Betrayal (24 page)

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Authors: Fern Michaels

BOOK: Betrayal
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She practically skidded into the bank parking lot. She raced inside the bank. They wouldn't screw with her money. They were about to find out how pissed she was.
She entered the bank, bypassing several customers waiting in line. “Where is the manager? He just called me. You tell him Debbie Winter is here, and I want to see his ass now!” She slammed her fist down to emphasize just how mad she was. An older woman in line jumped. “Sorry,” Debbie muttered as she waited for the manager.
A small man, typical of what you'd imagine a bank manager would look like, came running out of the back office. For a minute, Debbie thought he was a dwarf.
Damn, men keep getting smaller and smaller. What the hell happened to tall, dark, and handsome?
“Mrs. Winter? I'm Sheridan Finkel. Please, let's go to my office.”
Sheridan Finkel?
If she hadn't been so upset, she would've laughed at the name.
“Mr. Tinkle, Finkel, whatever, I want to see these so-called major withdrawals I'm supposed to have made.”
They entered the typical square box—plain desk, two chairs, and a plant in the corner office—de rigueur for most banks.
They must mass-produce this crap
, Debbie thought as she sat down.
Finkel hit a few keys on his computer screen, then hit the Print button. “This is the most current printout of your account, Mrs. Winter. As you can see, most of the withdrawals were made using Internet access. I took the liberty of checking your banking history. You do use the online service quite often.” He gave her the papers.
She scanned them. “I did not take this much money out of my account! Where the hell is it? It didn't just magically form legs and walk out of this bank. I want you to find out who took my money! If I find one of your tellers has dipped into my accounts, this bank will have my name on the sign. Do you understand, Mr. Finkel?” Debbie stood to leave. It didn't matter what the papers read; she hadn't made any withdrawals from either of her accounts.
“Mrs. Winter, the only other option you have is to make a deposit to cover the insufficient funds; otherwise, I'll have to close your account permanently. Do you understand?”
“No! I don't! I don't care what you have to do to get my money back, I want it back in my account before the end of the day, or else I'm calling the Troubleshooters! They'll have this on every news station in the state. You'll have customers emptying out their accounts faster than I can say fraud. Do you understand?” Debbie peered into the little man's face.
“Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. If not, I'll be forced to call security. Please.”
“I'll leave, little man, but I'm coming back with my attorney. You've not seen the last of me!” Debbie stormed out of the bank.
Kate observed this while she waited to open her new account. She now had over fifty thousand dollars to deposit, but she would wait until she had the account set up for Internet access. Then she would transfer Debbie's money back into her bank, just a different account. She finished the paperwork required for opening new accounts. She would be able to view her transactions by two o'clock the next day.
Payback's a bitch,
she thought as she drove off.
This was just the beginning. All the years working with the IRS, studying the use of computers, not to mention the dozens of courses she'd taken over the years. She had enough power to hurt a lot of people with her skills. She was a regular hacker. She would have fun tonight.
She arrived at her apartment with a big smile plastered across her face. She took out a frozen dinner, looked at the ingredients, and tossed it in the garbage. She hadn't prepared a decent meal in ages. It was time she started living. She would celebrate the occasion by cooking a nice meal for herself. Before she could change her mind, she grabbed her purse and car keys.
She hadn't really grocery-shopped for years. She'd bought crap. It was a miracle she didn't have high cholesterol and heart disease with the bad food she'd been putting in her body. She would make a nice pasta dinner with a salad. That would be enough for starters. Maybe when all of this was behind her, she could enjoy cooking again. That is, if she didn't get caught. But prisons needed cooks, too.
She paid for her groceries with cash. She wondered how Debbie was going to pay for her next purchase, whatever it might be. She had a few more moves to make, then the Winter family would be cash-locked, credit-locked, whatever you wanted to call it. Debbie would be begging to sell doghouses when she was through with her. Another thought occurred to her.
