“I already told you, I don't know the person you’re speaking of. I’m not who you think I am. Now if you don’t mind, I have things to do.” He looked over Mikie’s cart and added, “I’m sure you do as well.”
He let go of Connor’s arm but then he reached in his back pocket, pulled out his cell phone, and started swiping. “I know it’s here. Patty and I were looking at it this morning before I came into work. She was going to call Krista, I mean Dr. Chinto, and ask her about it. We just didn’t want her thinking there was something wrong so we figured we’d wait a little while.”
At this point what harm was it going to do looking at whatever Mikie wanted to show him? It actually might be the only way to get this guy to go back to work. It’s a shame that it’s his first day, and Connor is already questioning whether it was a wise choice for the Henderson family to hire the guy. But he was pretty sure the blame would fall on human resources.
Taking the phone that Mikie handed him, Connor hit play on some video. Immediately his jaw dropped. Mikie wasn’t lying. He hadn’t been seeing things. Fuck! There it was. A video posted of him holding that young woman’s hand, an arm around her shoulders supporting her while she struggled in pain to deliver the baby. Connor had been so focused on the young woman that he hadn’t even noticed anyone videotaping. Thankfully the young woman’s private area had been blocked by that beautiful and mysterious blonde woman.
“You said her name was Krista?” he asked.
“Yes. Dr. Krista Chinto. I thought you knew that. I mean look at this video. It really looks like you guys know each other.”
No we don’t. But I plan on changing that.
“How did you find this on the Internet?” Connor asked.
Mikie shrugged. “I like scanning the Internet for funny videos. Never thought I was going to come across someone I know. I can’t wait to tell Patty. Hey you never told me your name,” Mikie said.
Connor handed the phone back and asked, “Mikie is this the only video?”
“Nope. There’s another one where you are holding a baby. Oh yeah, I think there is also one with you leaning over and whispering something in your wife's ear.”
“She is not my wife,” Connor corrected.
Mikie raised his hands. “I’m not one to judge. Me and Patty aren’t married yet either. We plan on doing it soon, once we have the money. Right now we have to save everything we can, before the babies come. I’m sure you know what I mean. I hear it costs a lot to raise a baby. And we’re going to have two.”
Connor knew all about babies based on what others have told him. Usually he only heard the negative side of having children. In his line of work, the divorce rate was high, which meant paying child support for many years. He wasn’t going to mention that to Mikie. The guy was young, and still filled with hope and promises of a better life to come.
Connor also wasn’t about to give Mikie the details regarding that very unusual delivery. But it did make him wonder what else was out there. “Mikie are you interested in earning some extra money?”
Mikie looked Connor over and said, “I don’t do anything illegal.”
Connor smiled and said, “that’s good to hear, because otherwise you’d be fired. I work for Henderson Corporation in security. It would’ve been unfortunate if you had to go home and tell Patty you’re unemployed already. But what I’m asking is not illegal. I want to hire you to search the Internet for me.”
“I don’t do stalking either.”
Connor laughed. “that is a shame, because I want you to find all the videos and pictures you can of me and Krista regarding this specific situation.” Mikie’s expression said he was interested. All he needed was a little motivation to do it. “How does one-thousand dollars sound?”
“You’re joking right? I mean who would pay that kind of money for me to play around on the computer?” Mikie asked.
Someone who needs it kept quiet.
“This wouldn’t be playing. Depending on how well you do, it could open doors that you might not have thought of before. Besides, you can put the money towards your baby fund. What do you say?” He could go out and hire a professional to do the same thing, probably quicker and better, but there are other reasons for asking Mikie to do it. He also wanted more information on Krista. She has piqued his interest. And from the sounds of it, she may be clueless about what was being posted as well.
“I haven’t thought about that.” Mikie extended his hand and said, “You got a deal. I’ll get on that during my lunch break.”
Connor shook his head. “I don’t want anyone to know about this. So don’t do any research while you are here at the Henderson Corporation.” He pulled out his business card and handed it to Mikie. “Text me when you find something. And I’ll respond when I’m free. But remember I don’t want anyone to know about this.”
Mikie took the business card. Looked at it, and then slipped it in his back pocket with his phone. “I can’t tell Patty either?” Connor shook his head. “How am I going to explain all that money? She is going to think I’m doing something wrong, like dealing drugs or something. I promised her I would always tell her everything. I can’t go around breaking my promise.”
“I’m not asking you to lie. I’m asking you to wait until you have found all the information I am asking for. After that you are free to share it with Patty.”
Mikie still seemed concerned if he was doing the right thing. After a moment, he nodded. “It won’t take me long anyway. And it will be…fun. Like detective work. I wonder if I’d make a good PI?”
“Before you start thinking about a career change, you might want to research what a private investigator does and what it pays,” he suggested.
It wasn’t that he didn’t respect a PI, but there were some really slimy ones out there. But then again, sometimes that is what you wanted for what they were being hired to do. Connor wouldn’t want to see Mikie go down that path. He seemed like a pretty good kid. Just a bit young and naïve. But if he really had twins on the way, he better grow up fast, because life is about to get real.
As Mikie started to push his cart down the hall, he said, “I’ll text you tonight Mr. Falciano.”
“Great, and call me Connor,” he replied.
He wasn’t so sure what information Mikie was going to come up with, but either way, what was a thousand bucks towards his twin’s fund? It sounded like they were going to need and a hell of a lot more.
Boston isn’t Vermont. Hope he doesn’t learn that the hard way.
Connor wished he had time to do some investigative work right now, but with Bennett gone, he did need to pick up the slack. He was far from stepping into Bennett’s shoes, but at least he had more responsibility, and authority.
And hopefully more direct contact with the Hendersons.
He could learn a lot just by observing a person. It was a natural gift. But he also could turn that off, so it didn’t drive him or the people around him, crazy. No one liked to feel as though they were under a microscope all the time. Another lesson he’d learned the hard way. His so-called friends became more distant until they eventually didn’t speak. There were a few which he actually missed, and others, he was better off without.