Good Woman Blues

by Emery, Lynn

  “It’s true,” Erikka protested. “If that CEO Transome stole from the company, he didn’t have help from me.”

  “Excellent. You’re going to do fine under questioning.” Terri wiped her hands and turned to Erikka.

  “You talk like there will be a trial or something.” Erikka’s stomach started doing flips again. She frowned at Terri.

  “With recent corporate scandals the heat is on.” Terri lifted a shoulder as though apologizing for bearing bad news.

  “So?” Erikka had a good idea where this was going. She still hoped for a different answer.

  “Our esteemed DA is elected, you know. He’ll get a photo op and see if any state laws were broken. But the feds will be looking over his shoulder.”

  “I didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m not going to worry.”

  Erikka hung the dish towel on a polished steel rack. She wanted to believe she had no reason to worry. Her insides wouldn’t listen. Terri gave her a hug and left. Karin followed her out.

  “Sure you’re okay?” Hope eyed her before heading to her bedroom.

  “Yeah. Good night, girl. You look half-asleep already.” Erikka waved her off to bed.

  Hope yawned. “Night.”

  When Hope’s bedroom door bumped shut, Erikka went to the office. Hope’s computer hummed since she never shut it down. In seconds the high-speed connection brought up a subscription data service. Erikka entered her password and looked up more facts on Layton, Inc.

  ***

  At six o’clock Darlene still sat in her office at the center. Even her devoted secretary had finally gone home. Darlene rubbed her eyes again. She blinked hoping to get rid of the feeling of sand under her eyelids. The figures on the spreadsheet seemed to bounce around like hip-hop dancers. No matter which way she sliced it the center was in big trouble financially. Darlene knew how the money had been stolen, but that didn’t fill the center’s bank account. At another meeting of the board she’d had to finally explain that checks had been stolen and that she had reported the theft to the Sheriff. Maybe she was wrong and it wasn’t an inside job. A stranger could have walked in the office and stolen a sheet of checks. Who was she kidding? She tipped her chair back. The rickety spring mechanism squealed as the chair bumped the wall.

  “So much for replacing office furniture,” she said to herself. Tears hurried to the surface and Darlene pushed them back.

  Doing without new desks, tables and chairs was the least of her worries. They already cut back on hours, something she’d swore wouldn’t happen. Facing the small town judgments took an even greater toll day to day. Still Darlene refused to feel sorry for herself. She worried about the people served by her programs.

  “Hi,” Brandon said. He stood in the door as though debating whether or not to enter.

  “Baby, what are you doing here?” Darlene stared at him in surprise.

  “LaTrice said she was working late. I came by to pick her up.” He came in.

  “Working late? I don’t see why she would be.” Darlene frowned and glanced at her wall clock. “She gets off at three.”

  “I don’t know. Look, mama, about some of the stuff that went down between us—”

  “Don’t worry about it, honey. Guess I’m having a hard time accepting you’re a man now.” Darlene smiled at him with love. He had grown into a tall, striking man. No wonder women of all ages went after him.

  “Thanks for helping us out. LaTrice really does appreciate your giving her this job.” Brandon sat down. He seemed to have more on his mind.

  “She’s an adult, Brandon. Let her speak for herself.” Darlene regretted her words the second they were out. “Listen, I didn’t mean to criticize her.”

  “It’s okay.” Brandon let out a slow breath. “Things don’t always turn out the way you plan sometimes.” Darlene decided to let him take the lead. “Sometimes.”

  “I was thinking maybe community college isn’t such a bad idea. Jobs are so hard to find.” Brandon stared down at the floor.

  Her spirits soared, but Darlene kept her expression neutral. Brandon would only follow through if he believed going was his idea. ‘True.”

  “LaTrice is saying I should get a job at that cement plant, but I don’t know.” Brandon looked at her.

  “That’s hard dirty work. Your cousin is having skin problems from the cement.” Darlene forced herself to shut up.

  “Yeah. I talked to Shawn. He’s sick of the place.” Brandon sighed.

  “At least at the college you can take courses in business. That way you could be a supervisor or foreman. Maybe move up even more.” Darlene smiled at the first sliver of hope she’d had in weeks.

