Chapter Eleven
Noel returned home and the wonderful odors in his normally cold, unwelcoming apartment left his stomach growling. He smelled chicken and something else. The sweetness of cinnamon and sugar permeated the air.
“Hi Steve, you’re looking quite smug. I have a feeling you’re about to share some good news. I can’t wait to hear a positive report after the negativity I’ve been surrounded by today.”
“Hi, Noel, I’m glad you showed up. While I’ve been going through all of your files, the girls have been in the kitchen for hours preparing a meal fit for a king.
” He rubbed his stomach in a telling way, then he pointed at the computer.
“And I’ve found exactly what I thought I would; evidence of tampering on these pages. ”
Noel flew to his side, grabbed the nearby chair and hauled it under him. “Show me.”
During the next twenty minutes, Steve pointed out certain variances, the sloppy mechanisms of a crook who hadn’t been too smart in his or her creative bookkeeping. It almost looked like whoever had taken over the accounts felt so safe in their thievery, they’d given up covering their tracks.
“This is proof that Dad and Harry didn’t set up the overseas account, right? And if they didn’t, whoever did must have been the same people who laundered the money through that bank.”
“Right. They stole the money, making it look like a new policy your father had enacted. And I have a good idea of just who those people are.”
“Tell me.”
“About four months ago, just before my accident, a new fellow came to work for the company. As my immediate superior, he was fully in charge of the factory’s distribution center, the invoices, payments, everything in the office.
His name is Bart Hamilton. He had good credentials, and I looked forward to learning a lot from the man.
It soon became evident that he cared nothing about the employees, and he started firing good men and replacing them with duds.
When I disagreed with his behavior, he told me to mind my own business.
Not long after, I had the accident that put me out of commission. ”
“I wondered what happened.”
Steve explained in detail what led up to his ending under a pile of boxes, writhing in pain. “It was a freak mishap. The kid who was responsible had no business being on a forklift, never mind in the area where the collision took place.”
“What if it wasn’t an accident?”
“You mean they wanted to put me out of commission? I’ve wondered about that possibility. They’d already intercepted memos I’d sent to your father wanting him to come to Bedford Falls and check out the shady transactions.”
“Ahh… so they kept Dad and Harry in the dark.” Noel thought back to September and added, “My mom took a fall that month, ended up in the hospital, and we were all consumed with helping her get over the disaster, especially my dad. He spent a lot of time with her.”
“Yes, I remember. I tried calling a few times also and got messages he was out of the office.”
“So you’re aware, I talked to the county District Attorney, my cousin, Bill Harrison, today and they’re putting some agents on the case to look into it.
I want you to work with them closely, okay?
In the meantime, I’ll sneak inside the plant and try to find out more about what they’ve set up.
I’ve been told by a friend who knows about these things to look for criminals who are all about the money and will benefit financially. ”
Suddenly, Mary appeared in the doorway and Noel found his heartbeat going all wacky, speeding up and thumping hard. Breathing was difficult, and his throat became dry. The constant memories of her all day long were spot-on. She was truly beautiful.
Bounding from his chair like a randy teenager, he stepped closer. Their eyes caught and held, neither wanting nor able to look away.
Feelings of bliss attacked, leaving him floating.
He smiled and loved seeing the sweet welcome of happiness spread across her face, lighting up her sparkling blue wonders.
Finally, she licked her lips, causing an instant reaction in certain parts of his body.
Without intending to, his hand reached for hers, wanting… needing to touch.
In an adorable way, she appeared somewhat flustered by his action, though without hesitation, she slid her palm into his, squeezed and spoke, “Dinner is served.”