Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WHO REMEMBERED THE PENNIES
At six fifteen, I entered the club's private library wearing my winter coat over my uniform.
Aurelio sat at a long walnut table with Miriam Shaw.
Victor Sloane was absent.
I noticed immediately.
Miriam gestured toward a chair.
“Please sit, Paola.”
I remained standing.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No,” she said. “We need your account of what happened.”
“Will I lose my job?”
Aurelio looked up.
“Not because you told the truth.”
I wanted to believe him.
But men like Aurelio could make promises that other people had to pay for.
Miriam opened a notebook.
“Tell us how you recognized the figures.”
I explained the earlier meeting.
Three weeks before, Victor had been drinking with two department managers when he received a call.
He had complained about a missing construction payment.
I remembered the exact amount because he had repeated it three times.
Then, eleven days later, I had heard him discussing another loss.
Miriam wrote everything down.
“Did you see the underlying account records?”
“No.”
“Then the amounts are a lead, not proof.”
“I understand.”
Aurelio leaned back.
“Why did you spill the drink instead of speaking?”
I looked at him.
“Because Mr. Crane had already told me to keep my mouth shut.”
“And I hadn't?”
“No.”
“Then why not speak to me?”
I hesitated.
“Because I didn't know whether you'd listen.”
He absorbed that without answering.
Miriam asked whether I had copied any documents.
“No.”
“Taken photographs?”
“No.”
“Discussed this with anyone?”
“Only you.”
She nodded.
“We may need to contact you again.”
I stood.
Aurelio spoke.
“Paola.”
I turned.
“Would you consider doing temporary paid reconciliation work for the company?”
My heart jumped.
Then suspicion followed.
“Doing what?”
“Reviewing records with qualified accountants. Nothing outside your experience.”
I looked toward Miriam.
“Would I be allowed to ask questions?”
“That's the point,” she said.
“And I'd be paid?”
“Of course.”
I considered Sofia's tuition bill.
My overdue electricity payment.
The classes I had abandoned.
Then I looked at Aurelio.
“I won't sign anything without reading it.”
May you like
His mouth curved.
“I would be disappointed if you did.”
