Free Betrayed: A Rosato & DiNunzio Novel (Rosato & Associates Book 13) by Lisa Scottoline

honest, she should have been here, but she didn’t come in today.”
    “So you didn’t see her today at all?”
    “No, she was a no-show.” Scott shrugged his heavy shoulders sadly. “It’s not like her, but then again, you never know.”
    “Did you call her when you realized she wasn’t here?”
    “No, I never do. I figured she moved on. They move around a lot and usually don’t say where they’re going. One day, they just disappear.”
    Judy remained silent. Nobody had to ask whom he meant by they.
    “That wouldn’t be like her, either, just to disappear without saying so.” Aunt Barb seemed to slump in her parka, and Judy could feel her leaning on her arm for support.
    “No, it wouldn’t, but I didn’t change what I usually do.” Scott’s face fell into lines. “Iris really is, or was, a special person. My wife and I just had our second baby, and she brought in cookies for me to bring home.”
    Aunt Barb smiled sadly. “That would be Iris to a T.”
    “I didn’t know she had heart problems.”
    “She didn’t, that I know of. That’s what I’m trying to figure out, that and why she was on Brandywine Way. You have any idea why she would be down there?”
    “No, not at all. There’s nothing there.” Scott frowned, puzzled.
    “She was friends with Daniella Gamboa, and I think Daniella used to work here, didn’t she?”
    “Yeah, but she left.”
    “Do you know why?”
    “No idea. Like I say, they come and go. One day last week, she didn’t show up.”
    Judy interjected, “Was Iris friendly with any of the other women in the packing room?”
    Scott shook his head. “No, there’s so much moving around. They don’t even know each other’s names, and that’s the way they like it. The only exception is when the families come up together, like cousins will work together and they stick together. But I never saw Iris with any of them.”
    Judy got another idea. “Did she have a locker or anything we could look through? Maybe it would contain something that would help us.”
    “No,” Scott answered. “Like I say, there’s so many changes in the workforce, we don’t give them lockers. Only management has lockers. The employees keep their things in their cars or their fanny packs. They’re big on fanny packs.”
    Judy made a mental note. “Scott, do you know who her doctor might have been?”
    “No. I assumed she used the LCD. Most of them do.”
    Judy remembered that Aunt Barb had said the same thing. “Did she ever say she didn’t feel well at work?”
    “No, never. She never missed a day and she took all the extra shifts I could give her. She was a workhorse. They all are. They never complain. They’re the best workers you’d ever want, the Mexicans.”
    Judy didn’t know whether to be offended, because his tone was so favorable.
    Scott smiled crookedly. “You’re looking at me funny. You must not be from around here.”
    “No,” Judy said, feeling her face flush. “I’m trying to wrap my head around the use of these undocumented workers. It’s an open secret.”
    Scott nodded. “Oh, absolutely, but I don’t think we’re that different from a lot of other places in the country. I’d love to hire Americans, but they don’t want to pick mushrooms. It’s filthy, smelly work. We advertise on craigslist, Monster, everywhere, but nobody applies. We pay minimum wage, too, so it’s not like we’re exploiting anybody.” Scott opened his palms, in uneasy appeal. “Listen, you have to be realistic. We need the labor, and the Mexicans are happy to have the work.”
    “Let me ask you one last question.” Judy was still trying to understand. “We were at the scene tonight, where Iris was found, and the police said they’ll follow up with you about her. Will you confirm that she worked here, or will you try to keep it quiet, like you did with us?”
    “No, we cooperate with the East Grove police. They get it.”
    “Don’t they report you for hiring undocumented workers?