Pool Of Lies Part 17

Rae deposited her briefcase, cell phone, and laptop on the table, opened the case and took out some papers, a mechanical pencil and a calculator.

"Notice of my resignation as accountant for Mrs. La.s.siter's estate went to Mrs. Bayfield-Farris."

"Yes, I know. I was just surprised when Fredricka told me we would be dealing with you again."

Rae fired a look at Sam and was stopped short by his pallid eyes.

"You think I can't be objective because of representing Danny?"

"Not at all." Sam spread bony fingers in a conciliatory gesture. "In spite of what's gone on in the past, I think we're all after the same thing."

A full ten seconds of silence pushed between them before Rae asked, "And that would be?"

"Justice for Deidre and Kevin. Closure for the family members. If your work leads to that, I support it fully."

"I have a list of items I'd like to see." Rae handed Sam a paper from her stack. "This is just a start and will probably grow as my work progresses."

Sam eyed the list. "It'll take some time for the bank to return copies of the check endors.e.m.e.nts."

"A pity they don't return the actual checks anymore."

"You have our full cooperation."

Rae nodded and let the hint of a smile soften her expression as she asked, "The check to Kevin? Do you remember offhand how long it took to clear?"

"It hasn't...so far."

"Has payment been stopped?"

Rae thought she noticed a slight twitch in Sam's facial muscles, a trace of annoyance. Surely he knew that's the first thing she'd be after.

"I'm sure Fredricka has seen to that."

"She has signatory power?"

Sam shook his head, annoyance clearly visible. "Mrs. Esposito, with all the recent tragedies that have hit the family, I may not have instant recall on every matter. Fredricka most likely prepared the stop order and gave it to me to sign. Feel free to ask her for anything you need."

"She didn't seem overly pleased to meet me."

"Fredricka is loyal to a fault. She and I were both brought on board by Jerome."

"Jerome?"

"Bayfield."

Rae arranged items on the table before her, opened up her laptop as Sam watched, showing no signs of leaving the room.

"Before you leave," Rae said, "I'd like to go over a few bases."

"Fire away."

"How many checking accounts are there and how do they interface? Who has signatory power?"

Sam explained the structure of the accounts and added, "Nate, Morgan or I sign all the checks."

"Two signatures required?"

"Not in all cases. Morgan can sign alone. Nate can only sign disburs.e.m.e.nts under five thousand without a co-signature."

"No cap on what you or Mrs. Farris can sign?"

"That's right."

"How about disposing of a.s.sets? Say you wanted to sell this building. Two signatures or one?"

"Correct." A smirk so fleeting that she almost missed it.

Smart a.s.s. Two if it's Nate and one if it's you or Morgan. "I think I get the picture." So much for internal controls.

"I think you do." Sam's thin upper lip twitched back in what might have pa.s.sed for a smile had Rae not been convinced he was reading her thoughts.

Not that she had a poker face. Never did have.

The stack of ledgers on the table confirmed the suspicion she'd voiced earlier to Veronica. Bayfield Enterprises was a dinosaur waiting to have its bones a.s.sembled.

"I'm sure you knew we'd a.s.sume your records were on computer."

"Not really. I thought your people would ask for the items on the court order, not charge in and grab."

"I'm sorry they acted in haste. I'll try not to make that mistake. I presume those..." Rae's gaze traveled back to the stack of ledgers.

"They are."

"Why?" Rae put a tentative hand on the top of the stack, trying to think of a tactful way to word her question. Dinosaurs and handwritten books of account had been extinct for a long time.

"Jerome's only been gone a year. We have every intention of modernizing, but with all that's happened, that priority has been overridden. You do get the picture?"

Rae felt sweat creeping through her suit jacket. What was she doing in dry clean only again? Her eyes hurt and she hadn't even cracked a book yet.

"I think that's all for now."

"I'm sure you'll find everything very legible."

To her relief, Sam edged toward the door. "I'll get Fredricka started on your list."

He exited leaving the door slightly ajar. Rae got up and closed it. She could suffocate for a while, and then have an excuse to open it if she heard anything interesting.

It seemed like only seconds later when a sharp rap on the door preceded Fredricka's entrance.

Rae smiled an ice-breaker smile, noting the stack of papers Fredricka was carrying.

"That was quick," offered Rae as the woman deposited the stack on her table.

"Sam antic.i.p.ated most of what's on your list." At least Fredricka's tone was neutral. Well, almost.

"I really appreciate it." Rae smiled again.

Fredricka didn't. "I came in early this morning and did most of this. Anything else'll take longer what with answering the phones and all."

As the woman headed for the door, Rae noticed her shoes. She wore bright blue Crocs on very white feet. They looked comfortable. Rae had a momentary stab of envy.

