by Lynn Emery
Willa gazed back at him without smiling. “Speaking of money, MiMi just shared some interesting news. Her lawyer says we have missing funds from the reserve account.”
Cedric pursed his lips and let a few tense seconds tick by. “That’s what Jack and I called it. One account was for operations, payroll and other expenses. Another was our reserve account for capital outlay, big ticket items and so forth.”
“So you knew and didn’t tell me?” Willa said and crossed her arms.
She speculated the reasons he’d do that. Maybe weaken the company then offer her a low-ball price. Or just damage Crown Protection, start his own outfit and take all the clients with him. Cedric rushed in with an explanation under Willa’s pointed glare.
“I’m not keeping secrets, and I don’t have a hidden agenda,” Cedric said.
“Uh-huh, you just didn’t tell me something super important,” Willa snapped.
“The accountant called me this morning. I hadn’t had a chance to tell you. She’s doing an audit because of the estate fight Ms. Landry has initiated.” Cedric waved a hand at MiMi. “Which is why I’m hard at work getting us more contracts.”
“Estate fight?” Willa looked at MiMi sharply.
“Umm, my lawyer says the baby is entitled to at least one quarter of Jack’s assets, not just a small interest in his business. Fight is too aggressive a word to describe it. We’re opening discussions about Jack’s estate.” MiMi tried giving Willa a smile. Her lips turned down when Willa glowered at her.
Cedric looked from MiMi to Willa. “Your divorce wasn’t final. What about the property settlement and your house, Willa?”
“Damn.” Willa closed her eyes.
“Exactly. I’m no lawyer, but looks like you’re going to be battling Ms. Landry here for what should be all yours. And your children’s legacy, too.”
“Give me the ‘We are family’ speech now, MiMi. I dare you,” Willa said. “I could choke the life out of you right here.”
“I’m pregnant.” MiMi placed a hand on her stomach and backed up.
Willa huffed at her. “You better watch your back once that baby gets here.”
“Anyway, I was going to tell you about the money at the right time.” Cedric gazed at Willa.
“The right time.” Willa stopped glaring at MiMi to glare at him.
“Yes, in private of course. You’ve had a lot to deal with lately. I wanted to have a game plan by the time I told you, so you wouldn’t worry so much. I’ve just got to make sure we keep our cash flow solid. That means reliable paying clients.” Cedric waved the contracts in the air. “Like these. I also wanted to talk to you about a couple that are shaky. We need to cut them loose and go after their overdue payments.”
“Let’s get back to the so-called reserve account,” Willa said.
“We should talk later.” Cedric gave a curt nod in MiMi’s direction.
“I’m a part owner in Crown Protection, sort of,” MiMi added when Willa growled like an angry cat.
“She’s got a point,” Cedric said rubbing his jaw, still gazing at Willa. “But it’s not official until the estate is settled. Your call.”
Willa looked from him to MiMi and back again. Mama Ruby had keen instincts about people, not that Willa had always followed her advice. But she sure needed those instincts right now. The urgent question wasn’t who to trust, but which one of them she should distrust more. Willa channeled her mother and both aunts. She could hear all three voices chattering in her head at once. Then suddenly her father’s wise voice broke through. Daddy always said when you’re faced with tough choices take a break and a deep breath.
“Both of you leave right now. I have things to do.” Willa raised a hand when Cedric started to speak. “I’ll read and sign the contracts.”
“What about that information we— ” MiMi stopped when Cedric stared at her.
“I’ll get back to you.” Willa stood and herded them both toward the door.
“But this is very important,” MiMi protested, still careful not to say more in front of Cedric.
“I’m sure after a nice talk with my lawyer things will be much clearer. Thanks to both of you for stopping by.” Within seconds Willa had escorted them outside in front of Kay’s desk.
Cedric gave a short nod. “Have Kay give me one set of the new contracts.” He headed for his office with only a backward glance.
