Laina Turner - Presley Thurman 09 - Romance & Revenge (14 page)

Chapter 19

John immediately called Sally and asked her to come to the office. About twenty minutes went by before Sally got here, and the waiting was more than a little uncomfortable. John was upset and none of us really knew what to say, so we didn’t say anything. Just kind of sat there, staring at each other in awkward silence.

I was glad when Sally finally walked through the door, so we could get this over with, even though I was apprehensive of what was going to happen mainly because I felt bad. But at least there would be closure.

“What’s going on?” Sally said in a tone that seemed normal. Odd, considering she had been called here impromptu. Even someone who hadn’t a reason to worry would probably be nervous in this situation. I knew I would be.

“Is something wrong?”

“You could say that,” John said and paused. “Sally, there’s no easy way to ask this. Did you send Red Dune Creative our designs for the Smith campaign?”

Sally looked at him and I couldn’t tell if her shocked expression was because she didn’t understand what he meant or because she was surprised to be found out.

“John,” she faltered, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. How would I give anyone our designs? Why would I do that?” As she said the words, I was convinced she was guilty. There was just something about the way she said it. By John’s expression, I didn’t think he bought her denial either.

“Sally. Your niece. The one who I just found out works at Red Dune. I know you gave her our designs, what we were working on so Red Dune could get the campaign. The why, I’m hoping you can fill me in.”

“Are you accusing me of trying to hurt this company?” she asked, getting defensive—usually a sure sign of guilt in my opinion. In my HR days I found the ones who protested the most, were the
most guilty. Like they thought if they went on the defensive it would deflect the guilt.

“Yes, Sally, I am. I think you purposefully gave away company information that you knew would put us in a compromising position. I just don’t know why you would do such a thing.”

I admired John for being so forthright and confronting her directly. It wasn’t an easy thing to do for most people. Especially when they had a history of working so closely. His approach led me to believe that he felt she was guilty.(26)

She didn’t say anything for a few minutes and then she must have realized it was futile to continue to deny.

“Fine. Yes, I did give Colleen our ideas,” she said in a tone that conveyed that she didn’t care that John now knew the truth. At least that was my perception.

“And the other two companies who upstaged us earlier this year?” John said quietly. “Were you behind that, too?”

“Yes, I was,” she spat out. Now she was angry. It always amused me when people got caught screwing up and then got mad over it. As if they weren’t the ones in the wrong and being mad was going to somehow make things any better. It was two-year-old behavior.

“Sally, why? I don’t understand,” John said in disbelief. The anger seeped from his body and he looked crushed now that she had admitted it. “I thought you cared about this company?” I could tell that hearing her confirm her part in things was really hard to take.

“Because I have put years of my life into this company and helped build it to what it is today and what’s the thanks I get? To be passed over for partner for you?” She said it in such a way that her bitterness really came through. It was apparent she had been holding on to her anger for a long time. Disgruntled employees were the worst. They tried to justify their actions through stating how the company wronged them and because of those wrongs, perceived or real, felt entitled to things that they weren’t. Essentially, blaming the company for their bad acts, forgetting what they should have learned in childhood that two wrongs don’t make a right.

“So your idea was to ruin Sleeping Bear Designs badly enough that John’s dad would remove John from his position as partner and give it to you?” I asked. “Did you really see that as happening?” I couldn’t help myself from speaking up.

Sally gave me a dirty look. “Yes, I did. I know what it takes to move this company to the next level. Partner is the position I rightfully deserve. I helped keep this company in business during some tough years when John was still in college. Then he comes in and just takes over things. Pushes me to the side like I don’t matter.”

“Sally, how could you think that we don’t value what you’ve done for this company? My dad has always said he wouldn’t have been able to make this company the success it is without you. He said that to all of us many times. You can’t deny that.”

“But he didn’t consider me for partner, did he? No! Just because you’re his son, he handed the reins over to you. Like that entitles you.”

It certainly didn’t entitle her either, I couldn’t help but thinking.

