18
Driving Wade’s truck was a huge mistake. She had placed herself in a huge metal keepsake box. Every time she shifted her weight, Wade’s cologne wafted into the air. A turquoise football koozie sat in the cup holder and a Donoven and Sons cap rested in the passenger seat where Wade should be sitting if he hadn’t kicked her out the company door. She bit her lip and focused on the road. Wavy lines in her vision wouldn’t help her navigate traffic.
She blew out a deep breath and tried to calm her jumble of feelings. If she was having mixed emotions over leaving after seven days of working with Wade, what would it be like after six weeks. Wade never mentioned a future or a first date. He’d fired her after a phone call with his attorney. Whatever she thought was blossoming between them had been a hoax. She felt more foolish now than believing in Ron’s investment jargon.
Lord, please keep me from making any more mistakes in work or love. A steady, predictable life doesn’t hurt quite as much.
Her focus had to be clearing her name and staying out of jail. Forget six days of working with a handsome boss if she was sentenced to six years for aiding a criminal.
The attendant at the special parking entrance ushered her inside and directed her to the fifth floor. Well-placed lighting saved the structure from resembling a cement tomb. She couldn’t help but visualize her backpack emanating a homing signal attracting nefarious gangsters. She had second thoughts about refusing Wade’s offer to ride along. His presence might ward off thieves, but the silence and regrets would be too awkward.
Snap out of it. She didn’t need Wade. Jesus was here with her. She’d pray for a guardian angel and dash down the stairwell to the lobby. Frantic, petite women could do a lot of damage at full speed.
Gold and crystal chandeliers lit the entrance to Zach West’s office building. The marble flooring and pristine bronze elevator doors didn’t bode well for her attorney bill. Wade didn’t mention this being a pro-bono case. A sickly swirl cramped her stomach.
She entered an office with five attorney names, one of the names being West. The leather seats in the waiting area stood empty.
A receptionist slid open the window at the side of her desk. “You must be Emma.”
She nodded. How many clients had money on them that exceeded the GDP of Lichtenstein? The receptionist led her to a conference room with a long mahogany table and comfy rolling chairs.
“Mr. West will be in shortly.” The woman’s smile held the warmth of a fancy plastic doll. She handed Emma a clipboard. “There are a few forms to fill out. The top one is the acceptance of Mr. West’s representation. I’ll collect them before I leave.”
Time to sign her life away. She accepted the clipboard and took a seat at the conference table. On the top form, blaring in bold print, was the notice that she owed Zach four-thousand dollars today for a retainer. Her cheeks prickled. She could have sworn the chair beneath her hovered above the carpet.
Four grand would max her credit card if they accepted plastic payment. What if this case dragged on and she owed Zach more money? Would he drop her as a client? She struggled to hold the pen as she signed her solvency away.
The money she had coming from Wade would pay living expenses for a brief while, but then what? Asking her parents for funding was out of the question. Not until she was desperate. At least more desperate. She didn’t need to hear about consultations of star patterns and a denial that God existed.
A bald man entered the conference room clutching two laptops and a black leather portfolio. He kicked the door closed with brown wingtips that accented his blue suit. His hand shot toward her. “Zach West.” His smile and meadow green eyes eased some of her worry. Her attorney exuded the charm one needed in front of a jury. His gaze darted to her paperwork as she shook his hand. If she hadn’t been a filing queen and paper organizer, she would have missed his instantaneous perusal for a signature.
“Emma Uranova.” She introduced herself and pointed at the top paper. “I hope you take credit cards.”
“Oh that.” He dismissed the amount with a flick of his hand. He placed the hardware and folder on the table and sat. “Retainers are standard at the firm. My assistant will take care of the finances.”
One day soon, she hoped she could dismiss four grand so casually.
“Brent mentioned you used to work for Ron Runyard and may be in possession of, or have knowledge of, some of the stolen funds.” Zach folded his hands and gave her a look as if they were old friends catching up over coffee.
Inwardly, she grinned. Her attorney was cool under pressure and left a few escape routes in his question.
“Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you see it, yes I do.” She could talk in self-preservation speak, too.
