Coy glanced through the open doorway toward the teller windows, noticing for the first time that Jimmy was not there. He frowned. “That makes no sense.”

The manager’s expression was unreadable.

“So you fired him? They wanted him fired?”

“They wanted him.”

“He’s working there now?” Coy was confused. “Is that supposed to give them an advantage? I mean, Jimmy’s a good guy and all, but he’s our newest teller. Seems like it would have been smarter to take someone more experienced, someone the customers know and already have a relationship with.”

The manager’s voice was low. “Drop it.”

“But—”

“I said drop it.” There was an implied threat in the tone of voice that made Coy back up a step, but Shanley immediately brightened. The abrupt change was startling. “So we’re in business!” The manager’s hand was on his shoulder again. “Now get out there and get to work!”

Eager to leave the office, Coy walked back out to his desk.

“Bizarre,” Cal whispered as he passed by.

“At least we’re still employed,” Coy replied in a voice just as low.

“Yay!” Maggie said quietly.

Immediately upon sitting down, his phone rang, and he picked it up. “Montgomery Community Bank, Coy Stinson speaking.”

“Coy?”

It was Florine.

Heart pounding, he glanced instinctively at the Pirates of the Caribbean coffee cup she had given him and that he had not yet removed from his desktop. “Yes?” he said carefully.

“I heard the news. Congratulations.”

He didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything.

Florine seemed not to notice.

“This is really a courtesy call. You know that auditor I told you about? The one who was looking into escrow accounts connected to Montgomery Community? He died! He was sucking on a bag of dicks, and he choked and keeled over, dead!”

What? Coy frowned. A bag of dicks? What the hell did that mean? She was making no sense, and a feeling of uneasiness crept over him.

“Dead as a doornail! Which means, if I’m reading my cards right, all inquiries into Montgomery Community are null and void. I thought you’d want to know that if there are any home loans ready to be issued, you’re good to go.”