Private Release (9 page)

“I was wondering why you weren’t answering your page.”

Jared spun around and saw Étienne standing there, frowning. “Don’t you ever knock?”

“Not when my chief’s life could possibly in danger.”

“My life isn’t in danger.”

“You weren’t answering my texts, bro.”

Jared touched his pocket. “My phone isn’t in my pocket.”

Étienne pulled it out of his pocket. “I know. I found it in your father’s receiving room.”

Jared snatched his phone back.

“The elders want to meet with you. They want to discuss the growing file of missing clanspeople, in particular the daughters. Also, your fiancée would like an audience.”

Jared’s stomach sank down to the soles of his feet. For the missing people, though he didn’t particularly relish the thought of going to meet with Cassandra.

“Let’s go.” Jared took a step forward but Étienne gently pushed him back.

“I think you should shower first. I can smell her all over you and you wouldn’t want the elders or Cassandra to either.”

“Tell them I’ll be down in ten minutes.”

Étienne nodded and headed to the elevator. Jared cursed under his breath and headed straight for his shower. He liked having Adele’s scent on him and he wished he could bask in that forever, but he couldn’t.

With a sigh of regret he turned on his shower. He pulled off his clothes and buried them deep in his hamper, just like he had to learn to bury his heart.

He’s already bored.

The doubt weasels kept Adele from thinking rationally, but since their night in the hot tub Jared had been scarce. Even though Adele tried to tell herself over and over again it was for the best. She’d tried to tell him that when they were last together, but it was hard to argue when he drove her to the most amazing climaxes ever, that and he was one sexy beast.

He’s busy with work.
At least that’s what Étienne had said about his absence the one time she’d been able to ask the head of security a question. Étienne kept his distance, which was fine by her. Jared’s trusted number two wasn’t exactly a friendly guy who you wanted to shoot the shit with. He was reserved, cold, and it seemed to her he was annoyed by her presence in Jared’s apartment.

Plus those scars, his shaven head and those hard, dark eyes made her uneasy. As if he was assessing her, finding every weakness and flaw in her. As if he knew the best way to kill her. Adele couldn’t help but wonder where Étienne had gotten all those scars.

Don’t think about it.

Adele shuddered and turned back to her paperwork, back to the countless spreadsheets and income tax forms from Revenue Canada.

She cocked an eyebrow as she studied them. Something was not right about the forms and she was surprised Revenue Canada hadn’t caught it. The difference was so subtle, but it was almost as if someone had been extorting from Beare Industries for some time.

When she’d been in the RCMP she’d seen this before. It was how she’d managed to track down Vernon Jefferies, the man who ended her career. In fact, the way this refund read it was all too familiar. She saw the income tax document was filed by a Mr. Clement Rideau. He was Bear Enterprises accountant and, as Adele looked back through the documents, Mr. Rideau had been for some time.

Étienne was doing something at a computer on the other of the side of the room and even though Adele was loath to ask for his assistance, she must. He had to punch in the code to allow her to go to any other floor besides the penthouse suite or the ground floor. The head of security had made it quite clear everywhere else was out of bounds unless strictly escorted.

You were a Mountie with the RCMP for fuck’s sake. He’s just a bald, ugly dude.

“Étienne, I need to visit with Mr. Rideau.”

Étienne glanced up at her. “Why?”

“Because he is the one who was responsible for filing all the income tax returns for Beare Enterprises.”

“Yes, because he’s our accountant.”

Adele took a deep calming breath. “I’m trying to trace extorted funds. I should be allowed to speak with the Beare Enterprises accountant.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

Adele cocked an eyebrow. “Do I need one?”

“Mr. Rideau is a busy man. He’s trying to save our operation. He’s under a lot of stress.”

Or he’s trying to cover his tracks.
Warning bells went off in Adele’s head, Mr. Rideau was someone she definitely wanted to see now.

“I’d like to see him all the same, Étienne. Please, take me to him.”

Étienne ducked his head. “Of course. Follow me.”

Adele followed Étienne across the penthouse onto the elevator. The doors snapped shut and Étienne hesitated punching in the code.

“You did sign a confidentiality agreement, didn’t you?”

“Of course.”
Why is
Étienne
so edgy?
“I thought as head of security you’d know that.”

He grinned. “I do, but I wanted to make sure you did as well.”

“You’re an odd man.”

Étienne laughed. It was deep, throaty laugh and she was surprised it came from him. He was so reserved and stoic. Like a caged animal.

She’d gotten that feeling from Jared numerous times over the last couple of weeks. Jared may have been keeping his distance, but she’d seen him at night on the balcony, pacing. It reminded her of a large predator, stalking the edge of his cage, looking for a way out.

The elevator stopped, but she didn’t know what floor. The doors opened and Étienne held it as she walked out of the elevator. She gasped at the sight of a large common atrium. From the vantage of the windows directly ahead of her she could tell they were mid-way up the large tower. The view of the city was still pretty spectacular.

The atrium hummed with people. From her isolation in the penthouse she was predisposed to believe that no one else lived or worked at Beare Enterprises save for Jared and his bald, scarred companion Étienne.

“This is the common area for our…our employees,” Étienne said.

And their families apparently.
Adele spied some young children on the far side of the atrium, pressing their faces against the glass to gawk at the city of Winnipeg below them. Beare Enterprises obviously had a daycare system, which most large companies did nowadays.

Then, across the crowded room she caught site of Jared. His ginger hair was unmistakable in a sea of dark black, brown and some blonde. He was standing stiffly against a wall, his arms folded tightly against his chest, talking with the most breath-taking woman Adele had ever seen.

