Betty Pierre - Murder.Com

Angie didn't want to know what Marty did to entice Bud into a sexual encounter, but she remained silent and let her continue her story.

We danced and drank that champagne until after midnight. I remember how I kept telling them to turn down the music and lower their voices, afraid of waking you. But Mr. Nevers said you were out like a light. Finally, I decided I better get to the cottage before I fell on my face. Mr. Nevers insisted on walking me. The next thing I remembered..."

Heavy sobs shook Marty's shoulders. She had the corner of the apron over her mouth. "I woke up before daylight," she choked. "Mr. Nevers lay across the foot of my bed and I didn't have one speck of clothes on. I woke him up, pushed him out the door and told him to get home before the sun came up. Nine months later Melinda came into this world."

Angie felt confused. "Why don't I remember you being pregnant?"

"I hid it for months by just wearing smocks and aprons up until near the end. Then, if you'll remember, you were doing much better and I took off for two months. Telling you that my sick aunt needed me. Mr. Nevers wanted me to abort. I told him I couldn't do that, but I'd make sure you never knew."

Angie stiffened. "Yes, now I vaguely remember you telling me there had been a family emergency and you had to go away for a while. I thought it strange that you never gave me any details, but figured it wasn't any of my business. But how did you hide a baby for all those years?"

"Mr. Nevers took care of all the details. He rented a small home and hired a woman to take care of her. I only got to be with her on the weekends. Then when she turned six, she lived in a boarding school. Not much of a family life for a young girl. But that's the only way I could have her. I couldn't bring her out here. Mr. Nevers felt guilty about the whole situation and wanted me to stay on working here for your sake."

"Melinda told me she didn't know who fathered her until a few months ago. Why didn't Bud ever tell her?"

Marty shook her head. "I can't answer that. But he made me promise not to. He said if I did, he'd fire me. Send me packing without another dime for Melinda's upbringing. I knew it would be foolish of me to give up all the things he could provide her. So I kept my mouth shut until one night when Melinda came to the cottage. You were gone for the evening and I thought it would be safe enough. However, I'd been boozing it up and we had a fight. In my drunken stupor I blabbed and told her. After that, she took things into her own hands." Marty covered her face with her hands. "I've discovered my little girl has a very mean, evil streak."

Angie stared at her as a thought flashed through her mind. "Marty, didn't you have a boyfriend about that time? How can you be positive that Bud is Melinda's father?"

Marty furrowed her brows. "I thought about that too. I'd broken up with him two months before this happened and hadn't taken on any new boyfriend. Mr. Nevers was the last man in my bed before I found myself pregnant."

Chapter Fourteen

When the two detectives arrived back at Tom's office they found John Graves chewing on the end of a pencil while still studying the books. The knot in his tie hung at mid-chest.

"Well?" Cliff asked.

John glanced up and raised a brow. "I've found nothing mentioning ABC Wafer Company. However, these books seem too perfect or else they've got a genius accountant."

Cliff scratched his head. "What makes you say that?"

"Not one mistake in addition. Of course, today's technology makes that easier. However, this company is supposedly in a growth spurt and should be making money. I mean, this script-writing thing where you can also make a printout in your own handwriting is a winner. Yet, it doesn't show in the profits. Either they've got a big storehouse somewhere full of lots of unsold stock," he waved his hand over the desk, "or someone's fixing these books."

Tom listened intently as he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. "So you think there's something unusual here?"

"Yeah. This is not for the record. But, yeah. There's something strange going on here, but damned if I can spot it. Particularly this past year."

"For instance?" Tom asked.

"A big change in the ordering pattern. They ordered lots of stuff to put into their product, but I can't find the output. Yet, everything balanced. My brain tells me they're short about six hundred thousand dollars this year."

Tom tapped his foot, his mind working. "That would fit with what Bill Crane said."

John leaned back in his chair. "Who's Bill Crane?"

"A young college intern that Bud hired. The kid spotted this ABC Wafer Company. He told me he'd informed Mr. Nevers that fifty thousand a month was going out to that company. Which, by the way, coincides with that figure you just quoted. So how do you figure they've hid it?"

"Beats the hell out of me." He pointed to one side of the book then the other. "Probably within several companies; a few thousand dollars here and a few thousand there. All the books display the same numbers. It would require a hell of a lot of time to locate the discrepancies. Probably in the beginning they used that ABC Wafer name as a dummy company, but have since figured out a more sophisticated system." He pointed a finger at Tom. "But somewhere there are original records. And that's where you'll find that ABC Wafer Company. Some genius they have in that company has managed to change all the books and computers to read the same."

Tom scratched his side burn, then extended his hand. "Thanks, John, you've done a great job and we appreciate the many hours you've spent here today. If we run across the originals, you'll be the first one we'll call."

After John left, Tom looked at his partner and shook his head. Cliff let out a long sigh and took off his hat, running his fingers through his hair. "That damn back-up disk is the one we need."

Tom paced the room, stopped in front of the window and rubbed the back of his neck. "Ken Weber is the only person who had access to Bud's computer. I think we better have a talk with him."

Cliff slapped his thigh. "Fine. But what the hell are we going to say? That all the books matched? We'd look like fools. Pray tell where would Bud have kept a set of original records? He was obviously too smart to leave them on his computer, that is unless someone trashed them."

Tom nodded. "You're right. Sometimes they can still find stuff on a computer that has been trashed or erased. We may have to find someone who can do that. Keep your brain engaged over the weekend and if you come up with something let me know. I'm calling it a day."

Cliff trudged out of the office as Tom sat down at his desk. He decided to call Angie even though he didn't have any new news, but felt the necessity to keep in touch. When she answered, he detected a tinge of strain in her voice. "Everything okay?"

"Not really, but nothing I can't handle."

"Maybe you need a night out. How about having dinner with me?"

A slight hesitation, then her voice sounded more cheerful. "You know that's not a bad idea. I think I'd enjoy that. When will you pick me up?"

"Will an hour give you time?"

"Perfect. See you then."

Tom's spirits soared. He hoped she felt the same way.

When he got home, he immediately called for reservations at one of the nicer restaurants and lucked out due to a cancellation. He jumped in the shower, humming.

In exactly one hour, he knocked on Angie's door. His heart raced when she met him with sparkling eyes and a big smile.

"I'm really glad you called, Tom. I needed a break."

At the restaurant, before their dinner arrived, he noticed she grew quiet, her eyes darting around the room. "Something's bothering you. What is it?"

She exhaled loudly and slumped back in the chair. "I'm trying to decide whether to talk to you about the latest occurrences, but hate burdening you with my troubles. You have enough of your own."