Close To The Edge (Westen #2) by Suzanne Ferrell Page A

gabardine suit tailored to fit the curves of her waist and hips, and a white blouse with a plunging neckline to show off her well-endowed chest, stood to shake her hand. She motioned for Bobby to take one of the two straight-back chairs in front of her desk. “Please tell me what seems to be the problem?”
    “I am so embarrassed.” Bobby lowered her eyes and forced herself to swallow hard in order to appear flustered. “I’m traveling through town, and somehow I managed to lose my ATM card. I’ve run out of cash, and frankly I hate putting items on my credit card. The interest is so overwhelming sometimes.”
    “There shouldn’t be a problem, ma’am. If you have an account with one of our branches, you can simply cash a check here.”
    “I feel so stupid.” Bobby let out a long sigh, twisting the strap to her purse in nervous agitation. “When I left my house yesterday, I managed to only bring one check with me, which I already used. You must think me a complete ninny.”
    “Oh, no. Think nothing of it,” the woman reassured her with a gentle smile and a pat on the hand. Only her eyes seemed to say yes, you’re a complete moron . “People do things like this all the time.”
    “Since I’ll be doing a lot of traveling in this area for my work, I’d hoped you could wire money from my other bank into a new account here at your bank.”
    “Why certainly. Do you know your banking information?” Ms. Taylor pulled open her desk drawer faster than a mechanical rabbit out of the gate at a greyhound race and withdrew several papers. Realizing she was about to get a new account for her bank seemed to take all the cynicism out of her demeanor.
    “Yes, it’s all right here.” Bobby fished out the paper she’d written her banking information on early this morning. Knowing Gage slept on the other side of her motel room’s wall, she’d given up on trying to get any semblance of sleep around four. She’d spent the rest of the time before the bank opened deciding on her next plan to find out information about the bank and its employees. Dumpster diving had done little more than make her a walking bulls-eye for the sheriff. “I’d like to deposit two-thousand today and get a little cash, too?”
    “It will be ten days before you will have an ATM card to make withdrawals,” Ms. Taylor explained as she happily filled all the little spaces on the paper in front of her.
    “Oh, I won’t need a card. I’ll just come in and fill out a form whenever I need a little cash and I’m in the area. If that won’t be too much trouble.” Bobby gave her a little smile. God, she hoped she wasn’t sounding too inane. If her sisters could hear her now they’d be convinced she needed to visit the little men with white jackets and padded room for an unscheduled vacation.
    “If you’re sure.” The woman gave her a look that said she thought she was crazy, as well as stupid.
    After handing over her driver’s license, Bobby reassured her it would be no inconvenience to come into the bank for her cash, which was true considering she wanted to have a legitimate reason for being inside it and observing the workers. She sat back and waited as the woman finished filling out all the necessary paperwork. With the signatures on the appropriate lines, Ms. Taylor shimmied her way into the next office to get approval from the bank’s manager for the money wire.
    Taking out her pad of paper, Bobby made notes as she surveyed the bank’s layout and personnel. Her PI manual taught that even the smallest observation could have meaning in an investigation. Observing people came easily to her as years ago, when she and her mother went to the mall to shop, she’d developed a passion for people watching.
    Behind the long counter sat three female tellers of various ages. They handled the business of the few customers who entered the bank this morning and conversed among themselves. An aged security guard sat near the entrance, flipping through