He chuckles. “A lot of practice.”
I settle back in my chair. “You know what would speed this whole process with Mitchell up? Letting me write a check.”
Jordan scoffs. “We’ve talked about this. I don’t want people taking advantage of you. Besides, we need to trust my gut on this and follow up on everything. I’m not convinced his claim is legit, and I don’t want you handing out five hundred thousand dollars to anyone who fills out our form.”
I give him a sigh of faux long-suffering. “Fine.”
We settle into conversation about the interviews while he finishes cooking. We both agree that while the other two candidates are very good, Andrew has the edge, having already coached for the team and knowing the guys. Plus everything he told us today about his strategies for the team and this season are in line with the philosophies Jordan and I have already been discussing. A text from Dan later that evening to Jordan says he agrees.
“Unless Liam has a major issue with him, I think we’re hiring Andrew Cooper,” I say when we sit down to eat.
“A very good choice, boss,” Jordan says with a grin as he pulls out my chair.
I settle in and give him a wink. “That might be my favorite term of endearment.”
CHAPTER 29
JORDAN
I still haven’t heard back from the bank contact on Wednesday, so I try calling again and leaving a voicemail. It’s not until Friday that I finally get an email.
Mr. Atkinson,
We’re sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Unfortunately, as we have told Mitchell Hurst, those records have been lost due to a technological error. We don’t have any way to retrieve them. Mr. Hurst should have statement records to support his withdrawal of these funds.
Laurie Russel
IT Manager
Spring Valley First Bank
Definitely not what I wanted to hear. How can there be no record of this huge transaction?
After a Google search of all the possible records that could exist, besides what they’ve claimed to have lost, I send off an email asking about a couple options, like the teller log or scans of the withdrawal slip, among some other things. Then I can’t help myself from Googling the bank and looking up the staff of the small bank outside of Houston. I’m almost disappointed that Laurie Russel does actually work there and is the IT manager. Icall Mitchell after that, because I don’t trust that Spring Valley First Bank is going to have any of those extra records.
Mitchell isn’t surprised when I tell him the bank says they don’t have it. “Yeah, bro. I’ve been trying for months. Ever since I realized Bryce had stolen the money and there weren’t going to be any investment returns.” His voice is so condescending, I take some quiet deep breaths to keep my cool.
“I get it.” I barely refrain from addingbroin a sarcastic tone. “But you have to understand, I can’t just write a check. It’s illegal. I know you lost a lot of money, and I promise, I know how frustrating it all is. I’ve been there. Is there any way you kept a statement or a withdrawal slip that’s filed away somewhere? Once we have something like that, we have options.”
Mitchell huffs. “I don’t think so, but I’ll look around and give you a call back.”
“Sorry about this.” I’m not sorry. The dude gave Bryce $500,000 in cash and didn’t keep a record of it? That’s pretty stupid if you ask me. But the truth is, we had to work to find documentation in several cases, most of them involving some of Bryce’s older victims. He made some dumb choices—we all did.
“I’ll get back to you if I find something,” Mitchell says, then hangs up.
“Bro,” I mutter to myself as I pocket my phone. “You are not making this easy.”
“Giving yourself a pep talk in here?” Libby asks, and I look to see her at the door of my office. She comes in and perches on one of the utilitarian chairs across from my desk. She’s offered to redecorate this spartan office, but she’s the only one who comes in here besides me. It’s a waste.
“Still no documentation on Mitchell Hurst’s claim. The guy gave Bryce half a million in cash and acts like it’s my fault I don’t just hand over the money.” I shake my head.
Libby grimaces. “He sounds … special.”
I bark a laugh. “I haven’t talked to him since high school, but my intuition says he hasn’t changed much.”
“Want me to check in with Caleb and see how it’s going getting those files from the FBI?” She leans forward, expression eager. She hates when she can’t fix something, and the fact that I won’t let her pay Mitchell $500,000 to wrap this up is killing her.
“No. He’d get in touch if he had news to report.” I cast her a grateful smile. “If Mitchell wants the money, he’ll find the documentation somehow.” I shrug like it doesn’t bother me that this claim has turned out to be so difficult, and the truth is, it doesn’t. I’m only putting in this much extra effort because Baylee wants to pay the claim somehow.
