Searing Lies (Love, Power & Sin)

by Marie Astor

  “So nice to see you again, Janet.” Wyman beamed her a smile that could put a Colgate commercial to shame. “So how do you find your second day at the firm?”

  Janet sensed Tom’s eyes gliding from her face to the neckline of her blouse. “Great, thank you. I’ve just been going through some paperwork.”

  “Ah, yes, the infamous non-disclosure paperwork, which I’m proud to say I personally drafted.”

  Janet shot Tom a curious glance, unsure whether to voice her concerns.

  “It’s nothing to be alarmed about,” Tom addressed her silent question. “For someone like yourself, the paperwork is a mere formality. We legal folks are more than aware of the importance of confidentiality, but some of the traders we’ve got working here may not be as sensitive… The biggest risk comes with disgruntled employees who are out to take their revenge on the firm by spreading false rumors. The purpose of the non-disclosure paperwork is to stop them from doing just that.”

  “I see.” Janet nodded. “I’ll have it completed shortly.”

  “So, are you ready for an overview of Bostoff Securities’ business model?” Tom grabbed a chair and placed it next to Janet’s. Suddenly, her office seemed incredibly small.

  Janet could feel Wyman’s breath touch her skin where it was exposed by the low cut of her blouse. Perhaps she should have opted for a different outfit after all. “We could go into a conference room.”

  “Why bother? It’s nice and cozy in here.”

  Tom’s knee brushed against Janet’s thigh. She froze like a rabbit hypnotized by a python. Her earlier plans to flirt with Tom Wyman seemed juvenile now. She was no match for her overpowering opponent. Tom Wyman was not the kind of man to be toyed around with: he expected a woman to either go all in or stay out of his way. And Janet certainly was not ready to go all in.

  Janet’s thoughts must have been plastered all over her face because a moment later, Tom pushed his chair away from hers.

  “Right, so here’s a quick overview of Bostoff’s structure.” Tom opened his briefcase, laying a thick manila folder on the desk. “This is a chart of all the entities that Bostoff Securities owns.”

  “I see.” Janet hoped that her bewilderment was not apparent on her face as she examined the chart of Bostoff entities. She had never seen a corporate chart so convoluted, but she did not yet know enough about Bostoff’s business to ask intelligent questions, so she decided to listen to Wyman for fear of appearing a novice. After all, Tom was a partner at Ridley Simpson, which was a top-ten national law firm, and the corporate structure he approved had to be legitimate.

  “Bostoff strives to keep as much of its business offshore as possible. As long as it is within the permitted legal and regulatory framework, of course,” Wyman added quickly. “As far as the actual creation of offshore entities is concerned, the process has pretty much been streamlined, so you won’t have to be concerned about anything there. I’ll take care of that.” Tom smiled. “Your judgment will be needed when new business ventures come up—that’s when you are to notify me to devise a game plan.”

  Janet felt her face grow warm. She might not have Tom Wyman’s expertise, but she was not going to sit on her butt, deferring all decisions to him. At least she hoped that that was not the ‘job’ that Lisa had hired her for.

  “I thought Lisa had explained the structure to you already. Bostoff keeps a very lean internal legal staff, with the bulk of the work outsourced to yours truly,” said Wyman.

  “Lisa gave me a cursory overview,” Janet lied. Other than her title, Lisa had hardly explained the details of Janet’s employment at Bostoff Securities at all, but when faced with a choice between being a department store clerk and an assistant general counsel at Bostoff Securities, the latter seemed like a much more attractive option, at least at the time. “I look forward to working with you, Tom.” Janet conjured up her most guileless smile. “These structures seem so complicated. I will need all the help I can get to get up to speed.”

  “Not to worry, Janet. That’s what I’m here for. Now, let’s go over some of the recently created entities…”

  An hour later, Janet found her head spinning from all the information that Tom Wyman had imparted on her. He had assured her that Bostoff Securities’ structure was perfectly legitimate, but while Wyman’s flowery assurances were spoken with much confidence, Janet felt a steady sense of unease growing inside her.

