by Susan Kohler
“But not until we catch the embezzler, and that’s probably going to turn out to be someone much higher up the food chain. Actually most of them are completely in the clear, unless they’re accomplices. It’s still hard on me.” She went into his arms for a comforting hug.
“I know it is, sweetheart, it’s hard on me too,” Bob nodded, kissing her gently. “Now, let me call John and set up a meeting. I’ll get back to you.”
Kate went into her office and worked on the rather large stack of Accounts Payable paperwork that had piled up while she concentrated on investigating the shortages. To keep herself from thinking about the thefts, she really dug into the work. The best part about her using the backlog of paperwork as a distraction was that by the time she was ready to leave for the day, she was just about caught up with the payables.
Shortly before the end of the day, Bob came into her office cubicle to let her know that the meeting with John from Loss Prevention was set up for first thing in the morning.
That night, as she lay in Bob’s arms, Kate finally told Bob the last part of her fears. “I’ve eliminated just about everyone, except for you and Laura. Either it’s one of you or someone’s setting you up.”
“You think it’s one of us?” Bob asked, as he hiked himself up on one elbow. He was clearly astonished.
“No, of course not. I trust Laura completely. There’s not a dishonest bone in her body. And, I love you,” she protested, sitting up and facing him.
“But I notice you left one thing out.” He was hurt, and it came out sounding like an accusation. “You didn’t say you trusted me.”
“But trust is a part of love.” She tried to still his misplaced frustration. “Of course I trust you. I just meant that the road seems to lead to one of you. I know you’re both innocent but you and Laura are being set up. Someone is trying to cover his tracks by framing you. It’s lucky for you that I won’t fall for the frame, just because I do trust you.”
“What if it’s Laura?” he persisted. “If she’s guilty, could you have her arrested?”
“It’s a stupid question. It isn’t her.” She resisted the idea.
“All of a sudden, I think having you investigate this may not be such a good idea. You have preconceived notions.” Bob got out of bed and started gathering his clothes.
“That’s not true! If it is either Laura or you, when I know it, I will bring all the evidence to the right people. I’m a professional and I’m ethical. I have no respect for a thief. Bob, please permit me the basic human need to believe the best about the people I love.” She loudly defended herself, “And remember there still are other suspects.”
“You’re right,” Bob admitted.
As soon as he finished dressing, he leaned over to kiss her. “I’m sorry, I have to trust you, too. Don’t I? I’m just a little stressed out right now. I hate firing people, and in the next few days we’ll fire several cashiers, one of the cash room girls, and I have to pretend to fire you. What’s even worse is the knowledge that the girls from the stores and the cash room will be arrested and prosecuted. I know that I have to do it, and that they deserve it but still I hate it more than you know.”
“I know it’s tough. I don’t like it either, but they did it to themselves.” She got out of bed and took him into her arms in a warm hug. “Bob, didn’t you plan on staying? The kids aren’t here, remember?” She punctuated these questions with a series of kisses, each a little longer and more passionate than the one before it.
“Set your alarm a little bit earlier. I forgot to bring a change of clothes so I’ll have to get up early enough to go home and change.” He quickly undressed again and picked her up, tossing her gently onto the bed before joining her. “I wouldn’t want to be late for work.”
“Don’t worry about it, I washed some of the clothes you left here over the weekend. I planned on having you stay. I need you.” She grinned up at him, a grin that was part minx and pure evil. “Come here, you.”
Chapter Eight
Bob’s smile disappeared as soon as he got to the office. The minute he stepped into the building, it hit him that soon he was going to have to fire Kate. Even though it was a charade, he realized that soon enough he would really have to fire several people. He liked and trusted everyone on his staff and it bothered him to know that in at least one person, that trust was misplaced. He began to act like a wounded grizzly bear, but was wise enough to keep away from the office staff as much as possible. He stomped into his office and slammed the door. A short time later a good-looking, tall black man came into the lobby and was directed to Bob’s office. He went in and shut the door.
After a short time, Bob stuck his head out of his office and shouted, “Kate! In my office. Now!”
Kate sat still for just a moment, gathering her wits. It seemed silly to be nervous and upset about being fired when it was all a sham, but she was. She took a deep breath and stood up. It took very little acting for her face to go pale as she hurried into Bob’s office. He shut the door firmly behind her.
“Kate,” he said loudly, trying to be heard by anyone nosy enough to snoop around outside his door, “this is John Wilson from Loss Prevention and he wants to speak to you. Please, be seated.”
Kate shook hands with John and they all sat down. She turned to John and began to tell him about the evidence she had gathered. She spoke quietly enough not to be heard outside the office.
“Actually, about the cashiers, we probably have even more conclusive evidence on them than you realize.” John continued, “As you know, we randomly videotape all the cashiers with hidden surveillance cameras. They sign a written permission to do that when they’re hired. Right now, with the Back to School sales, and, of course,” he shrugged with a cynical grin, “the back to school shoplifters, we haven’t had very much time to study all the tapes. Actually a few cashiers dipping into the till for lunch change is very small potatoes compared to some we’ve had in the past. And, of course the cash room losses helped to cover up the cash register shortages.”
