Game Theory--A Katerina Carter Fraud Legal Thriller
Page 29
Men didn’t leave Angelika. If they tried, they left the world on her terms, not their own.
Angelika glanced out the cabin window. She sipped her coffee as the plane chased the sunrise.
All in all, a perfect day. And another one on the horizon.
Chapter 68
Kat sat at Harry’s kitchen table, amazed at the difference in her uncle. Gone were the blank stares, the shuffling gait and the forgetfulness. It was a miracle.
There was an explanation, though she still had a hard time believing it. The poison’s effects had mimicked the symptoms of dementia, resulting in Harry’s Alzheimer’s misdiagnosis. Harry never had dementia after all.
Sure, he was forgetful sometimes, but no more than any eighty-year-old.
Now, after a week in the hospital, the poison had been purged from his system. Harry had bounced back quickly, though he didn’t remember much of the last few weeks and months. His recovery was nothing short of amazing.
Kat glanced at the stack of seed catalogues that sat on the table. Harry was planning next year’s garden and even getting back in touch with his lawn-bowling buddies.
“Hillary’s got a new job, Kat. Out of town.”
“Good for her,” Kat said, wondering how much of this story Harry actually believed. Or wanted to believe, because the alternative was unthinkable.
Of course Kat had bought into plenty of Hillary’s lies herself over the years, wanting to give Hillary the benefit of the doubt. But now she saw her for what she really was. A parasite.
Amazing, Kat thought. Harry’s financial nightmares began around the time his dementia symptoms started. Kat had naturally assumed his delusions and forgetfulness were from the dementia, as had Harry’s family doctor.
In retrospect, Harry’s health had spiraled downward quite suddenly. When Kat cancelled his credit cards and confronted the bank, she exacerbated the situation. It cut off Hillary’s source of money. His health decline hadn’t caused his financial mess; it had been the other way around. In her efforts to protect Harry, Kat had conjured Hillary up out of the woodwork.
Harry was idealistic, refusing to believe that his own daughter was taking advantage of him financially again. He kept believing her excuses and gave her money; each time sure she would extricate herself out of her current mess.
“One egg or two?” Harry retrieved the egg carton from the fridge and slammed the door.
“Two.” When the money stopped, Hillary returned, this time with a more desperate attempt to liquidate Harry and his assets.
“Orange juice?” Harry held up the carafe.
While Harry didn’t remember a lot from his months of hell, Kat was certain Dr. Konig had mentioned the doctored orange juice. But she couldn’t blame him for refusing to believe his daughter had tried to poison him. That was a truth too painful for anyone.
“I think I’ll pass.”
Harry turned to Kat. “She’s just a bit reckless, Kat. She’ll learn.”
Even now he was making excuses for Hillary’s behavior. But what else could he do? To think it was premeditated was too much to consider.
Kat said nothing. She was distracted by noise coming from the front of the house.
“Be right back.” She rose from her chair and padded into the living room. As she got closer to the window, she saw a figure bent down in front of the Porsche.
Her heart stopped as the hood of Hillary’s Porsche jerked forward. Hillary had returned for her car, despite the restraining order prohibiting any contact with Harry.
Kat braced herself. Why was Hillary violating the terms of her restraining order after only one day? She was already in enough trouble—charged with attempted murder and fraud. The police had charged her, despite Harry’s protestations. Now it was up to the courts to decide her fate.
Kat flung the door open, anxious to intercept her before Harry did.
Only it wasn’t Hillary.
The tow truck lifted the front end of the Porsche.
Kat ran outside. “You can’t tow that car—it’s parked legally, and there’s no ticket.”
“Sure I can. The bank’s repossessed it. Overdue payments.”
“Oh.” Kat backed away as he hoisted the car. One way or another, the fraud would be unwound and sorted out. At least if the finance company towed it, it would be locked up securely and safe from Hilary. And the payment notices would stop. “Have a good day.”