  Chapter 3

  Dennis Walker was giving himself a mental browbeating for nearly blowing his cover. What on earth had possessed him to get all mushy with that stand-offish girl whose computer he had been fixing or, to be more specific, bugging? Well, actually, Dennis knew perfectly well what had possessed him. The girl was damn good-looking, and if he had to admit to having any weaknesses, it was to not being able to pass by a pretty skirt without looking and, preferably, much more than just looking. Still, this was work – not play, and if he wanted to get that promotion he had set his eyes on since he had started his career in the Department of Treasury Investigations Unit, he’d better get his mind out of the gutter and get focused on the game.

  Still, even with today’s minor lapse, Dennis could afford to pat himself on the back: he had already tapped into the most critical employees’ computers, and the data that he needed to substantiate the case was flowing in. The most difficult part of his assignment would be to remain undiscovered, which, as the morning had shown, was going to be much trickier than Dennis had anticipated. Playing the role of Dean Snider was proving to be more challenging than he had expected. Dennis was a naturally social creature who was keenly aware of his masculine charms, which he enjoyed exercising on members of the female sex with great success. Dean Snider, on the other hand, was a mousy and shabbily pathetic excuse of a man who was afraid of his own shadow – a role that Dennis detested playing, but was determined to excel at, lest his boss prove to be correct in his initial intention to give the assignment to Laskin. Dennis scratched his neck, which was beginning to chafe from the rigid collar of his cheap shirt, and focused his attention on his computer monitor.

  As a senior member of the IT department at Bostoff Securities, Dennis had the administrative rights to computers of the firm’s employees, which allowed him to install data gathering software. The software was transferring the data from Bostoff’s computers over a web-based connection to the Treasury analysts. Dennis had the option of viewing real-time data, but the fact that his desk was smack in the middle of the trading floor made matters difficult. With a title like Chief IT Analyst, Dennis had expected to be allotted an office or at least a cubicle, but apparently Bostoff Securities was short on real estate. Thankfully, initial data sorting was conducted by junior analysts at the Treasury. In the evenings, after having spent the day behind his desk at Bostoff, Dennis would catch up on the reports in the privacy of his home office. A work schedule that intense would pretty much eliminate any presence of social life for the duration of the assignment, but Dennis was used to making sacrifices when they were warranted.

  The mere opportunity of infiltrating Bostoff was a huge stroke of luck. Who would have thought that Bostoff would post an opening for an IT specialist just as the Treasury Investigations department was looking for a way to gather additional evidence to build their case? The chances were zero to none, and yet, an opening had come up. Some would call it happenstance, some divine providence, and some pure dumb luck. But if anyone had asked Dennis for an explanation of this fortuitous timing, he would have replied simply: the bad guys always got caught because, sooner or later, they always got sloppy.

  Dennis Walker had a multitude of talents to his name, but superior knowledge of IT was not one of them. He had picked up plenty of tricks during his employment with the Treasury – enough to make him seem like a computer pro to a person possessing average prowess in computers. But Head of IT at Bostoff would not be someone with average prowess, or so Dennis had thought when he had begun his prep work for the interview, which had involved spending five hours
a day with the top analysts of Treasury IT department. Even so, Dennis was nervous when the interview day came. Once he met his boss-to-be, Warren Merchant, Dennis knew he was safe. After a fifteen minute conversation, it became apparent that Warren Merchant knew about as much about IT infrastructure as Dennis knew about classical ballet, which was not much. Apparently, Bostoff Securities was not all that discerning when it came to hiring staff for the support functions – a factor that played to Dennis’s advantage. Not only did Warren Merchant give him the job, he would be unable to detect the spyware Dennis had installed on the company computers if his life depended on it.

