Cindy Powell uses detective work that she learned from her father as a young girl in her job as a real estate mogul Benson Easton's assistant. Benson needs to know every detail about an associate before doing business with them. It's Cindy who digs...
"I bring out the worst in my enemies, and that's how I get them to defeat themselves." Roy Cohn
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I arrive home, Sam's and my home, around 8:15. It's been a long day behind my computer. As I was getting ready to shut down my laptop, I saw that Dad had emailed me. He knows that I need to have the report prepared for Benson tomorrow morning. I decided to wait until this evening to review my father's findings.
I place my bag on the kitchen table and eat a quick sandwich. I pour myself a Merlot and prepare for a much-needed hot bath. While I enjoy letting the heat from my bath untangle the twisted, tense muscles in my neck and shoulders, I think back to what I discovered today about Gregory Wallace.
He was 38 and twice divorced when he went missing. He graduated from the LSU Online Construction Management program after completing high school.
I found it interesting that both ex-wives had restraining orders against him, and in several jobs, they cited him for sexual harassment. Due to this, Wallace bounced from job to job. He would quit before any companies he worked for had a chance to fire him.
That Holland even considered hiring this man has me concerned. It shows me that their hiring process is lacking if they allow someone of this low caliber to work for their company.
I swallow my last bit of wine and reluctantly leave the tub. I have way too much work waiting for me to indulge myself any further. I wrap a towel around me and enter the bedroom to change into pajamas, then go back to the kitchen, pour another glass of wine, and sit at the table to fire up my laptop. I pull up my dad's email and read through it thoroughly before going back to take notes.
By the time they reported Wallace missing, a few days had passed. The police looked into the disappearance and chalked it up as Wallace left on his own accord. Just because they want to reinvent themselves doesn't mean there's a crime. I did find it odd that he never used his credit cards again after he went missing. They repossessed his home and vehicle for non-payment. His house and everything in it went up for auction. The car has me puzzled because they found it abandoned at the construction site where they last saw him. I discovered the answer to my question regarding why Holland hired him. He's Joe Holland's cousin.
I hear the front door open at 11:15. Sam is home from his shift. I quickly get up and poor him Merlot and refill my third glass. It's been one of those weeks.
"Hey." Sam immediately takes me into his arms and tenderly embraces me. I love the safe feeling that I get while in Sam's arms. It's like coming home to a warm fire blazing in the fireplace on a snowy winter's night. It's my favorite place to be. He kisses the top of my head before releasing me and handing me the case file on the unsolved murder at a Big Dog's construction site.
I hand him his wine and take the folder from him. He follows me to the table and joins me. He enjoys his wine while I peruse the file.
"Wow, Sam, you weren't exaggerating about the lack of leads."
