Chapter Fourteen

The whole group met in the resort's main hall, a large wood-paneled chamber decorated with banners and armorial devices to resemble a mediaeval baronial residence. Laurel had called her lawyer friend, and he'd driven at speed from Utica to arrive in time for the meeting. Now he sat with Greg and Donna with a fiercely protective air, his dark eyes watching the local law enforcement officers. Joanne sat with her father off to one side, their heads together as they conversed in a low tone. Ursula Baker sat on her own, pointedly not looking at anyone, visibly fuming at the way events had turned out.

Martin sat with Claudia, both of them showered and wearing clean clothes. His ribs and stomach still hurt when he forgot and moved quickly, but he was fervently glad to be alive and clasping hands with the woman he loved. A Tylenol helped with the pain, and he found he could watch the proceedings with a detached air.

Looking around to ensure all were there, the sheriff stepped forward. "Hi, folks, I'm Sheriff Lacon and this is Deputy Williams." The sheriff, a tall, muscular man in his late forties, put his hands on his hips and surveyed them all from under the peak of his baseball cap. "Now, can somebody tell me what's been going on around here?"

Greg's lawyer stood up. "Sheriff, I'm Tony Weissman, attorney for Mr. Gregory Dewar and his fiancée Miss Donna Pulaski. My client wishes to admit to a charge of arson, in that he did willfully set fire to a cabin here last night with intent to commit an insurance fraud."

"He was forced to do it by Bruce Baker!" Donna cried, earning an exasperated glance from the lawyer.

Ursula looked at her, visibly stunned by the accusation. "Arson?" she cried. "Jesus H. Christ!"

Undeterred, Weissman plowed on. "As the young lady correctly states, Sheriff, my client was blackmailed into the act by Mr. Baker, one of the partners in this resort. He's willing to attest to this in a court of law."

"He won't be a partner for much longer!" Ursula snarled. "The little rat fuck!"

"Be that as it may," Weissman continued in determined tones, "Mr. Dewar wishes to turn States Evidence against Mr. Baker."

"Well, it sounds like quite a little party you've had here!" Sheriff Lacon said dryly. "I guess we'd better put out an APB for Mr. Baker." He glanced at Greg, who looked pale. "Then we'll have a word with this young man down at the office."

"We can help you with that, Sheriff." Pete spoke for the first time. He stood up and flipped open a small wallet which he held for the sheriff to see. "I'm Agent Pete Ashby, United States Treasury Department. This is my daughter, Joanne. She's willing to speak in support of Mr. Dewar in connection with the insurance fraud."

"Pete?" Laurel cried, staring at him. "You're a Treasury Agent?"

He bared his teeth in a distinctly feral manner. "That's what it says on my badge, Mrs. Kratzmer."

"What's your involvement here, Agent Ashby?" the sheriff asked in guarded tones. From the look on his face Martin could see Lacon did not appreciate having a federal man spring at him out of the woodwork.

"I've been working undercover here in an attempt to track the whereabouts of a number of missing federal bonds. For some time I'd reason to suspect they could be hidden somewhere in this resort." He glanced at Martin. "Thanks to information received, I now believe them to be located elsewhere in the neighborhood."

"Joanne, are you an agent too?" Laurel asked weakly.

"No, Mrs. Kratzmer." She smiled sweetly. "I just work here."

"Sheriff, you've no need to worry," Pete said, turning back to Lacon. For the first time that Martin or most of the people there could recall, he actually smiled like a human being. "I'm kind of sensitive to folks treading on my preserve; I'm not going to tread on yours."

"For that mercy, let us give thanks!" Lacon laughed. "Okay, let's get to it. Where and when was this Baker guy last seen?"

"About an hour and a half ago," Laurel told him. "He was down at the staff cabins. We were the last to see him." She indicated Martin and the others who had been there.

"Has he got a vehicle?"

"Yes, Sheriff, he's got a Chevrolet Suburban." She stood up. "I can get you the details; they're up in the office."

Lacon gestured to his deputy, who left the room with her.

"I found Bruce in my cabin when I returned from the main building," Joanne spoke up. "He tried to persuade me to leave with him."

"Why was that?" Lacon asked, shooting a glance at Pete, who stared back with a stony expression.

"Because she was sleeping with my soon-to-be ex-husband," Ursula drawled, shooting Joanne a venomous glance.

Joanne shrugged. "Yeah, we were sleeping together until last night when the fire started, but I had a reason for that. Dad told me what he was working on, and I figured I could help by finding out if Mr. Baker knew anything about the bonds."

Whilst she had spoken, Pete had turned his attention to the ceiling and was gazing at it as if something there was truly riveting. Sheriff Lacon stared at her with frank amazement.

