My Missing Puzzle Piece (Creekside Falls #1) (5 page)

Elle thought since there were only twelve files and they each had six this shouldn’t take too long but if they didn’t find anything they would have to look deeper or start from a new angle.

“There’s something else I’m going to need; access to your employee email accounts from a month before the sabotage started until now.” Elle said matter of fact.

Trevor looked at Elle blankly for a second before saying, “Doesn’t that violate their privacy or something?”

“Not since I’m only asking for access to their work email, your IT people can get me everything I need.”

“Okay, if you think it’ll help. I’ll have my IT guy take care of it and send it to you.”

“Okay, thanks. Time to get to these files,” Elle said with a little smile.

“Let’s get to it.”

Trevor wasn’t sure if they would find something in these files or not, but sure hoped like hell they did. He finished the first one, which happened to be Jake’s and found nothing, which he expected and started on the second in his stack that just happened to be Rob. As he thought about it more Rob’s attitude had gotten worse the past few months. Based on court papers his ex was trying to get spousal support and his house. He hated to say this about his employee and Elle’s friend but he may
be someone they needed to look into. Rob tried to have his wife taken off his health insurance when the divorce papers were filed without her knowing. When the judge found out he ordered him to leave her on there for six months until her company’s open enrollment period. From Becky’s notes Rob seemed beyond pissed about it all. Rob was pissed about the insurance because he thought that if he took his wife off quicker it would save him some money. “Sneaky bastard” he thought to himself as he put the file to the side and kept going. He got to his last file and saw it was for Jack Stetz, another route manager, who had been with the company since Trevor started. There were notes in Jack’s file indicating that he had asked Becky a few times over the past several months if he could get an advance on his paycheck but didn’t say why. He simply told Becky he wasn’t into anything illegal or anything that wouldn’t hurt the company. Since Elle had told him to look for anything odd or out of order; he put Jack’s file aside also.

Elle was about to open the last file from her stack; so far she had come up with nothing. She wasn’t sure where to go from there if neither of them came up with anyone that needed to be checked out further. Pushing that thought aside she opened the file for Trevor’s assistant Becky Nobel, in her file it said that she had recently gone through a bad divorce and had some financial troubles. She’d also been off work more in the past few months, which from her work history was unusual. Also, in her file was a note from one of the route managers to Trevor that she was hitting on him. She even tried to push him and
his friends into going out with her, which made her look desperate and lonely, but not really guilty of anything. Elle was a little surprised because Becky seemed so sweet and nice when she talked to her. She closed the file and looked up to see Trevor was already done with his and reading something on his phone, she couldn’t help but stare.

Trevor felt Elle looking at him, it gave him a thrill to know that she was simply watching him, so he kept pretending to be reading something on his phone when he was really just observing her too. He looked up at her and said; “Find anything? I think I found two possibilities that need to be looked at again.” She looked a bit surprised he found anything at all, let alone two potential people to look into further.

Elle said, “I found one possibility in my stack, what are your names?”

He was dreading this question; he withdrew a deep breath and started, “Rob Danty and Jack Stetz.” Before she could respond he added, “I don’t think Jack could have done it, he’s one of my best guys and he’s been with me since the beginning. What is yours?”

Her gapped mouth stare made it seem as if he was telling her he thought she was the one messing with his business. She couldn’t believe what he just said but recovered from her momentary shock and said, “Rob? Are you kidding me?! He wouldn’t have done this, I’ve known him forever!” She knew her voice sounded angrier than she really was but she was defending a friend -- well not quite a friend now more like an acquaintance -- but still.

“He could have done it. You don’t know who he is now, you said so yourself” Trevor said, trying to control his rising anger.

“Actually I said he was an old friend, which doesn’t imply anything but…”she paused to take a breath and said, “I guess you’re right it has been awhile but I still say he didn’t do it.” Elle almost sounded defeated thanks to her admission. To cover she asked him, “Do you want to know my name?”

