Just a coincidence. Maybe Jarrett and Alexander had been seen together, bigwigs brushing shoulders at corporate events. The business world in Calgary was small, after all. Yeah, that was it. Stampede was a time for companies to socialize. It wasn’t unusual for people to mingle to make business connections. Besides, if she wasn’t mistaken, Jarrett King had no affiliations with Lorimer or Leroy. He was all about the King family business.
Undaunted, Colette found the phone number for the King Corporation executive office. They had hired her and would hopefully have some of the information she needed. This would be easy enough to clarify. Though Clarence King didn’t go to work every day and was comfortably enjoying his retirement, their company continued to function under the steady influence of the elder gentleman. Fletcher King had taken over the reins after his father retired and Colette believed Marshall’s uncle Jarrett also worked for the company.
Leroy Industries. Alexander Cunning. At least she had something to work with.
“Good morning, this is the office of the King Corporation. How may I direct your call?” A cheerful voice answered.
“Hi, my name is Colette Slip, and I have a few questions, maybe for the accounting department? I’m looking for information on our dealings with Leroy Industries? I’m the new accountant at Rosebud Ranch, and we’re missing some vital client information.”
“Leroy Industries? Sorry, doesn’t ring a bell. Hang on a minute,” the receptionist said, then spoke to someone nearby. Colette couldn’t make out what they were saying.
“Hi, sorry for leaving for a minute there. I spoke to my fellow receptionist here, and she has no idea about Leroy Industries. We’re going to transfer you over to accounting. I’ll warn you, though, our department only deals with the King Corporation finances. I’m not sure if we can help with ranch business.” The woman’s voice stopped.
“Oh, good morning, Mr. King.” Her tone had changed from normal to extremely perky. Must be the boss. A few muffled voices were heard as though the receptionist’s hand seemed to have moved to cover the phone.
“Thank you, I appreciate it,” Colette said, though she suspected she was speaking to no one. She waited for the womanto say something else, but suddenly the line went dead. Some obnoxiously relaxing beats started to play, and she realized she was being transferred.
The call to the accounting department was a dead end. They had no information on what Agnes would have been working on at the ranch. Colette was disappointed but not giving up. With a frustrated sigh, she pushed her chair away from the table and decided to stop for a break. Her stomach was growling, and she was thirsting for another cup of coffee. Maybe a jolt of caffeine would help her think.
As would another episode ofTheGolden Girls.
Try as she might, Colette just couldn’t quit that show. She related so hard to the old ladies. Their cool fashion sense and feisty attitudes.
The soup she had warmed up was tasteless as she ate a spoonful. Her stomach was in knots and though she needed to eat, it was hard to enjoy anything.
She snorted a laugh as Sophia, the oldest Golden Girl, described her date to the other women.
“If Tony calls, tell him I faked it,” Sophia said.
A laugh bubbled up in her throat. Those thirsty old ladies, breaking hearts all over town.
Colette’s smile faded as her mind wandered to the image she had seen. Why was Alexander Cunning seen with Jarrett King? If Mr. Cunning was working for a scammy corporation, why would Mr. King have anything to do with him? He must be ignorant of Alexander’s shady dealings. This was most likely the explanation.
Unless…
Her stomach dropped as she swallowed another spoonful of soup. She slowly placed the bowl back on the counter. She couldn’t get that picture out of her mind.
He was more of a go-between the company and the law firm.
Alexander Cunning posed as a figurehead for the company, but he wasn’t the owner.
What if good old Uncle Jarrett was faking it?
Her heart picked up its pace in her chest once again.
Fuck.
She didn’t know who to turn to ask. The King family would be horrified if she made any outlandish accusations. Maybe she would get fired for suggesting such a thing. Colette shook her head.
No.
She wouldn’t go to the Kings, or at least the Calgary King branch of the family.
How could she make any accusations if she didn’t have any concrete proof?
Her eyes snagged on the notepad with Gerald Comis’s number on it. Surely there was a way she could get him to reveal the information she was seeking. End her suspicions once and for all.
She dialed his number again, and he answered quickly.