MiMi sputtered as she shifted from one foot to the other. “Willa, wait a minute. We’ve got some serious stuff going on, and I have a right to know.”
“Don’t get over excited, MiMi. Remember you’re with child.” Willa gave her a cheeky smile. “You go rest now. Bye-bye.”
Before MiMi could sputter out another protest Willa spun around and marched to her office. She shut the door firmly then locked it. MiMi’s voice came through in muffled tones followed by Kay’s. Then silence. Willa’s phone rang and she picked up.
“I will definitely be back in touch with you. This evening at the latest,” MiMi blurted before Willa could speak.
“Fine. But as you pointed out not knowing what’s in these files might be safer for you. Now get some rest. Bye.” Willa hung up.
She stared at the whirling colors on her computer. Watching the screen saver soothed her jangled nerves after a few more seconds. Then she tapped the mouse pad once and a second time. After fifteen minutes of reading she hissed a few cuss words and picked up the phone.
***
One hour later Willa sat in the office of her former boss. Brad was a great attorney, which is why she thought of him first. Brad’s experience defending white collar criminals and politicians was legendary in Louisiana. He knew a lot about white-collar crime. Willa had printed out the e-mails. Someone, maybe Jack or Ike Nelson, had saved them on the USB drive. Brad rocked his executive chair back and forth as he read. His handsome face looked just as good when he frowned in concentration. His colleagues teased him about his asset with female jurors.
He scanned the contents from the thumb drive and finally said, “These e-mails look pretty bland at first read, but then…” Brad shuffled back a few pages and examined one more closely. “I don’t know.”
Willa leaned forward with interest. “Yeah?”
“The more I read them, the more it sounds like some kind of code language. I mean they keep talking about storing the ‘merchandise’ and making sure it doesn’t spoil.”
Willa nodded. “Right. It’s odd because Strafford isn’t shipping any perishables. Strafford, Inc. deals with scrap metals and tech stuff. The scrap metal business has taken a beating lately so Strafford is diversifying, buying and selling metals for high tech products.”
“On the surface you don’t really have anything but supposition.” Brad dropped the stack of printed out e-mails. He held up a forefinger. “One, you know Jack visited the Caymans so you suspect he moved money over there.”
“But I don’t have anything except a safety deposit box key. Or at least I think that’s what it is. And a lot of receipts showing he traveled there at least six times.”
“Exactly. You also know Strafford has an office in the Caymans,” Brad put in.
Willa blinked in surprise. “As of this minute I know. How did you find that out?”
“Followed a complicated paper trail of shell companies, corporate filings. Trust me the details would make your head swim.” Brad waved a hand.
“Humph, the kind of trail some of your best clients used to leave.” Willa smiled at him.
Brad grinned. “Some of them were quite inventive I have to say. Electronic banking and the Internet helped a lot.”
“The police have also figured that out,” Willa said.
Brad’s grin faded into a serious expression. “Which is what I’ve explained to more than one client who was too clever for his own good.”
“And still they keep trying. Greed keeps the cops busy.” Willa looked at the e-mails. She picked them up and flipped the pages thinking of Jack.
“Yes, a
nd rich greedy clients who get caught keep defense lawyers in business. God bless their rapacious hearts.” Brad rocked his chair back and thought some more.
“So I need to call Detective Miller.” Willa blew out a sigh of dread.
“Not so fast. What you have is innocuous business correspondence. Nothing directly related to Jack’s murder,” Brad said.
“Sounds like you’re rehearsing the speech you’ll give Miller just in case,” Willa replied.
“Yes, and it’s quite true.” Brad smiled.
“Agreed, but I also thought exactly what you did. Something is up with this.” Willa frowned at the puzzle.
“I have an idea. Why don’t we let Ricki examine the files?” Brad tapped the keypad on his phone. The speaker phone buzzed and a female voice answered. “Ricki, it’s Brad. Come to my office a minute.”
Seconds later a tall young woman came into the office. Her eyes lit up when she saw Willa. “Hey, girl.”
