Page 16 of Heat & Deceit
“She said that?”
I nod. “She mentioned that every shift you work, the drawer has been short.”
Carmine’s entire face lines with confusion and frustration. “That’s not possible. I haven’t been short since I started.” She pauses and studies me. “I have the reconciliation at home. I kept them.” She stands. “I can go get them.”
“I believe you.”
Her head tips to the side. “What?”
“I believe you, Carmine.” I sit back and cross my arms. “I believe you, because Tabitha is the one who’s been stealing.”
She grips the table and drops back into her seat. “How do you know it’s her?”
“The withdrawals came directly from the bank, and she’s the only one with that information.”
Carmine shakes her head. “But why?”
I shrug. “That’s something I haven’t asked her yet.” Standing, I open the door and walk through the back room and out into the front, holding up my hand to signal Tabitha. She murmurs something to Randal, and he nods, taking over working the front while Tabitha walks toward me.
“I can have her last check ready by the end of her shift,” Tabitha tells me.
Rather presumptuous of her. “There’s no need.”
“What did she say?” Tabitha grabs my arm to keep me from going into the room. “There’s something else. The other night, I found her in my office, digging through my drawers. I think she was looking for the bank details.”
Now the lies get more desperate.
See how that works? When one doesn’t pan out, another explanation magically appears. There’s something to be said about people who can lie like this. They’re creative, with the ability to think on the fly. It’s not admirable so much as despicable. What level of fucked up do you have to be to twist the truth so easily?
While I’m no angel, one thing I hate more than cats is liars.
“Let’s go into the office,” I finally say, peeling her hand from my arm and gesturing for her to lead the way.
Tabitha’s form is stiff as she enters the room, and I catch the death glare she shoots at Carmine. Ah yes, the audacity for Carmine to defend herself. How dare shenottake the fall for Tabitha?
Normally, I like people, but after the asshole beta who almost killed Carmine, and now this with Tabitha, I’m beginning to question that inclination.
Maybe I could talk to Rome about accelerating his plan to set the world on fire. He’s the one who, for the most part, hates people. Lycus likes people, but people tend to not like him, because they don’t understand his sense of humor or how to respond to his quips. It’s part of why we haven’t found an omega, but I’d never make him feel bad.
If an omega can’t handle Lycus, she’s not worthy of our pack.
“We know what you did,” Tabitha begins, rounding on Carmine. “Tell us everything, and maybe you can leave without us calling the police.”
Carmine pales at the mention of the authorities, shrinking in on herself.
Curious and curiouser.
No. Focus, Javi.
She said she wasn’t going to sleep with you.
Though, perhaps she’ll change her mind... No. Think. Tabitha. You’re firing Tabitha.
“Tabitha,” I snap. “Carmine hasn’t been stealing.”
“What?” Tabitha’s face is growing redder by the second. “Of course, she has. I told you her drawers have been short. She’s the only one who could have taken that much money.”
Ah. A slip.
