Smokescreen

“One thousand percent. The only unanswered question is the money trail. But the best people are working on it.”

“You have to believe me, I didn’t know. He came to me, before and after you fired him. The first meeting he complained about your firm choice and the direction we were taking. He told me you were more concerned with the owner of the firm, than the actual rebuild. Then after you fired him, he reached out again. He was certain Stella was involved in illegal activities and wanted to make sure my name wasn’t tarnished when it became public.”

It’s all I can do to control my temper and not lash out. “Obviously you should have talked to me. We may have our differences, but this was even low for you.”

“Well, I owe a huge apology to you both. Stella, you did a fantastic job with JOS. I was blinded by my own need to prove Max was incompetent. But as it turns out, I was played.” Edward looks down then drai

ns his glass in one gulp. Rita refills it immediately.

“Max, I fucked up here royally. My name’s going to be linked to Brian Claxton. I took phone calls from him that could have been recorded, emails traced, and meetings videoed. I honestly thought you were making a mistake by giving the business to Stella. She seemed too inexperienced to take on a situation like ours. You embarrassed me when you took your dad’s place. It was a kick in the gut that my best friend had so little faith in me and left your name as his successor.

“I’ve acted terrible towards you. Always trying to trip you up and prove you’re incapable of a position like yours. Look at who’s incapable now? I willingly let Brian manipulate me. He knew my need to gain control of Hurst & McCoy. He played on my weakness and I let him. I had no idea he’s go after little girls to get his way.”

A sob escapes Rita and she excuses herself. Edward sits back and stares at his lawyer. “What now?”

“Did you give him a penny?”

“No.”

“Then you’re fine for now. Stella and I are leaving. I assume you’ll lift your ban on Sullivan’s invoices and she’ll see full payment, including expenses tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” Edward sighs and looks at Stella apologetically. “I’m sorry about that.”

“Make the check to Marshall Barnes & Associates. Have it delivered by noon,” I command and put the tumbler in my hands on the closest surface. “We’re done here.”

Rita meets us in the foyer with pleading eyes. “Can we talk alone?”

“Yeah. Call me next week. I’m in a mood Rita.”

“But we’ve always been family.”

“Tonight, I’m going to forget all about family and business. Tomorrow, I have a live interview to save my company once again. Call Dana and she’ll schedule a time for us to talk.

We drive in silence until we’re on the highway. “Are you okay?” Stella’s voice is laced with concern. Her fingertips rub gently on the bank of my hand.

“Not really. Edward just laid his frustrations and feelings about me, my dad’s decisions, and how he was willing to humiliate me to get my job. I’m more confused now than ever. In all my life, he’s never looked as defeated as tonight. He didn’t know about Brian’s plans, but he was willing to let a man I fired disgrace me. He used you to get to me. He knew I’d stand by you and my decisions. But knowing he wasn’t the money trail to Brian makes me nervous.”

“Can you explain that a little more?”

“At this point, we have to assume Brian put the money in your account to make you look guilty. Jake nor Marshall’s contacts could find any kind of evidence that the money got to Brian through Edward. The look on his face tonight told me he didn’t do it. So someone else knew about Brian’s scheming and could still be out there waiting to make another move. I have to believe you and your business are safe because it would be stupid to go after you again. But I’ve asked Jake to have the fed’s bring in a team of auditors to review every fucking account we have. If Brian had a secret account and transferred the money through that, we need to find it fast.”

“So what does this mean for Edward?”

“Nothing right now. He’s clean since he never gave Brian nor his company a penny. I’ll protect him and the business. He has his personal lawyer too.”

“Do you still want to take him down after JOS?”

“I have no choice. His corruption started way before me taking over. He’s still a greedy bastard. He did things that could have ruined everything Hurst & McCoy was built on. But after tonight, I’m feeling, shit, I don’t know how I’m feeling.”

“I think the word is compassion.”

“I’ve never felt ‘compassion’ before. Especially towards him.”

She changes the subject, no doubt trying to ease my tension. “When do you want to go home?”

“Sunday.”

“I’d really like to go home tomorrow after the interview. It’s been almost seven days since I’ve been in my own bed and Scout has had a yard to roam.”