A Thousand Little Blessings (28 page)

“Nevertheless, we agreed to meet with Carl to discuss the matter at a later date. I took the liberty of informing him about today's meeting. He should be here in…” William looked at his watch. “…in approximately ten minutes.”

“You're going to confront him with the evidence?” Judge Thompson asked.

“That is correct. The sheriff and a deputy are standing by, ready to arrest Carl once this meeting is over. But I didn't want to waste the opportunity to question him with all of the members of the board present.”

James Moore spoke. “What are the chances of recovering the missing funds?”

“That's one of the issues I intend to speak to Carl about. With any luck, Miss Edwards's bank account will contain most of the stolen funds. I am in the process of requesting a warrant to access that information. Since the account is in a bank in Austin, I had to go through the court in Travis County.”

“You're going to corner that rat and hope he confesses?” asked Mayor Robinson.

A small smile crossed William's lips. “That is my plan.”

Judge Thompson rubbed his chin. “It might work. Carl Stanley has always been interested in what people think of him. The threat of being disgraced may just be enough to push him over the edge.” A long minute of silence followed Judge Thompson's statement.

William resumed his seat, took another drink of water, and gazed out the nearby window.

Mayor Robinson was the first to break the quiet. “While we're waiting for Carl, I'd like to discuss whether Miss Davis should be allowed to continue acting as bank president. I called on Henry today.”

Etta sat up in her chair. No one had told her the mayor had been out to the house. Had her father been ready to receive visitors?

“I know,” Mayor Robinson said, glancing at Etta, “I probably should have checked with you first. But I wanted to see for myself how long it will be until your father returns to the bank. I have to tell you, gentlemen, I don't foresee Henry resuming his position for many months.”

James Moore interrupted the mayor. “Where are you going with this, Edgar?”

“I'd like to throw my full support behind Miss Davis,” the mayor answered. “There's no one better suited for the job, and she's handled this embezzlement mess with admirable efficiency.”

“I agree,” James Moore said. “I have no qualms about leaving Miss Davis in charge until her father feels up to returning. What about you, Judge?”

Judge Thompson's bushy white eyebrows rose as he looked at Etta. “Do you want to continue, Miss Davis?”

Etta cleared her throat before answering. She wanted to make sure her voice didn't reveal how nervous she was. “Yes, Judge Thompson.”

“There's one thing we haven't considered,” William said. “Henrietta acted as her father's assistant and was able to step in when he became incapable of continuing. If she chooses to step down, there is no one to take her place.”

“Why would she choose to step down?” Mayor Robinson asked. “She just said she wanted to remain.”

William glanced at Etta and smiled. “Miss Davis is a young woman, gentlemen. She may want to get married someday.”

The other men all looked away or squirmed in their chairs, apparently embarrassed that they'd never considered Etta's marriage prospects.

“I see your point,” the mayor said. “Miss Davis needs an assistant.”

“Precisely,” William replied. “The bank has never had a vice-president, but this experience shows us that one is needed.”

“Who would you recommend for such a position, Etta?” asked Judge Thompson.

Etta only needed a few seconds to come up with an answer. “The most suitable candidates would be Mrs. Swanson or Arthur Lewis. Mrs. Swanson has worked here for many years and knows all of the bank's procedures. Mr. Lewis has taken great initiative since taking charge of the loan department.”

“Two women in administrative positions?” James Moore asked, his incredulity evident in the tone of his voice. “That's really pushing things.”

“Don't worry,” Carolina said with a soft laugh. “I'm not interested in taking on more work. Mr. Davis gave me a job when no one else would, and I've tried to repay his consideration with loyal service. But I've reached the age where I'd like fewer responsibilities rather than more.”

Etta smiled at Carolina. When this matter was resolved, she'd speak to Carolina about changing her job requirements. After all, Uncle Carl's position would soon be vacant.

“Very well,” Judge Thompson said. “If Etta will speak to Mr. Lewis and ask him if he's interested in the position, we'll put it on the agenda for our regularly scheduled board meeting.”