There's a licensing board for Realtors. Surely it has some kind of code of ethics. I'll find out.
Back at her apartment, she spent an hour making dinner. She recalled the meals she used to make for Alex. He liked everything, had never complained about serving as her official guinea pig when it came to trying new recipes. Even after all these years, she still missed him.
While waiting for the water to boil for the pasta, she minced garlic, onions, and mushrooms. She sautéed them with butter and a touch of olive oil. A few dribbles of real cream and a splash of wine. She made a salad with endive, radicchio, and romaine. A crumble of blue cheese, a handful of walnuts. She added a touch of balsamic vinegar to the salad, a dollop of olive oil. She inhaled. Her apartment smelled like home. Suddenly she felt the need to talk to Gertie. Her old friend was getting up in years. Kate couldn't forget about her. Gertie had devoted her life to her parents and then to her and Alex. She wished she would retire soon. Lauren was still in college. Gertie wanted her to take over when she graduated. Kate had an inkling of an idea, but she'd wait before she mentioned anything about it to Gertie.
The pasta was boiling, and the salad was ready. She'd break her rules just this once. She would call Gertie from home. Since she'd been gone, Gertie had moved into the main house. She hadn't wanted to, but Kate had insisted. It was closer to the kennel, plus she hated to leave the big old house empty. Gertie brought some of the dogs back with her each afternoon, and that was fine with Kate. Before she changed her mind, she dialed her old number.
Kate kept an eye on the boiling pasta.
“Hello.”
“Hi, it's me.” She never said her name when she called. She knew it was silly, but it was one of those precautions that she'd insisted on.
“Well, hello, me. It's about time you called,” Gertie replied.
Kate heard the smile in her voice. “I had to move. That took a few weeks to orchestrate. How are you? And tell me the truth.”
“I never lie to you K—, kiddo. I'm okay. Arthritis is still giving me fits, but other than that, nothing new except more pups.”
“Wonderful. I'm sure you'll find good homes for them.”
“Don't I always?”
“Yes, of course you do. Now listen to me. I am getting things done here. All the years of planning are about to come to fruition. I observed a reaction to some of my work just today. It was quite satisfying.”
“I bet it was. I hope to high heaven you know what you're doing. I think you should just forget this crazy plan and come home.”
When their conversations got to this point, Kate knew it was time to hang up. “I'll call you soon, Gertie. Love you.” She hung up the phone just in time to keep the pasta water from boiling all over the stove.
She drained the pasta and poured her homemade sauce over the top. She sat at the small table in the dining room and ate every last bite on her plate. It'd been so long since she'd had a good meal. She told herself she didn't have time to focus on herself while she was planning and plotting. It was too distracting. She'd lived like a nun for years; now that she was putting the plan into action, she would reward herself by living the way she wanted.
When she was done eating, Kate carried her dishes to the small kitchen, rinsed them, and put them in the dishwasher.
An hour later, she'd found just what she needed—access to Debbie's credit cards. There were several. Visa. MasterCard. Discover. American Express. All had balances, but none were extremely high. A few clicks of the keyboard, and all read differently. Now all of her cards were maxed out and a hold placed on all the accounts until all balances were paid in full.
Next, she'd check the Board of Realtors' code of ethics. After finding what she needed, she decided it would require some digging. Had Debbie ever misled a prospective client into believing the property they were selling or buying was worth more than its actual price? Possibly Melanie could fill her in. This meant another trip to her office. Kate would make up an excuse for stopping by unannounced.
Next Kate discovered that there were three mortgages against the Winter home. An hour later, they were all in the final stages of foreclosure. It might take a few days for the bank to generate the required paperwork, but it would happen. Maybe Debbie could move into the condo she'd tried to sell Kate.
Finally she accessed the three credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Don's credit rating was low, the bankruptcy still showing. Debbie's wasn't all that terrible. Not yet. It would take a few weeks for the credit card companies and her mortgage company to send the required reports to the three reporting agencies, but it would happen.
