Page 64 of Bear Creek Valentine
Wahl played along.
“Yeah, having trouble finding an aluminum light pole for my outbuilding. You got any?”
Eddie winked at him and waved a hand toward that part of the yard.
“Sure do. Right over here.”
Once they got away from the building and out of earshot, Wahl got down to business.
“Looking for a Heather Novak. White, late twenties, about five foot four, short black hair, brown eyes. I suspect she lives and works around here, but doesn’t want to be found.”
Wahl surreptitiously handed him the evidence he’d gleaned from the labels, along with a hundred-dollar bill.
“Recognize the logo or company name?”
Eddie glanced at it, pocketed the money, and handed it back.
“Sounds familiar, but my memory’s not as good as it used to be.”
Wahl knew how the game was played and slipped Eddie another hundred. They’d now reached the pile of light poles and pretended to look them over.
“She came here looking for work about nine months ago. I had nothing to offer and sent her to Integrated Machine Parts about a quarter mile up the road. They’ll hire anybody still breathing, with no questions asked. That logo you have is their old one. It’s called Quantum Industries now, and newbies usually start on third shift.”
Wahl nodded, pointing to a pole in a different pile.
“Get a look at her car?”
“Old, white, Toyota sedan, as I recall. Lots of rust. Pennsylvania plate.”
“Any idea where she might live?”
Eddie turned them around, heading back toward the office.
“Village Green on Gardner, across the river. Watch your ass in there; it’s a nasty place.”
Wahl turned to shake his hand when they reached his car, palming him another bill for his trouble.
“Thanks for your help, my friend. Take care.”
Eddie smiled, lifted his chin, and returned to the office. He’d have to do a lot more good deeds than that to make up for his former life, but every little bit helped. Wahl had his work cut out for him this time. Anybody desperate enough to live in Village Green would have made questionable friends by now; none he’d ever want to meet.
####
Dash arrived home to find his normally cheerful mate broody and discouraged. After supper, he curled up with him on thecouch, prying the information out of him with kisses. Aiden finally cracked a smile and told him everything about his phone call with Glen Wahl.
“I’d forgotten about Heather Novak. It happened so long ago, and I can’t understand why she’s going after me now. Would someone stay angry for years because they got fired?”
Dash growled, clutching his precious mate tighter.
“Dismissal for sexual harassment is a career-killer. I know we won’t hire anyone who’s been guilty of it, so maybe her anger has been festering since it happened. If she’s having a hard time finding a job, it would be natural to blame it on you. Besides, Wahl said she had psychological problems. Can anyone know what’s going on in her head?”
Aiden sighed, his scent tinged with guilt.
“I feel bad it was me. I wasn’t trying to ruin her life; I just wanted to be left alone!”
Dash rumbled in disagreement.
“You have nothing to feel bad about. This is all on her, not you. It’s a good thing I don’t know where she is because my bear wants to hunt her down.”