"Although he never at any time let me in on his money worries, I figured something wasn't right real early," Joanne explained. "We started sleeping together just after the season began this year. After a couple of months, he trusted me enough to leave me on my own in the office where I could access the files. It didn't take me long to get round his passwords on the computer, and I found out for sure he was working the books about two months ago. I've got copies of the evidence here." She reached into her bag and drew out a thick folder.

By now everyone was staring at her. Eventually Ursula cleared her throat. "I've been checking through the computer system and the files all morning. Bruce must have got in last night or really early this morning and deleted everything. Some stuff I do have hard copies of, but I'm glad you've got the evidence to prosecute the little rat." She looked pained. "But did you have to fucking sleep with him?"

Joanne shrugged. "Sure. He made it clear from the start he had the hots for me, and I figured it was the only way I could find to make him trust me. He may have a big cock, but he wasn't that good in bed, Mrs. Baker," she added kindly.

"I'll say!" was all Ursula could find to answer such a breathtakingly inept attempt at consolation.

Martin could feel Claudia heaving with silent laughter alongside him and he clasped her hand and squeezed it, fighting the urge to laugh himself. She gave him a wink and turned her face away from the others to hide her smile.

"I guess I'd better take care of that folder, miss," the sheriff said, after a pregnant pause. "That's unless you've any objections, Agent Ashby?" The look he gave Pete was laden with sympathy.

"None whatever, Sheriff," Pete said heavily.

Lacon took the folder then looked around at the group. "Okay, before I get out there and start looking for this guy, does anyone else have something to say?"

"I do." Martin raised his hand and turned to Ursula. "Mrs. Baker, I recollect you telling me that Bruce can no longer access his bank account."

She turned and regarded him coolly. "You're right. As I told you earlier, all the company accounts and our marital joint accounts were closed to him as of the start of business today." Her lips twisted. "Although I guess he's got another account somewhere else he was stashing the money in."

"He does," Joanne said. "The paperwork's in the folder with the rest of the evidence."

"That's good, but he can still draw all the money he needs using credit cards," Ursula pointed out.

"No." Joanne shook her head. "He didn’t have any other credit cards, only a debit card and checkbook linked to the secret account. Last night, when I'd got in and cleaned up after our fight, I saw Bruce had left his billfold with his cards behind in my cabin. I found the checkbook later in his apartment when I went to get a few of my things I’d left there. From what happened last night and a few hints in his previous behavior, I figured he was soon going to make a run for it; and for that, he'd need cash. I hid the checkbook in Dad’s workshop, then went online and used the debit card to buy a heap of gold jewelry. I ordered it to be delivered to your office in New York next week, Mrs. Baker. So the transaction can still be cancelled, and it ties up the debit card!” She laughed. "I emptied the account! He told me the ATM's in Gainesville rejected his cards this morning, yet he never figured out why!"

"And without any other paperwork to back him up, he won't be able to access the funds unless the bank issues him new ones!" Pete's eyes gleamed triumphantly. "That's my girl!"

Unsettled by such a display of brass nerve, everyone avoided meeting each other’s eyes. Sheriff Lacon muttered, "If that don't beat all!" then turned as his deputy came in with Laurel. "How's it going, Brad?"

"I got the APB out, Sheriff. There's no sign yet of Baker or his vehicle."

"I guess he could've taken to the woods, although he'd be stupid to try. Brad, better get onto Payneton, see if they can get us a 'copter. In the meantime," he said, turning to regard Greg, Donna and Weissman, "I think you three had better come down to the office with me."

"Erm… there is one more thing, Sheriff," Martin said, holding his hand up again.

"Yes, Mr.?"

"Grey, Martin Grey. I'm sorry to be the one to point this out, but Bruce could lay his hands on another source of funds."

"He could?" Lacon cocked his head. "Where and how?"

"Canning's Vale." Pete Ashby looked up sharply. Martin nodded to him. "I have reason to believe it's where a large quantity of excellent and very valuable bootleg Scotch is hidden. Bruce now knows where it's located and he could well attempt to recover some bottles to sell."

"And hidden in with that booze could be a small fortune in uninsured Treasury Bonds!" Pete growled. "Shit!" He turned to Lacon. "Sheriff, sorry all to hell, but this becomes a federal priority case as of now. I'd appreciate it if you could get that 'copter up here to the resort, ASAP!"

Lacon shook his head. "Sheesh! This case gets more complex by the minute!" He held up his hands. "Okay, Agent Ashby, you got it."

He and Pete left to make the necessary calls and Martin moved quietly to one side of the hall, followed by Claudia. "Who are you calling?" she asked as he dialed a number on his cell phone.

"Someone I owe a favor to." He smiled. A faint chirp sounded from the phone and he put his finger to his lips. "Doug? I'm calling to ask if you'd like to be in on a hot news story…"