The Deposit Slip

30





Monday morning Jared entered the living room, passport in hand. He was packing light, and his single backpack was already in the car trunk. The flight left from Minneapolis-St. Paul International at two o’clock; if he started driving now, he should arrive in time for a quick lunch at the airport before boarding the plane.

On the couch lay the unopened envelope he’d dropped the afternoon before. He was about to open it when he saw a rusty Volkswagen pull to the curb outside.

A young girl emerged from the driver’s door, short-cropped blond hair peeking from beneath a ski cap pulled down across ears and forehead. She swung a briefcase in her left hand.

Did he know her? It came back to him: this was the girl from Mort Goering’s office who helped him gather Erin’s file when he first drove up to Ashley. The law student saving money to finish her Hamline degree.

He opened the door. The girl smiled up at Jared, uneasily, he thought. Maybe nerves. She held out a hand that shook slightly in the cold.

“Rachel Morrow. I met you at Mort Goering’s office. Jessie called and said you needed some help.”





It was nearly one a.m. when Mick’s phone rang. The ringtone must have gone on for three or four cycles before he roused himself enough to reach for it. The numbers didn’t focus through his sleep-weighted eyes so he just punched the Answer button.

“Yeah,” he groaned.

“It’s Rachel.”

Not her. What was she doing calling at this hour? Was she going to try to shake him down for more money? Was she that stupid?

“What do you want, Rachel?”

He thought he heard a tremble in her voice.

“I just got hired by Jared Neaton’s firm to work on the deposit slip case.”

Had he heard that right? “Seriously?”

“Yes.”

Mick’s thoughts tumbled toward full consciousness. Could this really be true? They couldn’t be that lucky.

“I’m not sure I want to do this,” she went on.

Yeah, that’s why she was calling. “No. You do want to do this, Rachel,” Mick answered gently. What was the name of her fiancé? Blair. “Blair and you set a date yet? I’m sure some more cash could come in handy for your wedding preparations, Rachel.”

He listened to the silence.

“What do you want me to do?”

Mick let out his breath. “When do you start?”

“I met with Mr. Neaton this morning.”

Unbelievable. “Good. I’ll call you back tomorrow to set up a schedule to talk.”

“All right,” she said resignedly.

Mick smiled, but left the triumph out of his voice. “Cheer up, Rachel,” he said solicitously before hanging up. “You and Blair are gonna be very glad you made this call.”