Saving Each Other

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Six months later and I am head on into my classes. I am keeping a 4.0 average and Libby is going strong. She is getting so big and starting to try to crawl. Juice and Bill have been handling the office and the business is getting busier. I still have my moments and worry about things but it all boils down to the fact that I know Juice is with me and loves me and would never betray me or turn his back on me.

I decide that I need a break from studying and take Libby and head to the shop to see our guys. Pulling up, I see Bill and Juice standing outside the office talking and they don't look happy. "Hey guys." I greet them. They turn and greet me with hugs and kisses. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Nothing you should be worried about." Bill says. "Hey, this is still my business. What's up?" I asked. Juice sighs and leads us all to the office. "We think someone is stealing from us." Juice tells me. "What? How?" I asked. "We think that someone has been having the customers pay him and not having them come to the office to pay us." Bill says. "Oh. Okay. Anyone you suspect?" I asked. "Not yet. It's been so busy around here lately that we can't stop and watch everyone all day." Bill says. "I have one more final to take and then I have a month off before the next semester begins. Why don't I come back for that month and see what I can find out." I suggest. "That's not a bad idea. You sure you will have the time?" Bill asked. "Yeah. I take my last final tonight and then I will have a month off before the next set of classes. I'll keep an eye on things while you guys are in the garage." I tell them.

The next day, I am at work. I take notice of several new guys. Curtis, Bill and Juice are the only guys that have been here more than a couple of months and I Know it isn't any of them. "Welcome back Janie." Curtis greets me. "Thanks Curtis." I say. "How's classes going?" he asked. "Good. Just finished my first semester and waiting on the grades from my finals but doing good." I tell him. "I'm sure you're doing great." he tells me with a smile before heading out to the garage. We decide to have a meeting to tell everyone that I am back and let me meet some of the new guys. "Guys, this is my wife, Janie. She is the owner of this place." Juice introduces me to the guys Chris, Steve and Cameron. "What Juice means is I am one of the owners. It's good to meet you guys. Please make sure to let me know if you need anything ordered. You guys know how this works. Instead of taking invoices to Bill or Juice, they will all come to me until further notice." I tell them. They all nod and I head back to the office. Watching throughout the day, I don't see anyone that's not bringing things to me but they know I am watching so they won't slip up this soon.

Three weeks later, I am in the office and I see a customer pulling out of the lot with her car and I know they didn't come into pay. I make note of the car and at the end of the day, I tell Juice to have everyone hang out for another meeting. Walking out to the garage, I start talking. "I have noticed a couple of cars pulling out of here today without coming to see me to pay. That tells me that someone is not turning in the invoices and taking money for themselves. That doesn't fly with me. No one leaves until we figure out which one of you is skimming. I know, you guys talk while you work so now, I am going to ask this one time. I want to know which one of you were working on these cars today. One is a gray Mazda 3, one is a blue Ford Focus and one was a green Chevy Blazer." I asked. No one says anything. "Curtis, did you see who was working on these? Bill? Juice?" I asked "Chris was working on all three of those." Bill tells me. "Where's the money, Chris?" I asked. "I don't know what they are talking about. I didn't work on those." he tells me, getting mad. "Bull shit. Bill wouldn't lie to me." I tell him. "Just hand over the money and we won't press charges." Juice tells him. Chris stands there for a minute before pulling the money out of his pocket and throwing it in my face before walking off. Juice follows him and grabs him by the shirt. "Don't ever throw shit at my wife again." Juice says. "Fuck you. I needed this job and the money. I'll get even with you and that little cunt you call a wife." Chris seethes. Juice punches him and when Chris gets up, he gets himself in his car and leaves. Hopefully we won't see him again but something tells me we will.