“Harris Finch.”
“Well, there’s no way Finch would have stolen the money. Please check with accounting. Every new account needs to be signed off by a partner.”
It was as if Howard forgot about the allegation against him. “They are getting the paperwork together.”
Howard clasped his hands and circled his thumbs. He was biting down on his bottom lip.
“Mr. Gabay, is there something you want to tell us before we see it?” Amanda asked.
He pulled out his handkerchief again and wiped his brow. He shook his head.
“We believe the embezzlement and the attempts on Dominique Sharp’s life are connected. Ms. Sharp’s would-be killer has already claimed two victims trying to get to her.” Since the embezzlement angle alone didn’t seem to jolt him into talking, maybe bringing up the murders would.
“It’s all very tragic, but it has nothing to do with me.”
“Well if it wasn’t you, and it wasn’t Harris Finch…?” She left the question dangling there.
“I have no clue who.” His voice turned hoarse.
“Are you sure it wasn’t you? From what we heard, you have motive to set up Harris Finch,” she said.
“What are you talking about?”
“He took your wife from you,” she said.
Howard met Amanda’s gaze and laughed. Actually laughed. “He can have her. Cheryl and I were never meant to last. We’re so different.”
Trent leaned forward. “Then you weren’t upset by the divorce?”
“Not at all, and if I was, do you think I would have kept him on at my firm? I’d have paid him out and sent him packing a long time ago.”
Amanda was stumped because his reasoning made complete sense. But if Howard Gabay didn’t take the money and have Corey Shea hire a killer, who did? And why? Or had she and Trent made a huge mistake and pardoned Finch too readily?
FORTY-SIX
Amanda sat back and relaxed her posture, meeting Howard’s gaze. “You came with us willingly. You’ve sat there, waiving your right to a lawyer. But you were surprised we suspected you of four felonies, as if you had at least one in mind. What did you think we pulled you in for?”
“I’ve been debating since I’ve been here whether I want to say. There’s no obligation for me to do so, but I will say this much. I figured you’d discover something about me when you were looking into Dominique’s life.”
Amanda clasped her hands on the table. “And what is that?”
“Nah. I’m no longer in the sharing mood. The fact you pegged me as stealing from my own companyandaccused me of hiring someone to kill Dominique has me changing my mind. I can’t trust either of you. Also, from what I see you have no cause to hold me, so I’m going to leave now.”
Amanda stood and told him, “Please, just five more minutes.”
She left the room with Trent and went next door to the observation room.
Malone was shaking his head. “Without those requisition forms, we have nothing on him in the embezzlement case, and without that, where’s his motive to want Sharp dead?”
“Though he just admitted he feared we would uncover something about him when looking into Dominique’s life. I, for one, would like to know what that is,” she said. “I suspect it sheds light on why he’d accept a lowball offer on his family’s firm. Because given the way he reacted to my question now and the first time we spoke with him, it feels like he was strong-armed into the deal.”
“I’d like to know too, but we can’t force him to talk, and we have nothing to hold him,” Malone pointed out.
“What if Howard Gabay has an inkling about who was stealing the money from his company?” Trent said, taking things in another direction.
“Based on…?” Malone popped his eyes.
“Trent could be right, Sarge. He has been denying the embezzlement in general terms, saying no one in the firm would do this. But his speech was shaky when he asked what name was on the accounts, like someone came to mind. What if he’s trying to protect this person? But who would demand such loyalty?” She met Trent’s eye, and it clicked together. “We know Corey Shea hired the killer for someone. We don’t know who.”
