Rewards of Bravery

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  “Figure out a way. Maybe through Hagerty. He’s a pussy anyway. I throw him a little bone on a big profit realty location, and he’ll jump through hoops to please me.”

  “Okay, so I’ll work on finding out everything I can on the new accountant.”

  “Perfect.”

  Isla had a headache. She couldn’t stop thinking about Sunday, when she sat in her living room as the O’Rourke brothers talked about her job, about picking her up from work, and touching base with them throughout the day, and about the guy Sam and the trouble he could be in. They were concerned about her safety, despite there being no reason for her to be in any danger. It was a precaution, and she accepted their guardianship, even Presley’s and Curren’s, who she really didn’t know at all.

  As she sat at her desk at work Monday, head beginning to pound with all the work she was doing, plus reevaluating the books to see if there were other clues, one of the detectives sat beside her. Mitchell Felts, he was a cousin of Alex Weathersen, and he was good at his job. They had been going over things for the last two hours.

  “I think we have everything we need.”

  “What do you think really happened? I mean considering that he stole money, yet his bank accounts are at zero, seems like a man in debt, or maybe he owes the money to someone. Like a loan shark or something?”

  “Not that there’s any proof, but I agree with you. Alex has been going over things too, and nothing was stolen from the breakin at the guy’s apartment. Whoever went there went there looking for something.”

  “Maybe he owes the money, and they thought he had some stashed?” she asked.

  “They could have taken a laptop, another computer, a flat-screen TV, even some jewelry, but they didn’t. Anyway, the good news is your part in all of this is over. You can focus on regular work while we all try to find out who ran Stealth off the road and who broke into his place.”

  “Uhm, well, please let me know how it works out.”

  “Your boss will be kept somewhat in the loop, but with the O’Rourke men as your guardians, you’ll know quickly if there are updates.” He smiled and then stood up. She shook his hand, and he gathered the copies she made, and he headed out. She sat back down, held her head, and exhaled.

  “Isla, everything go okay? Are you feeling all right?” Randy asked her.

  She popped her head up. “Oh yes, it’s done. The detective said he won’t need anything else from me. So back to regular work.”

  “Well, we can discuss it over lunch. Hagerty’s treat. He said to meet him across the way at the restaurant. Whenever you’re ready.”

  “Oh, okay. Let me just use the ladies’ room real quick.”

  “Go ahead.”

  She grabbed her bag and headed down the hallway to the ladies’ room. Lunch with her bosses, great. Well, maybe they would discuss her job responsibilities and her raise. She took care of business and then texted the men. That was a little strange, but as she got texts back asking if she was okay, if she needed anything, she figured she better not mention lunch out. She replied back that she was fine, and she would see them later tonight.

  She hurried out of the ladies’ room toward Randy and they walked out of the office and across the street to the restaurant.

  Hagerty listened to Isla as she spoke back and forth with Randy about the office. She was very likable and smart too. He had read her resume and noticed she had a minor in finance. He didn’t want to lose her after the whole Sam incident, so he was hoping to entice her with something new. She was very attractive, young, and impressionable. He felt attracted to her, but what man any age wouldn’t be?

  “I can’t reiterate enough how much we appreciate your hard work and how you’ve handled this investigation. You’re new, and not so experienced in the field yet more capable than even the most seasoned of accountants.”

  “Thank you so much, Mr. Canterberry.

  He smiled softly. “Hagerty. There’s no need for formalities, especially if I can talk you into this new opportunity.”

  “New opportunity? What about the accounting position?”

  “You’re an asset. We know that, and we don’t want to lose you. It just so happens that Hagerty has been working on a new project, and we would need your finance background as well as your accounting credentials. It really isn’t too complicated, but you seem to be bright, outgoing, and a hard worker,” Randy added.

  “Okay,” she said sounding hesitant.

  “Let me explain.”

  “We’ve been working with a very wealthy businessman and a new partner of his. They just recently purchased some property not far from town. Anyway, they have an established condominium complex and recreational facility an hour from here. We, Canterberry Associates, made a partnership and investment in the condominium complex. As part of the shared investment, we can have our own accountant look at the books to ensure that we aren’t being overcharged and that things are adding up. Anyway, Sam was supposed to do this before the accident happened and he was set to meet with the CFO, but then the accident happened. Our partners have been giving us the time we need, but we’re concerned. It’s months overdue,” Hagerty told her.