“There’s something I must discuss before we finalize representation.”
Adrenaline seeped into her bloodstream. She resisted the urge to fan herself with his clipboard. High-powered attorneys weren’t abundant in her contact list.
“I represent two other clients who had funds stolen by Mr. Runyard, so I’m familiar with his antics. If…” he accentuated the uncertainty, “you are in possession of some of his monies or know where they are located, we may be able to pull resources and reclaim some of the funds.”
A ray of hope sparked on her mental horizon.
“So I may get some of my money back? And lost wages?” Ron owed her a few weeks’ pay along with her inheritance money.
“Possibly.” Zach clicked his pen. “Ron is deceased. If we can tie the funds to his company, then we can sue for damages in a class action suit.”
Sue a company that didn’t exist. She laughed. “The Ron Runyard Group was a fraud.”
“You’d be surprised how many companies are formed out of thin air or have sketchy financing. I’ve worked many cases where a company looked legit only to find their balance sheet was a forgery.” He rubbed his hands together. “If there are assets, we can go after them. May I see the flash drive to see how we proceed?”
She unzipped the compartment on her backpack and handed the flash drive to Zach.
He opened one of the laptops. “This computer isn’t connected to the Internet.” He inserted the drive and stared at the screen. Nothing registered on his face. Not happiness, regret, elation, or disappointment. “You believed this drive held software?”
“A customer service software. I designed it to track residents’ birthdays and interests for the defunct Greener Groves facility. I named it People Peeps.” Perhaps the name did need to go because Zach’s mouth twitched at the mention of peeps.
“And you believe this information came directly from Ron?” Zach cast a calculated glance at her with those perceptive green eyes.
Was this a trick question? Was she under cross examination? Sure, she was. A floating feeling overcame her body. She had to stay grounded in her truth. The truth. God’s truth. Lord, give me wisdom .
“I did share a desk with Ron’s assistant Annette, but she was on top of her game and never left anything lying about. She showed no interest in my software. Ron encouraged the project. I actually showed it to him shortly before he disappeared. We were interrupted by a man, a visitor. I didn’t recognize him, but his arrival made Ron nervous. So nervous that Ron dropped my drive.” She released her fisted hands and let the blood flow through her fingers. “What’s odd, now that I think about it, is that the man must have used the back door to the office. No one came in that way because it was an emergency exit. It’s the only scenario that I can think of for why his presence was a shock.” Reliving the last days in Ron’s office seemed like a lifetime ago. “I told the detective about the man, but I don’t know any specifics. I’m not even sure I could identify him.”
“You gave a statement to a detective in Wisconsin?” A tic pulsed in Zach’s jaw.
“A brief one. I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know where Ron and Annette had gone. I still don’t know where they fled except the news said Ron was killed in the northern part of the state.”
“You played dumb?” Zac’s expression was as stark as a white, dry erase board. Where was this line of questioning going?
“I am dumb.” Her ears flamed. She never thought of herself as stupid and admitting that she had been played was a punch to her belly. “I never took any money, and I certainly don’t know where these accounts lead. I barely looked at the computer screen when it popped up on my boss’s laptop.”
“We know where the money flowed now.” Zach removed the flash drive from his computer and gripped it tightly. “This, young lady, holds an extremely large sum of money and tracks deposits in overseas accounts. It’s pretty impressive that you have it.”
“But I don’t want it.” She pushed away from the conference table and held up her hands. Her arms trembled. “I’m afraid of it. I wish I didn’t know about it. I keep seeing black SUVs and feeling like I’m being watched. I don’t want that thing back.”
“Duly noted.” Zach’s voice didn’t even rise one octave. Hers screeched like an out-of-tune symphony. “We’ll get a safe deposit box downstairs at the bank. In both of our names. I’ll text an assistant manager I know to come in and help us. I don’t want you carrying this evidence in a backpack.”
She had schlepped it across the country. Good thing she hadn’t eaten in a while because she was ready to vomit.
“You mentioned a black SUV. Were you followed?” Zach clicked his pen more than once. Was he worried? Should she be more worried?