“Sally, this is a family business,” Jared said. “We all knew John was being groomed for partner when his dad retired. Unfair or not, isn’t that just how life goes sometimes? It’s not like it was a surprise to any of us.”

“Birthright shouldn’t give precedence over competence,” Sally snapped and I was almost wondering if she had gone off the deep end. She didn’t seem to be thinking rationally and she seemed like a completely different person than the Sally I knew. Even her face was contorted and looked different. I could understand where she was coming from and yes, the situation sucked that her job really had no upward mobility. But it’s not like it was a secret that John was being groomed for partner so she could have left to work somewhere else. Somewhere she could have moved up the company ladder. I realized in her mind it wasn’t fair, but it happened in companies all the time. Nepotism was just a fact of life in family-owned businesses.

“I’m truly sorry you feel that way, Sally, but to try to hurt the entire company which comprises of many folks’ livelihoods … I just don’t understand how you could be so selfish,” John said. “Tell me, did you use my dad’s computer credentials to access files?”

This time her look of surprise didn’t seem contrived. It seemed genuine.  “What are you talking about?” She said in a way much different than her last
denial which made me think she wasn’t the one who had accessed the server.

Now it was John’s turn to look surprised. I think he assumed she was behind that too. “Someone used my dad’s system credentials to access the system from the back end. We thought that’s how you were getting the information to send to our competitors.”

“No, I have no idea what his credentials are or what you even mean by the back end. Don’t go blaming me for that.”

“How did you get the designs then? Only the people in the project have access to the designs for that project,” Jared said. “Not because it’s a huge secret, it’s just how our project management software works,” he said over his shoulder to
me and Katy.

“You guys always leave your computers logged on, it was simple to get what I needed. I didn’t have to try very hard,” Sally said still in a defensive and haughty tone.

“I’m disappointed it has come to this Sally. But I’m sure you know you can no longer work here.”

“I’m the best account rep you’ve got,” she said angrily. “And you’re going to fire me?”

Now I knew she was delusional. No one could possibly think they could give away company secrets to competitors, get caught, and still keep their job. She sure had an inflated sense of importance, thinking she was needed for the success of the business so much that this transgression would be overlooked and she could keep her job and everything would be as normal. There weren’t many companies that would fall apart and go under simply because one person quit working for them. Unless maybe it was a CEO or something.

“I can’t trust you, Sally. So you continuing to work here is not an option. Please clear out your desk. I don’t want you back here after tonight,” he said firmly.

Sally just stared at him, as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She stormed off in the direction of her desk and I could hear a lot of banging. It looked like she wasn’t going to go quietly. Literally.

“If it wasn’t Sally who was getting into files, I wonder who it could be?” John said to us as we were standing there trying to ignore the noise Sally was making.

“You’re sure it wouldn’t be your dad for any reason?” I had to ask once more.

“I’m positive it wasn’t him. So it has to be someone else who is looking for something and doesn’t want people to know. But who and why?”

“Have you had any other problems here?” I asked. “Outside what we now know Sally did?”

“No, and like I said before, the only one I could even think of who would have access to dad’s credentials was Glenda. Who is now living in
Florida. This sucks,” he said slumping into a chair. “I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop and it’s not a feeling I like.”

“At least one mystery is solved. There has to be a reason someone would want to access files without people knowing. Did you know Glenda was back in town?” I said, even though I didn’t know it for sure, but was curious if John had any contact with her.

“Really?” His eyebrows raised. “I didn’t know.”

We were prevented from further discussion when Sally approached us with a tote bag full of things from her desk.

“You’re going to be sorry, John. I can’t wait to see how your business does without me.”

“I need your key, please,” John said, even toned.

Sally huffed and pulled her keys out of her purse. She worked the office key off the ring itself and threw it at John, missing him and bouncing it on the desk behind him.

“Good luck. You’re going to need it,” she said with so much anger in her voice it was almost scary.

We all watched as she stormed out.

“She’s not going to talk favorably about us around town,” said Jared.

