My introduction was interrupted by Matt Clauson, Jackie’s new attorney. “Me. And we’re on the clock, so let these ladies be, John, unless you want to pay for their time with me.”
John put up his hands. “I know when I’m outmaneuvered. I’ll call you sometime and we can catch up. Or better yet, I’ll surprise you at that little shop you opened. When are you around anyway?”
Aunt Jackie looked at John and lied. “She works from one to four every day.”
“Nice to see you.” I took her arm and hurried after Matt. When we reached his office and I closed the door behind us, I whispered, “Thanks.”
“The man has no manners. Besides, I get the impression he’s a bully.” She slipped into a chair in front of Matt’s desk and I took the other one.
Matt laughed. “You sure can read people. I don’t know what the other partners see in that jerk.”
“He brings in a lot of business to the firm.” I recalled seeing John’s billable hours and new client listing each month on the report. Seeing how well the other associates were doing was intended to inspire you to work harder. For me, it just cemented the fact that I was smack in the middle of the pack. Too valuable to fire, not good enough to promote.
“His family brought their business to the firm when he was hired. They’re kind of connected.” Matt leaned back in his leather chair. “So what brings the two of you here today? You know I’m not strong in estate law.”
“My aunt has gotten herself into a cucumber.” I glanced at her.
She shook her head. “You mean a pickle. I swear, for as much as you read, you come up with the strangest sayings.” She told Matt what she’d done and why, and then pulled out the book. “He’s got everything written down right here. Mary and Bill deserve their money back or the vacation he promised. It’s the only right thing to do.”
Matt frowned, picked up a napkin from his desk, and took the book. “Did you tell the police you have this?”
“Are you kidding? As soon as I found it, I gave it to Mary and told her to sit in the car until I came back.” She squirmed a little in her seat. “Then as I was closing up the office, the police came and took me to jail. He must have some sort of silent alarm set up in that place, I didn’t even hear them arrive.”
“How did you get in?” Matt laid the book on his desk, slowly turning the pages.
When my aunt didn’t answer, he looked up from his studying. “As your attorney, I need to know the entire truth. If you need your niece to leave?”
“No.” Aunt Jackie put a hand on my arm. “Stay. Okay, so I went in to the office earlier and pretended to be looking for a vacation. When I left, I had the extra office key he kept in his desk in my purse.”
Matt shook his head. “You just happened to find the key?”
“Actually, Mary had seen him put it there when she was trying to get her money back. He’d given it to his secretary, and when she left for the day while Mary was in the office, she saw where he put the key.” Aunt Jackie made the whole plan seem reasonable. Which made me even more worried. She’d had a plan; this wasn’t a senior spur-of-the-moment action. She’d gone in knowing she was going to return and take the guy’s accounting book before she ever left South Cove.
“I need to know where the DA stands on the criminal charges first.” Matt put the book into an envelope and set it aside. “We’ll keep this just in case. But, Mrs. Ekroth, you have to realize, if they decide to go ahead with the charges, you may not be able to use a piece of stolen evidence for any leverage to help your friend or the others the man swindled.”
“Please, call me Jackie. I know it was a risk, but you have to press on, no matter what happens to me.” Aunt Jackie sat taller, even more determined.
I took her hand and squeezed. “Let’s let Matt do his magic and maybe he can find a way to keep you out of prison.”
“That’s the hope.” Matt stood and reached out his hand. “I’m good at what I do, Jackie. Let’s see if that’s enough.”
Aunt Jackie dug in her purse and pulled out a business card. “Mary Sullivan’s private line. Please don’t discuss this with her husband; he doesn’t know about the issue.”
As we waited for the elevator, I watched my aunt. She didn’t look fazed at all, except a slight tremor in her hand as she patted her hair into place for the third time. “Bill doesn’t know about any of this?”
“How could he? The trip was a surprise, and once the money was gone, Mary didn’t know what to do. That’s her inheritance from her late mother.”
“I hope Matt can get it back for her.” The elevator doors opened, and we stepped into the empty car.
“I’m counting on it,” Aunt Jackie said, and our gazes met in the reflective surface as the doors closed.
CHAPTER 16