“More hypotheticals. My client declines to answer.”
Paul glanced nervously at Caldas, who was scowling now. He had a feeling this wasn’t going as well as they had hoped. He could see Cash’s charm working on Margie in real time.
“No problem, no problem,” Cash continued in the same conversational manner. “Thing is, CBI has a financial crimes department, and they’re pretty good. They’re going to be looking through Willy’s records to see what’s going on. If it came back that there were some large transfers of money, let’s say, how would you explain it?”
“I don’t know—it depends on if something did show up—I don’t know.”
Margie was stammering. Paul shifted nervously in his seat. He was very worried now, but Caldas had told him under no circumstances was he to speak or interfere.
“You see, our financial crimes division is also taking a look at your financial records. So if your records were, say, to show something similar to what Willy’s records showed us—how would you explain that?”
“Again, it depends on what shows up.” Margie put the tea down a little too hard; it splashed over the side onto the table. She crossed her arms.
“Think there could be anything suspicious about those kinds of transactions?” Cash asked.
Margie didn’t say anything. The fussing with her hair had begun again. Paul looked at Caldas, wondering if she was going to stop this. Caldas was staring hard at Margie, but didn’t intervene. Maybe this was part of her strategy.
“What would your explanation be, though?”
“I have no clue. I don’t even know what to look for.”
“But you work as a certified financial planner, right? That’s part of your job, right?”
Caldas interrupted then. “This is bordering on harassment.”
“Apologies, Margie. I hope you didn’t feel harassed.” Cash scooched her chair a little farther back with a friendly smile. “Willy’s mental state wasn’t so good, was it?”
“No. He really struggled with his mental health.”
“He probably wouldn’t notice if something was off about his financial records, right?”
“Yes, and that’s why I was helping him. He wanted to keep everything confidential. He made me promise.”
“What did he want to keep confidential?”
Colcord leaned forward now. He was on Margie’s left; Cash was on her right. She looked a little like a trapped animal from where Paul was seated. Paul’s hands were clutched on the edges of the metal chair. He wanted to launch himself from the chair, to stop this interrogation. But he remembered what Caldas had said:Don’t interfere.
Colcord spoke, his voice low. “There are some things that just need to be cleared up here. I think you’re a very good lady—”
“I try, I try—” Margie laughed, but it was forced.
“A God-fearing woman who’s dedicated to the church. And you know sometimes everybody has a breaking point and makes bad decisions.… Well. Some of these records that we’ve been looking at, I think…” Colcord sighed, looking troubled. “I think you’re aware of why we’re here.”
“Maybe. I don’t know.”
“I think you know what we’re talking about,” Colcord repeated.
“Get to your point, Sheriff. She’s not a mind reader,” Caldas snapped.
“Sure.” Cash slid a sheaf of paper over to Margie. Paul recognized it as the bank statements showing the outflow of cash to Paradox. Caldas had prepared them for this. Margie and Caldas read it in turn.
Caldas threw the paper back on the table. “We know all about these transactions. TellAgentCash about what these transactions are.” A slight emphasis on theagentpart, as if to remind Margie that these were officers of the law.
“I made a promise to Willy not to talk about these.”
“Willy’s gone,” said Colcord. “And we need to know.”
“They’re…” Margie collected herself. Paul hoped she remembered what they had practiced over their Zoom calls. “They’re donations I was making on behalf of Willy Grooms. There was an organization that he was supporting.… It’s called Paradox. He never told me what the organization was, or what the money was for. But he promised it was for a worthwhile cause. He asked me to make these donations on his behalf. The reason I transferred the money into my account and then out again was because Willy asked me to do it that way. He was a little paranoid—but he’s my client, so I did what he asked me to do.”