“No, she’s not,” John replied. “You can all go if you want. I’m going to stay here for a while so I can call the alarm company and the clients she’s currently handling to make sure we have all our bases covered. I don’t want this to get any uglier than it needs to be.”

“Are you sure you don’t want us to stay and help?” asked Jared.

“No, you guys go on. You’ve done enough. I appreciate you finding out what you did. No telling what damage Sally could have caused if left unchecked.”

“Our pleasure,” I said. We all shook hands and then Katy, Jared, and I left the office.

“I feel so bad for him,” Katy said as we walked out onto the street.

“Me, too,” I said. “It’s hard to realize an employee you trusted could do that to you.”

“Especially Sally. We all thought she was a rock to the company. This is really going to throw the rest of the employees for a loop. We’ve grown accustomed to Sally’s guidance,” Jared said.

“Why do people feel they are owed?” Katy asked. “I never understood that.  You do a job and you get paid. That’s fair, the rest is just icing on the cake.”

“Work sure will be interesting next year,” said Jared. “No one is going to believe it was Sally.”

“I just wonder who is accessing these files.” I said. “There’s something we just aren’t getting.”

Chapter 20

“Time for a quick coffee? Firm up plans for New Year’s Eve?” Willie said over the phone.

I looked at the clock on the wall and it said 10:00 a.m. “Ten thirty?”

“Perfect. Meet at the Starbucks by your place. I’m in the area.”

“Sounds good.”

“He likes you,” Katy teased when I got off the phone.

I rolled my eyes. “Coffee and firming up plans for New Year’s Eve is what we’re meeting for. It’s not like he asked me out on a date. Besides, I want to tell him about what happened at Sleeping Bear Designs. We’re friends. Friends talk about that stuff. I’m just lucky he’s a detective and might actually be able to help me.”

“New Year’s Eve is a date whether you think it is or not,” Katy said. I just stuck my tongue out at her and went to get ready.

“It’s at least a half date,” she yelled to my back.

I put on some makeup and threw on boots with my jeans, thinking the jeans were a little snug and I needed to do the normal New Year’s resolution of diet and exercise. The one most of the population did and then gave up after a few weeks. Me included. I had to cut back on the wine. I had been drinking way too much lately and those calories really added up fast.

So did fancy coffee drinks. I would skip my favorite latte in lieu of black coffee when I met Willie. Start early. Little lifestyle changes added up.

Grabbing my coat and putting it on, I picked up my purse and told Katy I’d be back in a bit.

“Have fun!”

The Starbucks was just a few short blocks from my house and when I got there I quickly spotted Willie who held up a venti cup, pointed at me and then the cup. I walked to his table and sat down. He pushed the drink in front of me. “Non-fat, sugar-free vanilla latte, right?”

“You remembered,” I said surprised and thinking there goes my notion of starting to cut back today. He was so sweet to think of me
that I couldn’t not drink it.

He smiled back, looking very pleased with himself that he had got it right.

“I did.”

Maybe Katy was right and he did like me. Guys didn’t normally remember stuff like that. At least not until they knew you well, and I hadn’t realized we were on that level. I certainly didn’t know what he drank coffee or otherwise.

“Sometimes I wonder if I drink too much coffee,” I said to Willie. I already had three cups at home but I’m always ready for more.

“No such thing,” Willie said.

“You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking, temporary insanity,” I said, laughing. “Thank you again for inviting us all to the New Year’s Eve party. Jared is over the moon at being able to attend a party at The James. He’s going to be talking about this forever. I think you’re his new best friend.”

“What about you? Are you over the moon?” he teased.

I hesitated. Not that I wasn’t excited to be invited to such a swanky place, I was, but I didn’t want to give him the wrong impression. I still had things I had to deal with regarding Cooper and my feelings for him.

“Uh, oh. Don’t tell me you’re not dying to ring in the New Year with a handsome fellow such as myself?” he flirted.

“It’s not you …”

“It’s me?” he interrupted with the tired cliché, but still had a smile so I didn’t think he was mad.

