“Yes ma’am, what can I do for you?” I say absentmindedly, checking emails and glancing at the door.
“Well, since Sheldon isn’t here, we have to pick up the slack,” she announces, plopping herself down on my couch.We?When didweincludeme?
“You’re asking me to do what?” I raise an eyebrow.
She looks at me like it’s obvious. “Run the committee meetings, meet with the board. And now you’re looking at me like I have two heads.”
I sigh, massaging my temple. “Carla, on top of overseeing the new building, running the hotline, and directing the section committees for services, I don’t have much time to spare.” I lean back in my chair.
“Maybe you can just do the monthly financial reports and I’ll attend the meetings instead.”
This isn’t worth the fight and I know it. Who knows, maybe this will light a fire under Mr. Connors’ ass to find a competent CFO this time.
“Sure, Carla. By the way, I meant to express my gratitude for handling the situation at the masquerade.” She better not make this difficult on me or I swear, it’ll be the last time I ever thank her for anything. This is already hard enough to give her my appreciation while I have the suspicion that she’s attached to my current situation in more ways than I could think of.
Her response is to stare at me in shock.
She shakes her head, like shaking thoughts away. “That was not a pretty picture, I’ll be honest. You froze. You never freeze. You fainted.” She leans closer, arms on her knees. I nod my head.
“Correct. But I’m never the strongest person in the room, but I care, more than almost anyone else at the Foundation. Are you going to take my thanks or what?”
She scoffs. I don’t think she believes me. “Whatever. We just have to keep up the illusion that nothing’s wrong, even if someone’s pulling more weight than others.” She keeps fidgeting with the folders in her hands.
I’m tempted to groan, but I sigh instead. “I’ll help out as much as I can. Where’d Sheldon disappear to?”
Her head pops back up, “I have no idea and frankly, I’m disappointed and so is Mr. Connors. I spoke with him today.”
“Still enjoying his sabbatical?”
She nods. “Lucky him, yes he is. Another couple of months and he’ll be back.”
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Mr. Connors. At this point, he feels more like a name than an actual person. Part me wonders if Carla actually murdered him or something. She places the folders on my desk and leaves without a word. I roll my eyes. Piles of paperwork on my desk on top of the mountain of paperwork I already have is just what I needed.
Sam walks into my office, her face scrunched. “Mt. Carla come through here?”
I scoff and nod. “More like a hurricane.”
Sam just shrugs and changes the subject. “I wanted to show you something, boss.” She inches closer and hands me the June reports, which she follows up with the February ones.
I take the reports but realize there’s probably more to her visit when she avoids eye contact.
“Sammie…”
“We’re down by 200,” she says sheepishly.
“200 over time?”
She shakes her head no. “200 between May and June. 200 people who haven’t checked in since April. We’re talking category one people, literal homelessness. Things are escalating, boss. More and more people are disappearing.” She looks at me like she’s frightened she’ll be next.
“I know, Sam. I’m meeting with Rawlings later tonight. We’re going to come up with a plan. No matter what, I’m ending this, somehow, some way,” I reassure her, a hand on her shoulder.
Aggie’s at the construction trailer waiting for me as I park my car at the new building. I see a truck and a motorcycle behind me in the rearview mirror. Alexander has double the people watching over everyone now, and I can’t help but wish he’d declare himself my permanent detail instead.. I recognize the truck as Sparky’s, but I’m only familiar with the motorcycle in passing.
“Ms. Aggie.” I reach out for a hug with a smile on my face.
“Child, you don’t have to fake a smile for me,” she answers back, returning the hug. She knows me better than I give her credit for. I drop the act and let my face fall.
“That’s better. Now, show me around.” She links her arm into mine as we start our tour. This building has come such a long way, and I can’t help but smile at the new possibilities this will bring for the shelter.