  “We would pay you extra for going over the books and meeting with the CFO. First, you would talk to him on the phone, set up some email correspondence, and go over things that way. However, we would feel better if you met with him in person,” Randy said to her.

  “It would make us feel more confident knowing you met face-to-face. You’re likable and professional, and smart too, so they wouldn’t think twice trying to undermine your capabilities. Not that they would, but with this recent situation with Sam, I’m paranoid now. He was stealing from us, and we trusted him,” Hagerty said and exhaled.

  “Are you certain you want me to do this job and not a more experienced accountant?” she asked, sounding so modest and sweet.

  “Isla, you basically did investigative accounting on our books and found out criminal activities were taking place. Who would be more professional and experienced than you?” he asked.

  “It’s really not that complicated. It’s more paranoia on our part I’m afraid. We’ve discussed it the last few days, and we agree that we trust your abilities and that you would do the right thing.”

  She leaned back in her chair. “I need more details please and maybe detailed responsibilities for my work at the agency will help. Right now, I feel like I’m doing several different jobs and maybe even stepping on people’s toes.”

  Hagerty chuckled. “You’ve made quite a name for yourself and in a positive way. This job is temporary with the condominium investment. We’re going to start advertising to hire someone closer to the location. If you could just get things started and make sure that we’re on the right track, it would be great,” he added.

  “Now let’s talk bonus for that job and a raise for your current job. I’ve organized a responsibility sheet for both jobs. Let’s talk numbers and then celebrate.”

  Isla was overwhelmed after lunch, but confident that she could handle the small side job. Plus with the money they would pay her to do it, she would be stupid not to accept. She felt that Mr. Hagerty was paying her too much to just look at the books for the condominium complex, but his paranoia was greater and he assured her that he could afford it and trusted her.

  With that information, she got back to the office and looked over the files that Sam had packed away in a drawer in the back room. As she dug through the files, pulling out things that correlated with her current client list, she saw several other boxes too. A glance at the clock and she knew she wouldn’t have time to go over those. She would bring the boxes home and look at them tonight. She carried them out to her car, with Randy’s help.

  “Are you sure you want to take all this home? You can look through it on our time and here at the office.”

  “It’s okay. I’ll have enough to do, but the labels on there show the tax return information the last several years. It will help to get them in order.
A quick peek showed they were all over the place.”

  “You are definitely thorough, and I think we’re truly lucky to have you here. Hopefully we don’t overwork you and you quit on us.”

  She chuckled. “Nah, I need this job, and as long as you’re honest and we can work together well, it should be fine,” she said, and they placed the things in her back seat. She headed back inside to do some more work and to coordinate with the accountant an hour from Benter. In another week, they would meet up and she would go there for the day.

  It was a hell of a day, and as she hadn’t expected to walk out of the office to find Ortley in uniform standing near her car, she paused at the sight. Her heart skipped a beat, her breasts swelled, and even her pussy spasmed. He looked hot and sexy, and he was drawing the attention of several women walking past. She watched him, and the way he used his eyes to check her out, and she walked right to him, as sexy as she could, but her legs felt weak, and she just wanted to jump into his arms and beg him to give her an order.

  When Ortley looked at her, she felt it everywhere. He was fierce, and his eyes narrowed, almost like he didn’t like her outfit. “Everything okay?”

  “Will be the moment you’re in my arms, woman, now get,” he said and reached out to her. She closed the space between them, and he hugged her tight, kissed her lips and then her neck, and ran his palm possessively over her ass and squeezed. “I missed you.”

  “Hmmm, I missed you too,” she said and hugged him, resting her head against his chest a few seconds as he squeezed her and seemed to enjoy just holding her too. She eased back. “You didn’t need to drive out of the way to follow me home.”

  “Oh yes, I did. Couldn’t stand the thought of waiting another hour. You ready or what?”

  “Oh, I’m ready. To go home and soak in a nice hot tub.”

  “Not in that little one you got at your place. You can soak in ours.”

  “Ortley, I can’t stay late or stay over. I’ll be no good for work, and there are things going on. I have boxes of files in my car that need organizing tonight, so maybe another night. Like I said, so much is going on, and it’s only Monday.”

  “What things?” he asked, holding her snug against him.

  “I got another separate job helping Mr. Canterberry out. We met and discussed a raise, specific responsibilities for this job and for a separate one he’s contracting me out for. All great news and good money.”

