“Remember you made me promise to inform you if I had a problem at the bank?” Amanda glanced at Catherine.
“Yes.” Catherine took a chair at the kitchen table. “What’s up?”
Susan fanned out the six loan documents. “What do you notice about these signatures?”
Catherine leaned forward, and her eyes scanned the six documents. “These aren’t my signatures. The double dot is missing.”
“Exactly.” Amanda nodded. “Someone at the bank forged your signature and lent themselves $10,000.”
Catherine’s head whipped up. “Who would do such a thing?”
“That’s our question for you.” Susan tapped one of the files. “Why would someone risk detection by carrying out this ruse instead of just processing a staff loan through the normal channels?”
Catherine dropped her head into her hands. “This is my fault. I suffered from such fatigue the last two months before the twins were born. Walter shouldered a lot of my responsibility, especially while Miss Pringle was absent on a much-needed vacation. This never should have happened.”
“Don’t blame yourself.” Amanda touched Catherine’s arm. “If I hadn’t cleared my desk early one day and pulled some loan files, made some customer appreciation calls, I never would have uncovered it either.”
“Could Walter be responsible? If you left him alone in charge during your absence and Miss Pringle’s vacation time, could he have processed these documents?” asked Susan.
“Not while Miss Pringle was away. These loan dates precede the day Miss Pringle left on her vacation,” Catherine answered. “But I suppose he could have done it.”
Susan straightened in her chair. “We need to put our heads together and prove who did this.”
Amanda and Susan told Catherine about the rumors flying around town, revealed the accusations against Amanda.
“We charged into Ma’s Kitchen and Susan greeted the locals with this honey-dripping voice, and then scolded them for believing the rumors about me. She discreetly mentioned our investigation without actually revealing what we’d discovered.” Amanda grimaced with the memory of the attempted damage control.
Catherine laughed. “Oh, to be a fly on the wall and seen that! I wonder if Lucy’s recovered yet.”
“Lucy? What about me? I visualized my whole career washing down that creek that runs through town. Well, the darn creek might still be frozen over.” Amanda sighed.
“Are you okay? This stress isn’t good for you-know-who.” Catherine pointed to Amanda’s middle.
“Susan’s heard all about you-know-who, remember?” Amanda wagged her finger at Catherine. “I thought you zipped your lip about that?”
“No, you zipped your lip about me having twins.”
“Darn it. You’re right.” Amanda frowned. “Well, I remembered someone zipped their lips about something during our conversations.”
“Am I forgiven?” Catherine peeked up, playfully. “Please? I’m sorry, but I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer. I want you for a sister-in-law, and I’m prepared to fight dirty to get my way.”
“Sorry, Catherine. You know perfectly well Amanda’s pregnancy is not grounds for dismissal.” Susan finished her coffee and carried her cup to the sink. “Now, we’ve got to get back to the bank. Rack your brain for a possible suspect, okay, Catherine.”
“I’m still totally stunned, but I’ll give it some thought.” Catherine walked her guests to the front door. “Thanks for coming out here. I appreciate you keeping me in the loop. I really regret I didn’t mind the store a little better.”
“Don’t worry. If a person was determined enough, he or she would have found a way around you regardless.” Susan smiled. “Next time you’re in town, let’s get together for lunch.”
“You’ve got a date, girls. See you soon.” Catherine waved from the veranda and then closed the double pine doors.
CHAPTER TEN
Two nights later, Jeremy and Amanda had endured dinner out at the Grey Rose Restaurant amid hostile stares and angry whispers. Amanda complained to her date ‘Forget the American justice system. In Bandit Creek you’re guilty until proven innocent’. Glancing around the restaurant, Jeremy couldn’t refute her statement. He appeared ready to rip someone’s head off on her behalf, but she convinced him to just ignore the other patrons.
Ending the evening in Amanda’s bed had pleasantly compensated for their discomfort at the restaurant. Before Jeremy left her hotel room, he’d remarked that his father requested an update on the courtship. Amanda had looked away, reluctant to divulge her true feelings. Jeremy just mumbled ‘I know’ and slipped out of her room.