The tow truck driver smiled back at her. “Now that’s something I don’t hear too often.” He gave her a thumbs up and hopped into the truck cab.
The tow truck pulled away from the curb, pulling the Porsche behind it.
Kat watched the truck ascend the hill. Finally it reached the top, to where the hill touched the sky, where the world tipped away.
The morning sun glinted off the Porsche’s bumper momentarily as it crested the peak. Then it slowly dipped below the horizon and disappeared.
This time, she wasn’t the one running away.
******
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Author’s Note
While most of the settings in Game Theory are real, Hideaway Bay is not. It is a composite of several small communities that dot the Sunshine Coast, part of Canada’s southwestern coast. The World Institute is also fictitious, but certainly not outside the realm of possibility.
No-Gro pesticide is also from my imagination. When the stakes are high, people will go to extraordinary lengths to gain both money and power.
Fraud also fascinates me, and I’m always amazed by what motivates people to enrich themselves at the expense of others. Despite what these criminals think, it’s only a matter of time until they are caught. Sooner or later they slip up or become complacent. Forensic accountants like Kat have a number of methods to track down and expose fraudsters, but they all focus on one thing. Following the money eventually leads to the perpetrator.
I hope you enjoyed Game Theory as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you liked it, please consider writing a short review, rating or telling a friend. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend! As long as readers like you enjoy my stories, I will continue to write them. If you loved Exit Strategy and would like to check out my other books, you can find them here.
My books have been translated into many other languages. Check my website for the latest release information.
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Also by Colleen Cross
Katerina Carter Color of Money Mysteries
Red Handed - a short story
When forensic accountant and fraud investigator Katerina Carter and journalist boyfriend Jace Burton accept an impromptu party invitation, crime is the last thing on their minds. Then a winning wine investment leaves a sour taste in Kat’s mouth and she unravels the clues to a million-dollar wine fraud, all before dinner!
Blue Moon - a novelette
Kat and boyfriend Jace’s plans for a fancy dinner go awry when she discovers that her elderly neighbor Fiona has taken an ex-con into her home as a boarder. Fiona’s volunteer gardening program at the local prison has changed lives, but extending her generosity further just might put her own life in jeopardy.
Kat’s suspicion deepens when she learns of a recent life insurance policy. And accidental death pays double.
Greenwash - a novel
Forensic accountant Katerina Carter and boyfriend Jace Burton embark on a weekend getaway at a luxury mountaintop lodge just before Christmas. While he writes the biography of a bi
llionaire environmentalist, she explores the snowy wilderness.
Then two local protestors die under mysterious circumstances, and Kat and Jace race against time to save themselves from an even deadlier disaster.
Katerina Carter Fraud Legal Thriller series
Exit Strategy
Forensic accountant Katerina Carter's fraud investigation uncovers a massive blood diamond laundering scheme at Liberty Diamond Mines, just as two key Liberty insiders are murdered. Kat could be next - unless she allows the real criminals to walk free.
Game Theory
Forensic accountant Katerina Carter's fraud investigation uncovers a massive Ponzi scheme connected to the shadowy World Institute, a global think tank with a chilling hidden agenda.
Kat is trapped in a high stakes political conspiracy where the players will stop at nothing to get what they want, in a game she cannot afford to lose.
Blowout
Forensic accountant Katerina Carter and boyfriend Jace Burton investigate a mysterious 1930’s cult on a sparsely populated island off Canada’s west coast. Another mystery unfolds aboard their billionaire host’s yacht, one with deadly consequences for all.
Westwick Witches Cozy Mystery Series
Witch You Well
Rags to Witches
Witch & Famous
Christmas Witch List
Non-Fiction:
Anatomy of a Ponzi: Scams Past and Present
Colleen’s books have been translated into multiple languages.
Want the latest on Colleen’s new releases and subscriber only special offers? Sign up for her new release notifications at www.colleencross.com