The hair flared again at her as Fredricka turned in the doorway. "Buzz me on four if you need anything else."

"I'll need a copy of the stop-payment order on the check to Kevin."

"It's there," snapped Fredricka. "Sam figured you'd need it since the check never cleared."

"Thank you." Rae felt a small twinge of disappointment. So far no inconsistencies she could hop on like a chicken on a gra.s.shopper.

First order of business, Rae found the most recent ledger for the operating account and perused the check register. She noted an entry for a disburs.e.m.e.nt to Kevin Cantrell dated April 25th in the amount of $100,000.00.

Halfway through the doc.u.ments, Rae heard men's voices outside in the hall. Walls like paper. More of Jerome, the tightwad.

As she focused on the door, it was thrown open by a man in an Italian silk suit who didn't look like he belonged in this frugal setting. Delete frugal-cheap dump was more on point.

"Mrs. Esposito," he said, coming at her with outstretched hand. "I'm Nate Farris."

His hand was damp. Rae took it quickly, then restrained the urge to wipe her palm on her own silk-blend slacks.

Sam stood behind the man, looking slightly off center. Rae was fast picking up on minute variations in Sam's implacable countenance. Now, it was the movement of his dark brows almost imperceptibly toward each other. Sam was p.i.s.sed at something and this Nate Farris was either unaware or didn't give a rat's a.s.s.

"I don't think Mrs. Esposito is to be concerned with this matter."

But Nate was unstoppable. "In my opinion, this information deserves the widest possible distribution. I'd like Mrs. Esposito's input, if you don't mind."

"Fine."

Rae had the impression it was anything but fine.

"I would like to know if your office has a copy of the Wheat Ridge police report on my sister-in-law's abduction."

"You mean the extortion attempt? Alleged of course," she quickly added.

"Come on now. We all know what I'm talking about. Are you in possession of such a report?"

Rae felt anger rising like steam. Don't blow your cool, Rae, or you're in for a very short contract-like one day.

"I personally have no such report," she managed to articulate. Pompous a.s.s!

"How about Lakewood P.D.? That's who you work for, right?"

"I'm not privy to information outside the scope of my a.s.signment, Mr. Farris," Rae ground out between clenched teeth. Puffed-up a.s.shole. She had the feeling that he might pop if she stuck a pin in him.

"I apologize for Nate's..." Sam strove for an appropriate word and apparently didn't find one he was comfortable with. "Nate has come across some information that would more appropriately go to the district attorney's office."

"I've tried," countered Nate a bit too vigorously. "They won't talk to me. I'm getting the brush-off. Just like with Wheat Ridge. Only now I know why the cops won't go after Camacho."

Oh, great, thought Rae. He's found out JJ's a snitch. A missing snitch. But he's talking about a report, not a tape.

"Did you contact Detective Sanchez at Lakewood?" she asked.

"Uh, she wouldn't take my call."

The hesitation, so brief, but so outside the pattern of this man's head-on style, set off an alarm in Rae's head. He was lying, but why?

Then it computed without any deliberation on her part. Nate Farris had some information he wanted to make sure reached an authority figure. The information was probably so new that he hadn't had time to offer it to anyone else.

Rae did a quick change of direction. "I can make sure your information gets to Detective Sanchez."

Nate reached inside his coat, took out a paper and thrust it at her.

"What's this?"

"It proves JJ Camacho's connection to someone at Wheat Ridge P.D."

What else was new? Hopefully, this blockhead wouldn't mess up Veronica's work.

"I'll see that this gets to the proper authorities. I'll personally hand it to Detective Sanchez."

"Aren't you even going to read it?"

She glanced at the paper. "Rental application?"

"Yes, yes," Nate almost danced in place. "Not just a connection. His next of kin. I called the number on the form. It's the Wheat Ridge Police Department. His brother, Reggie Navarro, must work there."

Before Rae's eyes could trip down the form to the personal reference section, her inner alarm went off. Reggie Navarro? In what context had she recently heard that name?

Kissing frogs. That was the context. From Veronica's mouth to Rae's ear. Reggie Navarro had been one of the frogs that had prompted Veronica to opt for a sperm donor at age forty.

"Someone you know, Mrs. Esposito?" Sam asked.

"Not really."

She watched Sam's expression as he turned to Nate. "Mrs. Esposito has a host of acquaintances in law enforcement."

Rae had suspected that Sam had done a background check on her. Now she was certain of it.

"I'm not acquainted with a Reggie Navarro," Rae said, hating the defensive note that had crept into her voice. Who was interrogating whom? When're you going to learn to keep your mouth shut, Rae?