  All in all, Dennis had every right to be pleased with his progress so far, and yet, he could not help the uneasiness in his chest. Everything that he had learned about Bostoff Securities so far indicated that the firm was knee-deep in financial violations. Dennis had no compunction about putting away the top brass who were the organizers and the leaders of the corrupt scheme, but, invariably, the rest of the employees would get caught in the mix. People who worked simple jobs without having an inkling about the corruptness of their employer would end up unemployed, with blemished resumés to boot. Such thoughts had rarely troubled Dennis during his previous investigations, but then this was going to be his biggest case to date…

  Still, Dennis had not been bothered with such scrupulous considerations when he had set out to bug Bostoff Securities’ newly hired lawyer’s computer. But after meeting Janet Maple face to face, he wished he had left her off the radar. After all, she was only a junior lawyer, and Dennis already knew that all the important legal work was being farmed out to Ridley Simpson law firm, specifically to the slickster, Tom Wyman. Now, Wyman’s computer would be worth bugging, but during his visits to Bostoff, Tom Wyman always used his personal laptop, which made it virtually impossible for Dennis to gain access to it. It would take time to gather evidence for the case, and Dennis hoped that for her sake, Janet Maple would find other employment in the meantime. An employment record with a corrupt firm would not be a plus on any lawyer’s resume, and Dennis certainly did not want to be the one responsible for a pretty woman’s loss of her ability to earn a living.

  End of Chapter 3

  Please read on for an excerpt from Catching the Bad Guy, book two of the Janet Maple Series.

  Excerpt from Catching the Bad Guy

  (Book Two of the Janet Maple Series)

  By

  Marie Astor

  Chapter 1

  “There’s my favorite investigator.” Dennis Walker sauntered into Janet Maple’s office without bothering to knock. Dennis Walker never knocked. He simply barged in unannounced, the same way he had barged into Janet’s life a little over a year ago, turning it upside down.

  Her fingers tingling from furious typing, Janet looked up from her computer screen. “Today is the big day, huh?” Janet kept her voice cool, making a mental effort not to ogle Dennis’s freshly tanned face. The man would look good even if he were pasty white, not that Dennis’s silky-smooth complexion had ever been pasty white, not even in the dead of winter. But now he looked dangerously handsome. “How was your vacation? Puerto Rico, was it?”

  “Turks and Caicos, and it was wonderful.”

  Janet nodded. She knew that. She had known the destination of Dennis’s getaway ever since he had posted his vacation schedule on the department calendar two months ago, and she had spent weeks visualizing his trip: Dennis stretched on a lounge chair, sipping one of those resort drinks from a coconut with a dark-eyed lanky brunette lying by his side, or perhaps a blue-eyed blonde. When it came to women, Dennis had only one requirement: they had to be drop-dead gorgeous. Apparently, Janet Maple was not gorgeous enough for Dennis Walker.

  “You look like you could use a break, Janet.” Dennis’s comment made Janet conscious of the dark circles under her eyes, which so far were her only reward for burning the midnight oil at work.

  “Not everyone has the luxury of taking a week off before the most important case hearing of one’s career.”

  Dennis’s eyes locked on Janet’s, his glance acknowledging their never-ending game of verbal tennis. “As I told my boss, I had scheduled my vacation months in advance; the case hearing had been moved three times. I have a life, you know, and I can’t be at the Enforcement Division’s beck and call.”

  “Can you believe the momentum the case has gained?” Janet steered the conversation away from the alarming subject of Dennis’s private life, the details of which, despite all the hours she had spent pondering the subject, she wanted to know as little as possible.

  “I know. We did all the groundwork and then every single regulator jumped on the bandwagon, including your former alma mater, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.”

  Janet felt the usual sting of chagrin that the mention of her former employer never failed to trigger. Yes, her legal career had begun with a position of assistant district attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, but her promising start fizzled to a disappointing conclusion after she was downsized from the DA’s office in the middle of an important case.

  As if reading her thoughts, or more likely her expression, Dennis cleared his throat. “David Muller has wreaked enough havoc. It’s high time he was brought to justice.”

  “I sure hope that’s going to be the case.”

  Dennis frowned. “Why the hesitation?”

  “For the very same reason you just mentioned: the case hearing has been postponed three times already.”

