At that moment there was a subtle knock on the door. “Come in.” Jonathan called out. It was his weekend Secretary, Glenna, and she just came bustling in.
She gave him a perplexed look noticing the disarray in the office. And she hadn’t expected to find over half the family hunkered down inside. “There are two men, a Mr. Bruno and Mr. Wilder to see you, sir.”
“Show them in, Glenna. Please. And could you please have the kitchen send up a tray of bagels and fruit. Some coffee, too. Lots of coffee. It’s going to be a long day.” Glenna backed out quickly to complete her tasks. Jonathan turned to his brother. “Joseph, please go do what I’ve asked you to, and Dawn. I think, no, I know, I could use your help after all, with the accountants. You know them. That will help too.” He put his arm around her small shoulder and directed her towards the door. “Nothing like having family to support you when your back is against the wall.”
Dawn beamed and waited with him as Joseph slipped out the door. She stood with her brother as Wilder and Bruno entered. Jonathan greeted each of the men introduced by his sister, and then all four walked to the conference room together where Risolli was doing his thing.
When Jonathan shut the door on the group in the conference room, he clapped his hands once. “Let’s catch those crooks,” he muttered to himself as he headed back to his office. Dawn was working with the accountants, Joseph was handling security issues and customer issues. If his sister, Eve, wasn’t in New York wooing a client, he’d have her using her special skills too.
But now it was his turn. He needed to deal with Aliya and Peter. Who first, he thought, as he passed by his secretary. “No one goes in or out of that conference room except Joseph and you.”
“Yes sir,” came Glenna’s quick reply.
Who first? He passed right by his office door and headed to the bank of executive elevators.
His decision was made by the time he reached the ground floor level. Aliya.
He needed to know if she was involved.
Peter was a given.
Chapter 16
‡
Aliya was shocked by the unexpected arrival of Jonathan and from the looks of it he was in a hurry. She was just putting away her dishes when she heard the squeal of tires. Glancing out her window, she saw his car, a black Mercedes, pull up in her driveway shortly before noon. She had just gotten back from her parents, where she had brunch, and was tidying her home which she had neglected of late. Her plans were to get back on her computer and continue her search for alternative locations for the dance studio she wanted to open. She found several locations for a studio. Peter had done some research for her and sent her a note of apology, which she appreciated. And promised he would fight for her to have the space on the reserve. No strings. She hoped he would come through. The price tags on the properties that would suit her needs were astronomical, but two of them looked good. The leases on them were affordable and within her budget. She could always purchase the place later, or rent to own in the lease agreement on one of them.
Both were within ten miles of the reservation. Inside the envelope had been the hand written note. It stated she should not jump the gun, and that she would have his full support on the old bingo hall on the reservation. She knew she had Myrtle’s vote. It was up to either Josephine or Jason to make it a done deal. Peter promised to work on them for her.
She hurried to answer the door wondering what brought Jonathan here in the middle of the day. When she opened it, she was even more shocked by the expression on his face. He looked angry. And it was directed at her.
She instantly felt fear. It caused her stomach to roll with trepidation.
“Hey, I’m surprised to see you. I didn’t expect to see you until later,” she opened the door further but he was already pushing past her.
“Yeah well, I’m a bit surprised myself. I saw your little tête-à-tête with Simon in the hallway this morning. Are you sleeping with him and Peter, too? Or are you just doing their dirty work?” he accused.
He hadn’t known what he was going to say once he got here, and those words just came tumbling out. Her face was one of shock, or disbelief. She took several steps back. “Or is the deal to just fuck with me and keep me distracted?”
Aliya’s back was up against the wall. His words stung. It was like he had slapped her. And she felt her stomach roll once more. She lifted her hand by instinct and slapped Jonathan across the face. Hard. She found her courage. “How dare you? I . . . I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
When it looked like she was going to strike again, Jonathan’s hand whipped up and caught her wrist. He held it and pulled back twisting her arm painfully in his steel like grip.
“Let go,” she whimpered in disbelief.
“Nice act, Aliya. I could almost believe you.” He dropped her hand like it burned him and turned around. He eyes glanced towards the table at the yellow envelope and papers beside it. He saw her computer screen showing a strip mall in downtown Mystic, with a price tag of a half a million dollars on the screen. He tilted his head towards the screen. “So, is that how much it cost to fuck me? Fuck with me!” he restated.
Aliya twisted her head at the direction he was looking. She was confused. She had no idea what he was talking about. He turned to face her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him so she was flush up against him. “Tell me the truth.”
“Please let go of my arm. You’re hurting me,” she winced in agony, but more from the words than the actual physical pain she was feeling.
Jonathan loosened his hold, but did not let go. “You made a fool of me, Aliya. All for money. I fell for it too. Maybe the rumors about you are true. And all your care about is yourself and your dancing. It’s probably why you dumped that poor guy in New York, ran off to Vegas, and then aborted his child.” Tears immediately sprung to her eyes, but he wasn’t buying it. Not anymore. The proof was there on the table and on her computer screen. “I can’t believe I saw a future with you,” he spat the words and released her as he saw her face fall and the tears began to fall like diamonds from her eyes.