  “Yeah. Anyway, enough about me. Found that money?”

  Darlene’s bright mood clouded over as she shook her head. “Twenty thousand to be exact. Whoever did it was slick. Someone stole checks from the middle of a checkbook we hadn’t used yet. They bought a lot of merchandise from vendors we usually do business with, and then returned some of it for cash. Probably pawned the rest.”

  “They’ll catch whoever did it soon. Don’t worry.”

  “Once I call the Sheriff’s Office they can investigate. Hopefully they can get a description of the thief,” Darlene replied. She stared at the figures again.

  “Right, right.” Brandon shifted in his seat again and twisted his large hands together.

  “Is everything all right, baby?” Darlene’s heart turned over to see him in distress. She knew her child. Brandon wanted to confide in her, but his male pride held him back.

  “I don’t know, Mama. You’ve got enough to deal with.” Brandon seemed to shrug off his gloom. He glanced at her with a smile. “I’m okay.”

  “Are you sure?” Darlene knew he’d tell her if she gave him space. Just then the door pushed open, and LaTrice walked in.

  “I’m out here waiting in the car, Brandon. You was supposed to just be a minute.” LaTrice smacked gum around her sentences.

  “Let’s go then. See ya, Mama.” Brandon glanced at Darlene, and she could see the unhappy little boy in his eyes.

  “Bye. I’ll walk y’all out.” Darlene forced herself to smile at LaTrice. “Tomorrow probably won’t be so wild.”“I sure hope not, Miz Darlene. Talk to Miz Carmel for me, will ya? I can’t stand being in that kitchen all day.”

  Darlene felt her temper turning red-hot. She counted to ten before she answered. “Carmel is doing two jobs with the trouble we’re having. Try to be patient.”

  “Yeah, right.” LaTrice smacked her dissatisfaction with Darlene’s reply.

  “Right.” Darlene felt a thudding pain begin at the base of her neck. They went to the parking lot to Brandon’s beat-up old car.

  Brandon glanced at her with a frown. “Mama, you okay? What’s up?”

  “It’s just a bad headache. I’m okay,” Darlene said quickly. She looked at his live-in girlfriend.

  “Guess I’ll see ya tomorrow.” LaTrice got in the car.

  Before Darlene could answer, she turned around to the backseat. Two small boys were hitting each other. A little girl wailed that she wanted to sit in the front. An infant girl started crying in sympathy. “Y’all shut the hell up.”

  “Stop all that noise out here, girl. And quit screaming at little Keioni. She’s just a baby,” Brandon snapped at LaTrice.

  “Uh-huh. You got to help me get these kids bathed later on.”

  Darlene wanted to say something, but she kept silent and watched them drive away. The trials of her oldest child had been another worry. Still she let go. He had to learn his own hard-life lessons like everyone else. Exactly the way Darlene was learning her own once again.

  Chapter 20

  Erikka spent three days working overtime. The few times Roz had called her up, her voice had seemed so chirpy it was unnerving. Still, she’d become immersed in her own routine of rising early and staying up late. She tried to tell herself this was a good thing. Though he said nothing, Erikka could almost hear the judgment in Gabriel’s
voice when they talked. More than once Erikka found herself being defensive about her schedule of work, nights out with friends, and more work. She was not drinking, not partying the way her old crowd still did, and not taking sleeping pills. No matter what she tried Erikka somehow ended up channel-surfing at two in the morning. She knew the entire late-night cable television lineup.

  Nadine had been a particular pain in the ass for the past few days. The feds and the state attorney general were asking questions about Layton, Inc. Nadine had Erikka working into the night helping her print out all kinds of reports. Once they had finished Nadine seemed in a bad mood every day. Everyone avoided Erikka, even the other partners. A bad vibe flowed through the hallways of Lewis, Calder and Brinkhaus. People kept their doors closed. No one was talking even if they knew what was going down. Erikka kept so busy putting out fires that she had little time to speculate. No matter. Erikka left the building and took a deep breath out on the sidewalk. She waved at the security person in the parking lot as she drove away. Not even crazy New Orleans rush hour made her regret leaving on time. She sighed again when she got to Hope’s apartment. Though she loved Hope, Erikka looked forward to having her own place. The renovations on her loft had been slowed by last-minute construction problems. Erikka unlocked the door, almost dizzy with relief to close it behind her. Minutes later she was in a warm shower. Lavender shower gel helped her unwind. By the time Hope made it in, Erikka had her feet up and was reading the newspaper.

