Chasing Glory

by Galbraith, DeeAnna

  An hour later she tapped on Tal’s door, then went in. He sat at his desk scratching notes, his hair messed as if he’d run his hands through it repeatedly.

  “Tough meeting?”

  He lay down his pencil. “Two steps forward and one back.”

  Glory itched to hug away the frown that now replaced the smile that had greeted her, but his open door policy meant just that, anyone could knock and walk in. “Can I help?”

  “Sure,” he said, his expression wry as he tapped the pages in front of him with his index finger. “Come up with hard copies of incriminating documents that have fingerprints.”

  Her gaze dropped to the top papers in the open folder. They were Excel spreadsheets, something she dealt with every day as the CFO’s executive assistant. “Can I see those?”

  He nodded and turned the folder around.

  Glory saw the origination date followed by an F, for final. “This is less than two weeks old. And the total’s off.”

  Tal stood. “Are you certain? I mean how do you know?”

  Her heart started pounding. “I do all the monthly comparisons; to the month before and the same month last year. The total from last month compared to the previous month came up as a consecutive number. Something like $432,123.45. This is over $20,000 different.”

  Tal flipped the papers around. “More or less?”

  “Less,” she said. “And there’s something else.”

  He grabbed a binder, flipped it open and was studying the printouts. “Something else?”

  “The mobile shredder picks up every other Thursday morning from our locked unit down the hall. The originals might still be here.”

  His eyes lit as her idea took root. “Tomorrow is Thursday and it hasn’t been picked up since the day before William told them about our trip. You really think Lassiter kept hard copies?”

  “I don’t know for sure,” Glory said. “But it’s worth looking into. Part of my regular duties is to take all the printouts in a specific tray on his desk to the locked shredder box every Wednesday. I saw some papers sitting on the credenza behind his desk the second week I was here and started to take them. He freaked out about me never touching them. After we got back from Antigua, I noticed they were gone.”

  Tal came around his desk and grabbed her in a hug. “I’m going to call Hannity to get the shredder service out here ASAP to unlock the box. I’ll start working on it this afternoon. Can you recruit Catherine to help us sift through the rest tonight without telling her exactly what’s going on?”

  Glory snorted a laugh. “Have you met Catherine?”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Tal’s anxiety rubbed off on Glory. They’d gone to their respective homes and changed before Tal picked her up for a quiet dinner. They finished and returned to Kingston Limited around seven. Catherine was waiting for them. She had asked very few questions about the “couple hours of overtime looking over Kingston financials.”

  Tal led them into his office and Catherine stopped when she saw the stacks of printouts and box of latex gloves. She turned to Tal. “Am I missing something?”

  Glory looked at him as Catherine pinned her with a gaze. “She really needs to know.”

  He nodded and faced the brunette. “Remember when I told you I took Glory to Antigua to help me solve a business problem?”

  Catherine grinned. “I should have been so lucky.”

  “This,” he tipped his head toward the papers, “is an attempt to find hard evidence.” He sighed. “This doesn’t go further than the three of us, but Alyssia and Jeff Lassiter are suspected of being the stateside connection for the counterfeit production of Kingston foods in Antigua.”

  “They’ve been ripping us off?” Catherine was incensed. “I wouldn’t put it past her. She’s pulled some sneaky moves, but this is major. And Mr. expensive suits, Jeff Lassiter, is her partner? It figures. Anybody who’s worked with either of them knows they’re only out for themselves.”

  Tal held up a hand. “Employee gossip aside, let me tell you what we’re looking for.”

  The brunette squinted. “As long as this is all coming out, I want to know why the two of you are involved in this. Did William ask you to investigate?”

  Tal threw Glory a pleading look.

  She grinned. “Told you she’d want to know.”

  He rolled his gaze. “Again, absolute confidence is necessary. I instigated the trip to Antigua because I own Kingston Limited.”

  Catherine snapped her fingers. “You’re the mysterious holding company I couldn’t track down.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s always the quiet ones. I don’t suppose I can tell Pryce?”

  Tal shook his head. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t. At least for the time being.”

  Catherine shot a look at Glory. “Were you ever planning to tell me?”

  She lifted a shoulder. “It wasn’t mine to tell. But I will tell you I’d already fallen in love with him before he told me.”

  “Really?” Tal asked, leaning toward her, eyes shining.

  Glory stepped around Catherine. “I was half in love with you before we ever left the country. Did you think I was after your money?”

  “Nope,” he reached for her and she straight-armed him. “Back to business.”

  “Yeah,” Catherine said. “No hanky panky in front of the help. Especially since the help could be at home engaging in her own hanky panky.” She slapped the nearest stack of printouts. “So, what’s this hard evidence we’re looking for?”

  Glory explained the timeline and what they hoped to find.

  Tal nodded. “Lassiter might’ve put incriminating paperwork in the shredder box, thinking that would be the end of it.”

  The brunette rolled her eyes. “Sounds like him.”

  • •

  Well into the third hour, they’d made it through three-quarters of the stacks with no luck. Glory was tired and discouraged and the gloves made her hands sweaty. Maybe Jeff Lassiter was smarter than she thought and had carried the papers out in his laptop bag.

