Courting Disaster by Joanne Pence Read Free Book Online

that you and this manager—”
    â€œNo! God, no!” Sal exclaimed. “Hell, I never even liked her all that much.” He took a sip of wine. “She called me, one, two times, with questions about the store. So, I answered. Then she says she wants to meet about the store—ways to improve profit. Her store’s doing fine, but what’s wrong with making more money, right? I had lunch with her a couple times. Then they started.”
    Paavo’s brows crossed. “They?”
    â€œPhone calls, letters.”
    Paavo studied him, trying to figure out exactly what this was about. “So this employee, a store manager, has a crush on you?”
    Sal nodded. “I have to break my goddamned neck every day to get out to the mailbox before Serefina does.”
    â€œSerefina doesn’t know?”
    â€œHell, no! And I don’t want her to, understand?” He glared, then folded his hands, his discomfort at having to tell this to Paavo evident with every painful gesture.
    â€œTell me about the woman,” Paavo said.
    â€œHer name’s Elizabeth Schull. When she first called, it was kind of flattering—I’m an old man,been married over forty years. She’s a young woman. Well, young compared to Serefina. Or me.” He drew in his breath. “But she’s making my life hell. Serefina wants to know why the line goes dead so often when she answers. I told Elizabeth to stop calling. When she didn’t listen, I said I would fire her.” His voice dropped low. “She said I wouldn’t dare.”
    â€œA threat?”
    Sal nodded, watching, expectant.
    Others had gone to Paavo with similar stories about threats. They never liked what he had to say. He knew Sal would be the same. “It’s not illegal to threaten people. There’s nothing the police can do about it. Your attorneys can come up with a good case to fire her, though. She’s harassing you. Why not just do it?”
    â€œNothing you can do?” Sal took the napkin from his lap and tossed it on the table. His words dripped with disgust. “I listen to some woman threaten me, my family, and you say I’m supposed to handle it myself? I thought you were a strong man, some big macho guy that swept my daughter off her feet. Now I see the truth.”
    Paavo had just put up with more than he’d ever taken from anyone else. “Look, Sal,” he said, his voice a calm cover over a cauldron about to blow, “she hasn’t committed a crime. I’ll see what I can find out about her, talk to her, whatever. But I won’t be doing it as a cop. Is that clear?”
    â€œClear as mud!” Sal bellowed. “Don’t you want to know what she said?”
    â€œOf course I do.” Paavo’s jaws were beginning to throb from the gnashing of his teeth.
    â€œShe said, ‘I know what Serefina’s up to, and I know all about your youngest daughter’s engagement party.’ Then she described Serefina’s day to me, and Angelina’s apartment building. She’s watching them both.”
    Paavo was astonished. “You actually think she might harm Angie or Serefina? That’s a hell of a lot more serious than an employee having a crush on you.”
    â€œDon’t swear at me, Smith!” Sal said.
    Paavo had had just about all he could take, Angie’s father or not. “You’ve got to tell them. Warn them about her.”
    â€œNo!” Sal was firm, unmovable. “She won’t touch them, but she can still make trouble. The last thing I want to do is ruin the happiness around my little girl’s engagement party, even if it is to…Well, forget it. If we do this right, Serefina and Angelina won’t have to know anything about it.”
    Paavo leaned back in his chair, focusing on Schull and not on Angie’s father’s obnoxious personality. In his judgment as a professional police officer, not as a future