  “Well, he should be paying you good money for the danger he’s placed you in.”

  “Ortley.” She tried pressing away.

  “No. You listen here, we’re worried about you. None of us like you being out of our sights, or the current situation this job has going on.”

  “I understand your concern, I know you’re just being protective, and I’ll share everything with you, as well as the whole discussion at lunch today with Hagerty and Randy,” she said to him as he released her.

  He snagged her back into his arms. He cupped her ass. “Lunch out with them? Why?”

  “To talk business. To get out of the office after the detective and I finished things up on the computer.”

  “What detective? He flirt with you? Hit on you? Did they?” he asked.

  She firmed her lips. “Ortley.”

  “You’re my woman. You’re sexy, got those stunning blue eyes, and wear these tight-fitting outfits that accentuate your ass and breasts. Those are mine too, and I don’t want other men looking at what’s mine.”

  His words were arousing, and she knew he was possessive and protective. She caressed his chest. “They are yours, and no one flirted, and if they did, I would tell them that I’m taken.”

  “Damn straight.”

  “Now can we leave? I need that bath.”

  “Oh, I plan on helping you and washing your backside,” he said and winked and then kissed her lips. When he released her, he gave her ass a slap. She chuckled and headed to her car.

  “So what do you think, Alex?” Montana asked their friend, the Texas Ranger, and his brothers, Curren and Presley, were present.

  “I have to be honest, I don’t feel there is any concern for Isla. She was just doing her job, came across the stolen money. It’s pretty much over as far as her part in this. What I can tell you is that Sam was in debt. Without divulging too much information because it’s an ongoing investigation, but to give you a little peace of mind, he had a gambling problem. We believe that’s why he was stealing money from Canterberry Associates.”

  “How bad and who did owe money to?” Presley asked, knowing that many loan sharks would think nothing about roughing up a guy who owed them money, or knocking them off if they did more or weren’t looking like they would pay up.

  “That’s what we’re trying to figure out. He played some private poker games, did online betting with casinos, and of course some underground betting. Fights and stuff that are illegal. So you know we won’t get any information on those. We’re investigating phone logs, have police canvassing his neighborhood where the breakin was, and we’re seeing if he has had any contact with anyone other than Canterberry Real Estate. We’re gathering the phone logs at the office as well.”

  “How about business transactions or any daily activities he did for the real estate firm? Sometimes people can finagle things past their bosses, or get paid under the table to slide along contracts, push a sale to go through even though there are red flags?” Curren said, with his hands on his hips and looking concerned.

  “The federal agents are getting involved because of the connections to the real estate firm. They’ll be doing a thorough investigation into Hagerty and Randy as well as all the other employees. We’ll be helping with that,” Alex told them.

  “So Isla still will be put through the interrogation process by federal agents?” Curren asked.

  “Not without me with her, and I guarantee it will be a short interrogation, as you put it, Curren. She’s been there for a month this week. She’s the one that found the mistakes in the accounting logs. She isn’t guilty of anything and is the last person they’ll look to as being involved.”

  “But she still is going to be questioned as if she’s a suspect or guilty of something,” Presley said, feeling annoyed.

  “I think Isla will handle things fine. I’m impressed with her professionalism and her ability to not only cooperate and not panic, but also to offer extra assistance. Detective Mitchell Felts was quite impressed. You men have got yourself a very beautiful, special woman. Keep her calm, reassure her that things will work out fine, and this will be over soon enough,” Alex told them.

  They thanked him for his time and then offered any help he might need as well. The moment he left the house, Montana exhaled.

  Presley glanced at his watch. “You said Ortley was going to follow Isla home from work?” he asked.

  “Yes, should be on their way by now,” Montana said and then glanced at his phone. “He texted a few minutes ago. Said she is exhausted and has a lot of files to look over tonight.”

  Presley looked at Curren and then back at Montana, who seemed disappointed.

  “Sounds like she’s doing a lot and trying to be thorough in her job. Maybe giving her space is a good thing right now,” Presley said to Montana.

  Montana shook his head. “Giving her space isn’t a good thing. She needs us. I’m going to head to her place and meet them,” he said, and then his cell phone rang.

  Presley felt jealous because it was like they weren’t included in that special circle with Isla, yet they claimed guardianship of her with their brothers.

  “Hello? Yeah, no, of course not. We’ll get dinner ready, the bath first. Okay. Great, looking forward to it.” He ended the call and smiled.