Read Online Cash Burn by Michael Berrier - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael Berrier
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do anyone any good.”
“Why not?”
“We change the locks whenever a key’s lost.”
“But you do have a key.”
“I did. I gave it back the other day. There’s a log our operations officer keeps of every key, who has it, the serial number. When somebody leaves the bank, they have to take the key back. They keep them in a locked file drawer.”
He took in her stare, returned it. “There’s probably no connection. I was just curious. You said Business Trust Bank?”
“That’s right.”
“Okay. So you didn’t see anyone that night, but you’re sure someone was in the house with you. And it wasn’t Greg.”
“Yes. I’m sure of it. Greg probably left the sliding glass door unlocked. Whoever came in turned off the power outside and found the door unlocked.”
“The junction box is outside?”
“Yes, in back.”
He nodded slowly. Then he hesitated. This conversation was about to get even harder. “The coroner’s report—did Detective Danton fill you in?”
She dropped her head and nodded.
“I’m sorry, but the murder didn’t happen where they found Greg. His body was moved. So there could be something to what you’re saying. You should talk with Danton again.”
“I will. He’s been very nice. I just think he believes . . .” Her head dipped again. “He found some drugs in Greg’s room.” She said it as if making a confession.
“Yeah, I saw that in the report.”
“But that doesn’t mean anything. That doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
“It might.” He didn’t remind her of the results of the tox screen on the body.
“But it doesn’t.” That stare again. Forcing him to agree. Daring him to contradict her.
“Okay. Let’s say it doesn’t. Let’s say someone came into the house that night. They turned off the power and found the unlocked door. Maybe Greg surprised them and there was a struggle. How could you not hear that? How could you sleep through it?”
Her lips tightened. She dropped her eyes.
“Did you see anything that morning that looked like there was a fight in the house?”
“It could have happened outside.”
“Yeah. It could have.”
She rose from the bench and folded her arms. “Look, I know what it sounds like, okay? The grieving mom looking for a better explanation. Something that doesn’t make her boy look so bad. But I’m telling you, there was someone here that night. It wasn’t Greg. It wasn’t anybody I know. But he was here.”
Deny it , she was saying with every angle of every joint in her body.
Tom wouldn’t deny it. His hunch was right.
It was him. It was Flip.
14
Jason looked up to see Brenda leaning into the doorway.
“Got a minute?” she asked.
He waved her in.
They’d been working together for a week now, and her confidence seemed to grow each day. She lowered herself into the chair. “I wanted to go over your sponsorships with you. There’s a rumor going around that they might cut the budget, and I know you’d want to make sure we take care of your charities.”
“Seems like I’m always the last one to hear the rumors. Thanks.”
She leaned forward, her fragrance drifting to him. It reminded him of a garden sharpened with the scent of exotic flowers. She rose from the chair and opened the file before him, turned it so he could read its contents.
Her hand pointed to the spot where he needed to sign to renew the sponsorship, and she’d prepared an invoice so the bank’s payables department would issue a check.
He brought his pen to the paper and signed.
She flipped the pages back and craned her neck. “I can’t read upside down very well.” She stepped around the desk, and he felt her approach.
Coming next to him, she leaned over the desk, and the smoothness where her jaw joined her neck passed before him.
A part of him recognized that she was too close to him. He knew he should tell her so. The words vaguely formed in his mind.
“Sign here,” she said.
He looked to the paper. Her finger
“Why not?”
“We change the locks whenever a key’s lost.”
“But you do have a key.”
“I did. I gave it back the other day. There’s a log our operations officer keeps of every key, who has it, the serial number. When somebody leaves the bank, they have to take the key back. They keep them in a locked file drawer.”
He took in her stare, returned it. “There’s probably no connection. I was just curious. You said Business Trust Bank?”
“That’s right.”
“Okay. So you didn’t see anyone that night, but you’re sure someone was in the house with you. And it wasn’t Greg.”
“Yes. I’m sure of it. Greg probably left the sliding glass door unlocked. Whoever came in turned off the power outside and found the door unlocked.”
“The junction box is outside?”
“Yes, in back.”
He nodded slowly. Then he hesitated. This conversation was about to get even harder. “The coroner’s report—did Detective Danton fill you in?”
She dropped her head and nodded.
“I’m sorry, but the murder didn’t happen where they found Greg. His body was moved. So there could be something to what you’re saying. You should talk with Danton again.”
“I will. He’s been very nice. I just think he believes . . .” Her head dipped again. “He found some drugs in Greg’s room.” She said it as if making a confession.
“Yeah, I saw that in the report.”
“But that doesn’t mean anything. That doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
“It might.” He didn’t remind her of the results of the tox screen on the body.
“But it doesn’t.” That stare again. Forcing him to agree. Daring him to contradict her.
“Okay. Let’s say it doesn’t. Let’s say someone came into the house that night. They turned off the power and found the unlocked door. Maybe Greg surprised them and there was a struggle. How could you not hear that? How could you sleep through it?”
Her lips tightened. She dropped her eyes.
“Did you see anything that morning that looked like there was a fight in the house?”
“It could have happened outside.”
“Yeah. It could have.”
She rose from the bench and folded her arms. “Look, I know what it sounds like, okay? The grieving mom looking for a better explanation. Something that doesn’t make her boy look so bad. But I’m telling you, there was someone here that night. It wasn’t Greg. It wasn’t anybody I know. But he was here.”
Deny it , she was saying with every angle of every joint in her body.
Tom wouldn’t deny it. His hunch was right.
It was him. It was Flip.
14
Jason looked up to see Brenda leaning into the doorway.
“Got a minute?” she asked.
He waved her in.
They’d been working together for a week now, and her confidence seemed to grow each day. She lowered herself into the chair. “I wanted to go over your sponsorships with you. There’s a rumor going around that they might cut the budget, and I know you’d want to make sure we take care of your charities.”
“Seems like I’m always the last one to hear the rumors. Thanks.”
She leaned forward, her fragrance drifting to him. It reminded him of a garden sharpened with the scent of exotic flowers. She rose from the chair and opened the file before him, turned it so he could read its contents.
Her hand pointed to the spot where he needed to sign to renew the sponsorship, and she’d prepared an invoice so the bank’s payables department would issue a check.
He brought his pen to the paper and signed.
She flipped the pages back and craned her neck. “I can’t read upside down very well.” She stepped around the desk, and he felt her approach.
Coming next to him, she leaned over the desk, and the smoothness where her jaw joined her neck passed before him.
A part of him recognized that she was too close to him. He knew he should tell her so. The words vaguely formed in his mind.
“Sign here,” she said.
He looked to the paper. Her finger
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