Taking Stock (27 page)

“No wonder. That partner of yours is a pit bull. Showed Herman how real employees supposed to work.”

“Herman thinks I’m it.”

“What about Pit Bull
?
She taken a bite outta you yet
?
”

Stan forced a laugh.

“That way, huh. Tryin’ to impress her
?
Never works, yo. Woman’s gotta have respect, yo.”

Stan had worked more than ever lately. He’d changed since Sarah brought her big eyes, long straight hair and curves to the team. He’d done dumber things to impress a girl, but he usually knew going in. This change snuck up on him, but Sean saw it clearly. It could have been Herman that Stan was trying to impress. He’d latched on to Sarah’s enthusiasm from day one. Odd, he’d never complained about Stan’s meager output. He’d never pushed Stan to do anything and it had been too easy to fall into the rut of chatting with Sean every day. There were others, too, a circle of BFS underachievers he idled with all around the office. They’d find new distractions to moderate the drudgery, but Stan couldn’t get back the time he’d wasted for the last eight years. He needed to get upstairs and start making amends.

“Sean, Dude. I have a job. Sometimes I’ve gotta do it.”

“You done more lately than the last three years. Every time I come by you’re click, click, clickin’.”

“Big plan this year.”

Sean leaned in. “You told me you could make that shit up. No one cares you said. They care now
?
Miss Pit Bull watchin’
?
Or you watchin’ her
?
”

Stan stepped around Sean’s wire cart.

“Click, click, click,” he said as Stan made his way for the elevator.

Funny Sean remembered what he’d said about fudging audits. He’d done it more than once. Nobody cared. Herman wanted his plan attained and didn’t care how. They weren’t catching criminals, not like the police out in the world. Even if they caught someone, they were powerless to do anything without the cops or the SEC.

Stan slipped off the elevator wondering what sort of embezzler could be lurking around BFS. Most of the executives had worked for Marty’s father. He treated them like family and they were untouchable even to him. They wouldn’t steal and ruin a good thing, but how vigilantly did they watch their employees
?
That was Stan’s responsibility and he’d done a lousy job.

He paused outside Sarah’s doorway before walking in.

She instinctively covered her work, extending her forearm over a few sheets of notes and a manila folder. The label was too small for Stan to read. She held the arm out before her, stiff and unmoving, and smiled up in a pathetic attempt to look casual in spite of her awkward posture.

“What are you trying so hard to hide
?
” He walked closer leaning to one side and then the other.

She didn’t budge. She flipped the pile over, pages down, blank folder on top. “It’s personal.”

“Like you have a personal life. I know you think I’m an idiot, but come on. I
am
your partner and I’ve been busting my hump so you can go off chasing bad guys.”

“I appreciate that. When I have something I’ll let you know.”

“Let’s get real. I’ve been doing this a long time.”

“Pretending to, anyway.”

“You think you can glide in here and uncover a conspiracy in two weeks
?
It doesn’t work like that.”

“And what makes you so sure you know what I’m after
?
”

“It’s obvious. You’re looking to hang someone and make a name for yourself. That cowboy crap might work in consulting, but this isn’t a six month project. You’re going to be working with these people two, three, four years down the road. If you last that long.”

She flushed, pressing her lips together to hide her reaction. The consulting thing hit a nerve.

“What do you want, Stan
?
”

“Not a solitary thing. I’m here to help.”

“Help who
?
Me
?
”

“You’re brand new to this. I know you think I’m lazy. Maybe you’re right, but you need my help.”

A powerful hiss, escaped her lips. “I’ll manage.”

Stan picked up the picture of all eight Burke’s and hopped up on her desk. His choice of seat drove her nuts. “This business is about people. You read them as well as I read Chinese.”

Stan motioned for the folder.

She didn’t move, but the snobbish air was gone. She nodded toward the door and Stan gladly went over and closed it. She relaxed in her chair, but didn’t turn the folder over. When Stan resumed his seat, he could have snatched it. He considered moving the stapler to tweak her instead.

“I think I’ve found something.”

Stan gestured with his hands wide.

“I’ve found a discrepancy in an order that no one can explain. The problem cost the customer three thousand dollars. Gregg Turner asked IT for help three times and got nowhere.”

“It’s probably just a record keeping thing. Don’t start throwing accusations around until you’re sure it’s not.”