“You know about the cash room losses?” Kate was surprised, she thought she was the only one to have uncovered that loss.
“Of course, we’re not too stupid,” John laughed. “And there is a plan, already in effect, to catch the guilty girl without letting the other girl ever know she was under suspicion. It would be much easier and faster to call them both in and question them, but it would be very painful for the innocent girl.” He glanced at Bob. “I know you, Bob, and you wouldn’t like it done that way.”
“That’s true. How are you catching the cash room thief?” Bob asked curiously.
“It’s simple. We have set up a separate cash room, at security headquarters, to count the cash, and photograph all the serial numbers of any bills larger than a twenty. The people doing the extra counting are long-time employees of mine. Next, we are comparing their figures with the cash room girls’ figures. The next time one of them steals anything, we’ll know who she is.” He paused. “Actually we already know, but we want to make sure that she’s the only one involved. After all, it could turn out that they’re both thieves, although I’d hate to think we missed that much when we were checking on both their references. It would sure make me review our procedure for verifying these girls’ backgrounds.”
“How soon will you be sure which one it is?” Kate asked, curiously. “And that the other girl is innocent?”
“By the end of work today.” He smiled. “Now I have two more questions. One, how are you doing on the paper trail?”
“I have a lead, but I have to develop it, and for that I might need your help,” Kate answered, willing herself not to turn and look at Bob. “Bob and Laura have to be kept out of it.”
“What?” Bob was indignant.
“Bob, I need for you to trust me this time, and let me handle this the way I feel is best,” Kate told him, gently. “This doesn’t mean that I suspect either of you.”
“Okay, but I don’t like it.” He had the fun
niest look on his face, stubborn and a little defensive, like a little boy in trouble.
“I know you don’t like it, dear. Don’t pout,” she grinned at him, “and don’t make a face like that, you look like Sam, and he’s only five.” She turned back to John who was watching them with the strangest expression on his face. “What’s the second question?”
“Who’s that girl out in the office? Nearest the door?” he asked.
“Do you mean the receptionist?” Bob queried, “Beautiful? Young? Black? Does that describe her?”
“Yes, her,” John replied. “What do you know about her?”
“Do you suspect her of something?” Bob was curious.
“Bob, don’t be such an idiot,” Kate added, smiling and shaking her head. “Of course he suspects her of something. He suspects her of being someone he’d like to go out with.”
“Oh,” Bob looked sheepish, “I get no respect, no respect at all. That’s Cheryl Steedman, our receptionist. She’s a very nice person, and very pretty.”
“He can see that she’s pretty, dummy. That’s part of the reason he’s asking about her.” Kate added, “The important thing is that she’s as pleasant as she is beautiful and she’s not dating anyone right now.”
“Good, she will be soon if I have anything to say about it.” John stood up, and turned to Kate. “I hate to say this, but to make this little drama look realistic, I have to go with you to your cubicle, watch as you clean out your desk and then escort you out of the building. I want them to think you’re being arrested, or at least facing arrest.”
“Then we’d better go.” Kate looked at Bob and asked, “Will I see you later?”
“Of course, I have to bring over all the paperwork you want to study.” Bob tried to seem detached and professional in front of John.
“Give it up, Bob. I’m a detective, remember? I’ve known Kate for about two hours and I’ve known you two were a couple, a couple in love, for about one hour and fifty-nine minutes.” He smiled. “And she proved it when she started calling you names. You don’t call someone darling and idiot in almost the same sentence if you’re not in love with them.”
“Unless he is a darling and an idiot.” Kate winked at John, then turned to Bob. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“I have a better idea, you two. Let’s all meet for lunch, Laura too. We could have lunch at the Plaza Hotel Grill,” John suggested.
“Let’s make it in about an hour. Okay, Kate?” Bob asked.
“Sure, I’m too smart to pass up a good meal.” Totally ignoring John, she grabbed Bob and kissed him deeply.
John stopped her before they went out the door; he pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small plastic bottle.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Eye drops, put some in, and let it run down your cheeks, it’ll make you look like you’ve been crying,” John suggested.
She did, then she tossed back her long, red hair, took a deep breath and walked out of Bob’s office. John walked alongside her, holding one of her elbows. She kept her head bowed, and her eyes lowered as she and John went into her cubicle. John stood to one side, looking stern. He watched as she grabbed the few personal items that she had on her desk, just a few pictures of her kids.
She put the items in her purse and they walked out to the car. John looked around to see if anyone was close enough to hear, then said, “I’m glad you’re helping me catch the thieves, Kate, and I’m really glad to see Bob get involved with someone. You two look good together.”
“Thanks. It’s still kind of new, but it feels right. Heck, it feels marvelous.” She got into her car. “I’ll be seeing you soon.”
He stood there as she drove away, and then went back to Bob’s office. As expected he found the staff gathered around Bob and Laura. The women were angry and loudly demanded answers to all of their questions.