Amanda had puzzled over what he’d meant ever since. Was Jeremy equally confused about his own feelings? Was he falling in love with her but was reluctant to admit it? Or did Jeremy believe a future together was impossible, but he was delaying breaking it off with her? What did ‘I know’ mean? Should she have confessed she’d fallen in love with him? Confess she’d considered the possibility they could share a life together?
Friday evening had finally arrived and Amanda parked her BMW on the circular driveway in front of the Lazy B Ranch main house. Jeremy invited her to a private dinner, and he suggested she pack her toothbrush. Arthur was visiting relatives in Missoula, David and Catherine took the twins to Miles City to visit with her folks, and Mark and Shannon flew to Vegas for a weekend getaway. They had the house to themselves.
“I thought you’d never get here.” Jeremy greeted her at the front door by lifting her into his arms, swinging her around, and then planting a kiss on her lips.
“Careful, Jeremy. She’s carrying a Branigan heir, you know.” Rosalie stood in the hallway, wearing a leather coat and carrying a beaded purse. “Well, I’m finished for the weekend. You two are on your own. There’s plenty of food prepared and waiting in the refrigerator for someone to warm it up. Have a nice weekend, alone.”
“Goodbye, Rosalie. See you Monday morning,” called Jeremy as the housekeeper disappeared down the hall toward the kitchen.
“Thank you for preparing our meals, Rosalie,” added Amanda.
“Alone, at last,” whispered Jeremy, grinning.
“Put me down.” Amanda punched Jeremy’s shoulder. “Is there anyone in this town who doesn’t know I’m pregnant?”
“Only you and I, Doctor Crosby and his nurses, and the immediate family know. Rosalie is family. Nothing short of a death threat will drag your secret out of her.” Jeremy chuckled. “She guessed Catherine was carrying twins, before Catherine did, and never said a word.”
“My overnight bag is in the car.” Amanda turned toward the door, but Jeremy stopped her.
“We’ve got the whole place to ourselves, darlin’. Let’s make the best of it.” Jeremy smiled, wickedly. “Which room do you want to make love in first?”
Amanda swatted his arm. “One track mind.”
He grinned wickedly and chased her up the winding staircase.
****
They spent most of the weekend in Jeremy’s bedroom. If she wasn’t already pregnant, she probably would have been after their marathon weekend together. On Sunday night, they heated up the last of Rosalie’s dinners and bemoaned the fact the weekend had passed so quickly. They filled the dishwasher and then snuggled together under an old tattered quilt by a roaring fire in the outdoor fire pit. They talked and drank hot chocolate, wrapped in each others arms.
“Catherine confided to the family something about phony bank loans.” Jeremy trailed his fingers up and down Amanda’s arm. “She threatened a slow and painful death for anyone who betrayed her confidence. Have you and your boss from Helena figured out who did it yet?”
“Susan is spending the weekend in Missoula, and we haven’t figured who did it.” Amanda sipped the soothing chocolate beverage. “It’s so darn frustrating. There’s a clue there somewhere. We just haven’t stumbled over it yet.”
“Ten thousand dollars in total, right?” Jeremy stroked her hand.
Jeremy appeared deep in thought. “And you’re certain it has to be somebody at the bank.”
“Positive. Someone attempted to forge Catherine’s signature, but he or she didn’t notice that Catherine signs with two tiny dots above the ‘i’ in Branigan, not one. The bogus loan papers were signed with only one dot, and then the thief disbursed the loan funds to himself or herself in cash.”
Jeremy cleared his throat, and then glanced away. After a minute, he turned back and met Amanda’s eyes. “I think I know who your thief is,” he whispered.
Jeremy presented his case, explaining his reasoning for accusing the person he’d named. By the time he’d finished, Amanda felt she’d be justified in issuing an arrest warrant herself. But she would wait until tomorrow morning. She had to make one phone call before she discussed the matter in her office with Catherine and Susan. Amanda’s heart skipped a beat. If Jeremy’s theory proved correct, they could have the thief arrested tomorrow.
