“There’s no way she could have had anything to do with any of this,” Robert said, pulling out his cell to send the incoming call to voice mail. “She’s behind bars and that’s where she’ll stay.”
“Who are you talking about?” Charles asked.
“A crazy old girlfriend of Meeks’s,” Robert replied.
“Jasmine Black,” Meeks said, his face twisted as though he was in pain. “Her obsession for me took it to a whole new level of crazy. From bailing out and buying a gun for someone we’d just put away so he could kill Francine to infiltrating our company to keep tabs on us, and from hiding behind and controlling stalkers to actually trying to kill Francine herself.”
After Jasmine’s attempts were foiled, she’d been sent to jail and was currently awaiting trial.
“We both know how resourceful she can be, not to mention vengeful. She could have easily coordinated something like this,” Meeks insisted, pacing the room.
“But whoever pulled this off had to have been planning this for quite some time, long before Jasmine ever came on the scene.” Robert reached to stop his friend’s movements. “Think about it. They planted someone in our organization to steal that info, and then planted bogus documents that would guarantee we’d lose the lawsuit, costing us millions. Their motive had to be something pretty significant. No offense, Meeks, but wanting you back in her life and her bed just doesn’t seem like it’s a big enough reason.”
“I agree,” Charles echoed. “No offense.” He held up both hands.
“I know she’s diabolical, but this is a bit much even for Jasmine...even to have you,” Robert added.
“I hear you,” Meeks stated, pacing the room again. “But my gut is telling me that Jasmine is somehow mixed up in all this.”
“I know, but...it’s a reach,” Robert said.
Meeks turned back to Butch. “When she delivered that last payment, did you talk to her?”
“Yeah, why?” he replied, frowning.
“Did she happen to speak with a Southern accent?” Robert asked.
Robert and Meeks held their breath as though their life depended on the next word out of Butch’s mouth. “Yeah, she did.”
* * *
“Okay, say you’re right,” Francine asked. “Say that this Ruthie Lee Rutherford is really Ruby Lee, aka Lee Rugby. What’s her motive for doing any of this?”
“I’m wondering the same thing myself,” Paul asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe she got pissed off when Dad booted her man out of the company. She might not have seen it as a way to help him.” Farrah got up, circled her desk and sat down. “It did take a while for him to get it together. She might have thought Dad and the company had abandoned him when he needed them the most. Who knows? All I’m saying is that we need to check her out.” Farrah turned on her computer and logged on to her system. “If someone went after my man, I’d do everything in my power to make things right.”
Francine and Paul looked at each other and smiled. “We know you would,” Francine teased.
Farrah glared at them before turning her attention back to the screen.
Paul took the seat she’d vacated. “What are you doing?”
“I’m running a quick background check and credit report for Ruthie Lee Rutherford. I want to see what she’s been up to all these years.”
“What’s the plan?” Paul questioned.
“I’m going to find out as much as I can about her, bring Robert up to speed and we’ll go pay her a friendly visit.” Farrah clicked a few keys on her computer, navigating between multiple search engines and websites dedicated to the types of investigation she needed.
“I think the only thing you’re going to find is a sweet, if somewhat sad, little old lady living without the love of her life.” Paul stretched out his legs and crossed them at his ankles.
“Farrah, I know you’re going to do what you think is best, but I think you’re barking up the wrong tree.” Francine reached for Paul’s hand. “Help me up.”
Paul quickly obliged.
“Where are you going?” Farrah asked.
“We’re interviewing night nannies. I’m sure you and Robert can handle this, but if not, let us know.” Francine kissed Paul on the cheek and blew Farrah a kiss before walking out of the office.
“What now?” Paul asked, returning to his seat and reaching for the stress ball that sat on the edge of Farrah’s desk.
“Now we wait,” Farrah explained, leaning back in her chair.
“While we wait, care to tell me how your night went?” Paul asked, making his eyebrows dance.
Farrah smiled and released a slow breath.
“That good, huh?” Paul returned the stress ball to the desk. “I guess you won’t be needing this anymore.”
Farrah giggled.
“Did you two finally confess your undying love for each other yet?”
“Not yet.”
“What the hell are you waiting for?” he shot back. “Please don’t tell me that you—Ms. I Passed the Bar on the First Try, I Can Kick Butt Just as Good as Any Man and I Shoot Guns for the Fun of It—are still scared.”
“I just haven’t had the chance...” Farrah started to explain when her computer signaled that the first report had come through. She browsed the report and as the words sank in, realization began to take hold. Farrah felt as though she’d been hit in the gut.
“Well, what’s—?”
Farrah held up her index finger and Paul’s voice trailed to a halt. He sat quietly, watching as Farrah read through the documents as several others were fed to her screen. She sent the reports to her printer and sat back into her chair.
“Well?” Paul asked again, sitting on the edge of his seat.
Farrah snatched several papers from the printer and handed them to him. She gave him a few moments to catch up.
“I knew it... Oh, no... Oh, my...”
“Oh, my is right.”
Paul ran his hands down his face a couple of times. “Are you sure this is correct? Is there any chance that it could be wrong?”
“We have access to some of the best networks in the world, you know that. Plus, I called in a favor from one of Felicia’s friends at the CIA. It’s right.” She tapped the edge of the third page. “Did you see the attachment?”
“Yeah, I saw it. I just don’t understand how this is even possible. What are you going to do?”
“Where’s Robert?” she asked, trying to keep her emotions in check.
“He’s downstairs with Meeks in interrogation.”
“Interrogation... Why?” she asked, glancing back down at the papers she still held.
“It is called interrogation, so I’d assume they’re...”
“Yes but my question is, who’s in there with them?” she asked, frowning.
“I have no idea,” Paul said. “Jeremy just said Robert had whoever it is flown in last night. Charles and his team brought him up after midnight.”
Farrah got to her feet, picked up the reports and headed to the door. “Are you going to tell Francine?”
“Not yet,” she replied. “I want to talk to Robert and Meeks first.”
“No worries. My lips are sealed where Francine’s concerned.” He pretended to close an imaginary zipper across his lips. “Looks like you might have been right after all,” Paul admitted.
Farrah slowly nodded. “That makes two of us.”