What a fucking actress! The woman looked ill. She paled, and clapped her hand over her mouth. But instead of the lies and quick retort he expected, she turned and ran past him. He followed her as she slammed the bathroom door open and began to retch in the toilet just making it in time.
He opened the door and peered down at her in disgust. “I guess you do have a weak stomach. But the rest of you is cold.” She was clutching the basin as she heaved. He felt no sympathy in the moment. His anger was too great. “Your sins are catching up to you, Aliya, and I just came here today to tell you I’m not going to let you get away with it.” He watched Aliya’s shoulders shake as she cried over the bowl. She looked up at him after she finished and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Her eyes were question marks.
She started to shake her head in denial. And she was still crying. God, he wanted to throttle the little actress. She was making it so believable.
“I really . . . I don’t know what you are talking about, Jonathan. I really wish instead of accusations you would explain yourself.” She began to rise, but he stepped back laughing at her request, and she collapsed onto the floor. She saw nothing but revulsion in his eyes.
The nerve of the woman. “You really have some balls, Aliya. You are the one who has explaining to do. If not to me, then the police. I’ll have all the evidence I need in a matter of days. Maybe even by tonight.” He turned in disgust.
“I really . . .” Her words stopped as he turned into the hallway, and he heard her retching again. He paused. She wasn’t faking that. He had just a moment of doubt until he heard her behind him.
“I really don’t know what to say, Jonathan. What you want to hear. But there is one thing I can tell you.” He waited in the hallway. “I think I’m pregnant.”
His heart turned black in a second. His world tilted. Pregnant? How? They had always used protection. Hadn’t they? Well, it w
asn’t his. His mind quickly flashed to New Year’s Eve. That first time. He wasn’t sure, and then the second time, the condom, when he’d thrown it away had seemed damaged.
He turned and looked at the heap on the floor that was Aliya. She grimaced and retched some more.
Was it possible? He paled. Then took a step back, but still gazed down at her.
“If you are, is it mine?” he accused.
She rose on unsteady feet. She stood before him. Again her hand whipped back and he caught it this time before the blow came.
Her heart stung, and she wanted to make him feel it. She tried to twist out of his reach, but he held on like iron. “Listen to me, Aliya. If you are pregnant, and if it’s mine, you won’t be raising this child. I will get custody, full custody while you rot in jail. And for all I know it could be Simon’s or Peter’s. I’ve seen you in compromising situations with both of them. You’re not fit to raise a child. You disgust me.” With those parting words he flung her hand away and turned on his heel.
He heard her racking sobs as he stormed down the hallway and into the kitchen. He heard her final words through his tears. “There’s only been you. Please. Please give me a chance . . . to explain.”
And that was it. There was nothing she could explain. Nothing he wanted to hear. He slammed the door behind him and walked away. He needed to get the evidence. He had a job to do, and needed to save the casino and the people who depended on it. The people who mattered. He was done with her, and done with women.
He was walking towards his car when he heard her once more. She stood at the door, shaking in the cold. “I have not slept with either one of them. Peter, yes, he has come on to me. But, I’ve told you that. And before you I haven’t been involved with any man seriously in over a decade. None, since I came home four years ago.”
His hand paused from opening the car door. He met her eyes. “I don’t believe you.” His words sounded cold, even to him.
He saw her shoulders slump, and she stepped back into her home. “Well, I guess that is your problem then. I don’t know what I’ve done to earn your distrust. Remember, Jonathan, you pursued me . . . but you’ll have to figure that out. I’ll be here,” she ended lamely. “When you’re ready to talk. And listen.” She sadly shut the door. On her future. Running towards the bathroom once more, Aliya knelt by the basin and continued to retch while the tears poured down her face, and wondered just how it had all gone so terribly wrong.
Chapter 17
‡
Everything was in place. The lock down of the wifi. The security team on Simon. He’d even asked that someone go follow Peter. He checked in with the accountants and they were still at it. With the nearly half million he’d found in discrepancies, they had so far come up with another two and half million dollars of mistakes. And not only that. They found the money had been sent wirelessly to banks in the Bahamas. Jonathan was furious and mortified. This had happened right under his nose.
He called Joseph into his office and filled him in on his meeting with Aliya.
“Please don’t mention the pregnancy to anyone yet. For all I know that could be a lie too.” He rubbed the stubble along his jaw. He felt weary, bone-tired.
“Of course. I won’t say a thing. But what if . . .”
Jonathan cut his brother off. “Right now I don’t have the time for what ifs. We just need the proof. One of Risolli’s guys is trying to get us names on those accounts. But they said that will be hard. The Bahamas have strict rules in place protecting their client’s privacy. But,” he paused for emphasis, “they do know that money was sent from Simon’s computer, so we at least have him tied to this mess. The police are coming now. Hopefully, we can get a confession out of him because so far we have nothing on Peter and Aliya. We need something concrete.”
