AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Did she say what she didn’t agree with?” Prentice asked.
“Not really. Actually, maybe she did,” he said sheepishly. “When she talked numbers and finances, the conversation was often over my head, and I barely listened. But whatever was going on, she thought it was unethical and not good business practice.”
Journey nodded. “I heard from someone else that the company was in talks with another company about a possible merger. Did Joyce say anything to you about that?”
“She talked about that a few months ago, maybe even a year ago, but she hadn’t said anything about it lately. I assumed it wasn’t going to happen. Lately, whenever she discussed work, it was mostly about some huge city contract Leverage was hoping to land.”
Journey tapped her pen against the yellow legal pad next to her. Money—or the lack of it—could make tempers fly. Maybe the argument between Joyce and the CEO, Dennis Gardner, had something to do with the contract.
“What type of contract?”
“Some type of housing contract for the city of Atlanta. She and a couple of others in her department had to put in some long hours because financial information had to go along with the proposal.”
“A company the size of Leverage Construction should’ve been able to easily pull any information that the city needed, especially financials,” Prentice said, but it sounded more like he was talking to himself.
“I think there was some problem with balancing the books, but don’t quote me on that. As I said, I didn’t listen as well as I should have,” he said, his voice cracking on that last part.
When he didn’t continue, Journey asked if he needed a minute, but he shook his headno. Still, she waited a moment before continuing.
“Did it seem like she didn’t want them to be awarded the contract?”
“No, that wasn’t it. She said that if the company was awarded the contract, it would take the organization to another level. In the proposal, they had included small and large organizations that the company had been wanting to work with. Or something like that. She seemed excited about it because it would mean raises for her and her coworkers, and the company would expand. That would provide more jobs for people, something Joyce was passionate about.”
Prentice stood suddenly and held up his cell phone as he headed for the door. “Excuse me for a minute.”
Journey wondered what that was about since he never walked out on an interview, but she had a couple of more questions for Mr. Hayes.
For the next few minutes, she asked more about Joyce. She wanted to get a feel for who she was as a wife and mother.
Mr. Hayes lit up when he talked about her, and Journey’s heart broke a little more for him and his family. The more she knew about the woman, the more she could use in court when she went up against Dennis Stratton’s attorney, a formidable opponent.
The DA’s office just needed a little more evidence to strengthen the case against Stratton. Considering there was still so much that didn’t add up, getting a conviction would be easier said than done.
