“Sedgwick. The bastard.” Bethany’s heels flashed as she paced Everett’s … Howell’s office. “He’s obviously after the presidency. We need to do something about him, fucking now.”
“Language, Bethany.” Edie sat in Everett’s … Howell’s guest chair. She hadn’t even gotten through HHE’s doors when Bethany dragged her, past two tall strangers in black suits and a very jumpy Ms. Dooley, directly into this meeting.
“I say we kill the bastard.” Howell stabbed the desk with a finger.
“Please don’t swear.” Edie was uncomfortable with Junior’s barely disguised corporate bloodlust. Everett, even in full suit-and-tie glory, was nothing like this. How could she have missed the obvious difference?
“Murder, I like.” Bethany dumped herself into the other chair. “But think of the paperwork.”
“No problem,” Howell said. “It’s all done on the computer now.”
Bethany grimaced. “Whatever we decide, it has to be done today. We’re out of time.” She reached behind her to massage her nape.
“Why?” Edie asked. “What’s the rush?”
Howell rose. “More profit-loss reports have surfaced. Annual.” With an embarrassed glance at Edie, he moved behind Bethany and started massaging her shoulders.
Bethany startled, then melted into her chair. “That feels wonderful, honey pie.” She smiled like syrup over her shoulder. He smiled like sugar lumps back.
Eew. Edie almost wished for the Duke of Drama and his consort Her Grand Bitchiness back. “Okay. Annual numbers. What’s the problem?”
“They’re not the real numbers, though I can’t prove it,” Howell said. “All indicators pointed to breaking even. But these reports show a horrible loss.”
Edie rolled her eyes. “Again with the nasty rumors followed by faked reports. Sedgwick isn’t too original, is he?”
“But he is effective. I got my hands on a draft hardcopy.” He flipped open an orange folder on his desk. “These numbers are being leaked to both the board and the stockholders.”
Edie leaned in for a look. Her eyes flew wide. “These won’t destroy just you. Going to the stockholders? The stock will tank and the whole company will crash.”
“Fortunately, no one else has seen the actual numbers, and I’ve been working my ass off plugging the rumors.” Howell pressed small circles on Bethany’s temples. “But it’s only a matter of time.”
“Mmm.” Bethany said, “Which is why we need proof today. Daddy’s called a special meeting of the board.”
“So soon?” Edie said.
“Yes,” Howell said. “You know those two guys in black suits and iron attitudes running around the company? Those aren’t your average auditors. The Feds have heard about this, and falsifying business records is a felony. Now, normally they don’t get involved unless investor cash or billions of dollars are at stake. But somehow HHE got in their crosshairs. They’ve already questioned Kirk, and, since I’m currently head of the company, they’re gunning next for me.”
Edie’s heart skipped a beat. “The Feds have questioned Everett?”
“All that, and you’re only worried about Kirk?” Howell shook his head. “He quit under suspicious circumstances. What did you think would happen? They questioned my father yesterday and I’m scheduled to get reamed this morning. I’m surprised they haven’t pulled you in yet, Edie.” He paused. “Say, I’ve got it. We show the board the security footage. That’ll prove Sedgwick is the perp.”
“That won’t work,” Edie said. “The camera shows Sedgwick typing, not what he’s typing. Oh, God, why did the Feds question Everett and not me?” She leaped to her feet. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got to find evidence to clear Everett — ”
“Sit down and stop worrying about Kirk. He hasn’t been charged with anything yet, and he’s walking free, isn’t he? Worry about us. We’re in the line of fire. Damn, I’m screwed. That fake loss makes me look like an incompetent leader. Worse, if we can’t prove Sedgwick doctored the numbers, I look guilty. Edie. Isn’t the IP thing proof that that Sedgwick planted bad files?”
Edie shook her head as she sat. “The board won’t understand that. The Feds might, but it would take time to prove. In the meantime, it would be Sedgwick’s word against mine, and who’d take the word of a computer geek against a vice president? You only believe me because Bethany trusts me, and you trust her.”
“I have an idea, honey pie.” Bethany turned in her chair to stare up at Howell. “Sedgwick’s responsible for finance, right? Why don’t you just tell the board and the Feds those awful numbers are his fault? They’ll believe you.”
“That,” Howell said, “is the dumbest idea I have ever heard.”
Bethany wilted.
“Why not?” Edie snapped. “I haven’t heard anything better from you, Howell.”
“Even if they believe me, Sedgwick’s the guy who balances our books, not the one who decides our profit strategy. Hell, all he has to do is say he was following the orders of a superior officer — again, that’s me — and I take the fall.”
“Don’t listen to the grump, Bethany,” Edie said. “He’s just jealous. You’re at least coming up with possibilities. All he does is gripe and moan.”
Bethany straightened. “You’re not jealous of me, are you Houghie?”
“Me, jealous?” His tone held too much vehemence, too much denial. He frowned, seeming to hear it, and sat slowly on the corner of his desk. “Bethy, I’m sorry. It’s just … You’re beautiful and smart. I’m just a mediocre businessman with an inheritance. I’ve seen A Star is Born. I know what happens.”
“You really think I’m beautiful?” Bethany smiled like sugar lumps again.
Edie rolled her eyes. Out of all that, Bethany heard only beautiful?
“Of course, Honey Bunny.” He smiled back, creamed goo.
To have something to erk in, Edie grabbed the orange folder. The reports distracted her. “This looks official. Sedgwick must have hacked the reporting software itself. Wait.” She slapped the top page. “That means I can get the real figures and at least show Howell isn’t incompetent.”
“How?” Howell asked. “If he’s rigged the report itself?”
She’d forgotten not everyone was as tech savvy as Bethany, or plain savvy as Everett. “I can bypass the report system and run a tabulation straight from the database.”
He considered her. “You’re as good as Kirk kept saying, aren’t you?”
“Better.”
“The real numbers … ” Bethany snapped her fingers. “We can use the real numbers against Sedgwick. Make him explain why his are different. Use truth as a lever.”
“Or a club.” Howell grinned savagely. “That’s brilliant, Bethy. Sedgwick is used to operating in the shadows. I’ll back him into a corner, break his nerve. We won’t need proof. He’ll be bleating his guilt. Thank you, sweetheart.” He took her hands in his. The sugar-honey-barfy lumps had come back in his eyes.
“You’re so very welcome, Houghie.” Her expression softened.
The atmosphere went toxically gooey again, so Edie left.
• • •
Edie did her data wrangling at 10 P.M. It went quickly and soon she was printing off the annual profit numbers directly from the accounting system. And the numbers did show a profit. Howell could confront Philip and force a confession from him. Although Philip would no doubt retaliate.
She stared at the printout. How like a game this corporate intrigue was, move and counter move. Philip floated rumors. Howell refuted them. Philip floated fake numbers. Howell brought in the real numbers. A game, or wolves in the wild, fighting for dominance. It might go on forever, the two of them tearing at each other’s throats. Until one of them went down.
Like Everett had gone down, taking the killing bite meant for her.
Her throat thickened and her eyes itched. She stuffed the printout into her purse, wiped at her lids, and headed out.