Lieutenant (An Ell Donsaii story #3) by Laurence Dahners Read Free Book Online

children?
    “Steve is waiting to talk to you about her.”
    When Ell got to the apartment Steve waited at the dining table. “Hi, how was your first real day?”
    “Kinda fun. Just flying simulators but even they’re pretty cool. What do you think about Ms. Reston?”
    “I don’t like it. You know she’s homeless?”
    “The more reason why she needs the job.”
    “I’m not sure you should hire people according to their need? Besides, she made good money in her previous job. She’s just spent it all, then got laid off.”
    “Wasn’t her daughter sick?”
    “Well, yeah.”
    “I’m pretty sure I want to hire her. She’s experienced as an executive assistant. If you don’t have a substantive objection I want to interview her. Can you make contact?”
    He twisted his lip, then shrugged, “Sure.”
     
    ***
     
    Amy was walking Janey and Mike into the mall food court when her AI said, “You have a call from a Mr. Steve Jacobs about a job interview.”
    Amy said, “Put him on. Hello?”
    A baritone voice said, “Hello Ms. Reston. My employer is interested in interviewing you for a job as a personal and executive assistant. Would you be interested?”
    “Certainly. Are you with one of the agencies?”
    “Uh, no Ma’am.” Steve realized she must have applications in through some employment agencies. “This contact is a result of your conversation with Ms. Donsaii this morning.”
    “Oh!” Amy hadn’t really expected anything to come of that encounter. “When do you want me to interview? I’m working the graveyard shift at a casino right now so I could come in most times except when I’m picking up or dropping off my kids for school.”
    “How about right now?
    “Oh my goodness! I’m not dressed for it.” Amy began a panicked thought process for how she could get cleaned up and dressed in the Mall bathrooms. “And I’m just taking my kids out to eat dinner. Could it wait a little while?”
    “Much more important to this employer than how you are dressed at present, is how you adapt to a situation. We’d like to meet you wherever you are having dinner.”
    “ With my kids?”
    “Yes.”
    “Okaay, I can adapt. We’re at the Meadows Mall food court.”
    “We should be there in 10 minutes or so. We’ll buy dinner if you’ll wait for us.”
    Amy set Mike and Janey down. “Hey kids. A man is coming here to interview me for a job.”
    They looked up at her with uncertainty.
    “I don’t know if the job is better than the one I have, but if it is, it could help us get a place to live. Do you understand how important that is?”
    Eyes wide, they both nodded slowly. Janey’s finger slipped nervously back into the corner of her mouth.
    “We’re going to wait until they get here to eat because the man said that they’d buy our dinner and that will help us a little with our money problems. Can you be calm and quiet while they’re here? That could help me get this job.”
    “Yes Mom.” Mikey said. Janey nodded again, eyes wide with apprehension that she might mess something this important up.
    Amy said, “Don’t worry too much about this kids. All you need to do is use the good manners I’ve taught you and stay seated. If you feel like you just can’t sit still, ask for permission to go play on the Mall playground, OK?”
    About fifteen minutes later a muscular dark skinned man strode up to the table and said in a Boston accent, “Hello Ms. Reston, Mike, Janey.” He nodded to each of them in turn.
    Amy was impressed that he had taken time to learn the names of her children. She’d had her AI play back his name from when he introduced himself earlier and she said, “Hello Mr. Jacobs. Is this table OK?”
    “Yes it will be fine.” He said, sitting down, “But I have a request and need your kids help.”
    Amy’s heart froze; did he intend to use her children for something? “Uhhh…”
    Recognizing her concern, Steve quickly said, “It’s just that Ms. Donsaii is with me but she’s