Page 23 of Sleigh My Heart

“I know who you are. Why are you asking about Jonny and Cliff?” He pushed off the frame and sauntered to the other side of the desk. He didn’t sit but crossed his arms over his chest.

Black ink peeked out from his sleeve… A coin. Michelle’s focus shifted from his wrist to his face. His eyes, dark and cold. Well, shit. “Horace Silver… Junior. I didn’t know you were out of prison.”

His jaw muscle jumped. “Two years next month.”

“And you’re a manager already? Wow! Good for you.” She’d picked up Junior on a drug charge back about ten years ago. It wasn’t his first, and when he swung at her and Larson, she added two counts of assaulting an officer to the charges.

“When was the last time you saw Jonny and Cliff?” She rested her hands on her duty belt and waited.

Junior rolled his eyes, scratched his scruffy chin, then sighed. “I don’t know. Last week.”

“Junior, as a manager, I would think you’d know the last day they worked?”

He huffed and moved some papers around on his desk. “Yeah, yeah. Here.” He pointed to the schedule in his hand. “They both punched in last Thursday. That was the last day I saw them. Neither one showed up for work the next day.”

“You’re telling me, they didn’t show up for work for multiple days without contacting you?” At his nod, she continued. “Did you call their emergency contacts? Or report them as missing? It’s been more than seventy-two hours.”

“Why? They’re seasonal workers. Those flake off and quit all the time. I’m not going to babysit them.”

She asked him a few more questions about the two men, but it didn’t take long to realize that Junior wouldn’t be forthcoming with any information. “Could I get a copy of their employment files?”

“You got a warrant?” Now he sat.

“I will be back with one.”

“Fine, talk to HR. Not my department.” He shoved the rest of the donut into his mouth. Obviously, a sign he was done talking.

“Thanks for your time. Let me know if you hear from Cliff.” She dropped a card on his desk.

He snorted. “Sure. Just Garmen, not Staniski?”

She stared into his ruddy face. “Staniski’s dead.”

“What?” He choked a little on the donut.

“His body was found Monday morning.” She waited to see if he would say anything else. Shock crossed his face, but no more words left his mouth.

“You have my number if you hear from Garmen.” She’d circle back to him another day.

Heading for the security office, she spotted Nick up ahead. His long limbs moved loosely, like an athlete.

As he walked toward her, determination on his face, an image of him in fatigues with a pack on his back and a rifle in his hand lodged in her mind.

“Daddy.” A brown-haired girl in pigtails darted across the mall.

Nick turned and caught her in his arms. “Hey, Peanut. Where’s Grandpa? You know you aren’t supposed to be running around the mall alone.”

Peanut? Grandpa? Michelle froze mid-step. She stared at the girl in Nick’s arms. Same eyes, same hair.

Holy shit! Nick has a child.

Michelle’s chest imploded. Why, she couldn’t say. She knew he was married. It stands to reason he’d have children.

She swallowed.

He carried the girl with ease. “Honey, this is Officer Swenson. An old friend of mine. Michelle, this is my daughter.”

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