Kate made copies of the night's work and locked them inside the small fireproof safe she'd bought just for this purpose. Rain, fire, she wasn't taking any chances. A hurricane, she'd grab the safe and go. Then Kate did a sweep of her computer's hard drive, erasing the evidence of where she had “been,” so to speak.
A pinch of guilt rushed over her. She was ruining a family's livelihood without their having any knowledge of what was about to befall them. Then she remembered Sara's sick video testimony. She remembered how that testimony had in essence killed Alex and destroyed her world. What she was doing was mild by comparison.
After taking a long, leisurely shower, Kate went to bed with a book. She hadn't read for pleasure in years. She had the latest Stephen King novel beside the bed. One of Alex's favorite authors.
A perfect ending to a perfect day.
Chapter 27
C
oleman had hit another dead end that evening. It appeared Kate Rocket had fallen off the face of the earth. His investigator had uncovered an interesting clue earlier in the day, however. Kate had recently walked away from her job as a supervisor for the Internal Revenue Service in Orlando. Apparently she was their most dedicated employee. When she didn't come to the office for three days, they filed a missing persons report. Her apartment had been swept clean by the Orlando Police Department. Nothing showed foul play of any kind, and there was nothing indicating where she might have gone. She'd had her phone and utilities disconnected but left no forwarding address. Nothing with the postal service either. For some reason, Kate Rocket did not want anyone to know where she lived.
Coleman couldn't come up with a good reason for Kate's subterfuge. He simply wanted to give her the envelope that he'd sworn to deliver. Then he could retire to his cabin.
Coleman had always wanted to open a small business of some sort. Maybe a mom-and-pop store out in the country, though he wasn't really sure. But he was sure he wasn't ready to quit working. It was just that he was tired of practicing law. He was young enough to have a second career, and he was going to find something that suited him. But first, he had to find Kate Rocket. Damn that woman. He'd never forgotten her. If things had been different he would have pursued a relationship with Kate, certainly something more than friendship. He'd been attracted to her the first time he saw her. Since Suzanne's death, there hadn't been any woman he'd really wanted to spend time getting to know.
It wasn't like that with Kate. From the very beginning, he had wanted to know everything there was to know about her. But circumstances said it wasn't the time or place, much less the right woman. Hell, for all he had known, Kate could have remarried.
He'd have his buddy at the phone company check her North Carolina number one last time. If he didn't find anything, he wasn't sure what his next move would be. Change his will and leave the letter for Kate? He laughed. He would find some way to get Alex's letter to her. He wasn't giving up just yet.
He would never forget the day at the prison when Alex had asked him to give the letter to Kate should something happen and he didn't make it home. Coleman had laughed at the time, telling him he had a second chance now that his conviction had been overturned. But Alex had insisted.
Coleman gave his word, but apparently there was more than the letter. Alex seemed upset. The lawyer had asked him about it and Alex had told him that sometimes you make a mistake, one small mistake. It's that mistake that changed everything for him. Coleman hadn't known what he was referring to, but thought it might have something to do with the envelope he'd been asked to pass on to Kate. Now that Alex was dead, Coleman wondered exactly what mistakes and secrets the envelope held. It went against his ethical code to look inside the envelope, no matter how curious. No, he would find Kate. The contents of the envelope were for her eyes only.
 
 
Kate was amazed at what a good night's sleep did for her mental status. She woke up earlier than usual. She spent three hours on the computer double-checking her work. She saved the information again and did another sweep on her system. It was time to make that unexpected visit to the real estate office.
Melanie was at the reception desk. Good.
“Hi, Melanie.”
“Oh, hi, Mrs. Ramsey. Did you have an appointment?” Alarm chiseled the girl's pretty face into stone.
“No, I was wondering if you or anyone here in the office might have found a bracelet. I was sure I had it on when I came to the office yesterday.”