He couldn’t believe she backed down that quickly, he expected more of a fight. “Yes, I want to know the name you came up with.”

She said, “You probably won’t like
my
name either, but remember you suggested an old friend of mine.” She hoped the warning would keep things civil. He just sat there staring; waiting for her to tell him who she thought may have done this.

“Becky Nobel.”

Trevor sighed and narrowed his eyes slightly. “What?! She wouldn’t do anything to hurt the company or me; she’s been with me since the beginning. I’ll reserve judgment until we know for sure but these people are like a second family to me.”

“Fair enough.”

“Glad you think so,” he said with a tinge of hostility in his voice.

Elle ignored his tone and said, “I have another question. Does each team have a specific area or zone for jobs that you send them to? Could one team be jealous of the quality of jobs another team is getting?”

“No, I change it up so each team is at a different location. The size and scope of jobs determines their pay so I make sure everyone gets a variety. They’re never in the same spot or area more than a few days.”

“Why don’t we take a break for a few minutes, cool down and get clear heads, before we trade stacks and go through them?” Trevor suggested leaning back in his chair.

“Okay we can do that, but just a few minutes then we get back to this.” Elle said as she leaned back in the chair stretching her back and drawing Trevor’s gaze. She was elated he wanted to talk about something other than business, even though she was coming across like a complete hard-ass. Small talk would ease some of the tension that had built up hopefully. “How did you come up with the name C & C landscaping?”

“Wondering where the second C came from?” Trevor said with a small smile.

“I was curious about it, since it seems like you’re the only one running this place.”

“When I decided I wanted to start a landscaping business I had a partner and both of our last names started with C so that’s what we went with. But then right before the business launched he backed out and at that point it would’ve been too much to change the name. Before you ask no his name isn’t on any of the documents to this place, I did make sure of that so he can’t be trying to get a share of the profits or ruin anything. It was all done legally and above board; we’re still friends and talk occasionally. He started his own architectural firm in the city soon after this place was up and running.”

“Oh okay, that answers what would’ve been my next question.”

“I’m glad I kept the name because Jake’s last name is Conners and he has some interest in the business. I wouldn’t mind if he wanted to buy in and help run the place one of these days. I could use the help.”

“That’s pretty incredible you know, having your friend here with you.” Elle said smiling as she finished writing some notes down. “I have another question; do you run background checks on your employees?”

“I’ll answer that but then we go back to taking that ‘break’ we haven’t actually taken. Yes I do and if something pops up, I don’t hire them. Now, how about this weather?”

He couldn’t believe he just brought up the weather but hey it was a start to normal conversation that didn’t include work, even it was ridiculous to talk about.

She wrote down something in her notebook then looked up at him and answered. “The weather has been amazing, I love the spring. I bet you love it; I would imagine it’s increased business. Wait, should I not say that since it violates the rules of our ‘break from work talk’.” Then she laughed.

“Of course we can talk about it, I also love the spring because it’s the best weather for running. But you’re right it’s never bad for the landscaping business when the spring officially rolls in. Winter can be slower around here. Spring starts our busy time. So how did you end up with your own business?” Trevor asked, turning the tables on her.

“Well I got my first job right out of college in HR and liked the work but not the job so I quit. I got a PR internship that was part time and worked another part-time job at a place I’d worked at in college. I decided a company that did both, HR and PR, would be the best place to work but there weren’t any around. I made up my mind to start a company that did both, so I talked to people I knew from both fields, they helped me out, I landed a few clients and here I am. Of course I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my best friend and business partner Taylor, she helped me start the company. Even though when we started we were both still working other places we put in the hours to make it work and it paid off. It’s not the most exciting story but it landed me here and I’m happy with what I’m doing so that’s the best to me. I have my best friend working with me, some college students and a few other people who do freelance work in HR and PR.”

“How about you, how did you come to own a landscaping business?”