“After I left Ron’s office, and after I gave my statement to the detective, I thought I may have been followed. I lost the tail.” Every black car in Tennessee had become a suspect. She wanted her mundane life returned. “Do you think it was Ron or Annette?”
Zach raised an eyebrow. The bushy brow contrasted with his shaved head. “We don’t have to worry about Ron, but Annette, Sandra, Eva…she’s had her share of aliases. I’m not so sure. She’s never bothered former employees of the defunct LLCs or any investors. When was the last time you saw her?”
“The last day that I saw Ron. The day before they disappeared.” Her heartbeat thudded in her ears as she recounted entering the office stripped of all the electronics. An eeriness settled over her spirit. She had worked next to a cold-hearted scam artist without a clue to the truth. “Am I in danger? From her?”
“I don’t make promises when I’m ignorant of all the facts. But I do know there are high-level people looking for her.” He set the flash drive between them on the table as if it might explode. “Who else knows about the drive? We need to keep this quiet.”
She slumped in her chair and rubbed her tortoise charm. Her wrist hit the wide silver tape on her shirt. She had forgotten to remove it before entering Zach’s office. No wonder the receptionist gave her a funny look. Her thoughts strayed to Wade. Had she placed him and his family in danger? What about her family and Sam? Never in her lifetime had she ever felt so alone and isolated. Her whole being drowned in dread. Meeting Zach’s stare, she tried to formulate a list of people who knew about the money. She also noted that her attorney hadn’t said that she was out of trouble.
“The Donoven family probably knows. My boss Wade is the one who discovered the money. He and his dad run the company. My best friend knows about the drive. That’s it. And Wade’s attorney, Brent.” Already, the circle was widening. What was the adage about loose lips torpedoing boats?
How quickly Wade had become a name on a list and not a future boyfriend. Her chest tightened. She missed Wade. She wished he was sitting beside her, holding her hand, but her ex-boss made it clear that was forbidden by his lawyer.
“Well, if you see anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1, and then call me.” Zach rested his palms on the table. “Sit tight. I’m going to contact the bank manager to meet us downstairs. Once the money is secured, then we can video your testimony. I’m already in communication with the DOJ and FBI due to my former cases. I’ll need to update them on the evidence in our possession.”
Her mouth gaped. “Did you say FBI?” With her mind going in every direction, she could barely get out the words. “I didn’t know we would be contacting the government.” Wade might not be her favorite person this minute, but he had advised her to talk to an attorney before calling the police, and he had done her a solid.
Zach rose and crossed his arms. His no-nonsense-lawyer look was impressive.
“Ron Runyard snagged some politicians in his scams. He also tripped some suspicious bank transfers with all his dealings. Several important people want their money returned and his accomplice brought to justice.” His stance softened. “Don’t worry. I’ll work for the best outcome for you and all the investors who lost their savings.” Zach headed for the conference room door. “I’ll be right back. We have a lot of work to do.”
Burying her face in her hands, she said a quick prayer. “Lord, I am out of my league. I need Your wisdom and clear thinking. This is all new to me and very scary. Thank You for being my rock. I want to feel Your rock beneath my feet, I really do. Help me know for certain that You are with me. Please help me, my family, and friends. Amen.”
“I’m right here.”
She raised her head and scanned the room. Zach hadn’t returned. Was someone talking in the hall? That had to be it. No way was she telling anyone that she thought she heard the voice of God. She needed all the credibility that she could get.
Glancing at the ceiling, she whispered, “Thank You for reminding me that You are with me, Lord. Whether it was a secretary or You I heard, it was a nice reminder of the Holy Spirit’s presence.” She grasped her hands tighter. “And Lord, can my life get a little less crazy? It’s already late, and I need some chamomile tea and a chocolate chip cookie.”
~*~
Wade lounged on his living room couch and pressed the remote, flipping between sports stations. The football analysis and stats weren’t his top priority anymore. He wanted to make sure Emma was safe and that fallout from Ron’s crimes didn’t land her in jail. He felt worse than the flu with no energy, a headache, and a barbell of remorse crushing his pecs. He was beating himself up for not fighting harder to keep Emma as an employee. She was only going to be around for a few weeks. He should have worked out a deal with the insurance company and his lawyer, but white-collar scandals were out of his league.
