A Woman in Search Of...

In May Wendy and Jake, his attorney, Ben, and Adam, the new bartender Elliott found for her, headed for Fireplace Grill. It was seven-thirty and the Grill closed at eight.

The waitress, Erin, came toward Wendy with a smile, “Good to see you.”

“Thanks, Erin. These are my friends Ben and Adam.”

Erin said hello to them and Jake.

Stan waved at Wendy from the bar. With no expression on her face, Wendy nodded back.

“Nice to meet all of you, like a booth?”

“Yes, thanks, Erin,” Wendy replied.

They sat at a booth where they all asked for coffee.

Wendy was fraught with apprehension. “Ben, how do you want to do this?”

“Well, you, Jake, and I will take Stan into the office. Adam, why don’t you wait near the bar in case someone wants a drink. It’s almost time to close so maybe no new customers will come in, but just in case you’ll be there.”

They waited until there were only a few people left.

“Wendy, you ready?”

“Ready and very willing,” Wendy answered anticipating closure.

Wendy approached Stan. “Stan, I’d like to talk to you in the office.”

“Sure.”

Stan gave a mystified glance back as the three of them followed him into the office. Adam slipped around the corner and behind the bar.

Erin looked over at Adam with a curious expression. She obviously had no idea what was about to happen. She went to Adam.

“Are you making the drinks?”

“Yes, what would you like?”

“A glass of Chablis and a Harvey Wallbanger.”

“Coming right up.”

“What’s going on?” Erin asked.

“Wendy will explain when she comes out,” he assured her. “Okay,” Erin answered with a curious expression, as she left with the drinks.

No one sat in the office. Ben and Jake leaned against the desk with Wendy standing nearby. Stan looked across at them. Ben introduced himself and started right in.

“Stan, we discovered you’ve been cheating on the wine orders. What do you have to say?”

“What, really. Do you have proof?”

“Ben handed Stan the one-page written explanation of all they knew.

Stan looked at the three of them when he finished reading the proof. “Well, what can I say.” He tossed the paper on the desk.

Wendy spoke up, “I’ll say it, you’re fired.”

Ben gave some detail. You won’t be prosecuted, but if you ever come here again, action will be taken.”

Stan walked out the office door toward the diner’s entrance The three followed and watched as he stormed out.

“How’d it go?” Adam asked.

“We gave him the paper with the evidence and explained what we knew, and he was told never return or we will pursue the case.”

Adam pushed his long, sandy hair back. “Seems like he comes out the winner. He has all the money,” Adam stated.

Wendy snickered, “Apparently not, in his research Ben found out Stan bets on the horses and he’s in debt. He not only went through the money he stole from us, but he owes others even more, so taking him to court would prove fruitless.”

“Karma,” Adam laughed.

Wendy eyes sparkled, “You bet.”

“Glad this shit is over,” her cousin said.

“Me too.”

Adam stayed to run the Grill.

Ben, Jake, and Wendy headed back to Ben’s office where Wendy picked up her car. She knew this incident would haunt her, even though she had no control over what happened.