A knock postponed Etta's response.

Carolina rose and opened the door.

Carl stood at the threshold, his straw boater in his hand and a broad smile on his face. “Good afternoon, everyone,” Carl said as he entered the room. “I hope you're all enjoying this beautiful spring weather. There's no better time to be in Texas, that's what I always say.” Carl pulled out the only empty chair and settled into it. “I was delighted to receive a note asking me to attend today's meeting. May I assume you've reached a decision about Etta's place at the bank?”

William stood. “Carl, would you please tell us how long you've been an employee of the Davis Bank and Trust?”

“It will be two years in November. If Henry could talk, I'm sure he'd tell you what a great job I've done.”

“What areas of the bank are your responsibility?”

“Personnel. I interview and hire tellers, bookkeepers, and secretaries. I also make sure they're doing their jobs and handle any problems that arise. Henry's in charge of the management level, and I do everything else.”

“Do you have any day-to-day responsibilities that involve cash?”

“Not usually, but I've always been willing to fulfill any duty assigned to me.”

“Is that why you collected payments from farmers and ranchers who have loans with the bank?”

Carl's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. “Why, yes it is. I know it's difficult for those clients to get into town, so I took it on myself to collect the payments and to issue receipts.”

“Were these payments made in cash?”

Carl adjusted his purple-striped tie as though he felt the noose tightening around his neck. “Why, yes they were. Clients with checking accounts are mostly our business owners. Almost everyone else operates on a cash basis.”

“What did you do with the cash once you'd collected it?”

Carl crossed his legs, uncrossed them, and shifted in his chair. “Well, I entered the payments in the general ledger and added the cash to a teller's drawer. That's the way we always do it.”

“I'd like you to examine this ledger.” William placed Arthur Lewis's record of payments in front of Carl. “Do you recognize it?”

Carl turned the pages as he frowned over the small, black book. “No, can't say I do. It's too small to be one of the ledgers we keep at the bank.”

“This is a separate ledger kept by Arthur Lewis. You know Mr. Lewis, correct?”

“Of course. Arthur's office is only a few feet away from mine.”

“Were you aware that Mr. Lewis kept a separate ledger of loan payments?”

Carl pulled his collar away from his neck. “No, can't say I did. If I had, I would have reported the collections I made. If my minor oversight has caused a problem, it can easily be rectified by checking the general ledger.”

“Are you acquainted with Miss Florence Edwards of Austin?”

Carl removed a white handkerchief from the inside pocket of his jacket and wiped his upper lip. “Yes, I know Miss Edwards. In fact, I introduced her to Etta a few weeks ago. Do you remember, Etta?”

Despite his duplicity, a twinge of sympathy touched Etta's heart. Carl was walking farther and farther into the trap. “Yes,” she answered. “I remember meeting her.”

William continued drilling Carl with questions. “Miss Edwards told me that she sometimes accompanied you when you made your collections.”

“Only once. Flo loves fast automobiles, and my car was built for speed.”

“Miss Edwards also told me that you opened a bank account in Austin under her name.”

Carl's gaze dropped. “Oh, well, gentlemen…this is rather a delicate matter and definitely not one to be discussed in front of the ladies.”

William pursued the question. “I believe Miss Davis and Mrs. Swanson will survive any shocking revelation. Would you like to explain why you are making deposits under Miss Edward's name?”

“Well…” Carl cleared his throat. “Flo is a special friend. I…uh…help her financially in exchange for her…uh…friendship.”

“Miss Edwards is a kept woman?” William asked.

“That's a harsh way to describe my friendship with Flo. She has a job at a dry goods store on Congress Avenue, but as I'm sure you can imagine, her salary provides only for the most basic necessities of life. It is my pleasure to provide her with the occasional treat such as a new hat or a small item of jewelry. She is most grateful for whatever favor I show her.”

