Abide: A Christian Romance Novel (The Lewis Legacy Series, Book 7)

by JoAnn Durgin

  “I’ve dealt with a number of kidnapping cases in the past.” Eliot’s brow creased. “You can’t allow threats to paralyze you with fear. For now, we’re dealing with words on paper. I understand how emotionally upsetting they are, but we can’t know the intent behind them. Unfortunately, there are kids and teenagers out there who get their kicks through intimidation. I’m not saying that’s what’s happening in this case, but it’s still a possibility. We can’t rule anything out.”

  “Kids?” Caleb couldn’t hide his outrage. “You’re telling me some underage minor could be responsible for instilling this kind of unimaginable fear in people? For making a father doubt his ability to protect his own daughter? What kind of kid does something like that?”

  Disgusted, Caleb slumped back in his chair.

  “Unfortunately, it happens all the time. A kid who hasn’t had a good homelife. A kid with one or more parent absent from the home. A kid who craves the power he can exert over someone’s life anonymously.”

  Eliot met his gaze. “A kid who hates authority and embraces the idea that he can singlehandedly bring a rich man to his knees in fear.”

  “That’s sick.” Running his fingers through his hair, Caleb leaned forward in his chair and rested his elbows on his thighs.

  “Threats from a benign source like a bored kid are preferable to the alternative, my friend. There are savage monsters out there without a conscience that thrive on making innocent people suffer. I’m sure I don’t need to elaborate.”

  “I get the picture,” Caleb muttered. What a twisted world. “Give me your gut instinct here. Where do you think the kidnapping threats are coming from?”

  “It’s impossible to say at the moment. I have a few more questions.” Eliot pulled out a piece of paper and jotted something down. “Any known enemies in business or otherwise?”

  “None that I’m aware of, no.”

  “Any hostile takeover attempts or anything along those lines?”

  “No.”

  “Anything unusual happen in the company since the threats began?”

  “Unusual? Like what?”

  Eliot sat back in his chair. “An employee acting out of character. Petty theft. Sudden, unexplained outbursts of anger, provoked or not. Squabbles between employees. Tensions running high. Faulty work performance from a normally reliable source. Anything along those lines?”

  Caleb shook his head but then a thought came to mind. “Would suspected accounting discrepancies count?” Surely that had no bearing on the matter at hand, but this was why he needed Eliot—in case it did.

  The other man nodded. “That could definitely qualify. Tell me more.”

  “We’ve had a handful of accounting discrepancies which were allocated to theft and damage in the Reidco gas stations. The most substantial amount was an oil payment supposedly paid to a supplier we no longer use.”

  Eliot’s expression indicated he might have hit pay dirt with that revelation. “How much?”

  “Eight thousand, more or less.”

  “Who brought these discrepancies to your attention?”

  “Steve Robison, my Vice President for Belac, noticed them a couple of months ago. Are you suggesting the two might be connected? If that’s the case, I can’t believe one of my trusted employees could be capable of writing those notes and making threats.”

  Eliot rubbed his hand over his brow and paused a moment to gather his thoughts. “I’m not suggesting that, but again, you have to consider everything. I’m sure you’ve been in business long enough to know that, as much as we think we might know a person, that’s not always the case.”

  “You’re right, unfortunate and sobering as it is.” He’d personally hired Steve. Plenty of other current employees—including Catherine Lewis—had been interviewed and hired by others. Any one of them could potentially be responsible for trying to steal from him.

  “Is anyone else other than you and Steve aware of these accounting discrepancies?”

  Caleb was reluctant to mention Caty. He assuaged his conscience somewhat with the fact that Eliot knew her, and full disclosure was necessary. “Caty Lewis. Off the record, when I first met her, she’d requested a meeting with me in private to point them out and make me aware of the discrepancies. She’s my chief accountant for the Reidco division.”

  “Caty’s worked in the Lubbock office the past two years, correct?”

  “Correct. Before that, she worked in the Dallas office for three years.”

  “But you’d never met her until recently? Here in Houston?”

