Page 39 of Bold Encounter
"I sure didn't want to drag my sister into this."
"You didn't drag her into this," Cadie said."Jason did this.But from what you told me, Abe will stop him."
"I hope so," Genevieve said, but didn't feel as confident as she wished."In the meantime, I'm not going to let Jason destroy what I've worked for.Our next House of Blues performance is going to be huge.We'll be playing to eighteen hundred people and sharing the stage with major acts."
"That's the spirit," Cadie said."You're already popular.A large audience can give you a major boost."
"That's what I want, for all of us," Genevieve said."If anything, this whole situation has made me more determined.Jason thinks he can manipulate me and control my career andouropportunities.I'm not alone in this, because you and the band are vital to my success."
"Let's prove him wrong," Cadie said.She had a look in her eyes that Genevieve had seen before.When she was determined, no challenge was insurmountable.
"We'll be so big in the New Orleans music scene," Genevieve said, "that no one can stop us."
*****
Ready for action, Abe pushed through the glass doors of the Guardian Investigations office.He wasn't deluded about Jason's vanishing act.He'd been fighting crime for too long to believe that the dude had backed off.
Gabriel looked up from his desk as Abe entered."Good morning.How did the performance go?"
"Too smoothly."Abe sat in the chair across from Gabriel's desk.
"I guess his target for that day was my wife," Gabriel said.
Abe leaned forward."Yeah, how's she doing?"
"You know Brooke.She's a tough one," Gabriel said."But I have to tell you that guy is really getting on my bad side."
"I couldn't agree more," Abe said.
Weston swiveled around in his chair."Speaking of Jason, I got some interesting information in my financial investigation."
Abe leaned forward."What did you find?"
"There have been significant deposits into Jason's business accounts over the past six months," Weston said, then pulled up a spreadsheet on one of his screens."The amounts are disproportionately large for such a short time period."
"How significant?"
"Enough to explain how he launched Thornton Music Group so successfully and how he's been able to undercut established competitors."Weston highlighted several entries."These aren't the kind of deposits you'd expect from normal business revenue or even investor funding."
Gabriel stood and moved to look over Weston's shoulder."Can you trace the sources?"
"That's where it gets interesting.The money's been laundered through several intermediary accounts, but I'm working on tracking the original sources."Weston's fingers flew over the keyboard."Whatever organization is backing Jason, they're sophisticated and they have deep pockets."
Abe finally had solid information to work with."I suspected that he had heavy hitters behind him.I don't peg him as capable enough to pull this off on his own."
"The funds shed light on his unusual success in the industry and his influence," Gabriel said."With the right connections, he can make life very difficult for anyone who crosses him."
"Including Genevieve," Abe said grimly.
Gabriel's expression darkened."And now he's dragged Brooke into his games.That makes this personal for me too."
"I have an open investigation on Jason," Abe said."But I'll need more than accusing him of taking photos.He can deny involvement.And surveillance isn't illegal if the person is out in public.Although he has edged over that boundary, it's not enough to nail him."
Weston looked interested."So far, the tactics he used to manipulate are clever.In each case, he'd get off with deniability as an out."
"There's nothing that I can arrest him for," Abe said.
Gabriel chimed in."What about the break-in at Genevieve's condo?"