  “The good news is that this day is over.” Hope kicked off her leather pumps.

  “The bad news is we do it again tomorrow,” Erikka shot back, without looking up from the pages she turned.

  “I refuse to adopt that negativity. A new sunrise means hope for a better day. Get it?” Hope jabbed a finger in Erikka’s arm as she went by.

  “Your brilliance dazzles,” Erikka said in a dry tone. “Your turn to cook, and don’t even try to whine your way out of it,” she added quickly, before Hope could start. Pans clanked as she prepared their supper. “What’s new at your salt mine?”

  “Nothing but the same. Any change would break up the monotony.” Erikka didn’t mean it. She appreciated the fast pace, even the tension in the air.

  When the door chimes trilled, Hope yelled, “You get it. I’m up to my elbows in ground beef.”

  “Please say you’re kidding,” Erikka yelled back. She swung open the door to find Terri standing outside. “Come on in. You get to share Hope’s cooking with me.”

  “I can’t stay,” Terri said quickly.

  “Coward,” Erikka joked and waved her inside.

  “Erikka, have you seen this week’s issue of New Orleans Business?” Terri held up a copy of the magazine. The Biz, as it was called, carried hard news and hot rumors.

  “Girl, please. I’ve got three new clients, a performance audit report due, and—” Erikka stopped when Terri shoved the paper in her face.

  “Better look,” Terri clipped. When Erikka took the weekly from her she dropped her purse onto a chair.

  Erikka read the headline. “I can’t believe this. CEO Escapes SEC Scrutiny.”

  “Yep, Layton CEO Transome is missing in action. Gone, along with his lovely former-lingerie-model mistress. Just in time to dodge getting splattered by the shit hitting the fan.” Terri kicked the door shut.

  As Erikka read past the headline her heart thumped harder. ‘Ten million missing from the pension fund, dummy companies used to hide losses. Damn.”

  “Hey, Terri, you’re just in time to eat my signature dish, ground cow and noodles in a pan,” Hope called from the kitchen. She looked into the living room through the opening above a bar separating the two rooms.

  “What did you know and when did you know it?” Terri said to Erikka, without answering Hope.

  “Oh God.” Erikka sank onto the sofa still reading.

  “I’m hoping like hell that’s an ‘I didn’t know’ oh God. Not an ‘I didn’t think it was all that illegal’ oh God.” Terri raised one shapely auburn brow.

  “Nadine didn’t breathe a word about this. Not even after I reminded her about Enron and the Anderson accounting scandals.” Erikka flashed back to the questionable losses and her doubts about offshore companies.

  “What exactly did she say?” Terri perched on the broad arm of a sofa chair.

  “That the charges weren’t illegal yet.” Still holding it, Erikka let the paper drop into her lap. “She’s right. Congress has trouble understanding all the twists and turns that creative accounting can take. They haven’t moved fast enough to pass new laws.”

  “Oh yeah? Well, there are a lot of laws that have been on the books for years. Good old-fashioned embezzlement statutes. Then there’s wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice.” Terri ticked off the crimes on her fingers. “Bottom line is if the money ain’t yours, then you don’t get to keep it.”

  Hope left the kitchen and joined them. “I’m in there sweating over a hot stove for you two and— Something wrong?” She looked from Erikka to Terri.

  “Not if this is a bad dream,” Erikka said. She handed the magazine to her.

  “I think you need a good attorney.” Terri took a note pad from her small navy blue leather purse. “Better start now.” For the next thirty minutes Terri pitched questions at Erikka. At first she mostly asked for information. After fifteen minutes Terri began to sound like a prosecutor. Erikka felt perspiration trickle down her back at one point. Each time Terri paused with a slight frown, Erikka’s stomach tightened.

