Page 32 of Someone to Call My Own

“Was there anything missing in the shipment last week?” I asked, getting right to the point.

“No,” she said shaking her head. My heart sank because I knew she was lying to me. “Wait,” Michelle said suddenly. “I got a call from my niece’s school that she was sick and needed to be picked up. My sister was out of town on business and Tiana was staying with me. I had just started logging the inventory into the system when they called me.”

I was a good judge of character and knew damn well she was telling the truth. In fact, now that she mentioned it, I recalled seeing her shorter hours for that day. “The entire inventory was entered with your employee number. Who finished the task for you?” I asked her. Michelle’s eyes widened in alarm as she realized something was wrong.

“Alexander,” she said quietly. “I didn’t log off, and he must’ve continued logging them in under my number.” She swallowed hard before she asked, “Is there liquor missing?”

“More than two thousand dollars’ worth.”

“Oh my God!” Michelle covered her mouth and closed her eyes. “You think Alexander stole the liquor and used my employee number so that I would take the fall?”

“There’s only one way to find out,” I replied.

“He’s off tonight,” Michelle told me.

“That gives us time to formulate a plan and set a trap then, doesn’t it? Will you be able to act like nothing happened until the next shipment arrives in a month?”

“That little fucker! I’m going to kick his puny ass!” Michelle rose from her chair and placed her hands on her hips and blew out a harsh breath. “There, I got it out of my system for now. I’m good to go.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive, boss. I won’t let you down. I’m sorry that you doubted me for even a second.” I could hear the hurt in her voice and knew I needed to act fast.

“I’m the kind of man who’s had to rely on gut instinct more than physical evidence for the majority of my life. Even though the computer program was telling me that you misplaced or stole the liquor, in my heart, I believed there had to be another explanation. I’m pretty sure you know which reality I wanted to believe. I’ve always been able to count on you no matter what happened here or in my personal life.”

“That means a lot to me, Jon,” she said softly. It wasn’t often that she addressed me by anything other than sir or boss, but it seemed like the right time to let the formality drop just a bit. “You took a chance when you promoted me to manager over people who’d been here longer, including Alexander.” She shook her head like she still couldn’t believe it. “What will you do about him?”

That question required zero deliberation from me. “Alexander can pay me for the loss of liquor, or I’ll have him arrested.” I lifted a brow in question. “Is that a problem for you?”

“No, sir. Tell me what your plan is.”

“Next month, you’re going to get another emergency phone call and have to leave after you’ve started inputting the inventory into the system. You’re going to stay logged in and ask Alex to fill in for you again. I don’t think he’ll be able to resist the temptation to steal again.”

“Then what?”

“Then I’ll record him in the act on the hidden cameras I’ll have placed in the stockroom.” It was one of the few areas that we didn’t have a camera. That was going to change.

“Do you plan on leaving the cameras in place after you catch Alexander red-handed?” She chewed on her lip nervously.

“Yes, but I’ll make an announcement, so employees quit screwing in there during their breaks.”

“Of course, you knew about that.” Michelle broke eye contact by looking down at her feet. I could tell that something was on her mind, but she was afraid to bring it up. I suspect I knew what made her so uncomfortable.

“Has Alexander been talking?” She raised her head, and I knew I didn’t need to expand on my question. “You don’t have to answer me; the truth is written all over your face.”

“It wasn’t anything he said; it was the way he acted.”

“Fair enough,” I told her. I didn’t owe my manager an explanation or an apology because I didn’t break company rules, just my personal ones. “It won’t happen again,” I said anyway.

Michelle held her hands up in the air. “Not my place to judge. I just wanted to let you know in case he tries to threaten you.”

“His threats won’t faze me one bit.”

“Good to know.” She hooked her thumb to point at the door. “I’m going to get back out there unless you need something else.”

“I’m good if you are,” I told her.

“Then we’re both good. I’ll see you later tonight.”