“Herman thinks it’s more than a record keeping thing.”

Bitch!

She felt his anger and backtracked. “I asked his advice and he set up a meeting with Brad Foster.”

“Makes sense. Brad’s a scum and he’s got access to everything. When are you two going to rake him over the coals
?
”

Sarah thought a long moment and admitted, “I’m meeting him alone.”

“What’s the point of that
?
” he asked. Aware of the insult, he started to apologize, but she didn’t look offended.

“It’s preliminary.”

“You think it’s someone else, huh
?
”

Sarah clammed up. What did she think she was hiding
?
He didn’t need a degree in criminal justice to know she’d be searching IT for her perp. She’d probably been hiding the name from the moment he’d walked in.

“So you’re looking on the programming team for someone smart enough to fudge records. Someone with strong relationships around the office. That rules out a lot of people up there.”

Her tense expression would crack if he hit the right name. Brad was Stan’s choice. He was arrogant, territorial and he managed by fear. Strange, she wasn’t interested in him as a suspect.

She offered nothing.

“So if I’m right, you’re taking a hard look at
Eric
a.”

Sarah held back a gasp.

She had a lot to learn. She was going after the one IT person who was above suspicion and she did such a lousy job hiding her reaction, she’d told him who it was.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” he said. “We’re talking about embezzlement here!
Eric
a Fletcher’s no criminal.”

After a long pause, Sarah finally broke. “She’s right in the middle of it. She manages the system with the suspicious transactions and guess who everyone runs to when they have a problem
?
”

“Not a chance.”

“I don’t care what you think, Stan. I’m not asking for your help. Just keep quiet. If this gets back to her and she runs, it’s your head.”

“I’m not that stupid.”

“You’ll change your tune when she’s in cuffs.”

“My money’s on Brad.”

“Brad’s got no part in this. His family owns this company.”

“Fine. Do what you want. When
Eric
a’s found guilty, I’ll buy you dinner, you choose the restaurant. If it’s Brad, I choose the place and you pay.”

“I don’t date guys from the office.”

“So, I’ve heard.”

Sarah ignored the barb. “Gregg and I brought this problem to her. We told her how critical it was and she sat on it for two weeks. Tell me she’s not hiding something.”

“Ever think she might be busy
?
”

“Everything points to her.”

“You couldn’t have picked a less likely cheat.”

Sarah sat and stared. The conversation was over and now she was concocting some crazy scenario that he’d partnered with
Eric
a to defraud the company. He’d had a lot of influence over the last eight years and a lot of responsibility he hadn’t lived up to. Sarah didn’t invite him to help and she wasn’t going to. He left, knowing the keys in his pocket would get him a look at that file after she’d gone.

Carlos rolled a sinewy string of drool off his tongue and let it drop in the center of the gray sharpening stone. The knife scratched tight circles, spreading the lubrication while he kept his eyes on the street from his fifth floor window. Soon, the drunk tottered into view in a suit worth more than all his worldly possessions combined. Carlos had followed him dozens of times on the trip to the bank and back. He always walked straight to the bank as instructed, but often stopped for a few nips in a little store a block and a half into the return trip. He looked sober plodding up the block, but unenthusiastic for someone about to receive over three months’ income. Carlos wouldn’t care if he were wasted today.

Carlos dialed the cell.

“Yeah,” a gruff voice answered.

“He’s on his way back.”

“Hold on.” Keys clicked on the other end of the line.

“We’ve got it. Take out the trash.”

Carlos pulled the blade across his jeans, wiping the saliva from one side of the blade then the other. He was about to click off when the voice shot back. “No fancy stuff. You’re not carving a turkey. Use the tools I gave you and make it look like he offed himself.”

He closed the phone and played his thumb over the razor sharp edge he’d honed for the last hour. He sheathed it regretfully and dumped a thousand dollars in twenties on the table.

The bum shuffled to the door five minutes later. He let him knock twice before letting him in.

“Everything all set
?
” he asked.

Tobey’s eyes landed on the money and he drifted toward the table, ignoring the question and leaving the door half open behind him.

Carlos closed it and grabbed him by the shoulder. “You been drinking
?
”

“No, Sir,” Tobey said, straightening up and facing Carlos for the first time. “Things went fine. Same as always.”