Page 14 of Heat & Deceit
“Oh?” Tabitha fidgets a little. “What can I do to help?”
“What makes you think there’s something to be done?”
“I thought...you said something came up. I only want to help where I can.”
I scrutinize her. She’s been a loyal employee. She’s rarely late. She’s done nearly everything we’ve asked of her—within reason, of course—and as far as I know, she treats her employees well. Though, earlier with Carmine, I thought I detected a hint of condescension.
I don’t say anything else, instead deciding to let the silence settle between us for a few minutes.
Tabitha twists her mouth to the side and looks anywhere but at me. The clock on the wall ticks, and once two minutes have passed, she releases a tiny exhale.
“I’d hoped I could handle the situation before you found out.”
Lifting an eyebrow, I take another sip of my latte.
“It’s Carmine, sir. I think she’s been stealing.”
I doubt it, but I don’t tell her that. I had considered it when I found the problem, but per her HR records, Carmine has only been here for three weeks, and the money was taken over two months ago. The bookkeeper didn’t catch it right away, which honestly makes me wonder if we need to find someone else to do our books. Then again, Tabitha knows the system inside and out.
“What has she been stealing?”
Tabitha looks taken aback. She expected me to know what she was talking about. She’s trying to cover her tracks, and I can practically see the wheels spinning in her mind.
“I didn’t want to think she did it,” Tabitha begins, licking her lips, “but the other night, I was counting the drawer and noticed it was twenty dollars short. I thought it was odd because, only the night before, it was short too.”
“And did you talk to her?”
Tabitha shakes her head, straightening in her chair as her lie gains momentum. “No. I wanted to do a little investigating before talking to her. After all, it could have been a mistake,” she says with a nervous chuckle. “Well, I found that the drawer has been short almost every time she’s worked. Twenty dollars every time.”
Seeing as Carmine has been working here for a few weeks, the math only works out to a few hundred dollars. Not even close to what’s missing. Besides, there’s no way Carmine could have taken the money. There were two large withdrawals that were right below the threshold of needing an owner’s signature. None of the employees, besides Tabitha, would have known that threshold, and none of the other employees had the bank information.
This can’t be Tabitha’s first time stealing from us, though. I highly doubt she decided to waltz into work one day last month and take money from our account.
No, this sort of thing grows with time. There’s no telling how much money she’s taken, at least, not until the auditors get through the books.
“I’d like to talk to her,” I say, deciding to see how this will play out. It would probably make the most sense to call the cops, but I don’t need the authorities sniffing around the pack business.
“Right now?” Tabitha asks with a squeak.
“Yes. Can you send her back?” I lift my to-go cup to my lips, then pause. “You may have to work the register while I speak with her. It’s been a busy morning.”
“Right, of course.” Tabitha’s eyebrows pinch together. “Maybe it would be better after her shift? She was late, and I’d planned on firing her anyway, once I discovered the issue with the money, but like you said, itisbusy. We could use her help.”
“I’ll speak with her before any decisions are made.” I take a drink and gesture toward the door.
Tabitha frowns but stands. “All right. She’ll be right in.”
A strange, twisted sort of anticipation settles inside of me. I know Carmine didn’t steal the money, but she did run from the car crash earlier. I wasn’t sure how I felt about the entire thing until I saw her working the register.
Relief was the first feeling.
Surprise.
Then a burning curiosity.
Did she really run from the accident because she was worried about being late?
The door barely creaks as she pushes it open, and I turn slightly, offering a smile as she steps inside.
