“Or he found a better job as a manager here and just got lucky when she floated by.” Bailey looked at me, her expression amused. “Sometimes a cigar really is just a-”
“Whatever.”
The security guard was chatting with the salesgirl, who was wiping down the glass counter.
“Is your manager here?” Bailey pulled out her badge.
The girl’s eyes widened momentarily. “Yeah, he’s in the back.”
She excused herself and went to the back room. The security guard held out his hand to Bailey. “Stephen Wareby.”
“Nice to meet you, Stephen.” They shook. “And this is Deputy District Attorney Rachel Knight.”
Stephen looked less impressed to meet me, but he reluctantly shook my hand as well. I decided it’d be smarter to sit this one out and let Bailey take the lead.
“Do you know Brian Shandling?” she asked.
“Yeah. He’s the manager who’s usually here.”
“What do you think of him?”
Steve shrugged. “He’s okay, I guess. He-”
At that moment, the stand-in manager came out, his hand extended. “Adam Meisner. What can I do for you officers?”
“We’re looking into a matter involving Brian Shandling. Do you know him?” Bailey asked.
“No. I usually work in our store at the Beverly Center. I’m subbing for him.”
“He took some time off?”
“Yeah. Said he was going to visit an aunt in New York, I think.”
“Did he mention her name? Or say when he’d be back?”
“He didn’t mention her name, but he said he’d be back next week.”
Bailey’s phone began to ring. She looked at the number. “I’ve got to take this. Sorry.” She stepped away and I asked Adam if Brian had a good reputation with the company.
“I guess so. I mean, he didn’t get fired or anything, but you’d have to ask Human Resources. I’m just a manager, like him, so…”
Bailey came back, looking like she was in a hurry. “Adam, thank you for your help. We’ll be in touch if we have any other questions.” She shook his hand and pushed me toward the door.
Bailey led the way through the mall and I trotted to keep up. She’s got a good three inches on me and a really long stride, so that wasn’t easy. Plus, I wasn’t all that anxious to leave the mall’s air-conditioned clime.
“What’d you get?” I asked.
“Turns out our boy Brian had credit cards in his real name. He bought two plane tickets to New York. I’m going to make some calls and get our airport division to check and see whether those tickets were used, and if they were, if the passengers fit the description of Hayley and Brian. And I’m going to have all the lots checked for Brian’s car.”