  “That’s right.” He should explain further. “After my wife died, I more or less retreated from life, Eliot. I worked behind closed doors, kept to myself, pretty much pushed a lot of people out of my life. Caty came to Belac around the time of my self-imposed seclusion.”

  “Before that time, were you more accessible to your employees?”

  “I was a constant presence.” Caleb’s chuckle held no mirth. “More than some liked, I’m sure.” In the years leading up to Helena’s death, he’d talked with employees in the hallways or breakrooms. Attended weddings, baptisms, funerals. Known most of the employees in the various offices by their first names. Known the names of their children and even some grandchildren.

  Guilt snaked its way through Caleb’s conscience. He missed those connections. During the past five years, his relationships with his employees had become a casualty of his personal and professional withdrawal. Cordelia, Steve, and a few others stuck by him during those dark days while others opted to leave. In spite of it all, the corporation had continued to thrive. God had seemingly chosen to bless his efforts even while he’d been at his personal worst.

  Eliot continued to record notes. “So—as far as you’re concerned—Steve Robison and Caty Lewis are the only two employees of Belac, including all its divisions, with any knowledge of these accounting discrepancies?”

  “Correct, although I prefer to call them intentional errors that someone’s tried to cover, hoping they wouldn’t be discovered and exposed.”

  Eliot snapped his gaze to Caleb’s. “Embezzlement?”

  “Correct.” The word embezzlement made him sick.

  “Have you ever personally suspected Caty of having anything to do with the discrepancies?”

  Eliot’s question startled him back to reality. “No, but Steve considered it a possibility.” A rather strong possibility. Caleb shook his head. “Anyone who’s met Caty Lewis can tell after five minutes the woman doesn’t have a dishonest bone in her body.”

  “Agreed, but you’re not exactly unbiased,” Eliot said. “Neither am I, for that matter.”

  The sudden need to defend Caty rose within Caleb. “She has an excellent work record with Belac. I didn’t get where I am by misjudging character and making decisions based on feelings or emotions.” Caleb didn’t care how high and mighty that sounded. It was truth.

  “If Caty weren’t so attractive, would you be so quick to defend her?”

  “Give me a break, Eliot.” Anger stirred in his gut. Rising from the chair, Caleb began to pace in front of Eliot’s desk. “That hardly seems a fair question, and this discussion has nothing to do with Caty’s attractiveness. Whose side are you on?”

  “Don’t make this personal,” Eliot said.

  “Excuse me, but I think that’s what you just did.” Caleb stared at him, unflinching.

  “I need to examine all possible angles.” At least Eliot kept his cool, more than Caleb could say for his own defensive attitude.

  “I’m not trying to agitate you,” Eliot continued. “Trust me, I know the Lewis family. Caty’s one of my wife’s best friends. This is a formality I go through with all my clients.”

  Eliot was right. He was only doing what he’d been trained to do. Caleb stopped pacing and approached Eliot’s desk. Planting both hands on the edge, he looked the other man straight in the eye. “I can state unequivocally that Catherine Grace Lewis has nothing whatsoever to do with the accounting discrepan
cies. I admire her for coming to me directly with what she’d discovered. She didn’t have to do that, and she put her job on the line by doing so. She was well aware of that and yet she came to me, anyway.”

  “Good enough. Did you discuss a course of action with Caty if the discrepancies continue?”

  “We agreed to keep a close eye on them. She’s going to alert me at the first sign of anything out of order. It’s been quiet lately.”

  “Have you considered that Steve Robison could be responsible for the discrepancies?”

  Caleb dropped into the chair. “Steve’s been with me almost from the start of Belac. I can assure you he has nothing to do with it, but neither could I discount his initial suspicions without further consideration and investigation.”

  Eliot’s brows arched. “In terms of Caty Lewis, you mean.”

  Caleb blew out a sigh. “Yes. I’ve told him Caty has nothing to do with them.”

  “And does he concur with your opinion now?”

