“I’ll give you some privacy, but if you want an attorney, let me know.” I stepped away from the table and went back to the counter to add these notes to my list. Of course, Anne added another reason she was on the I-Killed-Kent short list, especially with the frog ownership working against her. Now her overgenerous spending made sense. She’d been making her own money along with Kent. No need to budget like a mere mortal, just add to your disposable income without taking a second job.
I’d just settled in with a coffee of my own when the bell over the door rang again. Looking up, I smiled. Claire LaRue, the fashion lady I’d met at Sherry’s estate lot sale had made good on her promise. She was halfway to the counter when she saw Anne and Leslie and stopped dead in her tracks.
I could see her making a decision, but the need for coffee won over what appeared to be shyness—although she hadn’t seemed shy when I’d met her. Maybe she knew the women. Anyway, I was going to welcome her into the shop. I needed all the repeat townie customers I could get. “Claire, I’m so glad you decided to come in today. You can tell I’ll have plenty of time to chat.” I waved my arm around the almost-empty shop.
Anne and Leslie turned and stared at the newcomer.
Claire hurried to the counter. “I’m on my way to work and thought I’d get a coffee to go.”
“Sure, what’s your poison?” I pointed to the menu board. “Mild, Medium, Hard Rock, or do you want something with a touch of flavor? The hazelnut’s really good.”
“Hazelnut is fine.” Claire took out her wallet and shoved a card at me. She really was in a hurry.
I charged her order, then turned around to pour the coffee. “You’ll have to come in soon when you have more time. I’d love to hear about your new house.” After adding a sleeve and lid to the cup, I turned back around to find Leslie standing next to Claire, staring at her.
“You think you’re so smart. I can’t believe you fired her after all she did for the bank.” Leslie’s words were hard.
Claire took the cup in her hand but didn’t lift it. “She stole money. She covered up for Kent. I had no choice.”
“Oh, you had a choice, but all you big shots want is to protect the bank.” Leslie’s eyes narrowed.
“Look, I shouldn’t even be talking to you about a former employee, but it seems like your friend has filled you in on the details. She approved loans for people who didn’t apply for them—heck, they didn’t even exist. Then she and her boyfriend went on spending sprees.” Claire’s shoulders sank. “I know it was probably all Kent, but the bank didn’t give me an option here.”
“Rules are rules, right?” Leslie almost spit out the words. The bell rang again, and this time when I glanced up from the prizefight going on in front of me, I saw Anne dart out the door. Leslie saw her, too, and headed out after her. She yelled back at Claire, “I’m calling in sick.”
Claire blew out a long breath, then took a sip of her coffee. “Man, I need this today.”
“What’s going on? You’re working at the bank?” I motioned to a chair. “Maybe you should sit down. I’m shaky after that scene and I just witnessed it.”
She sank onto a stool and rubbed her face. Then she took another sip of the coffee before she spoke. “I’m the new bank manager. I was assigned to audit the branch when all the security alerts were reported by the local police.”
“You mean the security service?” I didn’t think Greg had enough people to report everything that happened in South Cove.
“No, that was the problem. We realized early on that the security service wasn’t reporting the alarms to anyone. And the system was getting less sensitive with every false alarm.” Claire paused as I realized what she was saying.
“Cheryl was lowering the system’s alerts to try to get it turned off altogether?” I shook my head. “But why?”
Claire laughed and nodded to the now-empty table where Anne had sat. “Another one of Kent’s schemes, we believe. Of course Cheryl’s not talking. He sure had his women trained. They would do anything for him.”
When Toby arrived for his shift, I filled him in on the morning’s drama while I ate an apple I’d packed for a midmorning snack.
Toby whistled. “Wow. I knew part of this, but I’d never dreamed Anne would go along with something like this. I knew her sister, Kate, in high school. Anne was a few years older than me, but she always seemed cool at the games when she attended.”
“Anne thought he loved her.” I finished my treat and glanced at the double chocolate mud brownies in the case. “Maybe I should take a couple of those to Greg.”
“So you can pump him for information?” Toby packaged up four of the brownies and handed me the Styrofoam container.
Taking the box, I grinned. “Nope, because I’m a good girlfriend and I know the way to a man’s heart.”
“Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Toby greeted one of his regulars who tended to walk in just in time to avoid ordering from me. I think the girl sat in her car, waiting to see when he started. She had it bad, even though Toby had been clear he was off the market. Hope can make people do funny things.