  Then she saw it and whooped.

  Tal and Catherine jerked their gazes toward her. “What?”

  She held the print by the corner and grinned. “The fake final. That means the real one should be here, too. Both with fingerprints.”

  Tal held an open manila folder. “This is great. If we find the other original, plus everything else we have …”

  Glory slipped the pages into the folder. “We’ll find it.”

  The doctored original turned up at the bottom of the stack she was working on. “Now what?” she asked after putting it in the folder.

  “I call Greg Hannity.”

  The Security Center manager got there a half hour later. He glanced at Catherine and her with mild curiosity, then looked around at the stacks of paper as Tal showed him the originals. He took statements that each of them dated and signed.

  “I’ll turn this over to the man working your case first thing tomorrow,” he said. “You’re very lucky.”

  Tal looked at Glory. “I know.”

  • •

  Glory called Pryce’s new office number at nine a.m. the next morning. “Hi,” she said. “Are you free for lunch?”

  That call had barely cleared when her line rang. “Glory Danvers.”

  “How about lunch?” Tal asked.

  “You’re too late. I’m having a business lunch with Pryce. He’s reviewing my qualifications.”

  “As long as he does it from a distance. Can you come down at break this afternoon? Greg Hannity dropped by a few minutes ago. He caught the detective in charge of the case as he came in this morning and turned over the printouts. He learned something else.”

  “What?”

  “Nope. I have to retain my cloak of mystery until we get married. Otherwise you might glimpse how boring I really am.”

  Her stomach flip-flopped. Was he crazy? She’d never get used to the feeling she had just talking to him. “Be that way, then. I’ll see you around
three.”

  She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. Mr. Lassiter’s calendar is full this afternoon.”

  “Lassiter just come in?”

  “Yes, that’s right,” she answered.

  She heard the grin in his voice.

  “Pryce hasn’t got a chance.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “Good-bye.”

  She smiled pleasantly at Jeff Lassiter. “Good morning.”

  He nodded curtly and went into his office.

  • •

  Glory was still reeling at the success of her interview with Pryce when she went down to R&D that afternoon. Tal was on the phone, so she closed the door softly, punched the lock, and sat to pour some of his wonderful steeped tea.

  He finished his conversation and walked around the desk, pulling her into his arms. He sighed as he hugged her. “I never realized how much I missed by not having someone to share things with.” He kissed her lightly. “How did things go with Pryce?”

  She kissed him back enthusiastically. “Great. I took my resume’, work samples, and copies of letters of recommendation. He said he was impressed. Especially when I told him I had a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish and French. He made me a verbal offer, with a formal one to follow when his computers get installed Monday. I start in three weeks.”

  Tal hitched an eyebrow. “You didn’t ask me for a letter of recommendation.”

  “Pffft. He wasn’t looking for a letter to the editor of Playboy.”

  He held her away. “Cute. Maybe I was too hasty about you moving to a new job. I have to think about what’s best for Kingston, you know.”

  Glory felt absurdly pleased by his reaction. “The company or you?”

  “Me.”

  “You’re too late. I accepted the offer, provided I can take time off for a honeymoon.”

  “Then could I tempt you with an early dinner and a chance to practice your honeymoon skills?”

  She warmed to her toes. “I could be persuaded.”

  • •

  Tal smacked the ball low and clean, spinning it out of Nate’s reach. He jumped, shouting “Game,” then collapsed gasping, his back against the court wall.

  “You enjoyed that,” Nate said, mopping sweat with this wristband, and sliding down next to him. “Was all that energy a result of not playing on Monday?”

  “Nope. Worked things out with Glory. We’re getting married.”

  A grin split Nate’s face. “Compatible?”

  “Can’t begin to tell you,” Tal said.

  His friend winked. “Gets better.”

  Tal rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes. The passion he’d found with Glory was nothing like the unhealthy possessiveness his father had showed toward his mother. It never would be.

  Last night he’d trapped her in his entry hall, telling her he couldn’t wait and wanted to make love to her on the floor, right then.

  Glory had taken him up on the challenge, quickly ridding them of their clothes and demanding to know, between kisses, where he was hiding the condom. The next thing he knew, they were in his bed, laughing between breathy exhales of great sex.

  Nate pushed up from the wall. “You’re embarrassing us both with that moon-faced look. I’m sorry I asked and surprised you have any energy at all. If this is how love is going to affect you, I capitulate all future games.”

  Tal opened his eyes to see his friend holding out a hand.

  “Congratulations,” Nate said. “You got the whole package whether you wanted it or not.”

  He gripped Nate’s hand and stood. “I know and it makes me stupid happy.”

  • •

  Tal arrived at Seattle Police Headquarters for his appointment and was shown into an office.

  A harried-looking man rose from behind a desk piled with folders and extended his hand. “Lieutenant Dunn. I’ve reviewed your file, and wanted to be clear on the role Seattle PD will play in your case.” He pulled a sheet from the open file in front of him. “I understand the parties in Antigua have been enjoined from further production and sales of the counterfeit goods.”