“Oh stop!” I said, touching his hand that wasn’t around the coffee cup. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like? I like you, Presley. I’ve thought about you often and was thrilled when I saw you crossing the street the other day. I was hoping we could take the time to get to know each other better. I’m just trying to be honest here.”

“Willie, you’re a really good guy and at some other time in my life I would love that, too, but my love life is complicated right now and I’m not sure how I feel. Before I can even think about starting something new I need to get the old taken care of. I hope you’re not mad. I’m just trying to be honest, too.”

Willie was silent, seemingly contemplating what I had just told him.

“So once again we have bad timing,” he said, referring back to when I had first met him. There had been a little spark back then, but at the time he had a girlfriend and Cooper and I had just reconnected after a long time. “If you don’t mind me being nosy, what happened?”

“I don’t mind you being nosy,” I said and proceeded to tell him the condensed version of what was going on.

“So you still haven’t talked to him. That’s rough. Want me to run that VP at Techman through the system? See if she’s wanted for anything?” he joked.

“Would you?” I asked with a smile. “I know I need to call him and just have a conversation to clarify everything instead of wondering. We just seem to have issues connecting.”

“Yes, you do need to have that conversation, but I understand it’s hard when you’re not sure if you want to hear what’s going to be said. Wondering is just as bad though. It seems like a no-win situation, but confronting issues head on is important. Just rip the Band-Aid off.”

“I know. You’re right. I just need to do it,” I smiled.

“And you never know, maybe there’s an explanation for his behavior.”

“Now you sound like Katy.”

“Maybe that’s because we’re right. Listen, I get where you’re coming from and hopefully we can still be pals while you sort this out. Friends is better than nothing. I still want you to come New Year’s Eve. That is if you want to,” he said.

“Miss a party at The James? Are you nuts? I’ve already bought a dress!  Besides Jared would kill me if I told him we couldn’t go now.”

“A dress? Then that’s settled. In all seriousness, if there’s anything I can do. I want to help.”

“You invited my friends and me to one of the best parties in Chicago, you’ve done your job. Though there is something I wanted your opinion on.”

“Shoot.”

“I told you about the drama at Jared’s work the other day. Well, one of the account reps admitted to sending the designs to competitors, so we figured out that problem. However, she said she never logged into the back end of the server, so that means someone has been logging into
their system and not wanting anyone else to know. I don’t even know where to start with that. I just thought all along they were connected.”

“You lost me. What do you mean logging into the back end of the system?” he said with a very confused look on his face.

I frowned and thought for a second, realizing I hadn’t told him that part of the story.

“I’m sorry, Willie. I guess I have more to fill you in on.” I proceeded to tell him the parts of the story I hadn’t yet. “Now what you’re saying makes more sense.”

“Yeah, having the right information is helpful,” he said with a smile. “Money,” he said.

“What?”

“Follow the money.”

“I don’t understand what you mean?”

“In my experience I have found crimes usually fall in two categories. Crimes of opportunity or crimes of passion. This doesn’t fall into the passion category so I would place my bet on opportunity, which would probably be money in this case since it’s a business. Figure out what financial gain someone might have or be searching for.”

I thought about that for a minute and he had a point. People did crazy things for money. Only I had no idea where to start. I was right back at square one once finding out Sally wasn’t involved. I didn’t suspect anyone who worked there.  Though I hadn’t suspected Sally until the last minute either. How could one small business have these issues at one time? This scared me about taking on the challenge of Silk. These issues didn’t even have to do with the basic running of the business issues.

“I don’t think they’ve had money issues. But then Jared is just an employee so he probably isn’t privy to everything, regardless of how close they all are. I can ask the managing partner though. Do you think it could be related to Becky’s murder?”

“It could. Like you’ve said, a small business having all these issues is a lot.  I’ve been on other cases so I don’t know where the investigation is on Becky’s murder to tell you for certain.”

“The money, huh?”

“If it were me, I would start there. You might find out information that will lead you in the right direction.”

“Thanks, Willie, I will.”

“Have you decided what decision you’re going to make about Silk?”

