The Hidden Truth

Chapter Seven: Short and Sweet

Over the next few days I began searching through the human resource department while the secretaries and office managers were on their breaks or out of the office on a call somewhere in the plant. I knew it was a long shot but I thought for sure I’d find something even if it was a small little detail pointing me in the right direction. I knew deep down that my father's death was no accident and I aimed to prove it. Every drawer and cupboard I sifted through revealed nothing more than I already knew. 

On friday morning, I head straight to Jose’s office on the top floor and ask for the production manager’s position. I thought that I might have to do some begging since the last time I was in his office he told me not to bring up days off anymore. Instead, he grants me the position with an extra $20.00 an hour and a $3,000.00 Christmas bonus as well as giving me the entire weekend off including today. It turns out that Jose is more charitable in December than any other time of the year. In fact he decided to close down the shop for the rest of the day. Some of the workers had a difference of opinion and he allowed them to continue working if they chose to do so and tripled their pay for the day. 

Larry and the guys wanted to hangout at my place. I guess they didn’t want their wives to know they got the day off with pay and I was the only one that told my girlfriend everything. At least that’s what Andrea told the guys at our first poker game. I figured it would be a good idea if the guys saw me begging to do whatever Andrea wanted to get her to come back over. After all, I do kind of like the girl. 

After about an hour and a half along with some unsavory requests I’ve agreed to, Andrea shows up with a huge smile on her face and a crazy lie about where she’s been hiding out. I knew she had gone back to her apartment in Ventura and that’s at least an hour from here. She on the other hand told the guys that she was at her friend Monica’s house about five blocks away and I knew. The only thing swimming in my head is that she must have found some incriminating information in my car. Andrea has some explaining to do once the guys leave but for now I play along. 

We all continue to sit in the living room sharing stories about our significant others. Well, the rest of the guys do and Andrea joins them with tales of me and her being high school sweethearts and such. Never spilling anything that wasn’t true other than the two of us being together. How she found out about me is beyond my thinking at the moment but she played our relationship off without a snag and for that I am thankful. 

About one in the morning after everyone leaves, I sit down with Andrea at the kitchen table. “Where did you find all that information about me?”

“Do you even know what I do for a living?”

“No.”

“I’m an attorney, and detective work is my specialty.” 

“So, you did go through my car.”

“No, but I was going to since you refused to talk to me other than snapping on me for going overboard but I didn’t. In fact, you had already given me all the information about who to ask in two little words. Mabel O’Shea.”

I buried my face in my hands realizing that she figured out the link between Kenneth and Mabel but it didn’t stop her from talking. 

“Yea, I too know Ken and I also know just what to say to him to get him to spill the beans.”

I rest my hands on the table as I ask, “What else do you know?”

“I know about your siblings but what I don’t understand is why you're not out there looking for them. Instead you’re sitting here playing cards with your work buddies as if nothing else matters in your life. I mean the kids are your family and they should come first not your wannabe friends.”

“It's complicated. Besides you only know half of what I’m doing or have done. You think I’m not out there trying to find them? I am but I can only do so much with the amount of time I have.”

“Then why not let me help you?”

I turned silent as a million and one question stormed my mind clouding my judgement. I get up and head to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. I twist the cap off and take a huge swallow before realizing I grabbed one of the beers the guys left behind. Shockingly it didn’t have the same effect on me as it did when I was younger. I then lean against the counter and Andrea closes the distance between us as she wraps her arms around me and whispers, “Please let me help.”

I take a deep breath and another drink of the beer before agreeing to her request. As much as I despise outsiders, I knew that her skill set could turn the tables on Carol once and for all. Giving me sole custody of the children. 

A smile grows on my face as we sit down at the table to discuss what information I had to aid her. All the while the beer in my hands continues to grow warm. 

As soon as we finish Andrea gets to work on what she calls a case while I dump out the bottle and head to bed. Nothing more than Andrea and the time I will be spending with her over the course of the next two weeks occupies my mind, making it hard to succumb to sleep. I have a feeling she is doing this on purpose but I don’t know what the woman sees in me. Or any woman for that matter.