CHAPTER 62
Jackie has done this kind of thing before. Yolanda was in her office studying the e-mails and letters Theresa had faxed her that morning. She was looking for a clue, anything, that would point to Jackie. The strongest evidence that could potentially nail her conniving friend was right there in front of her, but so far it had yielded nothing. She also had spent much of the morning asking people if they had seen anything suspicious, anybody going into someone’s office after hours. No one had seen anything.
Yolanda’s sleuthing was at a standstill. And she was beginning to regret having clued Theresa in on her suspicions. She had already called twice asking if there had been any progress. She was understandably worked up about clearing her name and getting her job back. But unless something breaks soon, Yolanda was thinking, Theresa might have to get on that unemployment line after all.
“Excuse, can I come in? I leaving early and need all trash.”
“Sure, Maria, come in,” Yolanda said, pulling her wastebasket from under her desk and handing it to her. “Maria, have you seen anything weird going on? Like somebody coming out of someone’s office? Maybe late at night?”
“No, no, Miss Yolanda, I haven’t seen that,” Maria said, removing the plastic trashcan liner and replacing it with another. She handed the wastebasket back to Yolanda.
“Thanks, anyway,” Yolanda said.
“Unless you talk about when I see Miss Jackie come out of Miss Theresa office.”
Yolanda wasn’t sure she had heard right.“Say again?”
“Miss Jackie, she such sweet lady. I see her coming out Miss Theresa office. I think nothing of it,” Maria said.
“When?”
“Oh, maybe month? Two month ago? I can’t remember. That sort of thing happen when you get my age.”
“Your certain it was Theresa?”
“Oh, yes. Yes, I sure. She spoke to me; such a sweet lady. Yes, that was her. Anything else?”
“No, Maria. You’ve been all the help in the world.”
After Maria left, Yolanda took another look at the letters and e-mails. Wait a minute…
August twenty-fifth. 9:00 p.m. The date. The time and date.
How could I have missed that?
She picked up the phone and dialed Theresa’s number.
“I just got an eyewitness and your alibi,” Yolanda said, smiling.
* * *
Maxwell took the long way to work and dialed Yolanda’s cellphone.
He knew she wouldn’t answer; she hadn’t picked up all week, but he still left a message.
“Hey, Yolanda. This is Maxwell again. Listen, I know I messed up, but I really want to make things up to you. I drove by your apartment last night and knocked on your door, but I guess you weren’t home. I know things are awkward at work, especially ’cause you’re not talking to me, but again, I just want to let you know how sorry I am, and I promise if you give me another chance, I’ll make it up to you.”
He hung up the phone, hoping that she was at least listening to the messages and wasn’t erasing them. At work she gave no indication as to whether she’d heard them or not, but he kept hoping that she was listening.
His cellphone rang, and he almost hit another car in his rush to answer it, hoping it was Yolanda calling him back.
He put it on speakerphone.
“Hello?”
“Hey, son. You know you got a lot of people mad at you. What were you thinkin’ leaving the family reunion so early? And without saying good-bye?”
His disappointment was sharp and immediate when he realized it wasn’t Yolanda.
“Sorry, Pop. I had to take Yolanda home. She wasn’t feeling well.”
“Good. I’m glad you got rid of her,” his father remarked.
“Wait a minute. Who said anything about getting rid of her?”
“Well, I figured after our talk—”
“What talk?”
“When I told your little friend to go home, that you couldn’t possibly be interested in her.”
“You did what?” Maxwell yelled, furious.
“Yeah. I helped you out, son. Told her the truth.”
“And what truth is that?”
“That you ‘shamed of her, can’t stand to be around her.”
“You told her that?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“Was I lying, son? You know you can do better than that.”
“So that’s why Yolanda was so angry at me! You told her I was ashamed of her. You’re wrong, Pop. You had no business…”
“Wrong? Man, I was doing you a favor. Don’t lie and tell me you actually like that girl?”
Yeah, I do. I do like that girl.
“Yeah, Pop, I do. I more than like her. I’m in love with her. And it wasn’t any of your business…”
“Watch your tone boy. I’m still your father.”
“Since when? You haven’t acted like a real father since Mama died. Now you’re a bitter old man who is scared to be alone.”
“Oh, so now you’re my shrink? You think you know me?”
“Yeah, I know you. Do you honestly think those young girls you messing around with care about you? They just want your money, Pop, that’s it. Let something happen to you and the money run out. They won’t stick around long.”
“You just jealous ’cause I got all the pretty women and all you got is some broomstick…”
“Maybe so, Pop. You probably do get all the women. But that’s not me, and never will be. I’m not like you, this new you, anyway. I’m into something genuine, somebody real. Somebody like Mama. All this game playin’, lyin’, and cheatin’? I’ll leave that to you, Pop. ’Cause that mess you doing? It’s old. Played out. Just like you.”
Maxwell hung up.