Daphne nodded and began to sift through the files. “Everything you’ve done here makes sense. It sucks that you’re missing information that is vital to this case. Someone is hiding something.”
Behind them, Simone made a humming sound as she poured the wine into four glasses. Her brows drew together as she looked at Anika.
“Ani, didn’t we have a Lorimer account when we worked together at Braithwaite and Abernathy? What was that case again?” Simone asked, passing a glass to each woman. Pressing the glass against her lips, Simone pulled up her phone and began searching.
Anika’s eyes widened as she stared at Simone, nodding slowly.
“The Lorimer file,” Anika tilted her head to the side and looked up at the ceiling. “Yes, that was a different fraud case. Some kind of construction supplier issues. Taking funds and double-dipping. Like charging them for double the supplies and only delivering half what was sold. They got off because they settled out of court. I never saw the aftermath of it all because once we finished our work, we passed it off to the lawyers. Lorimer Industries. I think they went bankrupt because of the case. The guy running the company was so slippery, he kept sending people in his stead. We never met him.”
“Do you have any information on who runs the company? Maybe there’s a connection,” Colette asked, hope rising in her chest. This would be great if she could find a place where all these funds were going. Maybe it would explain why Agnes had left so suddenly. If they went bankrupt, it could explain the suspect’s sudden need for cash, or a new swindle to refill their coffers.
“I can investigate it and send you what I have tomorrow morning when I go to work. Just keep it to yourself, it’sprotected information and shouldn’t be shared with any outside sources,” Anika said. “Hopefully, I can get you a name or something.”
Colette nodded and took a sip of her wine. Good.
This was progress. How lucky was she? She wondered why she hadn’t reached out for help earlier. Simone squished into the small, apartment-size sofa next to Anika and regaled them with the scandalous stories from The Blossom Gala. Apparently, hookups abounded. With the amount of alcohol that had been consumed, it was no surprise.
The Stanhopes had a huge blowout because Mr. Stanhope was seen getting close to a certain Lucinda. Mrs. Stanhope had spent a good part of the evening crying in the bathroom and yelling at her husband through the bathroom door. Mr. Stanhope ended up tossing his wife over his shoulder and carrying the distraught woman out to the limo, so there was hope their relationship would survive.
Colette had trouble keeping her mouth closed for the entire duration of the story.
She liked drama, but this was over the top.
Anika complained about the new construction in Marda Loop and how suddenly, it seemed like every road had a detour. Traffic and construction were one of the things she did not miss from the city.
In truth, the only thing she had spent time missing lately was the ranch. And Marshall. It was hard to feel at home in her apartment now that she had returned. It was like putting on an outfit that no longer fit. It could work if she squeezed into it, but she never felt comfortable or like herself when she wore it. The realization was terrifying.
If she no longer felt at home in the city, what did that mean for her future goals?
Life in the country had had a calming effect on her mind and the feverish pace of her daily routine. It was just one more reason why she had to get to the bottom of this mystery. Find the missing pieces of the puzzle so that she could return to Rosebud. Whatever was going on with Marshall, she had to see it through to its end. More and more, she got the sensation that parts of her had been left behind at the ranch. She had started something that she needed to finish. Unless it wasn’t meant to end. Her heart was an open wound that had begun to bleed the minute she had sent Marshall out the door the night before. The only way to stem the blood was to put all those parts of herself back together. She had a sinking feeling the pieces would never fit the same. Something in her had shifted.
Being with Marshall again was the only way she would feel whole.
She wasn’t only working to save the ranch; she was trying to save herself.
And the thought scared her to death.
CHAPTER 49
Marshall tapped his fingers nervously on the steering wheel as he pulled away from town and began the drive home. Callie’s words had given him a lot to think about. More loose ends. Another fucking mystery. When had things gone so completely to shit on his ranch? He had been so damn oblivious to all of it. The phone rang over his Bluetooth and Marshall answered.
“Hey, boss. It’s Chip.”
“What’s up? I’m on my way back to the ranch. I should be there soon.”
“I was looking at the calendar and Jack was scheduled to go to the livestock auction in Fort Macleod tomorrow. You want me to do that for you? He had an eye on getting some cow and calf pairs to increase the herd. I’m sure you approved it.”
“Yep, I sure did.” He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Gosh, I guess I’ll go. That’s tomorrow?” As if he needed one more thing on his plate. It didn’t seem fair to dump it on Chip or anyone else.
“Yeah, tomorrow. Are you sure you don’t want me to go? I don’t mind. Or we skip this one,” Chip suggested.
Marshall considered. Maybe Evan could come help out at the ranch in Marshall’s stead. His friend had helped him out before. Chip would be more useful making sure everything ran smoothly. Marshall could make all the important purchasing decisions when it came to more acquisitions for the herd.
“No, I’ll go. Maybe you can do it next time.”
“I’ll take care of things while you’re away, no problem,” Chip reassured.
“I’ll get Evan to come lend a helping hand, since we’re still short-staffed.”