Amanda returned to her hotel room Sunday night. She called both Catherine and Susan on their cell phones and asked them to meet her at the bank tomorrow morning at ten o’clock. She only slept a couple of hours, unable to banish Jeremy’s theory from her mind.
****
Susan sipped her coffee, seated across from Amanda in the bank manager’s office. “Okay, what’s this all about? I assume it’s in regards to the bogus loans.”
“Have you discovered new evidence, Amanda?” Catherine slid forward in her chair.
“Actually, I’d like to present a theory about who the thief is. Please hear me out until I’ve finished, because you might consider me a card or two short of a full deck.” Amanda stood and started pacing the floor.
“At this point, I’m open to anything.” Susan leaned back in her chair.
“It was Miss Pringle,” whispered Amanda.
Catherine threw up her hands. “You’re right. Make that several cards short.”
“Let’s hear Amanda’s reasoning before we call her crazy,” suggested Susan.
“Miss Pringle has worked at this bank for thirty years or more, and she’s never married because she spent years as her mother’s sole caregiver. She paid all of her mother’s medical bills, of which I understand there were a lot. Miss Pringle also finished paying the mortgage on the house, and she is still solely responsible for the taxes, the upkeep, and all the utilities. Except for her mother’s meager pension check, she would have purchased all the clothing and groceries and medicine for her and her mother.” Amanda met Catherine’s eyes.
“That’s all common knowledge around Bandit Creek. Betty cared for her mother for years, until Mrs. Pringle passed away about five months ago at age ninety-four,” added Catherine.
Amanda took a deep breath. “Do you realize Betty Pringle just turned seventy-one?”
“What?” Catherine and Susan shouted in unison.
“She easily passes for ten years younger than she actually is. I suspect she lied about her age on her application form years ago. That’s probably the reason no one has suggested she retire. And she probably needed this job to keep her financial head above water while caring for her mother. Even with her salary, there wouldn’t have been much money left at the end of each month.”
“So now that her mother has passed, why would Betty need $10,000?” Catherine still didn’t look convinced.
“You mentioned Betty Pringle recently returned from a vacation.”
“That’s right, she returned the week before you arrived. She took a cruise with a friend of hers, a widow with more money than God.” Catherine tilted her head.
“Did you assume this friend financed Betty’s share of the cruise costs?” asked Amanda
Catherine laughed. “No way. Esther Milligan is so tight she squeaks.”
“Then where did Betty suddenly find vacation funds for a luxury cruise?” Amanda stood hands on hips.
“Oh, my, God. You think…” Catherine’s mouth dropped open.
“I don’t think…I know where she got the money. I called the travel agency this morning, and they confirmed Betty paid for the cruise in cash, and she provided her true age for travel insurance purposes. Betty Pringle wears eyeglasses. At her age, I believe bifocal failure resulted in our thief missing the tiny double dots on Catherine’s signature. Betty Pringle should have spent some money on a new prescription for her glasses.” Amanda leaned back against one of the file cabinets in her office. “Ladies, we know who our thief is, and she’s the last person anyone in the community would suspect.”
Susan shook her head. “Now we just have to finish this.”
“Oh, no.” Amanda’s hand flew to her mouth, and she raced out of the office.
Catherine and Susan exchanged glances and whispered in unison, “Morning sickness.”
Ten minutes later, Amanda returned to her office with a queasy stomach and a pounding headache. “I feel terrible,” she confessed. “I’ve saved my own reputation, salvaged my career by clearing my name. But have I destroyed the life of a sweet older woman?”
Susan reached for Amanda’s hand. “We’ll prosecute Betty Pringle. We must send the message that theft is not tolerated, no matter who commits the crime. But I’m hoping the courts will take her age into consideration.”
“And her mother’s recent death might factor into her defense, too. I doubt she could have been thinking too clearly,” offered Catherine.