“Your story is yours and it’s a good one, you do what you love, what’s more important than that…?Good for you.” He added with a wink.

He continued, “After high school I knew college wasn’t for me and I wasn’t really sure what to do, it was either the military or finding something that paid my bills. My friend Jake went into the Air Force because he had wanted to for years but I wasn’t sure if the military was the right fit for me so I ended up getting a job landscaping. The boss liked me and sent me on jobs alone after only a few months. I decided to go freelance after a little while and
I built some clients and started working steadily and the more work I got the more I realized it was time for me to try my own business, now I’m here. I have to say I love it now but I wouldn’t say I loved landscaping ten years ago.”

“Well that’s a good ending, I’m glad it all worked out for you.”

Elle looked around at the pictures on the bookshelves in his office. She knew she was being nosy but was curious, “Nice pictures, who are those people with you?” After a few beats with no answer she said, “Wait never mind you don’t have to answer that, I was being nosey.” She felt her cheeks turn red but still got up to get a closer look at the pictures.

He smiled at her flushed cheeks and her quickness to say, “Never mind” to her own question. He looked at the pictures, “Its fine, you’re not being nosy. Although, you seemed pretty pissed before when I asked you about your relationship with Rob.” He knew he shouldn’t have brought that up but had to say it, even though he was joking... sort of.

“The picture you’re pointing to is me with my two brothers and sister a few months ago at a family dinner. The next one is us when we were kids at my grandparents’ house in Springside where I grew up and the last one is me with some of my friends at my friend Sam’s wedding last year.” He smiled again at the memories of going to his grandparents when he was a kid; he grew up in Springside, which was two towns over from Creekside. He told Elle that his grandparents had lived close when he was growing up
so he could visit whenever he wanted to, especially if he needed a break from his brothers and sister.

Elle looked at the pictures again and asked, “Are you close to your siblings? I have a younger brother.” She got up to get a closer look at the photos.

“We are close which is good sometimes but sometimes not, you know how it is with siblings.”

“Are you the oldest or the youngest?” Elle looked at the wedding picture longingly, “You and your friends look close still. That’s nice it doesn’t usually stay that way the older we get, well with my friends anyway, some of us are still close but others just drifted.” She turned and looked at him, “but we weren’t talking about me and my friends.” She said smiling and playing with her watch nervously.

“My brothers are older and my sister is younger. That’s the same group of friends I’ve had since high school and yeah we are still close. Are you close with your brother?” he asked.

“Siblings can be tough to handle but amazing all at the same time, unless you understand that it seems like the craziest thing. We’re pretty close now, we weren’t too close growing up but the past few years we’ve become a lot closer. What’s it like having a big family?”

He laughed, “It’s crazy and loud but nice to know there will be someone who has your back no matter what.” Trevor said with contentment in his eyes.

Ringing interrupted them and made them look at their phones. “It’s mine; sorry I have to take this.” Elle
said as she answered her phone. He took a sip of his coffee and waited for her to get done with the phone call.

When she hung up she looked over at Trevor with a look of disappointment, “I’m sorry I have to go, my friend Taylor was on her way to meet a client and got a flat tire, I have to pick her up and take her to the appointment, then go wait for the tire to be fixed. I’m sorry to run out like this.”

“Oh okay, yeah that’s fine. Good luck with the meeting and the tire.” Trevor winked, he felt himself flirting with her but he couldn’t stop. She didn’t recoil, just smiled and then looked down quickly; so cute. His heart lifted just a little.

Elle still smiling asked, “Would it be okay if I took your stack of files to look over, I’ll bring them back tomorrow?”

“Yeah sure that’s fine and I’ll go over the ones you had too. See you tomorrow.” He said as she was gathering her stuff into her bag.

“Okay, I’ll be here the same time as today. And thanks for letting me take these,” she held up the files in her hand. “I’ll look them over tonight.” She said as she walked out of his office.