Simon Says_. Walk (Kate Morgan #6)(21)
Author: Dale Mayer

 

His foreman laughed at him. “Jesus, I heard that over here. You’re the worst one for not bringing lunch.”

 

“Hell, I don’t bring a lunch half the time,” Simon muttered. “I never know where I’ll be either.”

 

“Which is why you should bring lunch,” his foreman stated comfortably. “I can’t do without my groceries.”

 

As he patted his ample belly, Simon could believe it. He smiled at him. “I’ll stop and pick up something if we’re done.”

 

“We’re done,” his foreman replied, with a flick of his hand. “Go get some food before you collapse.”

 

“Oh, I’m not that bad off,” Simon noted, with a grin.

 

He headed out and around to a famous little corner eatery that he absolutely loved. It was more of a fish-and-chips place than anything else, but the food was hot, and he could do with fast right now. When he walked in, it took barely minutes before he was served, which was one of the reasons he loved this place so much.

 

They really did a good job of keeping the customers moving. Everyone eating here was pretty well on the clock, and it was important for them to get back out into the craziness of their workday as fast as possible, and that’s what this place catered to as much as anything.

 

With lunch done, Simon stopped and picked up a cup of coffee. At a much slower pace, he sauntered toward his next rehab. He hadn’t gone very far when he heard a shout behind him. He turned to see one of the guys who had worked for him in the past running up to him. “Hey,” Simon greeted him, as he sipped his coffee and eyed the other man. “Problems?”

 

“Yeah,” he spat, with a nasty look, while huffing and puffing from his short run. “I haven’t been paid in three weeks.” And the fury in his voice was unmistakable.

 

Simon’s eyebrows shot straight up. “What?”

 

“Yeah, you heard me,” he said, with the same force. “I’ve worked for you for a long time, but it’s the first time, … first ever, that you’ve stiffed me.”

 

“I wouldn’t have stiffed you,” Simon stated, trying to stay calm, as anger flashed through him too. “You’re talking about the Hamilton job?”

 

“No, the one on Main,” he corrected. “I was working on that one, and then I got laid off.”

 

“Why’d you get laid off, and when was this?” Simon asked, racking his brain as to when this happened. Normally he was kept abreast of all these issues.

 

At that, the other man’s face flushed even darker with fury. “Two weeks ago. I was told on that Friday that it was my last day, no explanation, nothing, just that I need to get the hell out.” He shook his head. “I worked for you for three years now, damn it. ’Course, I haven’t seen you around a whole lot lately,” he admitted.

 

“I have been around, been talking to the foreman almost every day.”

 

“Yeah, well, the foreman’s usually okay,” he admitted, “but the new super that he’s got under him? He’s a piece of shit,” he snapped.

 

“Have you been calling him that to his face?” Simon asked, with quiet humor.

 

The kid shook his head. “No, but, if I ever see him now, I will. He’s bad news. I don’t know if he’s bleeding you dry yet or not, but he’s got that snarky, sneaky attitude.”

 

“Did you ever catch him doing anything?” Simon asked, his tone sharp, as he narrowed his gaze at the young man—who had worked for him for years, and there hadn’t been a problem at all with him before. “Besides, if you’re looking for work, I can put you on a different job, and I will look into him.”

 

“Then put me on a different job, but I still want my pay, and I want that pay before I start again,” he demanded. “I don’t know who that super is trying to screw over”—he shook his head vehemently—“but nobody screws me over,” he growled.

 

This guy was small in stature but had been known to be a good worker, so it made no sense to Simon. He held up a hand and pulled out his phone. Immediately he got ahold of Joe, the foreman on the job, because these things can creep up on you if left unattended. He had learned that one the hard way. When the call was answered, Simon dove in. “This new super you got?”

 

“Yeah, what about him?” Joe asked, but a wariness filled his tone.

 

“Sounds as if we got an issue,” Simon noted, keeping his voice mild. “You know how I feel about issues.”

 

“Yeah, I know,” he said, with more wariness now. “I was hoping that things would work out better than they have,” he admitted.

 

“What’s going on with the payroll?’

 

“What do you mean?” Joe asked in surprise.

 

“So I have a guy here”—Simon turned toward the unhappy young man expectantly, and he supplied his name—“Ricky. Apparently you fired him two weeks ago, and he hasn’t been paid.”

 

“I didn’t fire him,” Joe declared. “I was told he was a no-show. I gave him a couple weeks to show up, but he hasn’t. Honestly I hadn’t even got around to taking him off the payroll yet.”

 

“He never got paid, and he’s here, adamant that the new super’s the one who kicked him out of there.” Simon heard Joe swearing in the background. “You told me that we’re short on staff. How much of that is due to your super?”

 

“I don’t know,” he gritted out through his teeth. “I’ll find out.” And, with that, Joe disconnected.

 

Simon turned and looked over at the kid. “Let me call the accountant.” And, with that, he made another phone call and checked in with the accountant.

 

She checked her records and replied, “I don’t have any payroll slips for him.” She was clearly confused, and that was bad news. “You sure he worked?”

 

Simon nodded. “Yes.”

 

“Okay, fine. I’ll set up a paycheck, and you’ll have to track down the paperwork for me.”

 

“Yeah, will do,” he agreed, as he shut off his phone and faced Ricky. “She’s doing your paycheck right now.”

 

Simon quickly sent a text to Joe, saying that none of the pay stubs were handed in and that Simon had okayed payment for Ricky. However, it was up to Joe to come up with the paperwork to balance it out.

 

Simon gave half a smile as he hit Send, and the kid spoke up, flushed now, with a hint of embarrassment. “Joe won’t be happy with me.”