Page 51 of Little Hidden Fears

“What’s it like, working with Owen?”

“We got off on the wrong foot, for starters. He didn’t want me there, and he wasn’t happy when Clark decided he needed help. I tried to build a bridge between us. I was nice; I brought in cookies. It didn’t matter. Owen wanted nothing to do with me.”

“How did he behave toward you?”

“Owen was distant and secretive. He’d give me menial tasks, never anything too big or too personal. He oversaw most of the financial transactions and handled all the banking. I process employee paychecks and take care of client dues.”

“Tell me how you came to suspect he was mismanaging money.”

Annie closed her eyes, nodding. “It started with me worrying Owen wasn’t doing his job. If Clark was out of the office for the day, Owen would show up late for work, or he’d leave early. He was on salary, and given the power his uncle had, he must have thought no one would tattle, and he was right. No one dared say a thing.”

“Were you doing any of his work for him during that time?”

“He told me not to, but I couldn’t help myself. One day, I decided to have a wee look-see at his bookkeeping to make sure things weren’t getting behind. My concern was that Owen would point the finger at me for any issues about the books.”

“When you looked through things, what did you find out?”

“Well,” she said, leaning toward me, “the books were a mess. I couldn’t make heads or tails of the deposits. Nothing added up, no matter how many times I tried to balance it all.”

“Did you say anything to him?”

“Given he’d forbidden me from looking at the books, I was afraid to ask him about it.”

“Was Clark aware Owen kept you from certain aspects of the job?”

“If he was, he never said anything to me, and given I’m one of the newer hires, I didn’t know if I could trust him with that information.”

Annie’s stomach grumbled, and I turned, looking out the window. I hadn’t realized how dark it had gotten in the time we’d been chatting. I was sure she was on the verge of a bombshell confession, and I didn’t want her to leave—not yet.

CHAPTER 20

“Are you hungry?” I asked.

“I’m starving,” Annie said.

While the kitchen was not always stocked with food—at least none filling enough to be considered a meal—I always kept a variety of cheeses on hand.

I stood and said, “Come with me.”

We walked to the kitchen, and I opened the refrigerator, assessing our options. Pulling out a few different blocks of cheese and some grapes, I then grabbed some nuts and crackers out of a cabinet. I looked to her for approval and was given an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

I laid the snacks out on a tray, grabbed a couple of plates, and invited her to get whatever she wanted to drink out of the refrigerator. Then we took it all to the table. It was my favorite spot in the office, given it was adjacent to a soothing, floor-to-ceiling wall fountain Giovanni had gifted me to celebrate the opening of the detective agency.

“Don’t you have anywhere to be tonight?” Annie asked.

“No, although I’m sure my dog is wondering what’s become of me, so I won’t keep you much longer. I didn’t want you to leave before you could say everything you came to say, and I don’t think you have.”

“You’re right, there’s more.”

“Why don’t we have a bite to eat, and then we’ll finish our conversation about Owen afterward?”

For the next few minutes, we chatted about lighter topics. She asked me how I got started in the business and how long I’d lived in Cambria. We talked about her life and her friendship with Noelle. She seemed to be in better spirits, and I hoped it would get her to the finish line.

I popped the last of the cheese slices into my mouth, pushing my plate to the side. “The more you’ve told me, the more I’m convinced you wouldn’t have approached Noelle about Owen unless you had evidence to back up your story.”

I crossed my arms, waiting for her response.

It took some time before she offered it.

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