“Not yet.”

“Leaning any particular way?”

I paused for a second because saying this out loud seemed a little scary. “I think I’m leaning toward doing it.”

Willie’s face broke out in a smile. “I think that’s great, Presley. Listen, I want to hear more about this tomorrow but duty calls. Pick you guys up at eight? For the party.”

“You don’t have to pick us up. That’s out of your way.”

“I’d like to. There’s a free valet at the event and all arriving together would be fun. Plus, then you can indulge in the fine champagne they are sure to have there and not have to worry about getting home.”

“You don’t have to tell me that twice. Eight it is.”

“Willie stood up and gave me a friendly kiss on the top of my head. “Call ya later.”

“OK.” I smiled and couldn’t help but wonder if I could like him, for more than just a friend if things in my life were different. He had all the qualities I would want in a guy. He was smart, thoughtful, gainfully employed, and good looking. Plus, he was fun to be around. He made me laugh, which was super important. It was just hard to even think that way about someone else with this Cooper stuff hanging over my head.

I pulled out my phone to call him again. I really needed to deal with it and put it behind me. I might not be ready to date now if things with Cooper were really over, but I couldn’t put my life on hold forever. Punching in the familiar numbers, I just hoped a girl didn’t answer again. I didn’t think I could take that punch in the gut.

“Hello, you have reached Cooper Sand of Sands …” I hung up. Dammit.  Voicemail, and I didn’t care to leave yet another message. He would see the missed call anyway.

I wanted to jump up and down with frustration and throw my phone across the coffee shop. Why was it so hard to take care of something that just required a quick phone call? Was he just going to keep avoiding me until I stopped calling?

I guess we just weren’t meant to connect. I sighed. Or he was planning on never talking to me again. Though like Katy had said, Cooper wasn’t that kind of guy. He addressed issues head on and was genuinely nice, which made it all the more strange he hadn’t contacted me. Maybe something weird was going on and I should be patient and give him the benefit of the doubt. Patience just was not one of my virtues.

I forced my mind to shift gears and I wondered if John was in the office. I knew he had decided to stay closed until after the New Year, even after finding out what Sally did, but maybe he was there, catching up on stuff. I headed over there, figuring it wouldn’t be much out of my day if he wasn’t there or maybe I would get lucky and I could ask him about the money thing. Maybe Willie was
right, he was a detective so it made sense.

Taking a cab, because it was freezing out, I arrived at Sleeping Bear to see lights on, so I was hopeful John was up there.

The door was locked so I knocked and a few seconds later I saw John peek his head out of the conference room and when he saw me, he came to the door and let me in.

“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

“I just had coffee with a friend of mine, who happens to be a detective, and he said something that made me want to talk to you.”

“Well, come on in.”

We walked to the conference room and sat down.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Willie, my detective friend, said follow the money. If you’re suspicious of why someone would be logging in to the back end of the server, take a look at what financial motives there could be. I hope it was OK I talked about this with him,” I said, realizing that maybe he wouldn’t be happy I had done so.

“No, no that’s fine. I’ll do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of things.”

“We haven’t experienced any money issues, that I’m aware of anyway. We have an accounting firm handling all that and surely they would notice any irregularities.”

“But you still have no idea who could be accessing things?”

“No idea and I’ve been thinking about it nonstop. Since Sally said it wasn’t her and I believe her, I don’t know what it could be. We don’t have any other problems that I know of. That means if something is going on, I’m not aware of it.  Which is even worse.”

This was a good opening for me to tell him about Glenda. I had been holding off until I had more concrete information, but maybe he knew something that could be helpful.

“There is one more thing, John,” I said and he looked at me waiting for me to continue. “It seemed like Glenda had some altercations with Becky and you said her husband was diabetic and Becky was killed by an insulin overdose. Do you know of any reason Glenda would have a problem with Becky?”

“You think Glenda might have killed her?” he said and looked horrified.

“Not really. I don’t have any clear indication of who could have killed her.  I’m just trying to cross her off the list. She just keeps popping up.”