Chapter 5 - The Drawer
The staff gathered in the dining room because Richard told them to.
Nine people in black shirts and aprons, standing between the tables with their hands at their sides. The restaurant had closed at ten. The lights over the empty tables were still on.
Richard stood by the bar with a small black cash box in his hands.
“Cash is missing,” he said. “Four hundred and twelve dollars from tonight’s drawer. I found Emily standing beside it with the drawer open and receipts in her hand.”
“I didn’t touch that money,” Emily said. “I just got here.”
“The drawer was closed when I left the office,” Richard said. “I opened it again only to count. It was short.”
“Then check the cameras.”
The room was silent.
“Please check the security footage before accusing me of stealing,” Emily said. “It’ll take five minutes.”
“We have a witness statement,” Richard said.
Emily turned to Vanessa.
Vanessa was standing by the host stand with her clipboard held against her chest. Her face was white.
“Vanessa,” Emily said. “Tell him.”
Vanessa looked at Richard. Then at Emily.
“I saw you at the drawer,” she said.
The floor tilted.
“Vanessa.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Did you really tell Richard I stole money?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled. “You know I would never—” She stopped. Swallowed. “I signed the report Richard prepared. I’m sorry, Emily. I didn’t know what else to do.”
Emily stared at her.
“You didn’t know what else to do.”
“Your position depends on following instructions,” Richard said, without looking at Vanessa. “Protect Emily and you may lose your job, too.”
“Richard,” Vanessa whispered.
“Enough.” He set the cash box down. “Emily, you’re suspended pending investigation. Hand over your employee badge.”
“I didn’t take anything.”
“Hand it over.”
“Please look at the cameras.”
“Vanessa,” Richard said. “The badge.”
Vanessa stepped forward and held out her hand, and Emily looked at her—really looked at her, at the way her hand was trembling, at the tears on her face—and understood that Vanessa was not going to save her. Vanessa was going to save Vanessa.
Emily unclipped the badge from her apron and put it in Vanessa’s palm.
“Your suspension is now termination,” Richard said, “for insubordination and misconduct. Remove your apron, collect your belongings, and leave immediately.”
Emily untied her apron.
She folded it once, then twice, and set it on the bar.
“I didn’t steal anything,” she said. “You can take my job. But please don’t put a lie on my record.”
Richard did not answer.
She walked to the back hallway to get her bag from the staff room, and Margaret Whitmore was standing by the coat rack with her broken purse in her hand.
“Emily,” she said. “Where’s your apron?”
Emily’s throat closed.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Margaret said. “Please tell me they haven’t fired you because you helped me.”
“It wasn’t just that.”
“It was your fault. I shouldn’t have come in here. I shouldn’t have—”
“They accused me of taking money.” Emily’s voice cracked. “And nobody would even check the cameras.”
Margaret went very still.
“Don’t surrender your good name, Emily,” she said. “The truth matters. And I promise you, this injustice will not be the final word.”
Emily did not know what that meant.
She got her coat. She walked out the staff door into the alley, and the rain had started again, and she stood under the awning with her phone in her hand for a full minute before she could make herself call.
“Mom.”
“Emily? What’s wrong?”
“Something happened at work.” Emily pressed the heel of her hand against her eyes. “They fired me tonight. And I don’t know how we’re going to cover your next medical payment.”
There was a long silence on the line.
“Look at me,” her mother said, though she couldn’t see her. “We may lose money. But we must never lose our dignity. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you.”
“Say it back.”
“We must never lose our dignity.”
May you like
“Good girl.”
Emily hung up and stood in the rain, and a black car pulled up at the end of the alley.