She was like one of those Swedish models. She was tall, almost as tall as Jared. The woman was trim, fashionably dressed as though she were the first lady. Her platinum-blonde hair was done back in an elegant coif and she had an air of poise about her. The woman reached out and stroked Jared’s arm, with obvious loving affection.

Adele’s heart sank and suddenly she felt really dowdy in comparison to the tall, cool beauty who currently had Jared’s attention. She looked away. What did she have to live up to?

Her skin was darker because of her English and Cree heritage. Her black hair was never so elegantly done up. It hung loose over her shoulders and was long past a trim for dead ends, but then Adele had never had any money until this job.

She was not tall or slim. She was average and had curves, and because of her shooting accident and her reliance on her crutches, it meant she didn’t move with any kind of grace.

Adele stole another glance because she was a sucker for punishment. Jared didn’t look at the beautiful woman. In fact, he appeared bored, his eyes scanning the room until his gaze landed on her.

Warmth spread in her cheeks the moment their eyes locked across the atrium. His intense blue eyes twinkled with lust and he grinned at her. The Swedish princess may have a lot of things, but she didn’t have Jared’s smile. That was directed at only her and it gave Adele a secret thrill.

“Are you coming?” Étienne asked, interrupting her reverie.

“Of course. Sorry, I was admiring the atrium.”
And a certain occupant.

“We’re very proud of our building.” Étienne nodded. “Mr. Rideau’s office is at the end of this hall.”

She followed Étienne down a hall, away from the crowded atrium. The hall was lined with various offices, but there was nothing on the outside of the door to let her know what the offices were for.

How odd.

Usually any office building would have more than just room numbers. They would at least say who the office belonged to or what was done there, but there was nothing. She caught a glimpse of one room that appeared to be like a Ministry of Transportation or some other type of government office due to the service counter and the take-a-number counter on the wall.

What kind of place was Beare Enterprises?

Étienne stopped at the end of the hall and knocked on the door. “Mr. Rideau?”

“Who is it?” snapped a nervous voice from the other side of the closed door.

“Étienne.”

The door was opened quickly and another good-looking, albeit sweaty man, opened the door. He wasn’t as tall as Étienne or Jared, but he was broad-shouldered and muscular, but again not as muscular as Étienne or Jared.

Even though most women would be drooling over Mr. Rideau, there was something about him Adele did not like, and compared to Étienne, that was saying something.

“I don’t have time to speak with you today, Étienne. I’m busy.” Then his gaze alighted on her and his face paled, as if he recognized her somehow, but Adele had never seen him before. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize…”

“This is Ms. Banks. She’s Mr. Stevens’ investigator to help us track down the extorted funds. She wanted to ask you some questions, Clement.”

Clement leaned against the door. His armpit stains were quite visible on his dark-blue dress shirt. “I told you, Étienne. I can’t today. She can make an appointment.” He went to close the door, but Adele stepped forward, sticking forearm crutches in the way.

“I don’t think you quite understand the severity of the situation, Mr. Rideau. Mr. Stevens has given me freedom to all of Beare Enterprises’ financial records. I think you can make time to answer a few of my questions about some income tax returns. I think you’ll find that Mr. Steven insists.”

Adele heard a snicker from behind her and knew Étienne was chuckling. Whether because he approved of what she said, or thought she was no threat, Adele didn’t care.

Clement’s head dropped and he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course.” He stepped to the side.

“Thank you, Mr. Rideau.” Adele turned to Étienne. “I would like it very much if you stayed.”

Étienne cocked an eyebrow. “Of course.”

Adele nodded, walking into Mr. Rideau’s office and she heard Étienne follow after her. She was glad Étienne didn’t turn her down. There was something off about Clement Rideau and she didn’t want to be alone with him.

She glanced around the accountant’s office and she was struck at how incredibly disorganized it was. There were stacks of papers teetering on the desk, tops of filing cabinets and there was paper strewn about the floor. There was also a collection of dirty coffee mugs, a stench of sweat mixed with fear, and the wastepaper basket was overflowing.

“Take a seat, Ms. Banks,” Clement Rideau said, his voice hitching as he moved a pile of papers. He cleared off the seat beside her, but Étienne just remained with his back against the wall and arms folded across his chest.

“Thank you,” Adele said, easing herself down into the chair. She glanced around the unkempt office once more. “Have you been burning the midnight oil, Mr. Rideau?”

Clement Rideau sat down across from her and closed his laptop. “You can say that. Since…” He trailed off and glanced nervously at Étienne. “I’ve also been trying to locate the missing funds.”

“Well, maybe we can work together, because that’s what I’ve been hired to do.”

Mr. Rideau glanced up nervously at Étienne as if for confirmation and then rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s all well and good, Ms. Banks, but locating the extorted funds requires a certain amount of knowledge and education.”

“I’m a forensic accountant and former officer of the RCMP. I think I have the knowledge and education.”

Clement Rideau’s face turned an awful shade of grey-green and she could swear there was a faint twinkle of recognition, but it was gone instantly and he cleared his throat. “As in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.”

Adele cocked an eyebrow. “Is there any other RCMP in Canada?”

He chuckled nervously and glanced up at Étienne. “I didn’t realize Mr. Stevens was bringing outsiders in.”

“Well, he did,” Étienne said. “As I stated before, she is to have carte blanche of all the financial records.”

Clement smiled, but it was a nervous smile. “Of course. Well, I’m here to answer any question you may have, Ms. Banks.”

* * * * *

“Jared, you’re not really paying any attention to me.”