Page 106 of Ice Princess

The head of the team, a tall, thin man who looks like he should be an undertaker and not an attorney glances at me.

I shake my head.

Chance interprets. “That’s his annoyed scowl now.”

I clear my throat.

Chance opens his mouth to say something else.

“I can speak, Chance,” I grumble.

He gestures for me to go ahead.

I slide the reports back over to the team. “How did you conduct your investigation?”

“Erm…” The undertaker looks at Chance for approval.

The captain makes a ‘go on’ motion.

“We compiled a list of former female employees who worked under the establishment within a ten year range.”

“And how did you come up with this list?”

The attorney pulls his collar away from his throat. “We conducted a series of interviews.”

“With who?” I press.

“The staff at the garage.”

I snort out a laugh.

Chance raps his knuckles against the table. “Gentlemen, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that laugh has nothing to do with amusement.”

The lawyers shift uncomfortably.

I grind out, “So you spoke to Stewart Kinsey’s employees about matters that could possibly incriminate their boss?”

“We didn’t ask any leading questions,” the lawyer defends.

“You’re strangers.” My eyes cut through them like samurai knives. “Why would anyone from our town trust you over the man who signs their checks?”

“We didn’t just speak to the mechanics. We spread our search further and went to the mayor’s office.”

I turn slowly in my seat and give Chance a ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’ look.

He scratches his neck. “Guys, youdorealize the Mayor is also a Kinsey.”

“We also spoke to the sheriff… who…oh.” The lawyer trails off before finishing his statement.

Chance runs his fingers through his hair. “Wow.”

“You got nothing from the investigation? Nothing at all?” I ask.

The lawyer’s eyes shift from side to side. “Stewart Kinsey, as far as we could tell, has never committed any form of harassment, work place discrimination or?—”

“What about tax fraud?”

“W-what?” The lawyer pales as if I accusedhimof shirking the government.

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