Cry Mercy by Mariah Stewart Read Free Book Online Page A

fingers.
    “She saw the press conference on TV, went directly to the website, filled out the application, went in to work the next day—she was a cop in California—quit her job, packed her car, and drove east.” She added with emphasis, “With her four-year-old daughter.”
    “She's enthusiastic about the foundation—that's good, right?”
    “Kev, Mal thinks it means something is not right,” Susanna said. “That she just up and quit her job and drove out here, expecting to be hired.”
    “I'm sure you asked her why. What reason did she give?” Kevin asked.
    “She said there was a lot of tension between the Mexican and the African-American communities, and since her daughter was half each—she's adopted—Emme thought it would be better if Chloe grew up in an environment that didn't make her take sides against either.”
    “I think that's a very rational reason,” Robert said.“That makes total sense to me, that she'd want to keep her daughter from all that negativity.”
    Susanna nodded. “Me, too.”
    “Did she appear shady in some way? Inexperienced? Incompetent?” Kevin asked.
    “Not at all,” Mallory admitted. “We even discussed one of the cases that had been submitted—strictly as a hypothetical, of course—and I have to admit she had some really impressive ideas about how to approach the investigation. I don't think she's afraid to think independently.”
    “I'm assuming you checked her references?” Kevin asked.
    “She's only worked with one department, and the chief of police gave her a glowing reference.”
    “So she's an experienced, competent, well-qualified applicant with sterling references who can't wait to go to work for us.” Kevin nodded his head thoughtfully. “I can see where she'd seem like a risk, Mal.”
    “When you put it like that, it does seem a bit silly.” Mallory sighed.
    Kevin turned to Robert.
    “What did you think of her?”
    “I only saw her for a minute.” Robert shrugged. “She looked okay. Looked like a cop.”
    “What's that supposed to mean?” Mallory, a nine-year veteran of the local police force, narrowed her eyes.
    “You know. She walked with purpose, head up, long stride.” Robert took a bite from a cookie. “Like Trula said, she looks you in the eye when she talks to you. That's all I noticed, though, because I didn't talk to her for more than twenty seconds. Susanna?”
    “I thought she was okay, too. I mean, nice, pleasant enough. It's Mallory's call on the qualifications, though,” Susanna said. “Mal's call on the hire. That was the deal.”
    Kevin looked at Trula. “You're not going to toss in your two cents?”
    “I already did. I said I liked her.”
    “Trula liked Emme's little girl,” Susanna confided. “She liked having a kid to boss around in the kitchen.”
    “So our applicant is married? Divorced?” Kevin asked.
    “Neither. She adopted Chloe as a single mother,” Mallory explained.
    “Would calling her back for a second interview be helpful?” Trula asked.
    “Maybe.” Mallory pondered the question. “Although I don't know what else I'd ask her. She's willing to apply for a private investigators license, so eventually she'll need some other reference besides the police chief.”
    “It's up to you, Mal,” Robert replied. “She'll be working for you.”
    “She'll be working for—and with—all of us,” Mallory reminded him. “This is not the Mallory Russo Foundation.”
    “Look, we haven't taken on our first case yet, right?” Kevin pointed out. “So do we have to make a final decision right this minute?”
    “I guess not this minute, no. But now that you've brought it up”—Mallory reached down to the briefcase that sat open next to her on the bench seat—“here are copies of the three cases I sent to each ofyou earlier in the week. I'm assuming you read through them and have some opinion on which one we should choose, since that is the purpose of this meeting.”
    She passed the copies