chapter 28
THE TWO-MAN KROGER security team was visibly surprised to see Samantha Owens representing Walter Severson. They politely invited Walter and Sam to the rear of the store, where they commandeered the employee lounge. On the way back, Walter waved to the friends he had made at the store. He was confident with Sam by his side. The lounge was small and cluttered. Sam and Walter seated themselves on the far side. Sam immediately placed a tape recorder on the table and turned it on with a click. Everyone stopped talking and stared at it for a few seconds. After a long moment, Sam casually glanced up and asked if the men minded. They looked at each other and shook their heads. Sam smiled.
In her best slow, sweet Southern drawl, Sam asked, “Are y’all charging my client with anything?”
“No, ma’am. We’re just trying to get some answers. We hope Mr. Severson knows something that will be helpful to us.”
“My client is very distraught about this and your threats to fire him. This job and his reputation are important to him.”
“He offered to resign of his own free will.”
“He doesn’t feel welcome anymore, and he feels intimidated.”
The men were silent. They had been suspicious of Walter’s sudden offer of resignation. They were under serious pressure to quietly solve the case and recoup the stolen funds. Corporate didn’t want to involve the police unless they didn’t have a choice. The ease of the crime was not something they wanted to become public. Each day that passed meant the money would be harder to trace and recover; it would be burning a hole in someone’s pocket.
With a lawyer present, the men were more cordial to Walter than before.
“Mr. Severson, we have a few follow-up questions about Sunday the fourth of November.”
“Gosh, I’ve slept a bunch since then. That’s been over two weeks ago,” Walter responded as he glanced toward Sam. “By the way, where’s Ed…you know, the manager?”
“He’s been temporarily reassigned.”
Samantha was scribbling something on a legal pad.
“Can you confirm that you worked that day?” one of the security specialists asked, reading from a prepared list.
“I got a full week’s pay, so yes, I guess I worked that day.”
“Can you confirm your shift was from two to ten p.m.?”
“I always work weekends so others can be with their families.”
“Did you see anything strange or out of the ordinary during that shift?”
“I see strange things every day I work here, young man.”
“Did you see anything out of the ordinary or strange happening in the back area of the store while you were on your shift that day?”
“Would you call it strange or out of the ordinary for someone to get a lap dance by a stripper moonlighting as a cashier?” Walter turned the question around while maintaining a straight face.
Sam betrayed no emotion.
“Yes. What can you tell us about that?”
“It happened a lot. Mostly on Sunday nights. She and Ed had a thing going on. I heard that she was a stripper and worked here for the medical benefits and Ed’s wife is pregnant. I don’t know for sure. You know how rumors are.”
“Did you actually see it?”
“What?”
“The lap dance.”
“No—not with my own eyes. I’da liked to…she’s a looker…but…she’s too young for me.”
The men made notes and studied their sheets of paper.
“She didn’t really talk to me. I guess I’m not her type.”
“Mr. Severson, we’re missing some money. A significant amount.”
Sam was extremely attentive now and ready to jump into the conversation.
“I don’t think she stole it.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I saw her yesterday, and she was driving a beat-up, old four-door Nissan. I think that a girl like her…if she’d got her hands on significant money, she’d be driving a Ford Shelby Mustang the next day.”
“Did you study psychology?”
“No, I’m just old. I’ve seen a lot. If you pay attention, people’s behavior is fairly predictable.”
“What do you think happened to the money, then?”
“Somebody probably…miscounted.”
“Not a chance. We have all of the register receipts. Do you know who stole the money or anything about it? Anything?”
With that line of questioning, Sam jumped in, holding up a hand to Walter to stop him from saying anything. “Whoa. Stop right there. It sounds like you’re insinuating that my client is involved somehow or complicit.”
“No, we are not. As I explained earlier, we’re just trying to get answers.”
“I’m not going to allow him to answer any more questions.”
“Why not?”
“Let’s just say…hypothetically that this missing money was in fact stolen. If he states something that implicates anyone, he could be opening himself up to a civil suit for slander.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Are you licensed to practice law in Mississippi?” Sam glared at the guy, who was shaking his head. “I didn’t think so; besides, what’s in it for my client to get involved?”
“A chance to do the right thing?”
“I wish it were that simple.”
“It is that simple.”
“Gentlemen, if you want my client’s cooperation, come back to us with an offer. If you want to ask any more questions, you’ll have to come to my office. Here’s my card.”
“We don’t make offers.”
“My client is a fine, upstanding citizen, with no previous criminal record or work history that gives you any reasonable grounds to suspect his knowledge or involvement with this missing money, which may or may not be stolen.” Sam stood, placing her hand on Walter’s shoulder. “And if you question other employees with the intent of implicating my client or otherwise disparaging him or his reputation in any way, we’ll know within moments, and then you two will be answering my questions.”
The two security experts leaned back, trying to put distance between them and the fireball attorney.
The senior agent picked up her card and looked it over. “We’ll be in touch, Mrs. Owens.”
“That’s Miss Owens, thank you very much.”