened Mila’s sketchpad to reveal her latest drawing. He turned it around so Decker could see it. “It only took her about five minutes to draw this one.”

Decker leaned closer to the sketchpad, looking fully arrested. “Unbelievable.”

That was the reaction Rock had been hoping for. “The years of experience listed on the resumes of the other candidates paled in comparison to this.” He tapped a finger against the drawing she’d made of Decker. “She won’t simply draw what she sees at a crime scene, she’ll add in the malice still hanging in the air and the scent of the decaying corpse stretched out at her feet.”

Decker straightened. “She’s always had a flair for drama. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised her art reflects it.”

“But you are.” Rock didn’t hesitate to pounce on that detail. “Speaking of drama, someone with a background in theater makeup might feel like a God-send to my fellow investigators before you send them undercover.”Like my brother, for instance.

Decker shook his head, looking bemused. “You can be very convincing when you feel so strongly about something.”

But had Rock been convincing enough? He leaned closer to his boss, going for the money shot. “If we were discussing anyone besides a member of your family, would you approve my hiring decision?”

Decker met his gaze squarely. “We’re a private company. We can hire anyone we want.”

And turn anyone away that you don’t want.Rock’s heart sank at what his boss had left unsaid.

“As for her being the right person for the job, I need you not to be wrong about her.” Decker’s voice took on an urgent edge. He didn’t explain what he meant by that, and Rock didn’t ask.

“I’m not wrong.” Elation flooded his chest and spread.We did it! We actually did it!It was as easy as breathing to include Mila in the win. From the moment she’d stepped into his office, he could sense how badly she wanted the job. He scooted his job offer in Decker’s direction, pen and all.

Decker picked up the pen and clicked the silver button to extend the ink tip. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he muttered, scrawling out his signature on the designated line. He tossed the pen down and stood. “Though starting a forensics team was my baby, this is the part where we pull Gil back into the loop. You’re going to need to tap into his thirty-something years as a sheriff for what comes next.”

“Will do.” Rock felt like breaking into a two-step as he stood. “Thank you for trusting my judgment.”

Decker quirked a smile at him. “Mila is coming over for dinner this evening. Believe me, you just made her visit a lot more pleasant.”

His boss’s demeanor suggested that a visit from Mila wasn’t a common occurrence. “Glad I could help.” Rock couldn’t hold back a grin, feeling very much like he should take a little credit for it. He also didn’t waste a second dialing Mila after Decker left his office.

She picked up on thefirst ring. “Hey, Rock!” She sounded out of breath, like she’d run a mile to reach the phone.

“Welcome to Lonestar Security, partner!” She’d technically be working for him, but he didn’t want her to focus on that. He wanted her to feel like she was joining a team. As the only two forensic artists at Lonestar Security, they would be in this together.

Chapter 3: Baffling Discovery

Seconds ticked past while Rock waited for Mila to respond.

“You still there?” he prodded to make sure they hadn’t gotten disconnected.

A faint sniffling sound met his ears. “I’m here.” She sounded choked up. “Having a bit of a happy meltdown. Sorry.” A damp laugh eased out of her.

It was his turn to feel awkward. He hadn’t meant to make her cry.

“Thank you,” she added in a rush. “I don’t know what you did to convince my brother to hire someone with zero experience, but I’m grateful. More than you’ll ever know.”

His reasons were simple, and he didn’t mind sharing them. “Your drawings sold themselves.” Mostly. He’d given his boss a few additional nudges, but she didn’t need to know that, at least not today. “You have a real gift, Mila. Your brother said so himself.”

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