  That one was tough to answer. “I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it lately. The bottom line is that Steve follows my direction. I told him to focus on the other divisions, and I’ll personally take control of overseeing Reidco.”

  Eliot stared him down. “He still suspects Caty knows something.”

  “I believe he does, yes. But I don’t believe that’s the case.”

  Eliot nodded. “We’re clear on that point. Are there any other employees with access to the Reidco financial records?”

  “I’m sure there are a few. Unfortunately, those files can pass through a number of hands. We’ve never had a security breach before, so it’s never been questioned. I could have my assistant, Cordelia Bonner, put a list together for you.”

  “Yes, have her do that,” Eliot said. “Have her call me on her cell phone or a non-corporate phone when it’s ready, and I’ll send someone to pick it up from your office. Don’t email them in case someone’s wired into your computer, and don’t fax it either.”

  Eliot made a few more notes. “We’re almost done. Since Caty came to you about this matter, did she share her thoughts regarding any employees she believes might be behind the discrepancies?”

  “I know she has her suspicions, but she refused to share them with me. I agree with her that unsubstantiated accusations might do the corporation more harm than good.”

  “That might be true,” Eliot said. “On the other hand, I hope that decision doesn’t come back to bite you. Keep your eyes and ears open. That’s my best suggestion. Other than getting the guard dog for Lauren’s extra protection.”

  “I’m willing to try anything. Even a dog,” Caleb muttered. Was he nuts? Who’d take care of a dog? They required a lot of work—feeding, visits to the veterinarian, walking, picking up their messes. On the other hand, if Lauren had a companion at the house—canine or not—that might be a viable solution. Kids loved animals. The idea grew more appealing by the minute.

  “Have you ever had a dog before?”

  “I had dogs growing up, and I love them. I just haven’t had one in a long time since Helena was allergic. Lauren went through a stage when she was about eight where she begged for a puppy almost every day. For a few weeks, I considered it, but at the time, I considered her too young for the responsibility that goes with having a pet. All things considered, and armed with your specific recommendation, now might be the right time.” No doubt in his mind, Lauren would wholeheartedly embrace the idea of getting a dog.

  “Okay then. I’m in touch with some top local breeders.” Eliot pulled a file from a drawer and put it on the desk, studying it for a few seconds. “There are some older dogs available that are already trained. That might be more suitable for you.” He handed the list across the desk.

  Caleb glanced at the paper. “What exactly do you mean by older?”

  “Three to six years. Still excellent guard dogs, but I’d say the younger the better, ideally around three or four. If you want, give a few of the breeders a call, ask them your questions, and see what you think. Let me know what you decide.”

  “Is there a particular breed you’d recommend?”

  “The Bullmastiff is physically strong and has protective instincts. They’re fearless and extremely loyal. If someone tries to get near Lauren, a Bullmastiff will knock them over and pin them down in a heartbeat. Otherwise, they’re docile and make a great family pet. There’s also Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds. All smart, protective, highly trainable. Shepherds are used by the police and would be a good choice. The Giant Schnauzer is powerful and dominant but requires strict training.”

  “Sounds like I have some homework to do.”

  “I’d caution you about the Rhodesian Ridgeback,” Eliot said. “They’re lion hunters. They don’t bark often, but when they do, they’ll wake the neighbors. They’re not naturally obedient and seem to think they’re a lapdog.”

  Caleb chuckled. “How big do they get?”

  “Anywhere from sixty-five to ninety pounds, depending on gender.”

  “Thanks for the tips. Is there anything else you need from me?”

  Eliot scanned his notes quickly. “We’ve gone over everything. Sounds like you’re prepared and alert. I want you to call me immediately if you receive any more notes or phone messages. Look, Caleb, I know you want answers. You can rest assured you’re doing everything you can.”

  “What do I owe you for your time?” Caleb reached for his wallet.

  “Save your money for now. We’re friends.”

  “Well, be sure and send me an invoice for the consult fee.”

  “You can take us to dinner instead.”

