Indirect Route by Claire Matthews Read Free Book Online Page A

to go check out Johnson’s Pipeline International?”
    “Sure.”  Janie shrugged.
    “Are you going to come inside with me this time?” His voice held a tinge of challenge.
    “Yes.”
    “Good.”
    ***
    The entrance to JPI was gated.  Aaron sighed and pulled into the convenience store across the street.  “Okay, we need a plan.”
    “Can’t we just tell the guard at the gate that we need to talk to someone in human resources?”
    “Yeah, but it’d be better if we had an appointment.  Or at least a name.”  Aaron bit his lower lip.  “Let me find their phone number.”  He pulled out his cell and began searching.  Clicking on the number, he made his way through the receptionist to the HR office.  He set the phone on speaker so Janie could hear the conversation.
    “Yes, my name is Aaron Dillon.  I’m tracing a former employee of yours concerning a probate matter.  Is there a way we can request some records for review?”
    “Yes, sir,” said the efficient female voice on the other end of the line.  “We’ll just need a copy of the “Appointment of Fiduciary” form from the court, and a photo id.  Records requests typically take three to five business days.” 
    “Oh, yes, I’ve got electronic copies of the forms, will that do?”  Aaron said coolly.  Janie gave him an incredulous look.
    “Absolutely, sir.  If you have them on a thumb drive or cellular device, we should be able to download and print them for you.”
    “Great.  Can we come in this afternoon?  We’re on the firm’s time, and we’d like to get this taken care of as soon as possible.”
    “Well, I’m pretty swamped this afternoon.  Would you be able to come in around four o’clock?”
    “Sure thing.”  Aaron got her name and office number, and hung up with a satisfied slap of the car’s dashboard.  “Done and done.”
    “Except for the fact that we don’t have an appointment of whatever-the-hell-you-were-talking-about form.”
    “Minor detail.  Let’s go back to the hotel and I’ll get something together on the computer.” 
    They drove home in silence.  Janie was worried about what kind of crazy plan Aaron had up his sleeve.  Forging court documents wasn’t something she wanted any part of.  But what if it was the only way to get Kenneth Brown’s employment documents?  Was she willing to break the law to get the information she needed?
    “Penny for your thoughts,” Aaron said as they drove into the hotel parking lot.
    “I’m just worried about what kind of crazy ideas you’ve got in that unstable head of yours.”
    Aaron laughed.  “Janie, I’m not planning on doing anything I haven’t already done fifty times before.  These are well known short cuts that skip tracers and PI’s use all the time.  It kind of goes with the territory.”
    “That doesn’t make it right.”  Janie’s voice was firm in its moral authority.
    “I can’t argue with you there.  But if you want to find Kenneth Brown, this is the cheapest and quickest way to do it.” 
    Janie kept her mouth shut as she unbuckled her seatbelt and followed Aaron into the hotel lobby. When they got to the room, Aaron went straight to his laptop and hooked it up to the Ethernet cable on the desk.  Janie sat on her bed, deliberately avoiding him.  She knew he was right.  But did she really want to skirt the law in order to get the information she needed?
    Aaron’s computer made a twinkling noise as he opened a new program.  “You know,” he said from behind his screen, “this isn’t a crime on par with armed robbery.  If this guy really is your father, then you’re entitled to find him—his information is pertinent to your mother’s estate.  Plus, you know, there’s the possibility that he’s. Your. Father .”
    Janie picked at the hem of her shirt.  Why did he have to sound so condescending?  Wanting to obey the law didn’t make her some kind of goody-two-shoes.
    “You know what I think?”
    “I’m sure