Page 51 of Karma

He glanced down at his desk, where everything was meticulously organized, rifled through a few file folders, and pulled out the one he was looking for. “There’s something unusual you need to see in Accounts Receivable,” he said.

“Brian’s department.” She kept her tone neutral.

“Yes. You see, we have two checks made out to Annabelle’s Antiques.” Peter handed her two photographed copies.

Liza recalled the purchase. “We bought antique window frames from them.” She’d chosen them herself. “Twenty-five hundred dollars a piece, as I recall.”

“So why weretwofive-thousand-dollar checks issued?” Peter asked.

Liza looked at the papers he’d handed her, confirming his words at a glance. “Did you check with the bank to see if they were both cashed?”

“Of course.” Two red spots highlighted the man’s cheeks. “I’m always thorough.” He clearly bristled at her question.

“I didn’t mean to offend you, Peter. I was just asking.”

He cleared his throat. “Yes. I inquired. Both checks were cashed. However, the signatures on the back of each are markedly different. Poor bank oversight if you ask me,” the man muttered.

Another glance at the next set of documents he handed her proved his assertion right. Both were signed in the name of Annabelle Block, but one had distinctly masculine handwriting on the endorsement. Handwriting similar to her brother’s.

She felt the heat of Peter’s stare as he waited for her to come to a conclusion. She’d already reached one that churned her upset stomach. Just this morning, Brian had come begging to borrow money, and now…What was going on here? He’d issued two checks and cashed one himself?

Or was she jumping to unwarranted conclusions, and maybe this was just an innocent mistake. She bit the inside of her cheek. Only her brother or Annabelle Block, the shop owner, would know. Liza needed to decide who to talk to first.

She glanced at Peter, who looked at her expectantly. “Thank you for being so thorough,” she said to her accountant, careful to feed his need for approval.

She didn’t want to alienate the man and put him on Brian’s trail. Even if Accounts Receivable was his department, they’d both been careful to skirt the issue and not mention his name. She’d like to keep it that way for now.

“I’m very grateful you called me in to see this,” she added.

“What do you want me to do?” Peter asked, obviously eager to help.

Liza gripped the papers tighter in her hand. She needed to look into this herself and, if Brian was involved, figure out what he was up to before she involved the office or Peter directly.

She gave Peter a forced smile. “Just your normal work. I’ll take it from here.” She folded the papers he’d given her and put them in her oversized bag.

Liza glanced at her watch. “I have to get going. I have a meeting I’m going to be late for, but thanks again.”

“Well, if you change your mind, I’m happy to call the account in question.” Peter inclined his head, as usual, beaming with pride that he’d done his job so well.

Liza strode out of his office and was headed for the exit, preoccupied with thoughts of what Brian was up to and whether she should confront him outright or do a side investigation first.Dare would know. The errant thought brought her up short, and she stopped in the entry hall.

She’d spent one night with him and dropped defenses she’d spent years building, only to have him withdraw over the tattoo and then judge a situation he knew nothing about. He’d wormed his way in and hurt her in a short span of time.Lesson learned,Liza thought. Dare had nothing to do with her business or her problems with her brother. So while the cop might well have answers she needed, Liza was capable of figuring out what to do on her own. She had no intention of relying on Dare Barron again for anything.

She pulled herself together and started for the door, bumping into Jeff as he entered through the other side.

Liza hadn’t seen him since the awkward “this isn’t a date” incident at the fair, and she really wasn’t in the mood to deal with him now.

“Jeff, hi!” Liza said, hoping all she’d be facing was a quick conversation between co-workers.

“It’s good to see you,” he said, his gaze looking her over. “How’s your injury?”

“My head is doing pretty well. It still hurts occasionally, and sometimes I have to take painkillers that knock me out. Which is why I didn’t get back to you,” she said, knowing she owed him an explanation.

She wouldn’t tell him she’d been afraid he’d read too much into a return call. “But thank you so much for calling to check on me.”

He nodded in understanding. “Frankly, I’m surprised your watchdog told you I called.”

“Dare told me,” she assured him evenly.