Chapter 40: The New Hire
Dennis Cameron was a man of simple tastes and simple wants. He liked his coffee black, his burgers medium-rare, and his job at the grocery store straightforward. As the manager of Harvey’s grocery store, he had interviewed a fair share of interesting characters over the years, the most recent being David. But few were as intriguing as the alluring middle-aged woman sitting across from him now, Donna.
Donna had a calm demeanor and a constant polite smile. She was dressed simply, wearing a modest hazel dress which matched her eyes. She had a pleasant voice, and her words were clear and concise. She seemed like a typical person just looking for a job to make some extra cash.
As Dennis asked his usual set of interview questions, he was impressed by Donna’s responses. She had a good deal of experience in customer service and was surprisingly articulate in expressing her thoughts. Her answers were well thought out and precise, demonstrating a level of professionalism that was rare among the applicants he typically interviewed.
“What brings you to our grocery store, Donna?” Dennis asked, leaning back in his chair. “Why do you want to work here?”
Donna returned his question with a sweet, warm smile.
“Well, I’ve been looking for a job that allows me to interact with people on a daily basis. I enjoy helping others, and I believe that working in a grocery store will provide me with an opportunity to do that,” she replied.
Dennis nodded, appreciating her candor.
“That’s a good answer, Donna. We certainly value employees who are dedicated to providing excellent customer service.”
As the interview progressed, Dennis found himself more and more inclined to hire Donna. She seemed like a reliable and hardworking individual, exactly the type of employee the grocery store needed. And yet, there was something about her that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. There was a certain quality to her, a mystery he found intriguing.
Perhaps it was the way she carried herself, with an air of confidence that was uncharacteristic of the typical grocery store applicant. Or maybe it was her gaze, clear and focused, like a person on a mission. Or perhaps it was just his imagination, conjuring up intrigue where there was none.
Regardless, Dennis decided that Donna was a promising candidate. She had the experience, professionalism, and drive he was looking for. He had a feeling that she would be a valuable addition to the team.
“Well, Donna, I have to say I’m impressed,” Dennis said, leaning forward and offering her a genuine smile. “I think you would make a great addition to our team. How soon can you start?”
Donna’s smile widened, her eyes sparkling with what Dennis assumed was excitement.
“I can start as soon as tomorrow, Mr. Cameron,” she answered.
Dennis chuckled, waving his hand.
“Please, call me Dennis.”
With that, the interview concluded, and Dennis found himself looking forward to seeing how Donna would fit into the grocery store team. He had a good feeling about her, a feeling that she would bring something unique to the store.
***
Unbeknownst to Dennis, Donna was not just an ordinary middle-aged woman looking for a job to make some extra cash. She was Agent MX5, on a mission to keep an eye on a particular employee of the grocery store.
“Dennis,” she said, “Just one last thing. When should I come in for my first day?”
“Well, we start early here,” Dennis replied. “Please clock in tomorrow at six in the morning so you can start your training. You’ll be trained by our current employee in charge of bagging and restocking. His name is David; he’s a charming and smart kid. You’ll like him.”
“That sounds perfect, Dennis. I look forward to starting my training.”
Excellent!
Not only would she be in close proximity to David, but she would also be able to ask him questions directly and unravel the mystery of his identity.
As she left the grocery store, she took out her phone, pretending to take selfies as she used the phone’s camera to look up and down the street, as well as the buildings directly across from the store. There were seven onlookers, at the least: one pretending to be a street cleaner, two in the coffee shop across the street, another spinning signs at the street corner, two on the rooftop, and one pretending to be a homeless person. If they were guards, she would have to be extra careful. She would be completely outnumbered if anything got out of hand.
Then, there was the matter of both David and herself being guests at the Rising Phoenix Hotel. As soon as she figured out which room he was staying in, she could bug it and move to a different hotel. Until then, she would have to take another route to work and devise a convincing cover-up story in case David spotted her there. After all, she couldn’t risk her secret being discovered, especially by her target.
Copyright © 2024 by A. J. Knight
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