“Perhaps her friend presented an opportunity to escape her dreary existence, and she acted without considering the consequences,” added Amanda.
Catherine and Susan suggested Amanda leave the bank and take a break while they dealt with the thief. Everyone agreed that quietly calling Betty into the office to confront her with the evidence was the best move.
****
Amanda slipped into Ma’s Kitchen before the noon rush started. She ordered tea and an order of toast. The wall clock indicated ten minutes to eleven, and perhaps skipping breakfast caused the sudden bout of morning sickness. She’d been fine until today. Or it could have been nerves, anticipating the nasty scene that would unfold when confronting Betty Pringle with their findings.
“Here you go.” Lucy set Amanda’s tea and order of toast on the table and headed back to the kitchen.
After one whiff of the toast, slathered in butter, Amanda leapt to her feet and dashed to the Ladies’ room. When she emerged, she almost crashed into Missy Gibson, the pregnant widow of the Iraq war hero. As they passed in the hallway, Missy whispered, “How far along are you?”
Amanda’s heart almost stopped.
“That door is not sound proof, and I suffered morning sickness in the beginning, too.” Missy smiled.
Amanda remained mute, dumbstruck.
“It’s okay. I can keep a secret.” Missy disappeared into the Ladies’ room.
Amanda returned to her table, pushed the toast aside and sipped her lemon herbal tea. The warm steam eased her headache, and she closed her eyes for a moment.
“Mind if I join you, Miss Bailey?” whispered Missy, approaching the table.
Amanda opened her eyes and motioned toward the opposite chair. “Please do. And call me Amanda.”
“Thank you. My baby constantly pummels my bladder and I spend half the day in the bathroom. And now we have another single pregnant lady in town,” whispered Missy, as if they’d plotted a conspiracy. “Are you up for causing a bit of scandal?”
“Why not? The entire town believed I’d absconded with thousands of dollars from the bank and then dared to blame a citizen of Bandit Creek. What does another unplanned pregnancy matter?” Amanda sounded bitter even to her own ears. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take my frustrations out on you.”
“Well,
this isn’t unplanned. Anything but.” Missy rubbed her bulging middle.
“You intentionally got pregnant?” Amanda stared at the smiling woman across from her.
“About five years ago, my husband had a testicular cancer scare. He made deposits in a different bank than the Ellis Bank if you get my drift. You probably heard Gary was killed in Iraq. I mourned his death until I felt strong enough to face motherhood as a single parent. And then I arranged to be impregnated with one of his deposits.” Missy’s eyes filled with tears.
“Why didn’t you explain to people that you’re carrying your husband’s child? Why endure all the criticism and the gossip?” Amanda reached for Missy’s hand.
“Those gossipy old hens don’t deserve an explanation. Everyone just assumed I’d hooked up with some stranger for one night and got myself knocked up.” Missy met Amanda’s eyes, and then she paled. “Oh, my good Lord. I can tell by the look on your face. That’s what happened to you, isn’t it? I’m so sorry, Amanda.” Missy thumped her forehead with her fist and scolded herself. “Darn it, Missy. You should learn to just keep your big mouth shut.”
Amanda laughed. “Missy Gibson, if you can read my facial expressions that easily, please remind me never to play poker with you.”
Missy beamed. “Amanda, my phone number’s in the book. You’re about the closest thing to a friend I’ve got in this town right now. Please call me sometime and come to supper after work, okay?”
“I’d love to.” Amanda smiled back.
Lucy approached their table. “What’s with all the whispering over here? What are you two plotting together?”
“Nothing!” answered Amanda and Missy in unison, and then they laughed.
****
Amanda returned to the bank shortly before one o’clock. She still couldn’t get food past her lips but she felt totally refreshed. As she steered her car into the bank’s parking lot, she noticed a police cruiser parked nearby. Amanda leapt out of the car and raced toward the main door. Surely, Susan could have driven Betty to the police station and not embarrassed the poor woman this way.
A Bandit Creek Miracle Page 9