Melanie relaxed, her features back to pretty. “I don't think so, but if you'd like I can buzz the agents who are in the office to check.”
“Would you? I hate to ask, but this was a special bracelet,” Kate said, crossing her fingers behind her back the way she had done as a child. What lengths she was stooping to these past few days.
All in the name of justice,
she told herself.
“Of course. I have jewelry, too. I know what it's like. Why don't you have a seat, and I'll call the agents right now.”
“Thanks, Melanie. I really appreciate this. I know you're busy,” Kate cooed to the young girl.
“Sure, just give me a few minutes.”
Kate sat in the same chair as before. She had a bird's-eye view of the front door and the hall behind the reception desk. She took a magazine and thumbed through it.
Lord, I am so out of date with my clothes. I'll revamp my wardrobe once I complete my mission. If I don't get caught.
The chime bell tinkled on the front door. Kate looked at the man walking up to the reception desk. This couldn't be happening. This kind of stuff only happened in soap operas.
Coleman Fitzpatrick in the flesh.
Her hands shook. She brought the magazine as close to her face as she could without its being too close. She peered around the edge of the magazine just to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. No, she was sure this was Coleman. He'd hardly aged a day in the last seven years.
Melanie put the phone in its cradle. “Is there something I can help you with?” she asked Coleman.
“Yes, is Mrs. Winter in? I need to talk with her. It's personal.”
“No, she's gone for the day. Again. I can tell her you stopped in if she checks in later,” Melanie suggested.
Coleman seemed to be considering her suggestion. “No, that's fine. Thank you. I'll see if I can catch her another time.”
“Mrs. Ramsey?” Melanie called to her. Coleman turned away from the desk heading for the door. Kate shoved the magazine so close to her face, she felt like her eyes were crossed.
“Kate? None of the agents found your bracelet,” Melanie said.
Kate wished she would shut up until Coleman left the office.
Melanie walked to the other side of the reception desk and over to where she was sitting. “Mrs. Ramsey, are you all right?”
Kate nodded.
“Then take that silly magazine away from your face!” Melanie teased. She took hold of the glossy pages and yanked the magazine away from her face. This was something out of a nightmare.
“Melanie, please!” Kate shouted at her. Coleman Fitzpatrick stopped just as he was about to leave.
Shit! Kate hadn't disguised her accent at all. He turned around. Slowly, he walked to where she was seated. He looked at her as though he was seeing a ghost. Melanie took a step back to observe them. This was getting worse by the minute. All the years of work were about to go down the drain.
She stood to leave. “I'll call you, Melanie,” Kate said.
With Coleman at her heels she exited the office. She would take her business with Coleman outside. She didn't want to provide Melanie with anything to report to her boss when Debbie checked in.
“Kate Rocket, is it really you?” Coleman asked once they were outside.
“In the flesh.” Her heart sank as she said the words.
“Well, I must say you look a bit different than the last time I saw you. How are you, Kate? What are you doing in Debbie Winter's office? Why didn't you answer my calls? I've been searching for you for years!” Coleman gushed.
She took a deep breath.
Perhaps,
she thought,
I can make this work to my advantage. How? I haven't gotten to that part just yet. But I will.
“You ask a lot of questions, Coleman. Why don't we go someplace where we can talk. In private.”
“Of course. Would you like to have lunch?”
“No, I . . . ”
There really isn't any reason not to have lunch with Coleman. He's an old friend. And I certainly don't owe him an explanation about why I'm here.
“Actually, lunch would be nice.”
“Let's go somewhere private where we won't be disturbed. I can't believe I found you after all this time, Kate.” He smiled and shook his head. “You can't imagine how many man-hours I've spent searching for you. Then bang, I walk into a local real estate office looking for you, and there you are.”
Kate stopped dead in her tracks. Why was Coleman going to Debbie's office looking for her?