At John’s suggestion, Bob made a short, simple announcement. “We didn’t fire Kate; we just told the agency that we didn’t need her any longer. It was because of her poor work habits, her tardiness and her high absenteeism. I liked her personally, and so did Laura. Because there have been several suspicious cash shortages, we followed the company policy, and we had John watch her clean out her desk and walk her to her car. We have no proof that she was involved in any wrongdoing, and we didn’t accuse her of anything.” He paused, and then added, “Yet, I know we’ll need to get someone else on that desk, but for now Diana’s going to handle all the payables, with Laura’s help. Does anybody have any questions?”
There were several indistinct murmurs at this speech, but no outright questions. The women still seemed reluctant to get back to work so Laura suggested that they all go to lunch a little early.
“Just be back at one o’clock, ready to go back to work this afternoon, okay?” They gathered their purses and left, still muttering, leaving Bob, John and Laura behind.
Bob spoke up, “Now I know what it feels like for your employees to think you’re an ogre. How about you?”
“It’s part of my job,” John replied. “I’m always the bad guy, somehow. It’s always my fault. Thieves never will admit, even to themselves, that they caused their own problems.”
“Well, it’s new to me,” Laura added, “and I don’t like it one bit. Wait until we really have to fire someone.”
“That’s probably tomorrow. For now, let’s go to lunch.” Bob suggested, “I’m buying!”
“I guess this means I’ll have to wait a while before I ask Cheryl out,” John muttered, sounding disappointed.
“What’s this?” Laura asked, her interest instantly aroused. “Did I miss something?”
“Not much, just that John here could use the help of a good matchmaker,” Bob answered.
“Consider it done,” Laura said. She turned to John with a big smile, “By the way, John are you coming to the dinner party I’m throwing Saturday night? It’ll be outdoors, with a barbecue and dancing. I thought it’d be a good day for it, since we have Monday off.”
“I wasn’t invited, but sure, I’ll come,” John answered. “Will Cheryl be there?”
“Even if I have to drag her myself. By the way, no one’s been invited yet. I only planned it five seconds ago, Bob?” Laura prompted.
“We’ll be there,” he answered.
“See? He even answers like a couple,” Laura laughed. “And it’s only been seventeen days since they met.”
“You’re counting?” Bob asked.
“Jack and I have a few bets on how things are going between you two. For example, if Kate has another baby within twelve months, I get to buy a horse.” Laura laughed as she looked at him and saw the shock on his face. “You know Bob, you could really help me out here.”
John took pity on Bob, who looked like he’d just had a stun gun used on him. “Back to the party. Do you mean you’re throwing this party just so I can get to know Cheryl better?” John was clearly impressed with her matchmaking efficiency.
“Count your blessings,” Bob told him, recovering from his surprise at Laura’s antics. “You should have seen what she did to me and Kate.”
“I did not!” Laura protested. “It really was an accident, how you met her. I’m not that devious. I was going to start matchmaking when Kate started work.”
“Come on, give. What happened?” John was openly curious.
“I just innocently took Kate to the beach and Bob showed up. No big deal.” Laura replied guilelessly.
“Tell him which beach,” Bob prompted.
“We were at the cove,” she said softly.
“The nude beach?” John asked.
“That’s the one,” Bob smiled. “All three of us were totally naked. At first, I thought Kate was really sunburned, but she was just blushing. She was as embarrassed as the dickens. Laura was laughing her fool head off, and I didn’t know what to do.”
“I wasn’t laughing, and you know it, you rat. But, I must admit you handled the situation very smoothly.” Laura c
ontinued the story, “He invited us to his house and fixed us lunch.”
“But I didn’t fix enough food, apparently,” he reminded her. “You and Jack had to take the kids out for ice cream after we ate. You took the kids and left me alone with Kate.”
“And you and Kate got bored, left there with only each other for company, I suppose,” she said archly.
“Laura, you’re too ruthless. I think Cheryl’s single days are numbered,” John said as they walked to his car, a stunned look on his face. “And mine, too.”
Bob, Laura and John met Kate for lunch at the Plaza grill, a very expensive restaurant.
“Why are we being so fancy?” Kate asked.
“Because it’s way too expensive for most of the other women in the office. We don’t want to be seen with you, Kate. Besides, it’s on my expense account,” Bob replied.
“Great. I’m a social pariah, but I get an expensive restaurant. Good enough for me,” Kate laughed, feeling slightly relieved now that her public humiliation, however staged, was over. “Let’s eat!”
The group ate a very good lunch. Most of them had steak, except for John who preferred Mahi Mahi. They discussed the problems at work. One tentative decision was reached. The decision over whether or not to have any of the cashiers arrested would rest with John. John was going to try to scare them into becoming honest citizens.
“We’re going into the stores in two man teams, hitting all eight stores today. I’ll be working with the police for the rest of the day.” John relaxed a bit. “Now onto the really important stuff, who wants dessert?”
By the time Bob and Laura returned to work, they were in good spirits and ready to face the battles ahead. They had to deal with the resentful office staff, and with still being under suspicion themselves. John also had to deal with the cashiers. After that, he would finalize the investigation of the cash room girls. Kate would go home and continue following the paper trail.