“I don’t know, but let’s just assume there’s something bad going on there and Damien raised the alarm with Richard.He may have advised Richard that they should sever ties with the company, going as far as to refund their deposit to avoid getting dragged into whatever is really going on.”
He could tell by her skeptical glance that Bryn wasn’t buying into his theory.Still, he pressed on.
“Let’s say Richard is not willing to refund the money or give up the big project.So he decides to embezzle the money, making it look like Damien did the deed.Then he goes a step further to eliminate Damien from the equation permanently.”
Realization finally dawned in her brown eyes.“He shoots Damien, then frames me for both the embezzlement and the murder.”
“Exactly.Because Richard knows you and Damien were close, and he can’t be sure how much Damien confided in you about his concerns.”Micah felt an icy chill slide down his spine.Voicing his theory made it sound all too real.
And if it was true, they were ill-equipped to find the proof they’d need to get anyone in law enforcement to listen.
10
Bryn’s stomach clenched with a sick sense of dread.If Richard Freeman was setting her up to take the fall for embezzlement and murder, then she needed to talk to the police sooner than later.
Yet she knew there was a good chance the local police wouldn’t believe her over Richard, who was a successful business owner.
She abruptly stood and paced the cabin.“We should head back to Madison to discuss this further with the police.I need to get my side of the story on record.”
“Not yet.”Micah’s blue eyes tracked her as she moved restlessly from one end of the room to the other.“We need something we can use in your defense.”
“Like what?”She lifted her palms in a helpless gesture.“I don’t have anything other than the truth on my side.”
He winced and slowly rose to his feet.“I’m sorry to say the truth won’t be enough in the face of the evidence Richard has planted against you.”
Tunneling her fingers through her hair, she resisted the urge to yank on the strands.This was so frustrating.There had to be a way to prove her innocence.
“Let’s grab something to eat.Then we can figure out our next steps.”He searched her gaze for a moment.“Maybe we can dig deeper into that data center.I still think the fact that it’s owned by Jin Yong Wu might be important.”
It was hard to imagine a data center could be related to murder, but she couldn’t come up with another scenario.And really, the more she thought about it, the more she thought that the data center’s down payment may have been the same amount that was removed from the company’s account.Had Damien uncovered something nefarious about the data center?
Even if he did, that didn’t mean they’d be able to do the same.Although she supposed it was worth a try.Her stomach was so tight she wasn’t sure she’d be able to eat.Since Micah was obviously hungry, she reluctantly nodded and tried to smile.“Okay.Let’s go.”
He smiled encouragingly and led the way to the door, snagging his jacket along the way.She grabbed her coat and shrugged into it as she followed him outside.The air was crisp now that the sun was going down.Would she manage to remain out of jail long enough to see the flowers bloom?She doubted it.
That was defeatist thinking, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.She and Micah weren’t police officers.Micah might be a private investigator, but that didn’t mean he’d be able to find the evidence they needed to keep her from being tossed in prison for the rest of her life either.
Richard was two steps ahead of them.And she wasn’t sure they’d be able to catch up.
“I wish Damien had confided in me.”She glanced at Micah as he headed back into town.“Maybe if we were still seeing each other, he would have.”
“Don’t blame yourself.”He frowned.“This isn’t your fault.As I said, Richard may have assumed Damien spoke to you.”
“There are other employees besides me.”She thought about the small team that worked for Richard and Damien.“You know, our graphic designer, Sam, is a Chinese American.His last name is Wong.I hate to assume he’s involved because of his nationality, that seems unfair.He’s really good at his job.”
“We’re not casting blame on anyone at this point, but we would be remiss if we didn’t list the players who could possibly be involved.”He reached over to take her hand.“Anyone else come to mind?”
“Actually, now that you say that, Richard’s wife, Kim, is also Chinese American.I only met her once.She seemed nice enough, but if we’re right about Richard’s involvement, his wife could be a part of this too.”Her pulse kicked up at the thought.
“That makes sense to me,” Micah agreed.“I can run her through my database when we get back to the cabin.”
“Great.”The knot in her stomach loosened a bit.Maybe all they needed was to present a viable alternate theory to the police.From there, they could investigate Richard and his wife, Kim.
Unless, of course, they chose to believe him over her.
There was a small pizzeria in town.Micah pulled in and glanced at her.“Anything you don’t want on your pizza?”
“Anchovies.Everything else is fine.”
