Elaine pull away from the curb. Heâd made an appointment to see Doc Zimmerman in the morning. A couple days early, but the doc seemed to be on his side. Dan couldnât wait to pick up the Cherokeeâhopefully in the morning on the way back to Wagon Mound. Theyâd had to order a part but now it was ready to go. Just sitting there waiting on him.
He gave Stephanie a quick call to double-check her sandwich preference and make sure she was still planning on company. Stephanie had agreed to meet on her lunch hour but had forgotten that sheâd also promised to watch phones while Alice Nedderman kept a dentist appointment in Las Vegas. So Dan jogged the half mile or so to the convenience store, bought two soft drinks, two ham and cheese sandwiches wrapped in cellophane plus barbecue chips, and pulled a chair up next to Stephanieâs desk at twelve sharp, hoping the sandwiches wouldnât turn out to be some kind of trichinosis fix.
âIâm so sorry about this. Itâs nice to get away. Thereâs a parkâ¦well, sort of a park about two blocks over. Iâd hoped we could walk over there.â
Parentheses reads âget out of hereâ and maybe out of earshot, Dan thought. But he didnât see Lawrence, just the guard and a teller. They would pretty much be alone, but that didnât stop Stephanie from whispering.
âI want you to know that Iâll help any way that I can. I canât stand to think of Mrs. Kennedyâs loss. She is such a dear. And, oh my goodness, what a beautiful heirloomâ¦with all those memories.â Stephanie leaned forward, thin hands folded in front of her on the desk. After a couple bites, the ham sandwich had been pushed to the side.
âThank you, Stephanie. Letâs start with some basicsâ¦â Dan looked at his notes. âHow long have you worked for First Community?â
âOh dear, forever, I guessâ¦since high school. Well, to be exact, twenty-four years.â
Age, early forties, Dan noted. And time hadnât been particularly kind if the lined skin and prematurely gray hair were any indications.
âYou must have started at about the same time as your boss.â
Stephanie looked confused, âMy boss? Actually, Iâve had five over the years. I inherited each one as the bank changed names. First it was Farmers and Stockmenâs Bank, then Citizens Bank, Western Bank, Bank of New Mexico, Norwest, and now First CommunityâI guess thatâs six bosses, isnât it? â
âLawrence, Mr. Woods, hasnât been here that long?â
âOh no, less than a year. He was a part of First Communityâcame with the new name. And I donât think Iâll ever forgive him for these.â She poked a leg out from under the desk and pointed at her nylons. âI could spend a small fortune keeping myself in these. I guess Iâm just not cut out for panty hose.â
Dan looked up from his notes and couldnât think of one thing to sayâ¦one appropriate thing, that is. So, he tried to put on a sympathetic face and nod knowingly. Stephanie didnât seem to notice and went right on.
âIâm going to tell you this and you absolutely cannot tell anyone where you heard it.â¦â
She paused and Dan couldnât help himself but tensed as she lowered her voice almost below a whisper and leaned closer, âThe bankâs in trouble.â
Then she quickly sat back and looked around.
âWhat kind of trouble?â He leaned closer and mouthed the words.
âNot enough assets and after this last debacleâ¦â she paused to point in the general direction of the vault, âheâsâ¦â again a look around, âunder investigation.â
âBy?â
âFeds.â He was now having to read lips.
âThey donât think he had anything to do withâ¦?â He followed suit and silently made a circle with his index finger that
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