  “Look, I’ve got to understand your accounting procedures as well as you do. Call in sick tomorrow. Come to my office at nine o’clock.” Terri gave Erikka a business card with elegant gold lettering.

  “Okay. Wait, I have a meeting at nine with Nadine on an audit and a few other things. What about after lunch?” Erikka looked at the card. Terri’s name was followed by an impressive list of letters.

  “Erikka, your meeting is going to be on one topic only, Layton, Inc. Nadine is not surprised by these developments,” Terri said briskly.

  “She’ll know something is up if I call in,” Erikka said, shaking her head to unscramble the jumble of thoughts crowding it. “No telling what they’ll do to records while I’m gone.”

  “Good point.” Terri paced for a few minutes.

  Hope had stood by, watching them with a puzzled scowl. “Somebody hand me a clue, please,” she said finally.

  “If Layton execs go down, my career could go down with ’em. The state CPA board might suspend me. Or worst stuff could happen. Clear enough?” Erikka took the paper back from her.

  Hope blinked rapidly as the big picture sank in. “Uh-oh.”

  “Erikka acted as their consultant. If the DA thinks she helped them figure out a way to cook the numbers, which led to fraud, that’s called criminal conspiracy. After that big Stanford Securities case in Texas I think our Attorney General wants his own big white-collar bust. He’s ready to pounce on even any whiff of wrongdoing connected to Layton. Speaking of stink, what is that smell?” Terri grimaced as she sniffed the air.

  “The food.” Hope scurried back to the kitchen.

  “Nadine is probably working late. She was at the office when I left.” Erikka stood.

  “We could go by there,” Terri offered.

  Erikka glanced at her wristwatch. “She’s had over an hour to do damage. She could make it seem like I did all of the dirty work that helped Transome rob Layton, Inc. I’ll go in early tomorrow, search for clues, and then meet you after lunch.”

  “Good. Now you’re thinking like a lawyer. Lord help you.” Terri’s green eyes twinkled.

  “I’d consider that an insult except being an accountant is just as rough these days,” Erikka tossed back.

  Terri retrieved her PDA from the purse. She tapped the screen with a tiny pointer. “I can move a one-thirty appointment.”

  “I’ve got one, too. My instincts are telling me that I’d better watch my back, front, and sides.”<
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  Erikka picked up the paper again and read what she had almost memorized. Each word spelled big trouble no matter how she looked at them.

  ***

  Two days later Erikka went to Loreauville for the weekend. She tried to lose herself in the moment, Gabriel’s touch, and the feel of his satin-smooth sheets. A throbbing beat started low, and then grew louder, like two lovers crashing together. Usher crooned an erotic musical tale on the compact disc player. He wanted to heal her. She needed healing. The past week had proven harder than any day she’d had before. As his lips grazed her thighs, a soft mist formed in her head. His mouth worked magic that nothing else had been able to. She forgot that her world verged on imploding again. Gently, Gabriel brought her high until Erikka panted, and then eased her back into a steady rhythm of ecstasy. He had control, and that was fine with Erikka. Finally, he had mercy, letting go just enough that Erikka felt the magic build, then crash into her. All she wanted was him around her, in-side her, and through her. Seconds later, while Erikka still rode the wave, Gabriel followed. They clutched each other, whispering and moaning together. When both lay quiet, Gabriel stroked her hair, barely moving his hand.

  “When are we going to have dinner with your parents?” Gabriel asked.

  “Roz is going to take some getting used to, just want to warn you.” Erikka gave a soft laugh.

  “I’ll bet she’s not nearly as bad as you make her out to be. No stalling, make the arrangements.”

  “Okay, but don’t complain to me when she gets nosy and pushy. We’ll have dinner or lunch with Craig separately. I’ll call him,” Erikka said.

  “Sounds good.” After a few moments of quiet, Gabriel rested his chin on the top of her head. “Want to talk about work?”

  “Not much to tell. Terri, my friend who’s a lawyer, has been advising me on how to cover my butt. Nadine turned over a lot of reports to the Attorney General’s Office. Now it’s just a wait-and-see game. Terri says there’s not much we can do until we know what action they’ll take.” Erikka pulled her body even closer to his to find more comfort.