And if she were honest, she needed friends right now.Work friends obviously couldn’t be trusted in times of trouble.
The way Gwen had stared at her with suspicion prior to Richard walking her out the door proved that.
She washed up and crawled into bed, tugging the covers to her chin.Closing her eyes, she lifted her heart in prayer.Please, Lord Jesus, hear my prayer.Please help us uncover the truth while keeping us safe in Your loving arms.Amen.
Micah sat staringat the computer for a long moment.He glanced over his shoulder when Bryn finally disappeared into the bedrooms.He squelched the urge to give her a good-night hug and kiss.He wasn’t there to date her.He was there to keep her safe.
And right now, he needed to stay focused.The best way to help Bryn was to figure out what was going on.
He pulled the computer closer and started with Richard Freeman.When Micah had started his private investigator business, he’d purchased software access to databases that most people didn’t even know existed.Bryn’s comment about Richard being the one responsible for the embezzlement and framing her for Damien’s death made sense.While he didn’t like Damien on principal, it was possible that Damien had uncovered the truth behind Richard’s embezzling the money.To throw suspicion off himself, Richard killed Damien, then set Bryn up to take the fall.
He wondered if Damien had been dead longer than twenty-four hours.The autopsy should reveal the timeline.If the corpse wasn’t too badly burned.Maybe Richard assumed that setting the house on fire would muddy the water about when Damien had been shot and killed.
Micah rose and made a pot of coffee.He’d pulled all-nighters before but knew from experience that staring at a screen lulled him into a state of fatigue.Very different from being stationed in enemy territory overseas.
Sipping his coffee, Micah worked on Richard Freeman for the next hour.The guy owned two houses, one in Florida, along with two cars, a Corvette that he likely kept at the Florida house and a BMW SUV here in Wisconsin.He made a mental note to ask Bryn how often Richard went to Florida.Based on his initial investigation, Richard’s financial situation was solid.The guy had two million tucked away in a retirement account along with the two properties and cars that were paid off.He also owned a boat that he also kept in Florida.
Micah wondered if Richard had taken the money with the goal of retiring early.He could easily sell the property in Madison and move to Florida to live permanently.
Yet if that was the case, why steal from Damien?Why not just sell the company and split the proceeds?Did Richard think he was owed more than his partner?
Either way, Micah didn’t see any evidence of a large cash windfall.If Richard had taken the money, he’d likely hid the funds in an offshore account, like Switzerland or the Cayman Islands.Offshore wire transfers were much harder to track, and frankly, Micah didn’t have the resources to do that.
But the feds did.He made another note to ask Rex to check in with the Wisconsin FBI office.Now that two people were dead, Lori Eastman and Damien Rochester, he felt sure the feds would be interested in what was going on.
When he’d finished with Richard, he moved on to Damien.Unfortunately, he didn’t find anything of interest there either.Except maybe for the fact that Damien didn’t have as much money socked away or two properties and two cars.
That gave him pause.Why the discrepancy?Was it possible that Richard had gotten some of that money from an inheritance or some other source?Bryn had mentioned the two men were basically equal partners in the business.
His list of things to follow up on was growing.He yawned and scrubbed his hands over his face.Fatigue was hitting hard, so he walked over to stretch out on the sofa.He’d learned in the army that short combat naps were essential to staying alive.He didn’t think they were in danger here, Rex was the only one who knew where they were, so he didn’t set an alarm.
Five hours later, he awoke, going from groggy to fully alert in less than three seconds.He reached for his weapon and rolled to his feet, scanning for threats.It soon became apparent the sound he’d heard was coming from Bryn’s room.
Bolting down the hall, he didn’t hesitate to throw open her door, staying to the side and peering over the edge in case the gunman had somehow gotten inside.The room was empty, except for Bryn moving restlessly on the bed.
She mumbled something he couldn’t make out.Tension eased from his limbs as he realized she was having a bad dream.Tucking his weapon into the holster at his waist, he padded into the room and rested a hand on Bryn’s shoulder.
“Bryn, wake up.It’s just a dream.”He leaned back when she swung out at some unknown threat.“Bryn, it’s Micah.Wake up.”
“Huh?”She finally stopped struggling and peered up at him through the darkness.“What’s wrong?”She abruptly sat up, pushing her red hair from her eyes.“Have the police come to arrest me?”
“No, you were having a bad dream.”He frowned.“Did you dream you were being arrested?”
“No.”She blinked and looked around the room as if trying to remember where they were.“I dreamed Damien was in the burning house, banging on the windows and begging me to let him out.”She shivered and wrapped her arms around her torso.“It was awful.I could see the fire raging behind him.I screamed, then suddenly you were there.”
He sat on the edge of her bed.“That sounds terrifying, but remember, Rex said Damien died of a gunshot wound to the back of his head.He wasn’t burned alive in the house.”
“I know.”She closed her eyes for a moment.“I don’t know why I dreamed he was screaming at me to let him out.”
“Maybe because you’re starting to believe Damien is innocent, rather than guilty of embezzling funds.”He smiled reassuringly.“The subconscious mind can play tricks on us.I don’t think you should dwell on the dream or try to understand the meaning behind it.Why don’t you try to go back to sleep?”
“I don’t want to.”She shivered.“What time is it?”
He glanced at his watch.“Five forty-five in the morning.There’s time to sleep for another hour or so.”
She shook her head and climbed out of bed.She’d slept in her business clothes, which were now badly wrinkled.“I can’t.I’m usually an early bird.I normally get up at six to get to work by eight.Once I’m up, I’m up.”
“Okay, then I’ll make breakfast.”He rose, moving toward the door.“The stores won’t be open until nine, so we’ll head out then to buy you something comfortable to wear.”