“Hi, Ricki. How are your babies doing?” Willa smiled when Ricki’s smile grew wider. She loved talking about her two dogs.
“Excellent. Sinbad is still getting into all kinds of mischief.” Ricki sighed, but her smile clearly indicated she loved the trouble.
“Before we spend the next few hours talking about Sinbad and Izzy,” Brad broke in before Ricki could continue. “I have an assignment for you.”
“Cool.” Ricki loved computers almost as much as her dogs.
“Girl, you need a date,” Willa teased. She and twenty-something had a running joke about which one of them needed a man more.
“Okay, let’s double date,” Ricki wisecracked. When Willa grimaced Ricki laughed. “That what I thought. So what’s the new challenge, boss?”
Willa took the thumb drive from her purse and handed it to her. “This. Though I’m not so sure you won’t fall asleep on this one.”
“What’s on it?” Ricki fingered the small drive attached to a key chain.
“That’s precisely what we want you to tell us. On the surface it looks like some dull, dry business e-mails.” Brad propped both elbows on his fancy desk.
Ricki looked at the USB drive with interest. “Let me use your computer a minute, boss.”
“Sure.” Brad swung his slim laptop around on the swivel stand.
Ricki seemed to forget Willa and Brad were in the room. For about five minutes they watched her. The only sound was the click of the keys. Ricki’s slender fingers moved quickly and lightly over the laptop’s keyboard. Another minute passed before Ricki stood up straight.
“I’ll know when I spend some quality time with this little puppy, but…” Ricki squinted at the computer.
“But?” Willa said to prod her.
“The size of the files looks off, like there’s more to them than meets the eye. I have the right program on my computer.” Ricki leaned over the laptop again. She closed the files then removed the USB device. Preoccupied with the task ahead, Ricki left.
Brad tilted his executive chair back. “Our next step depends on what she finds.”
“Great. More waiting. I feel like one of those little computer hour glass icons is suspended over my head.” Willa stood and slipped her purse over one shoulder.
“Everything is going to work out.” Brad stood and smiled at her.
“That’s what you told your last client, and he got three years for embezzlement,” Willa said.
“He could have gotten twenty-five years, so look at the bright side,” Brad said with a laugh. “Besides, he was guilty. You haven’t done anything illegal.”
“Yet,” Willa said. “If the police go after my kid…”
“You’re going to rely on good legal advice,” Brad said firmly and wagged a forefinger at her. “Understood?”
“Right.” Willa wondered if she should rely on the “normal” way or follow the street code. She knew what Jazz would say. She was about to leave when Ricki came back in wearing a self-satisfied smile.
“The files had hidden content. I cracked it open easily, so whoever did this wasn’t that smart. Or he just wasn’t smarter than me,” Ricki quipped, and then her expression turned serious. “Back to this content, Jack and Ike were moving money around. Even in the hidden content they make it plain they don’t want the authorities to know what they’re doing. Even so they don’t say how they got the money.”
“Let me read those,” Brad said with a sharp nod to Ricki. She plugged the USB drive into his computer and brought up the files. He put on his reading glasses again.
“Great. That’s just great. If I tell the police Jack was running a money laundering operation the news will leak to the press in about two seconds. Then the kids will find out.” Willa pinched the bridge of nose as she thought about dealing with the fallout. She barely noticed the background noise of Ricki and Brad voices.
Brad looked at her over his glasses. “Willa, this looks suspicious. That’s the bad news.”
“No kidding,” Willa replied with a big sigh.
“The good news is the contents are too vague to indicate a crime has been committed. I mean Jack could have been moving legally obtained profits from his business in a bid to take advantage of tax loopholes.” When Willa gave him a dubious look, Brad held up both hands. “Hey, I’ve made that exact argument at least twice in court. Quite successfully I might add.”
“Those legal hairs you split are microscopic. But I’m okay with that, if it means I can keep the police out of this for a while longer.” Willa gave Ricki and Brad a grateful hug before she left.
