10The Check-in
A PACKED MORNING. MEETINGS. The usual flood of e-mail. Phone ringing. Calls from Carlos seeking reassurance—or forgiveness. Self-promotional updates from Madison. Assorted grumbles from Nathan. Rambling messages from Gene. All punctuated by periodic growls and edicts from Michael—by e-mail, phone, or in person—about fixing things and fixing them fast.
Vicky frowned as the phone rang yet again until she read the caller ID. Then she smiled broadly.
“Peter,” she said, skipping the hello. “Some good news. I'm beginning to make headway.”
“Sounds great.”
“Like peeling an onion. One layer after another.”
“Peeling onions can make you cry, Vicky.”
“True, but it's worth a few tears if you like the results.”
“So, what's cooking?”
“Well, when Michael said ‘motley crew,’ he wasn't exaggerating.”
“No surprise.”
“Any one of these people would be a challenge. I've got a whole team! Each difficult in a different way.”
“So what'd you get dealt?”
“Oh,” laughed Vicky. “Not the full house I would have liked.”
“Any high cards?”
“I've got a business officer who's really on top of things. She helped me see a lot quickly. Had a stack of documents ready that I wouldn't have even known to ask for.”
“Sounds like a keeper.”
“Yes,” Vicky said, then quickly added, “Well…”
“You're not sure?”
“Lin's smart and works like a beaver. But she could have been in silent movies. Shyer than a church mouse, as the saying goes. Doesn't look you in the eyes. And she never speaks up.”
“Is she giving you what ...
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