  Caleb smiled. “Even better.” He rose to his feet. “How long will you be gone on your trip abroad?”

  “A week, maybe less, depending on how it goes.”

  “When you return, then we’ll all definitely go to dinner together.”

  Eliot grinned. “We’d like that. Does ‘all’ include Caty?”

  “Sounds about right. Caty’s with Lauren right now, as a matter of fact. Lauren likes her, and my daughter doesn’t freely welcome most people into her life. I’m afraid I’m to blame for creating an atmosphere of distrust with my…fences and high walls.” Eliot would understand he meant it figuratively as well as in the literal sense.

  “I want Lauren to be diligent and aware of the dangers in the world,” Caleb said. “At the same time, I’m afraid I’m doing her a great disservice by sheltering her to the point where she feels like she’s a prisoner.”

  Eliot’s expression was compassionate. “You’re a protective father, Caleb. She might not always act like it, but I’m sure Lauren knows how much you love her. Have you told Caty about the threats? From what you’ve said, it’s pretty clear the two of you have gotten to know one another better.”

  “You could say that. I finally told Caty about the threats before coming here. I couldn’t lie to her, Eliot. She’s a smart woman and could tell something was wrong. To be honest, it’s nice to share the burden even though I hate like anything to drag her into this mess.” Caleb blew out a long sigh. “And she asked her brother Carson to go along and watch over both of them.”

  From Eliot’s creased brow, Caleb could tell he was weighing his response. “I think the important thing is that you trust her,” he said finally. “I know Caty well enough to say with full certainty she wouldn’t do anything she didn’t feel was right. As you said, you have good instincts. I can tell you from personal experience that you don’t get any better than the Lewis family. They’re one of the best families I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.”

  “I haven’t met any of her family members, but from what I’ve heard about them, I agree. Do you share any of your cases with Marta?”

  “No. Even if it’s one of her best friends. The fewer people who know, the better.”

  Caleb nodded. “Agreed. Caty’s aware, too. It’s in her nature to share things with people. Listen, thanks for your time. I’d be honore
d if you’d pray for me, especially for patience. That’s not my long suit.”

  “You’ve got it, buddy. Patience is tough for a lot of people, and this type of situation can pull at a person from all directions.” Eliot opened his office door. “You and Lauren are welcome to join us for church on Sunday.”

  “Thanks. I can’t commit right now, but could you email me the church info?”

  “Hang on. I’ve got a card here on my desk.” Within seconds, Caleb had the church’s card in his pocket.

  When Caleb offered his hand, Eliot did something unexpected. He curled his fist and held it, waiting. Following suit, Caleb fisted his hand and Eliot bumped it with his, saying, “Everything according to His purpose.”

  “Everything according to His purpose,” Caleb repeated.

  “Call if you need me or if anything else comes up.”

  “Will do.” Climbing back into his car, Caleb’s heart was lighter. The knots in his stomach had eased somewhat. In terms of the threats, the Lord knew he hated playing the wait-and-see game. Then again, what was the sense in being tied up in knots about something that may or may not materialize?

  Trust, Caleb. Just…breathe. He knew the Lord was in control. He did. Abide.

  “I’m trying, Lord. Bear with me.” Caleb chuckled under his breath. “Looks like I’ll be adding a dog to the family. Lauren’s gonna love this.”

  Chapter 26

  “What do you think of this one?” Lauren paraded past Caty, dressed in a brightly patterned, multicolored tunic and black leggings, imitating a high fashion model on a catwalk. Third outfit in the last fifteen minutes. Caty had lost count of all the different combinations, but it’d been a fun process. Thankfully, Lauren hadn’t protested her less-than-subtle suggestion to add colorful pieces into the mix.

  Lauren twirled and then parked one hand on her hip. She puffed out her lips in a mock pout. “Tell me dahling, is it me?”

  “It’s fabulous. Very nice.” If it weren’t an upscale department store, Caty would stick her fingers in her mouth and whistle. Growing up with a sports-minded family, she could whistle with the best of them. Instead, she opted to clap.