***
Frankie swung open the door to her condo with a flourish. Statuesque at six feet two, she wore a flowing leopard print caftan. Despite biology Willa had to admit Frankie’s transformation to womanhood was successful.
“Girl, how have you been?” Frankie gave Willa a girlfriend kiss on the cheek. “Don’t mind the mess. I’m cleaning up after that man again.”
Willa glanced around looking for the “mess.” The place looks fabulous as usual. You should see what my kids do to a room.”
Frankie gave her a wistful smile. “Wish I had little rug rats around to get on my nerves.” Then she seemed to shake off the blue mood. She smiled again, showing off a set of pearly white teeth. “What you doin’ over here?”
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with Jazz. Have you seen her lately?” Willa dropped down onto a comfy leather ottoman the color of milk chocolate.
Frankie picked up a man’s shirt and folded it. “Let me get this stuff out of your way. Howard leaves his clothes everywhere.”
Willa shook her head and laughed. Frankie picked up the slippers and an empty glass. “I hope you don’t nag that poor man of yours.”
“I try not to be the typical woman,” Frankie called back over her shoulder as she marched off.
“Mission accomplished,” Willa yelled back, causing Frankie to bark out a raucous laugh.
Frankie came back into the living room and sat on the matching leather sofa. “We have our little moments, but trust me I know I’m blessed. Howard loves me for who I am, transsexual and all. Now back to your wayward sis.”
“Jazz and I have our moments as well,” Willa replied. “She hasn’t been answering her cell phone.”
“I haven’t seen her since she moved. Try her new place.”
“Moved when?” Willa finally stammered.
“Wait, I’m going to call the manager. She had to give notice because of the lease and all. Doris is a friend of mine.” Frankie popped up and disappeared for a few seconds. She came back with a cordless phone. “Doris, when did Jazz move out? You know, the dancer in number 455, had the cops over there twice last year because of that crazy Latin boyfriend of hers.”
“What?” Willa shouted then clamped a hand over her mouth.
Frankie pressed the mute button. “Yeah, child. Jazz has plenty drama. I like your sis and all but— wait a minute. Yeah, Doris I’m still here. Her sister is looking for her. I’ll call you back, girl.”
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nbsp; Willa gazed at Frankie’s troubled expression. “What did she say? Did Jazz leave a forwarding address?”
“Doris says Jazz hasn’t given notice that she was moving. She has four months left on her lease.” Frankie shook her head. “Something ain’t right.”
“So why did you think she moved?”
“I saw some dudes loading up a bunch of boxes from her apartment in a truck then drive off. Then I saw Jazz throw some suitcases into her SUV and leave. Haven’t seen her since.”
“I want to see inside her apartment.” Willa stood. She looked at Frankie. “Wish I had a key.”
“Well I sure don’t have one.” Frankie shrugged.
“So her latest boyfriend was loading the truck?” Willa felt her stomach starting to churn.
“You kidding? Pretty boy doesn’t get his hands dirty. Anyway I figured Jazz would call me with her new address.”
“Maybe Doris could let me in.” Willa gazed at Frankie.
“Doris probably won’t do it, girl. I mean she could get sued. Knowing Jazz she could get her butt whipped, too,” Frankie said and laughed loudly. Then she stopped when she looked at Willa. “Let me call her. Explain it’s a family emergency.”
Ten minutes later Frankie and Willa met Doris over at Jazz’s condo. Doris, a former stripper back in the seventies, still looked good. Her short Afro had been dyed a bright blonde. She wore a camp shirt over white Capri slacks. The only nod to her age was the thick cushioned soles of her sandals.
“We have a clause saying if we think the tenant is sick or something we can go in. Still I don’t want a mess on my hands. I told Jazz any more problems and she’d have to go, lease or no lease. Now this.” Doris jangled the keys in her hand. She frowned at the door to Jazz’s condo. “That boyfriend of hers might have done something to her.”