The doorbell rang.
A rush of adrenaline energized his weary limbs. He rose, eager to hear how Emma’s appointment had gone and if her attorney had a strategy to combat any money laundering charges. He doubted she’d be down for a long conversation since he had fired her. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that he wasn’t her favorite person the way she peeled down the road earlier.
He opened the door and rocked backward. “Sam.”
Sam stood on tiptoe and stretched to see into his home. “Hey, Wade. Is Emma here?”
Fat chance.
“She wasn’t at your parents’ house.” Sam sounded deflated. Join the club.
“Emma’s not back from the attorney. Come on in.” Here came lecture number five after Brent, Dad, Mom, and himself.
“We talked earlier, but I thought she’d be done by….” Sam glanced at her watch as she entered the foyer. “Eight-thirty. I saw the van out front and figured she was filling you in on what the attorney said.”
“She took my truck downtown.” He wasn’t holding his breath that Emma would stay long enough for a meaningful conversation.
“Oh.” Sam’s eyebrows shot upward. “I didn’t know Em was a truck gal.”
“She’s been driving service vans around town all week.” Driving me around. “She’s been doing a good job.” Another stab at his decision. “Have a seat.”
Sam wedged herself in the corner of the couch like Emma had done the night she had opened up to him about her life. The weight of his actions made him feel as lively as the stuffed cushions.
“I wasn’t planning to come until tomorrow morning, but I thought Em might need a friend tonight. After the attorney visit and stuff.”
The word stuff brimmed with hidden meaning. If he had any hope of restoring his friendship with Emma, he needed to explain himself to her best friend.
“I’m sorry I had to fire Emma.” Short and to the point, except a jar of quarters filled his mind and did little to alleviate his guilt. “She did a great job managing the office.” And managing me. “She even beats Fran with her customer service skills.”
He had never been so glad to hear a lighthearted giggle from his brother’s girlfriend.
“That’s my Em. She could sell candles to the sun. I knew she’d work out. Well, until today.” She frowned and shook her head. “I wish Emma had never worked for Ron Runyard. I met the man, and he seemed genuine to me.”
He’d only known Emma for over a week, but Sam was her lifelong friend. He needed some advice if he had a shot at a future with Emma. That was if Emma stayed in Tennessee, and if she would forgive him for placing his company before their friendship. He also prayed that being in possession of millions of stolen funds didn’t place her in legal jeopardy.
“I never wanted to hurt Emma’s feelings. I’m kicking myself that I asked to see her software. All I wanted to do was encourage her, help her out.” He shifted forward on the couch and turned to meet Sam eye-to-eye. “Do you think when this blows over, she would want to be friends. Go out sometime. She’s been a big help to the company and to me.”
“It’s not your fault. Em would have worked on People Peeps eventually and discovered the error. And I can see that she’s been a big help to you.” Sam had a funny expression on her face as if she knew a joke and didn’t want to laugh before the punch line. “You aren’t even using your cane to walk.”
As Sam glanced around the room, he did, too. Where had he left his cane?
Chalk up another reason why he felt awful about firing Emma. “She pushed…uh…suggested I walk around my couch and balance using the back of the sofa. I’m pretty much back to normal.”
Sam bestowed a carefree smile. “Practice makes permanent.”
Was that a teacher motto?
“So, do you think she’ll forgive me?” He rubbed his hands together relishing how well and flat they fit together. Emma had defrosted his claw. What part of his life hadn’t been affected by Emma?
“I know she’ll forgive you. And deep down she knows you have to do what is best for your family’s company. She grew up in retail sales and knows what it’s like to be the boss.” Sam grew serious. “I’m going to take Emma to Whispering Creek. She can stay with me for a while until she gets the all-clear from her attorney. I’m not sure if she’s planning to stay in Tennessee long-term. But when things settle down, if you want to be more than friends, look for an opening and take it.”
Women. Sam’s advice was as clear as barbecue sauce.