Joseph watched his brother closely. He knew the man was in pain. “I understand. Anything else I can do for you?” he asked, his voice full of concern for his brother. He knew Jonathan had fallen hard. His heart broke for his brother. He had fallen in love once, but it had ended in college, so he knew first hand that kind of loss.
Jonathan gazed around the room looking lost. “Yeah, um . . . check with Tom. Find out what Peter has been up to. I need to make some calls. And . . . be sure Simon doesn’t go anywhere. I want to keep tabs on him. But don’t spook him. I want to make sure no one gets away, so we know where to tell the police to go when the time comes to pick them up.” He sighed heavily and picked up a file from his desk. He opened it and began to scan the document before him.
Joseph hated to ask, but had to. “And Aliya? Do you want Tom to put a tail on her too?”
Jonathan’s hand swept up to his hair. He just nodded, face grim as he picked up the phone. “Yeah, I guess that would be a good idea too.” His comment was made without emotion, but Joseph knew he must be taking it hard. He just had no words to say to make his brother feel better.
Coming over to his brother, he placed one hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Jonathan’s hand reached up and squeezed back. No words were needed. They were there for each other. That was what counted. Brothers.
Letting go, Joseph looked back one final time as he approached the door, and then slipped out as he heard his brother pick up the phone and ask to speak to Detective Sylvester.
Heading downstairs, Joseph hoped somehow their suspicions of Aliya would be unfounded. He knew his brother was keeping it together, but when the dust settled he knew this heartache might break him.
*
“Listen to me, Peter.” It was Simon, and he was calling from the restroom. He had snagged Glenna’s cell phone. For some reason his office phone and his own cell were not working. “Something is going on here. I’m being trailed by two security goons. There are three men in the conference room with Dawn, the accountant wannabe, and Glenna won’t let me in there. The doors are fucking locked . . .”
Peter interrupted. “I thought you said we had until Wednesday.” Peter was pissed. He was also starting to panic. And he never panicked. He just got even.
“That was what Jonathan told me. But I did get another million out today before the wifi went down. I’m going to try to slip by the goons and break out of here. Peter, you are on your own buddy. Hopefully, I’ll see you in Nassau,” he lied. “This cancer treatment is expensive, and this was my only shot. I’m going to enjoy what time I have left. I strongly suggest you do the same.”
“Fuck it all to hell,” Peter cursed. He needed to get away too. This was not what he wanted at all. But he needed a little security. “Okay,” he stated. “I’ll meet you at your place. We can head out together. How long before you think you can slip away?”
“Give me about thirty minutes,” Simon whispered into the phone before he hung up.
Peter threw his cell phone on the seat beside him, and looked into his rear view mirror. No one was following him. The road was completely empty. He stopped and made a u-turn. He would take care of Simon first and then he would pay Miss Aliya Chance a little visit. She would be his security. It was her after all, who probably put the bug in Jonathan’s ear about his connection to Simon. She would have to pay. He wasn’t giving up yet. Damn the women of this reservation. All of them. Power hungry, independent, and just too damned much of a nuisance for his liking. Yes, Aliya would be his security, and then she would pay. But first. Simon.
*
One hour later he stepped on the gas to get his car moving. He also reached forward and flipped open his glove box. His gun was there. A small beretta, but it would do. It was loaded. He hurried. He might be running out of time. His destination, the marina.
Chapter 18
‡
By late afternoon, the three accountants that had already arrived were reporting all kinds of discrepancies. They found several more instances of price inflation, and then the extra funds were funneled out wirelessly via computers coming from Simon’s office. They found outrageous surcharges, and calls to their vendors revealed those surchar
ges were either inaccurate or completely bogus. Several of the stores in the casino had reported large numbers of theft and loss items and calls downstairs revealed those reports had not come from them. The booking agents had discounts applied to room fares that were never given, and that money was pilfered, transferred to the accounting department. The only department they had not found problems in were the bars. Another department that Eve was in charge of. “I helped her with the books,” Dawn admitted.
Jonathan was proud of his sister and ashamed he had not come to her sooner. He saw her with new eyes, and regretted his choices in not giving her more credit. Yes, he knew she was smart, always had known that, but because of her childhood ailments, they had always babied her. “When you finish your degree, I’m definitely recommending to the board you be hired right away to head accounting.” Dawn blushed under the praise.
Jonathan nodded in Tom’s direction. “I think it’s time we get Simon and bring in Peter.” Tom nodded and left the conference room adjusting the mic in his ear as he left.
*
Thirty minutes later, Tom came rushing into the conference room. “We can’t find them. Simon was in his office, and I had men outside. I don’t know how he slipped by them. And Peter isn’t home, or at the tribal office.”
“Find Aliya.” Jonathan did not want them all to get away. “And bring in the authorities. Now.” Once more Tom was quickly dispatched, but on his heels was Glenna, his secretary, she had Brie with her. He knew Brie was one of the dancers and friends with Aliya. He saw the look of consternation on her face. And fear. “Aliya did not show up for practice.” She gazed around the room at Joseph, Dawn, and the other accountants. She saw the anger in her boss’s eyes.
Chances (Mystic Nights #1) Page 13