“Did I say something to frighten you, Kate?” Maybe lunch wasn't such a good idea after all. “You know, I've changed my mind. I just remembered an appointment. It was good seeing you again, Coleman. We'll have that lunch another time. See you.” She bolted to her car before she changed her mind. She crammed the key into the ignition. Shifting into drive, she peeled out of the lot. Two minutes later she saw Coleman's face in her rearview mirror. He'd followed her!
After he searched for me all these years, what else did I expect him to do. I cannot believe my own stupidity. Now I'll have to explain to him why I ran away.
She saw a Taco Bell up ahead and pulled into the parking lot. Coleman followed her, just as she knew he would.
They got out of their vehicles at the same time.
Coleman spoke first, “Kate, when I asked you to join me for lunch, well, I had something more . . . Well, let's just say Taco Bell wasn't first on my list.”
Dear Coleman. He had the grace not to humiliate her. She didn't deserve him as a friend.
“They have really good burritos.”
“Then let's go have lunch.” Coleman took her hand, leading her inside the fast-food joint.
She wanted to jerk her hand out of his. She felt sparks when he touched her. Damn, she had been away from human contact far too long. She would make friends when all of this was over. She didn't know where she would end up, but she knew she had to finish what she had started, what she had planned for so long, and put it behind her. She was allowing herself to become . . .
Hell, I don't know. I just know that Coleman's touch bothers me.
“Kate?”
“Yes, I think I'd like a burrito. Cheese, extra lettuce, no beans.”
“I'll have the same,” Coleman told the pimply-faced teenager wearing the standard purple uniform. “And two soft drinks.”
He led her to a small table by the window. “Wait here,” Coleman said, with a wink.
She nodded. Five minutes later he was back with their order. He spread out napkins for plates, peeled the paper from the straws, then gave her a packet of seasoning sauce.
“So, it's been a long, long time, Kate. Tell me about your life now.”
Something told her she should trust Coleman with her secrets. Later. Maybe.
“After Alex's death, I wasn't up for much of anything. Poor Gertie. Had it not been for her, I would have gone stark raving mad. She was a godsend.”
Coleman listened. “You said ‘was.' Does that mean she's gone, too?”
Kate laughed. “Hardly. Gertie'll outlive us all. She's a good old gal.”
“Yes, I remember her well.” Coleman paused, unsure if he should bring up the subject. “All the times I called you, why wouldn't you speak to me? I have wondered throughout the years what I might've said to offend you. I even made a couple of trips to North Carolina hoping to see you. And I had an envelope from Alex.”
“What envelope?” Kate asked.
“The one that Alex left for me to give to you should he not come home.”
That's why Coleman pursued me all those times?
“This certainly is a surprise. I thought all of Alex's things were returned when you brought his ashes.”
“They were, but Alex made me promise that I would personally see that the envelope was placed in your hands. Evidently, he didn't trust the mail or anyone else to give it to you.”
“Then where is it?” Kate asked.
Coleman laughed. “Well, I don't carry it around with me, if that's what you mean. It's in a safe place.”
“Is that why you were looking for Debbie? Did you think I would have stayed in touch with them after all the sorrow and pain they caused?”
Coleman took a healthy bite from his burrito, then wiped the dripping sauce from his chin. “This is good. Messy but good. I was at the end of my rope. I'm getting ready to retire, Kate. Before I could do so, I had to see that the envelope and whatever it contained was placed in your hands. I was getting desperate when I called the Winters. I thought they might have contacted you.”
“No, not once that I was aware of,” Kate replied.
Coleman wiped his face again. “Then I can finally retire in good conscience. I've kept my word to Alex.”
Kate's eyes filled with tears at the thought of Alex. Though she thought about him constantly, considering what she'd involved herself in, the pain of losing him had lessened with time. To hear about Coleman's dedication to him simply brought back all the memories of the time Alex spent in prison.

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