AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What good does that do us with SPE?” Mulaney asked. “For that matter, what do you think will happen? Drew will give back the billion dollars?” She tossed her remaining coffee and rinsed out the sink.
“The man is trying to help us,” Dad said.
She yanked on her ponytail. “I know.”
“If there is no evidence of the forty million you moved, then it should be easy enough to pass a forensic accounting. Especially if the accountant is one we put in place.” Daniel stood stoically as if he hadn’t just proposed something unethical. “You believe Drew is the one who tipped SPE off about the money. If we apply what he believes to be legal pressure on him, he’ll back off.”
I wished I was as certain as he sounded.
“Set it up. As long as you promise the authorities won’t really be looking into the matter,” Dad said decisively.
“I assure you, they won’t.”
“If SPE pushes this issue”—Dad gestured toward the letter—“we’ll take your forensic accountant too.”
Daniel nodded once, his expression unreadable. I didn’t know if he was completely trustworthy, but so far he’d delivered. At this point, there was no other choice.
Chapter Fifty-One
Mulaney
“I wassurprised by your call, Agent McCormick.”
I had to hand it to Harris. He was playing it cool in front of Drew. Far better than I was.
We were gathered in the living room of the Carter’s new apartment. Easton sat beside me on the sofa, his fingers flexing on his knees as if he were about to explode. I felt the same.
Drew was rigid in the wingback chair positioned next to the one his father was in. Agent McCormick was on the loveseat opposite the two of them. He sipped his coffee before he set the cup on the end table beside him with an exaggerated move.
“Anytime there’s a sale of high-profile companies, we look into it,” the FBI agent said smoothly.
“Thought for sure that was the Securities and Exchange Commission’s jurisdiction,” I said sarcastically. Easton elbowed me in the side. I shrugged.
Agent McCormick smirked.
“We’d be happy to provide any information you need,” Harris said smoothly.
McCormick rested his ankle on his knee. “It’s interesting you chose to sell your family business, especially given both your children ran it with you.”
“Directions and desires change,” he returned with evasiveness.
“Financial situations do too.”
Easton pressed his thigh against mine like he needed my touch. My stomach was in a knot, and the simple gesture helped me too.
“They do,” Harris agreed.
Drew crossed and uncrossed his legs, though his gaze was laser focused on the FBI agent.
“Then you admit Carter Energy was in trouble?”
Harris hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. “We were in a vulnerable position.”
“Care to expand on how that happened?” the agent pressed.
“It’s no secret there are ups and downs in the oil business.”
“You were way down.”
