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“Her parents died several years ago. No siblings.”
“And the ex-boyfriend?”
Sergei looks up. “You already know about him?”
“She mentioned a breakup. I want to know whether there's anything in her history that could become a problem while she's staying at the house.”
He studies me for a moment, then returns to the report. “Do you really want to know about her ex-boyfriend?”
I look up from the report. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“No. I’m asking because you wanted her cleared to work with Anya, and we’ve done that,” he says.
I remember the way she screamed when she woke in the hospital and found me leaning over her, then flinched again when I reached for the blanket. I had assumed she was frightened because she didn’t know where she was. Now I wonder whether there was more to it.
“If someone in her life could cause problems while she’s staying with us, I want to know.”
Sergei watches me for a moment before nodding. “I’ll look into it.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Yes,” I say, annoyed that he has to ask. “But focus on the investigation first. The ex can wait.”
Sergei nods. “Of course.”
I look out the window. The city is moving past us, traffic slowing as people leave work and head home. Somewhere among them, Elara Bennett would normally be finishing another delivery or getting ready for a tutoring session.
Instead, she's lying in a private hospital room with a concussion and an offer from a man she met this afternoon.
I can understand why she thinks I'm insane. I'm beginning to question the timing myself.
“Have you actually offered her the job?” Sergei asks.
“Yes.”
“Before we've finished checking her?”
“I told her I wanted her to consider it. She hasn't agreed.”
He puts the tablet down. “Anya likes her.”
“Very much.”
“And you think that's enough?”
“I think she saved my daughter's life, Anya trusts her, and she's qualified to help with her schoolwork. If the background check comes back clean, I don't see a reason not to offer her a temporary position.”
Sergei looks at me for a little too long.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Then stop looking at me like that.”
“I'm trying to decide whether I should ask the obvious question.”
“You usually do.”
