Page 55 of Tony

“I’ll call it a security business, but it’s a little different than ours. It’s more…covert.”

“Covert?” BJ asked.

This had the attention of Vinny, Gabe, and Jobe immediately; having served with Jack they knew his penchant for covert operation planning and gadgets.

“He’s created a team of people with diverse backgrounds and specialties. They’re still pretty new, but are having some real successes with their missions.”

“And Jack wants to work with us?” Gabe asked.

Tony nodded before continuing. “Right now, we have just verbally agreed to help each other out on cases where we think sharing will be beneficial. We’ll consider the details at a later time.” Looking over at Vinny, he added, “Don’t worry, Vinny. You’ll still get to provide security for your starlets and rocker girls when they come into town.”

“Thank God,” Vinny quipped. “Which reminds me, when am I going to get one of those assignments?”

The others chuckled as Tony replied, “Got something in the works right now. I’ll let you know as soon as the details are worked out.”

Lily headed back toward her office with a smile, patting Vinny on the shoulders as she went by. “One day, Vinny, love’s going to hit you when you least expect, and I am going to sit back and enjoy watching it knock you for a loop.” With a wink, she left the conference room.

Gabe turned toward his twin saying, “I’m telling you bro. Don’t mix work and pleasure. I did and it was a fuckin’ disaster.”

Vinny reared back in his seat smiling. “That’s ‘cause you forgot to let ‘em know it was only for one night.”

As the meeting broke up, Tony felt lighter than he had in a long time. Business was good. Sherrie was good.Maybe, just maybe things are looking up.

* * *

Sherrie was back at work and more determined than ever to check up on Betina. She called her school and made an appointment to meet with one of her teachers. Finishing her work for Mr. Marks, she headed to the school during lunchtime. Once she checked in with the front office, she was escorted to Mrs. Rushmore’s English classroom, where the teacher agreed to meet with her during her planning time.

“Thank you so much for seeing me on such short notice,” Sherrie greeted, sitting down with the friendly teacher.

“It’s my pleasure. I want to help Betina as much as I can.”

“I have some questions that go beyond the ordinary ones that I can easily get elsewhere, if you don’t mind,” she said.

Mrs. Rushmore acquiesced and Sherrie pulled her pad and pen from her purse. “When I ask Betina about friends, she indicates that she doesn’t really have any. Is this true? Do you see her hanging out with any other students? Girlfriends? A boyfriend?”

The teacher shook her head, answering, “She really is a quiet, good student. I was shocked when I heard that she ran away—she definitely is not a behavior problem here at school. Being a rather poor inner-city school, we have our share of problem students, but she’s not one of them. Unfortunately, we lose some kids to the streets and gangs every day, but again, she’s never been a problem. I don’t see her walking in the halls with other students consistently. She does meet and greet almost everyone. I know she would be embarrassed if she realized that someone had noticed this, but she really has the most giving personality.”

Sherrie lifted her gaze from her notes to the teacher. “How so? In what way?”

“Well, when I have cafeteria duty, I see her hanging back, watching the other students. And the ones that don’t have lunch money, she casually goes to them and gives them lunch money.”

Gives them money? Where does she get that money from if her work at the grocery doesn’t pay much?

Mrs. Rushmore continued, “She always talks to them for a few minutes and then they head up to the line where they get lunch. A few of these kids have left our school, but I’m sure they’ll always remember her kindness.”

Filing that information away, she asked about Betina’s classwork and once again found the teacher with nothing but praise. Standing at the end of the interview, Sherrie gave her a business card and asked if she would call or email if she thought of anything else.

Walking back to her car, her mind was filled with Mrs. Rushmore’s words.Always gives lunch money to the kids who can’t afford it.She remembered Betina talking to the kids after school, telling them they could get food at the Valesquez store.

Walking back into the law office, she went directly to see Simon. He looked up, a smile on his face as he greeted her, and she noticed Mr. Marks was sitting in there as well. She started to back out of the room, but they beckoned her in.

“I hate to be a bother, but I had a question and perhaps you two are the perfect ones to ask.” Taking a deep breath, hoping her employers would not think her ridiculous, she asked, “Do you ever get a feeling that something just doesn’t add up when you are talking to a client?”

Both men looked surprised and confused, so she rushed to explain. “I’m still working on Betina’s case and while I have no evidence, I justfeellike something isn’t adding up.”

“Intuition, my dear,” Mr. Marks said. “You must look at facts, but never fail to listen to your intuition.”

Simon added, “You’d make a good lawyer, Sherrie. You’re book smart, but you’re very people smart as well. I’d say keep digging.”

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