Page 26 of Evidence of Secrets

“I heard he stole liquor and expensive food from the kitchen.” Meghan shook her head. “I don’t understand people who steal.”

“Neither do I,” said Jaimie. “How did Laura catch him?”

“I’m not sure, but there must be hidden cameras in the restaurant.”

Jaimie and Meghan glanced around the empty restaurant. Where would the cameras be hidden? She knew about the ones surrounding the outside.

“I don’t see anything; however, it would make sense to have cameras hidden inside,” said Jaimie.

“Ladies. Good morning.” Jaimie and Meghan jumped. They hadn’t noticed Laura walking in from the kitchen.

“Levi has a list of today’s specials, and he prepared a tasting of the new items.”

Okay, no more gossiping. It was time to get serious about work. Jaimie and Meghan walked into the kitchen to taste the treats Levi had created.

As for her other work—the exposé—Jaimie thought about how to incorporate stealing and its consequences for a restaurant owner into the article.

Jaimie felt bad for Laura. This theft must have cost her a pretty penny. Did Laura pass the loss on to the customers or absorb it somehow? The bistro had to be bleeding money if the theft had been going on for a while. Rich was foolish for stealing; he had it good here. Jaimie heard rumors about Laura paying him for sick days. Something most restaurants didn’t do. Now it would be impossible for Rich to get another job in the restaurant business, at least here in Black Pointe. Laura might not say anything negative about him to future employers, but the rumor mill was strong.

Jaimie also wondered what Laura was going to do to get cash.

It wasn’t lost on her that the bistro was losing money. Expensive items on the menu when she started working here weren’t on it anymore. Laura and Levi were planning menus that were innovative, but they were trimmed down.

She wondered what would happen to all the staff if the bistro went out of business. What would happen to Laura? Jaimie’s research showed Laura lived frugally. In fact, when she drove by Laura’s apartment building the other day, it was covered up—termites. So where was Laura living? Jaimie felt bad for Laura. There was nothing she could do to help. Or was there? She mulled over several options in her mind. One might work.

* * *

Ryan’s lawyerhad given him basic information on Laura’s bistro and that Laura was struggling to keep the bistro afloat. Rumors were that she was bleeding cash. Good news for him. Not so good news for her. Ryan also learned from an acquaintance that her suppliers were cutting her credit, which would mean the bank wouldn’t be lending her any more money or giving her more time to pay the loan down. His lawyer had made a generous offer for the bistro but Laura had turned it down. Maybe the next time Laura might be more amicable to an investor or a new owner for sure.

He needed to get into the kitchen and get the lay of the land. His first choice would be if he could find the secret room without spending any money. Why leave a money trail if it wasn’t necessary?

Watching Laura had become his new favorite pastime.

Ryan knew she wasn’t living in her apartment since the building was tented. Yesterday Ryan followed her and a man to an apartment building close by. He assumed she was living there while her apartment was being fumigated.

Who was the man to Laura? Boyfriend? Another investor? Did someone else know about the bearer bonds and cash? Ryan didn’t think so. It had been so long since they’d been hidden, someone must have tried to find it over the years. He needed to find out.

Maybe he should just buy the building and tear it down. Laura’s finances were in terrible shape. She couldn’t afford to go somewhere else and keep the bistro.

Adrenaline raced through Ryan’s body as he conjured up ways to convince Laura to sell or to get the information he needed. He wasn’t sure he could persuade Laura to go out with him. She hadn’t been receptive to his flirting that last time he ate there. There were, however, a couple of cute waitresses working at Salt & Sea that he wouldn’t mind spending time with. They might know the bistro’s secrets.

He’d stop in for lunch today and strike up a conversation with one of them. It had been a while since he’d been with a woman, and he was tired of just his hand pleasuring him.

CHAPTERTWENTY

“So, Stuart, here I am yet again. Asking for money or advice.” Laura threw up her hands. “Give me some good news.”

Stuart Millson, the bank officer at Black Pointe National Bank, leaned forward and steepled his hands.

Tick, tick.Good lord, could that clock tick any louder? Voices of other bank customers were faint behind the closed doors. Laura glanced around Stuart’s opulent office. Pictures of the flora and fauna of Florida decorated one wall. Originals. Expensive. An enormous window with plantation shutters overlooked a park where children were playing. Stuart’s mahogany desk had a few family photos and papers on it. Two kids, boys, and a beautiful, successful wife. Laura wasn’t jealous. Someday she’d have the two kids. Maybe. If she could find a man she could trust. As for successful, well, Laura thought she was successful until a few months ago when things went south.

“Laura, I know things have been tough. You told me about the call from that lawyer with an offer to buy a while ago. You rejected it. Maybe it’s time to bring in an investor,” said Stuart.

“An investor?” Laura squeaked. That would be admitting failure. However, losing the restaurant would be worse. As for the offer to buy, it came from a lawyer who wouldn’t tell her who was interested and he wanted to know what she was willing to take for the bistro. She’d been surprised by the question but she wasn’t ready to give up on or sell the bistro, not then, not now.

“Yes. I know things have been tough for you. It’ll be difficult to find someone who wants to invest in a failing restaurant, but it’s been successful in the past, so you have that to your advantage.”

Her chest tightened, and Laura prayed she wouldn’t pass out. “Do you know of any investors who could help?”

---