Charlie placed the empty mug in the sink and resisted the temptation to throw it. Where the hell could Christine be? It had been hours. He walked back to his laptop where he'd been staring at facts and figures with a few breaks for coffee. Someone used Christine's work computer to change and send those orders, but concealing the stolen money didn't happen in the office. He'd contacted the bank of the new routing account numbers but hadn't learned much. The account had been closed a few weeks ago. So where did the money disappear to? If he could find the funds, he'd find who had done this.
From his visits and friendly luaus, he knew most of the larger corporate offices were fairly open, 'cube style' set ups. The smaller offices, like Christine's and his, were a bit more private with small box style offices. Managers and supervisors had assistants with free access to files, computers, etc. Charlie smiled a bit thinking of his administrative assistant who would happily fry anyone who touched his computer. But Christine, as a representative, didn't have an assistant; reps shared the services of the office manager.
He stared at his laptop. Could someone have used a wireless device like a laptop, smart phone, or tablet, broken into the accounts, and accessed Christine's desktop using the same network? He walked into her office where her computer quietly buzzed and using the corporation web site accessed his own accounts. So, it could be done from a computer not in the office which he already knew since he could always access his accounts when traveling. Since Charlie had Christine's password, once she returned he'd try to access her corporate email from his laptop, a test to see if it could be done. Once she returned. He glanced at the clock, not sure whether to be worried, angry, or nonchalant. Maybe she simply went for breakfast with her son, Adam, or some friends.
As if on cue, the front door opened and Christine rushed in as he walked out of the office. "Yeah, I'm sure. I'm positive."
"Christine."
She shook her head as she spoke into her cell phone. "No, I'm home now. I'm locking up. Charlie's here too. I will. Thanks, Marsha."
She dropped the cell into the sling she wore. "Is the kitchen door locked and all the windows?"
Charlie followed as she ran to the front door to check the lock and bolt. "What's going on?"
She rushed down the hall. "I'll explain in a minute, just help me secure the house."
Charlie went through, checking, securing, and wondering before they met back in the kitchen. "What is it?"
"I found out who attacked me." Christine gazed up at him, her face so sad and confused he wanted to hold her. "Jim."
Charlie blinked. "Your boss attacked you? Are you sure?"
"I saw him at the coffee shop, I smelled cigars, and he implied, he said," She gripped his arm. "He said the board is meeting today. You have to leave, find somewhere safe, or maybe even go, and tell them."
"I'm not leaving you." He stroked her hair. "Tell me what happened." As Christine told him about her morning, it all clicked into place. Jim had Christine's passwords and free access to her computer. No one would suspect him if he went in her office without her.
"I just don't understand why. Marsha and Ben are going to question him, but unless he outright confesses, it will be my word against his. It won't be enough that he made me think he did something to my coffee and grabbed my arm."
"He hurt you again?" Charlie pushed up her sleeve, feeling rage at the deepening bruises in the shape of fingers on her pale skin. "May God damn his black soul? I'll kill him."
"No you won't." Christine grabbed his hand with hers. "Let Ben and Marsha do their jobs. If they can get him to confess, you'll be cleared. We both will."
"I should have been with you." It had been his fault, yet again, she'd gotten hurt. She'd never have departed without him if he hadn't pushed her away.
"You didn't want me." She dropped his hand. "I'm sorry you're trapped here with me. There's a patrol car doing drive-bys. You could probably catch a ride and go to a hotel with good security. Even find a flight back home."
"I'm not leaving you." Charlie touched his lips to the firm line of hers. "Not now, not ever."
"You pushed me away." Christine leaned away. "When I tried to make love with you, you said no and pushed me away. It's okay if you don't want me. You don't have to pretend because you think I'm upset."
"I'm not pretending anything, not any longer." He laid his forehead on hers. "This is the worst possible time or maybe it's not. There's something I have to show you." He held out a chair for her to sit at the table in front of his laptop.
Christine shook her head. "I don't understand what this is or what you're trying to prove but this isn't the way."
"Just listen. Please." Charlie waited until she huffed out a breath and sat before he knelt beside her to click and open the file filled with photos. "It would be better if I had this in my hand." He watched her face. "This ring belonged to my mother before she died. It's a hibiscus flower made out of sapphires."
"It's Hawaii's state flower." She glanced from the screen to him and back again. "It's beautiful."
Charlie muttered a quick prayer and took a deep breath. "I want it to be yours. I want you to marry me."
***
Christine stared at the ring then at him. "M...marry you?"