Chapter 3 - THE MISSING MONEY)
The next morning Margaret called a lawyer before calling Harold.
Her name was Evelyn Grant.
Evelyn had represented Walter and Margaret for nearly twenty years and possessed one quality Margaret valued above charm.
She distrusted everyone professionally.
"Twenty-eight thousand five hundred?"
Evelyn asked.
"That's what I've confirmed."
"Who has access?"
"Me and Harold."
"Anyone else?"
"Daniel technically did before he died."
"Credentials?"
"Supposedly frozen."
"Supposedly is not useful."
"I know."
Evelyn asked Margaret to send every banking record she had.
Then she said something Margaret did not want to hear.
"Do not confront Harold alone."
"He has been my friend for thirty-two years."
"That changes nothing."
"It changes how much I hate what you're implying."
"It should."
Margaret closed her eyes.
Across the office, through the glass, employees stocked shelves and greeted morning customers.
Life was continuing.
That felt almost insulting.
Harold arrived at nine twenty.
Twenty minutes late.
That had happened perhaps six times in three decades.
He removed his coat.
Margaret was waiting.
"Morning."
"Sit down."
Harold looked at her.
"Everything okay?"
"No."
He sat.
Margaret placed the three transaction printouts on the desk.
Harold's face changed slightly.
Margaret saw it.
"You recognize those."
"Of course."
"Where is the money?"
Harold adjusted his glasses.
"I need to check."
"You checked yesterday."
"I review hundreds of transactions."
"Not these."
Harold rubbed his forehead.
"Margaret."
"Twenty-eight thousand five hundred dollars."
"There may be processing delays."
"Three separate deposits?"
"It happens."
"Not in this account."
His irritation surfaced.
"You've never handled banking alone."
Margaret's eyes narrowed.
"Be careful."
Harold sighed.
"I mean Walter handled most of it. Then Daniel."
"And now me."
"Now you're recovering."
"There it is."
"What?"
"The wheelchair."
"I didn't say anything about the wheelchair."
"You didn't have to."
Harold pushed the papers back.
"You've had a catastrophic year."
"So have you."
"You lost Daniel. You nearly died."
"Neither event made me stupid."
"I never said that."
"Then answer me."
Harold looked through the office window.
His voice dropped.
"Richard can explain."
Margaret felt something fall inside her.
Not surprise.
Something heavier.
Thirty-two years of trust.
"You gave money to Richard?"
"It wasn't like that."
"How was it?"
"He needed temporary funds."
"You stole them."
"No."
"You transferred business deposits without authorization."
"Daniel had agreed to support the church project."
"Daniel is dead."
Harold flinched.
Margaret did not apologize.
"Did Daniel authorize those three withdrawals?"
Harold remained silent.
"Answer me."
"No."
Margaret reached for the phone.
Harold stood.
"What are you doing?"
"Calling Evelyn."
"Margaret, listen."
"No."
"Please."
The word stopped her.
Harold had rarely said please.
He looked old suddenly.
Not harmless.
Old.
Afraid.
"Richard says the community holding company will protect the store."
"From whom?"
"From taxes. Litigation. Succession problems."
"My lawyer handles that."
"Your lawyer doesn't understand what's coming."
Margaret stared at him.
"What's coming?"
Harold looked toward the door.
"I shouldn't have said that."
Margaret rolled around the desk.
"What does Richard have on you?"
Harold's face snapped toward her.
That was the answer.
"Nothing."
"You just told me everything without saying it."
"Margaret."
"Are you stealing because he threatened you?"
Harold's eyes filled with something almost like shame.
Then hardened.
"You should sign the transfer."
Margaret stopped.
"Excuse me?"
"Keep twenty percent. Let Covenant Holdings take control. Richard says you can remain chairwoman in name."
"In name."
"You'll have income for life."
"I already own the business."
"You own something that can disappear."
"Is that a threat?"
"No."
"It sounded like one."
Harold looked exhausted.
"You're seventy years old."
"And?"
"How long do you think you're going to keep doing this?"
The office seemed suddenly smaller.
Margaret looked at the man who had eaten Thanksgiving dinner at her house.
Who had carried Walter's casket.
Who had bought Daniel a bicycle for his tenth birthday.
"Get out."
"Margaret."
"Get out of my office."
Harold stood.
She continued.
"Leave your keys."
His expression changed.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Keys."
"I have payroll due."
"Not anymore."
He stepped closer.
"If you fire me without understanding what's happening, you'll regret it."
Margaret picked up her phone.
"Keys, Harold."
They stared at each other.
Then Harold removed the office key from his ring.
He placed it on the desk.
He kept the store key.
Margaret noticed.
Before she could say anything, the front entrance opened.
Richard walked inside.
He had no reason to be there at ten in the morning.
Yet he arrived less than one minute after Margaret told Harold to surrender his keys.
Richard approached the office.
Harold looked relieved.
Margaret felt sick.
Richard entered.
"Margaret, I heard there was confusion."
She stared at him.
"That was fast."
Richard ignored the remark.
"Harold made an accounting decision based on a commitment Daniel had discussed."
"Daniel didn't authorize it."
"No. But his intentions were clear."
"To whom?"
"To me."
"The dead are convenient witnesses."
Richard's jaw flexed.
Margaret continued.
"Return the money today."
"It is being used for ministry."
"Return it."
"That may not be possible immediately."
"Then I'll report the theft."
Harold whispered, "Don't."
Margaret looked at him.
Richard closed the office door.
His smile disappeared.
"You need to think very carefully before making accusations that could harm the church."
"The church didn't steal my money."
Richard's eyes became colder.
Margaret finished.
"You did."
He leaned over her desk.
"What happened to Daniel was tragic."
Margaret's blood turned cold.
Richard continued.
"Vanessa has suffered enough."
"Get out."
"A pregnant woman does not need more scandal."
"Get out."
"Especially when questions remain about how Daniel managed business finances."
Margaret froze.
Richard had finally revealed the weapon.
"If you make trouble," he said, "people may start examining Daniel."
Margaret whispered, "What did you do?"
Richard straightened.
"Nothing."
May you like
But he smiled.
And Margaret knew he had prepared something long before walking into the store.