William placed three sheets of paper in front of Carl. “The paper on the left is a list of shortfalls the bank has experienced during the last fourteen months. There is a regularly occurring discrepancy between the cash in the tellers' drawers and the amounts recorded in the general ledger.”

Carl shook his head and pointed to the sheet of paper. “This is what I was talking about, gentlemen. I know little Etta tried her hardest, but an error like this could end up costing the bank a lot of money.”

“Indeed,” William said. “The second paper is a record of the payments you collected. Most of the clients had receipts signed by you.”

Carl rubbed his chin. “I'd have to look at the general ledger to make sure this is correct. There have been too many for me to remember.”

“Miss Edwards turned over her bank book to my office. The deposits equal the amounts you collected minus approximately two thousand dollars.”

Carl squirmed in his chair. “Hmm…that is a coincidence.”

“According to Miss Davis, your salary is seven hundred fifty dollars a year. How is it possible you deposited close to five thousand dollars in Miss Edwards's account?”

“Me? Oh, no. Flo must have made these deposits.” Carl scooted his chair away from the table and glanced at the door.

“Miss Edwards and the tellers at Texas Trust disagree. Miss Edwards says you made the deposits and the tellers describe a well-dressed, sandy-haired man in his forties. They also report that he drives a yellow Hudson.”

Carl's chair screeched on the wooden floor as he stood. “What is this? Are you accusing me of stealing payments and falsifying ledgers?”

“In my role as county prosecutor, I am prepared to file charges of embezzlement against you.”

Carl's face turned crimson. “That's ridiculous! I tried to help out the bank's customers and I get accused of a crime? If Etta's lost the bank's money, you need to lay the blame on her. I refuse to stay here and let you besmirch my good name.” Carl grabbed his hat and strode toward the door. But when he opened it, the sheriff and a deputy blocked his exit.

William nodded to the sheriff and the two officers grasped Carl's arms. “You're going to spend the night in jail, Carl. I'll be by to file charges.”

“This is madness!” Carl yelled. “I haven't done anything wrong. I can produce every dollar I collected.”

William signaled with his hand for the sheriff to take Carl away. Through the open doorway, Etta could hear Carl angrily protesting his arrest.

As the sound of Carl's furious voice subsided, everyone around the conference table sat back in their chairs and sighed heavily.

“I never would have thought…” James Moore muttered.

Judge Thompson placed his palms on the table. “Mrs. Swanson, please note that the board will meet again in two weeks. That should be enough time for Mr. Clark to bring us up-to-date on the case against Carl and the prospect of recovering the stolen funds.”

“Do you need more time, William?” asked the mayor.

William stacked his papers and returned his watch to his vest pocket. “No, two weeks should be plenty.”

“Very well, then,” Judge Thompson said. “As chairman of the Board of Directors, I hereby call this meeting closed.”

After the men had shaken hands with each other and filed out of the room, Etta folded her arms on the table and rested her head on top of them. Her neck and shoulders ached as though she'd been carrying the weight of the world.

Carolina touched Etta's shoulder. “Your father would be so proud.”

Carolina's kindness moved Etta to tears. She'd successfully controlled her emotions during the meeting, but now that it was over, everything she'd held back rushed to escape her self-imposed blockade.

“Do you want a few moments alone?” Carolina asked.

Etta retrieved a handkerchief from her jacket pocket and nodded.

Carolina patted Etta's shoulder, refilled her water glass, and left without saying another word.

Etta's breaths came in ragged sobs. Her father wouldn't be proud if he saw her now. Women weren't considered suitable for business because of their emotional natures, and wasn't she fulfilling that opinion? Gabriel had told her she needed to be more of a man, but how in the world could she be something she wasn't? Etta sipped her water and took several deep breaths. She had to tell her father about Carl and the impending trial, but at least she could tell him the problem had almost been resolved.

 

****

 

The sun was setting by the time Etta turned onto the drive that led to her house. Wisps of pale yellow and pink clouds stretched along the sky, and the first stars blinked to life. She hesitated outside the kitchen door to gather her thoughts and to put on her best face.