  “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  As if on cue, there was a knock on the door of Janet’s office. The head of the Investigations department, Hamilton Kirk, stood in the doorway. “Dennis, Janet, may I speak to you a minute?” As always, Ham’s facial expression was inscrutable, but the serendipity of his appearance made Janet look at her watch. It was after three p.m.: the Emperial case decision had to have been reached by now, and if the news were good even Hamilton Kirk would not have been able to resist the joy of announcing it.

  “Of course, Ham.” Dennis’s tone was smooth, but not smooth enough for Janet to miss the hidden notes of apprehension in his voice.

  Together, Janet and Dennis followed Ham into his office. Just why Ham had to insist on going to his office was beyond Janet. Although much smaller in size, her office would have provided sufficient privacy for their discussion, but then she had gotten used to not questioning Ham’s idiosyncrasies.

  The moment they reached Ham’s office, Janet understood her boss’s request. Hamilton Kirk had worked for various departments of the Treasury for over twenty years, during which he had acquired vast office paraphernalia—certifications and commendatory plaques, reference guides, and never-ending stacks of bulging folders that contained case materials—but now all of these items were neatly packed in cardboard boxes that lined the floor of Ham’s office.

  Both Janet and Dennis looked questioningly at Ham.

  “I’m sorry, team,” Ham paused to swallow. “As of today I’m retired.”

  “Retired? And you are springing this on us now, when you’re already packed?” Dennis eyed Ham reproachfully.

  Ham patted Dennis’s shoulder. “I only found out this morning myself.”

  Janet had to make an effort to keep her jaw from dropping. “What do you mean?”

  With a sigh, Ham stepped over the row of boxes and sat behind his desk. “Sit down, you two.”

  Mechanically, Janet and Dennis sank into the chairs opposite Ham’s desk.

  “I know that our job is not easy: we try to do what’s right the best way we can with the few resources we have, and, let’s admit it, on measly pay. I have worked in this place for over twenty years, and until this morning I still believed in such a thing as justice. But now I know that I have been a naïve fool.” Ham shook his head. “They are kicking me out—”

  “Who’s kicking you out, Ham?” Dennis cut in.

  Ham went on, ignoring Dennis’s question. “Although I must say that th
e severance package is quite generous. Finally, my long-awaited dream of retirement has come true—the only funny thing is, is that now that it’s here it doesn’t feel nearly as good as I thought it would. In fact, it feels like being thrown out into a dumpster.”

  “Who is kicking you out, Ham?” Dennis repeated.

  “My boss,” Ham replied simply. “I’ve worked for the man for over ten years. This morning he calls me up from Washington. ‘Ham,’ he says, ‘it’s been wonderful to have you with us. In recognition of your stellar service, the most notable of which was your work on the Emperial case, your pension is now fully vested. Your retirement starts today.’” Ham shook his head. “He didn’t even have the decency to give it to me straight.”

  “Give what to you straight?” Dennis demanded.

  “Oh, come on, Dennis. If you plan to stay in this trade you’ve got to wise up or you’ll end up an old fool like me. David Muller has friends in high places. As of this morning, the Emperial case has been dismissed by our Enforcement Division for lack of evidence. I am now retired, and next week your new boss will be coming in. His name is Alex Kingsley. He’s some young hot shot from the DA’s office.”

  “Alex Kingsley?!” Janet exclaimed.

  Dennis shot Janet a sharp look. “Why, you know him?”

  “Briefly,” Janet replied, cursing her cracked voice and flushed face for betraying her agitation. “We’ve worked together,” she added noncommittally. After all, she could not very well admit that Alex had been much more than her coworker at the DA’s office. Janet had known Alex since they had met at Columbia Law, from which they had graduated in the same class. Alex had been her boyfriend for almost five years; he had been the man she had thought would be the one. And last but not least, not only had Alex taken credit for Janet’s work on most of the cases that the two of them had been assigned to at the DA’s office, he got a promotion that should have been Janet’s. Then he put the icing on the cake by breaking up with her and suggesting that they remain friends. Needless to say, Janet had refused, and several weeks later she had been downsized.