She shook her head.“It’s hard to imagine how this happened.Did the same man who took shots at me and killed Lori also murder Damien?And why do that at my house?He must know I’ve been with you.His attempt to pin this on me won’t work.”She frowned.“Will it?”
“I don’t see how you can be held responsible.”Micah’s reassuring tone helped a little.“I’m a former army sergeant who was awarded a bronze star after our last tour in Afghanistan, and that makes me a credible witness.”
It took a moment for her to make the connection.“If you weren’t a credible witness, the police could believe you’re lying for me?”
“Or lying because I’m involved too.”Micah shrugged.“Don’t worry.I don’t think that will happen.Try not to dwell on the worst-case scenario, okay?”
“Easier said than done.”She’d never broken the law.Other than being cited for speeding, and that was four years ago when she’d relocated to Madison from St.Louis.The idea that she’d not only conspired to embezzle money from the company, but also to kill Damien was ludicrous.She didn’t live an extravagant lifestyle and didn’t aspire to do so.
“Hey, we’ll figure this out.”He patted her hand.“Why don’t you try to get some sleep?”
Sleep?She shook her head, knowing there was no way in the world she’d be able to do that.“The central issue here is the missing money.And if Damien didn’t steal it, or if he had help, someone else from the company must be involved.”
Micah sighed but then pulled his laptop closer.“Okay, let’s start with a list of the employees.”
“I don’t know all of them personally.There are some that I rarely interact with.I’ll start with those I saw regularly.”She drew in a deep breath to clear her mind.“Gwen White is Richard’s assistant.We were close friends, until this happened.Then there’s Sam Wong, he’s the graphic designer.I scheduled a lot of meetings for Sam and Damien.”As she spoke, Micah typed the names into the computer.She leaned forward and tapped the screen.“Sam, last name is spelled W-O-N-G.He was born here, but his mother was from China.”
“Got it.”Micah made the change.“Who else?”
“Tabitha Reed works in human resources.She also handles the company payroll and financial statements.We went out for dinner sometimes, as she was recently divorced and wanted to get out of the house.”She frowned.“Now that I think about it, Tabitha may have been the one to uncover the missing funds.Unless that was Richard.He handled most of the financials.Which makes it strange Damien would try to steal in the first place.”
“Hard to know what the underlying motive is,” Micah said.“Maybe Damien thought Richard was taking more than his fair share.How many employees total?”
“Twenty, but that includes Richard and Damien.There are additional writers and graphic designers who work only part time from home.I didn’t interact with them much.And I don’t think they’d have access to any of the financials or banking accounts.”She put a hand to her temple.“Simone Gall, Deon Carter, Tina Warren, Cindy Ackerman, and Herb Dillon.They all work for Sam.Tabitha has an assistant, Emily Conrad.”She mentally counted, realizing she was missing a few.“Oh, I almost forgot Joe Talbert, Eric Stallin, and Jessica Albert.They are also part time and work from home.”
“The office must be rather small then, if there’s only, what, seven people who work on site?”Micah arched a brow.“I’m surprised Richard and Damien didn’t just have everyone work from home.”
“They did during the pandemic, but afterward, they brought some of the employes back into the office.I started after the pandemic, so I was always on site.”She personally liked interacting with other people.Working from home and being alone all day hadn’t sounded like fun.“I prefer going in, despite the crazy traffic.”
Micah nodded, staring at the names he’d listed on the screen.“It sounds like we should focus on the seven of you who work out of the office.It seems most likely that the stolen money came from someone with inside access.Did the police question Tabitha?”
“Yes, I think everyone was questioned.But they kept us separated, so I don’t know if the other interviews went as long as mine did.”She grimaced.“And I’m the only one who was fired on the spot.”
Micah’s gaze turned sympathetic.“Maybe others were let go later.You don’t know for sure you’re the only one.”
“I guess.”She’d been so shocked to be told her services were no longer needed that she hadn’t considered others were let go too.“If Tabitha found the discrepancy, then I’m sure she is still employed.And Sam wouldn’t have access to bank accounts either.”
He frowned.“If you don’t have access to Damien’s bank accounts, then why were you let go?”
“I have no idea.”She sighed.“Probably because Damien and I dated.If I hadn’t gone out with him, I wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“You don’t know what.Maybe Damien still would have tried to frame you,” Micah said.
“Okay, but that doesn’t make sense anymore now that we know he’s dead.”She stared at him.“Maybe Richard did this.He took the money, framed me and Damien, then killed his partner, leaving him at my house to implicate me.”
“Anything is possible.I’ll start with Richard, before digging into the background of the other employees.”He gestured to the hallway leading to the bedrooms.“You really need to try to get some sleep.”
She was about to protest when a wide yawn caught her off guard.Her mind still whirled, but her body craved rest.Maybe Micah was right.She could try praying to ease her mind enough to fall asleep.
“Okay.Thanks.”She rose and hid a wince as the tender blisters on her feet protested the movement.They didn’t hurt as badly now that she wore socks, but she wasn’t anxious to put the stupid flat-soled dress shoes back on.“Good night, Micah.”
“Good night, Bryn.”His low, rumbling voice followed her down the hall.Remembering how she’d kissed him made her flush with embarrassment.She shouldn’t have done that, but the way he’d tenderly cared for her injured feet had touched her deeply.She couldn’t remember anyone doing something like that for her.Except maybe her mother when she and Tommy were young.
She shook off the image of Micah kneeling at her feet.She was being overly emotional about this.He was being kind, nothing more.Hadn’t she learned her lesson about dating the wrong man?She hadn’t given Damien her heart; she’d known after a few dates that they weren’t meant to be together.
But Micah was different.He was Damien’s complete opposite, and she knew he had the power to break her heart if she was foolish enough to give it to him.
No, it was better to keep Micah firmly planted in the friend category.He was here because of Tommy.