  Tal sat. He got the feeling this man thought that should close the issue. “My Security Center manager turned over the last of the physical evidence, I believe. That indicates two of my senior officers were not only part of the whole scam, but they set it up from here. I want them prosecuted.”

  Dunn scanned the file, fingering through a few more pages. “Do they know you suspect them?”

  “I haven’t confronted them, if that’s what you mean. But I did bring up the demise of the counterfeit operation in a high-level staff meeting two days ago. I intimated that the bulk of the investigation is happening in Antigua.”

  The lieutenant looked up. “I know you think this nails it to the barn door, but truthfully, your prosecution may only lead to a heavy fine and no jail time.”

  Tal felt his jaw bunch. “So be it. But they’ll also be fired and blackballed in the industry.”

  Dunn gave a slight shrug.

  “I’m not trying to be petty, lieutenant. I sank all my savings and worked hard to put this company in a place of respect. Unfortunately, I spent too much time letting others run it.” He stood. “If I did nothing but fire them, what’s to stop them from bilking another company? Business is hard enough without having to deal with vultures like them.”

  Dunn’s demeanor changed slightly. “Fair enough.” He tapped the open file. “I’ll turn this over to the appropriate prosecutor, who’ll work with the state department people you have listed. Someone will contact you with the results of the investigation.”

  Tal thanked the man and left. He was a little unsettled about what he’d put in motion. Not because it was overkill, but because of the reactions of Alyssia and Jeff. He figured Alyssia would lie and try to weasel her way out, placing the bulk of the blame on Lassiter. Even if presented with hard evidence.

  It was Lassiter who worried him. The CFO was a wildcard Tal knew little about. A friend of William’s had recommended him, and although arrogant, Jeff Lassiter had done his job well enough that he might figure he could dodge the bullet. Or, considering the anger he’d shown in the recent meeting, Lassiter could turn nasty.

  Tal shook his head as he walked back to his building, glad some action would be taken, soon. A shiver ran through him. And doubly glad his spreadsheet scheme to marry Alyssia had failed miserably.

  He needed to talk to William about discreet inquiries. Kingston would need a new CFO and VP of Marketing and Sales. Maybe he’d talk to Pryce. They were both in the food industry and since Pryce was looking to fill his own office staff, he might be able to recommend qualified people. On the other hand, they did have some highly qualified people in Kingston’s Marketing and Sales Department. They might fill from within.

  This time he’d be part of the interview team.

  A smile twitched his lips. He’d also have to confess that Glory was leaving and it was his fault. William would forgive him for that one, though.

  Tal reached the elevators at Kingston Limited and stood mulling his choices. Up, to see William, with a chance to talk to Glory, or down, to his office to work through lunch and make up for the time the appointment had cost him. Easy decision. He grinned and pushed the up arrow.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Glory’s day took on a bright edge when Tal stepped off the elevator. She’d asked Jeff Lassiter for a fifteen minute slot on his calendar so she could tell him she was quitting. Normally, the administrative manager, Shelly, would do it, but Glory wanted the satisfaction. Her bravado was slipping however, and she was no longer sure of her decision.

  Tal stopped to talk to Catherine, then glanced at his watch before coming to her desk. He walked behind her, bent close, and pretended to study the paperwork she had out.

  “You smell terrific. Ever made love on a desk?”

  Warmth shot to her core. “No, I almost did on an entry way floor, once. Oh, and I want to bite your earlobe.”

 
He straightened. “Okay, bad idea, you win.”

  She wanted to giggle, but threw a glance at the CFO’s closed door. “I’m giving notice personally this afternoon. I wanted to get it out of the way.”

  “Nervous?”

  “That’s part of it, I guess. He’s been acting strange, too.”

  Tal walked around her desk and laid his hands flat on the surface. “Strange, how?”

  Glory met his gaze. “Cancelling most of his appointments for the next couple of days, delegating subordinates to run meetings he usually heads, stuff like that.”

  “Sounds like someone getting ready to bolt.”

  “Hardly proof of intent, though.”

  Jeff Lassiter opened his door and looked at Glory, dismissing Tal with an irritated glance. “You wanted some time?”

  Glory composed her expression. “Yes.” She stood and spoke to Tal. “Excuse me. I’ll take care of your request, later.”

  She walked into the CFO’s office and sat in the chair opposite his desk. As he walked around the desk she noticed his normally GQ appearance was almost disheveled. Crooked tie, suit bagged at the elbow and knee, and, heaven forbid, no matching pocket handkerchief.

  He remained standing and rubbed the pads of his fingers together before tapping his desktop with and index finger. “What request?”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  He pushed out an annoyed sigh. “What request are you going to get back to Kingston on?”

  Her mind became a squirrel cage. “Um, he lost some data on his hard drive, including last month’s final report. He asked me to resend.”

  “No doubt due to our recent surprise computer audit,” he said.

  Glory had no answer for that and stayed quiet.

  Lassiter turned his back to her, staring at his pocket view of Elliott Bay. “What did you want to see me about?”

  Bolstered by her talk with Tal, she plunged in. “I’m giving notice. I know I’ve only been here two months, but I wanted to tell you personally.”