Page 24 of Ferocity

“Also true,” Dave stated. “Do you know what you're going to say to her?”

“I think I am going to feel her out and ask about the other silent donors we usually receive gifts from.”

“Good idea. Meet up for lunch?”

“We're going to the bank. I think I can get more information there, than here at the sanctuary,” Timothy said. “Meet us there just in case there's red tape we can't get through.”

“Can do,” Dave said. “Meanwhile get those videos I sent you ready. We'll need to present those to the authorities sooner rather than later.”

Scarlett swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “There's something else I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” Dave asked.

“Two more lionesses are pregnant,” she answered. “Kenny told me when I went to grab coffee for Timothy and me.”

Timothy cursed under his breath. “Well, we know how she's going to make money now. Question is, will it be forHearts and Pawsor for herself.”

“Damn it, Scar. I'm sorry this is happening. Can you call Fabien and find out if he can do a rush on spaying and neutering at the compound?” The idea had merit. However, she worried Maisie would continue to bring fertile felines into the sanctuary which would stress all of the other big cats out.

“I will, later, not over the phone. I have a feeling though until we get to the bottom of this, Maisie will continue with her breeding program, even if it is at a detriment to the cats.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I'll let you know at lunch what she said about the other donors.”

“Sounds good,” Dave answered. “Pick me up here at the office at noon.”

“We will,” Timothy said. “We'll be in touch.” He hung up with Dave then cast his gaze at her. “Sounds like we have a lot of work ahead of us. Ready to get dirty?”

A new determination filled her. “You're damn right I am. Let's get to work.”

Chapter Six

“I think I've found it.” Timothy brought his computer over to where Scarlett was sitting behind her desk. “She's good, but not good enough.”

Scarlett peered up at the screen. “What am I looking at?”

“I'm glad you asked.” He pointed to the yellow highlighted entries. “See these items? There's one every month for three distinct amounts. Five hundred on the first. Seven-fifty on the fifteenth and fifteen hundred on the twenty-fifth. They're going to an account named Sandusky Supply. I tried to find it on the internet, but it doesn't exist." He paused. "Let me rephrase that. They do exist. In name only. Their web presence is a shitty dime-store setup. The template comes from a blogger site. The links refer back to the main page. Well... You get the picture." He peered up at her. “I'm assuming by the face you're making you don't do business with them either?”

She shook her head. “No. I've never heard of them. We get our supplies from a local hay farmer. The medicines come from a Veterinary supply office and Fabien handles it. Our meat is from a local butcher who can keep up with our demand. The same goes for the fruits and treats for the animals. They all come from Colorado Springs farmers markets and such. We try to keep everything nearby for delivery purposes. Besides, the manifests are in the yellow binder. The one you haven’t gone through yet.”

“Figured as much.” He placed his computer on her desk. “I can trace these payments back ten years, Scarlett.”

“How much money is that?” She cringed thinking about it.

“Three hundred and thirty thousand dollars,” he said. “And, that's just one account. I am sure there are others with probably varying amounts of money being taken out. In my estimation, she's made several of these shill businesses to cover her tracks.”

“Well, she'd have to pay with a check or online, right?” The look Timothy gave her, as though she'd been too naive in her thinking, had her cringing in embarrassment. “She wouldn't want to be too blatant, right?”

“She got away with it for ten years, didn't she?”

He had a point.

“Okay, so she enters each transaction appearing to go to a supply company and she puts the money into another account?”

“Yes,” Timothy answered with a nod. “As I said, these are the first of the expenditures that I found. I am sure there are more.”

But how? There had to be some kind of trace of the money. “Can you find the amounts in the bank statements? Sure, it would be easy to steal from the till during the spring and summer since the sanctuary is open to the public. The rest of the year, we rely on donations. Those donations are either through our site or come in the form of checks. Not so easy to take from.”

“Who goes over the mail,” he asked.

“Well, Maisie does,” she said, then groaned, closing her eyes. “How could I be so blind?”

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