I agree with you, which I actually do. Let’s say she’s not a criminal, only desperate. Desperate people do some pretty dangerous stuff, too. It’s my responsibility to look out for the well-being of the town.”
“So what do you want us to do? Just kick her out? Send her on her way?”
“How about if you just give me her full name and Social Security number from her tax stuff, and I’ll run her through the system. See if anything comes up. At least that way we’ll know.”
“I’m afraid we can’t do that.”
Tanner raised an eyebrow. “Can’t or won’t?”
Mrs. Andrews let out a sigh. “Can’t.”
He muttered a curse under his breath. “You’re paying her under the table.”
Her lips tightened. “We are allotted a certain amount of labor wages every year without having to claim it on our taxes.”
He rubbed a hand across his face. “I’m not going to turn you into the IRS, Mrs. A. I’m concerned for your safety. You don’t even know this woman’s Social Security number.”
“Actually, we don’t even know her last name. She didn’t want to give it, so we just let it go.”
Tanner swallowed a curse that would definitely get him snatched out of the Sunday School class. “I can’t just let it go.”
She nodded. “I understand, but she’s not the bad guy.”
Tanner thought of those big green eyes and the exhaustion and desperation that seemed to hang over her like a cloud even now. “Maybe not. But I’d still like to talk to her further. Which hotel is she staying at?”
“Neither. She’s staying at the apartment just outside town Dan and I spruced up last year for when the kids come to visit. We’re letting her have it for free for right now, until she gets back on her feet. And don’t you try to talk us out of it, Tanner Dempsey. Both Dan and I agree it’s the right thing to do.”
He took the last sip of his coffee. “I’m not going to try to talk you out of it. But I’m not going to ignore that she could be a threat to this town. That woman has secrets, and I intend to find out what they are.”
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