Stealing Gold (The Logan Series Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

file,
and placed it on the sofa between them. “Numbers never lie. Our suspicions were
raised when he called a month ago and requested a check be drawn up to him
personally for fifty grand. Then he transferred money he shouldn’t have had
access to into a variety of different accounts. This one is in Switzerland.” He
pointed at an entry on the page. “And this is in the Caymen Islands.”
    Ben
smelled good. Clean, with the top notes of his expensive cologne. He looked
good too, in a young executive way. He’d asked her on a date once, but there
was no point in dating without that spark, so she’d turned him down. They weren’t
close friends, but he’d proved himself honest and reliable in the past and she
trusted him.
    “The
rest of the file contains all the details our accountants could uncover. He’s
skimmed a fortune from your most recent tour, and this could be just the tip of
the iceberg.” Ben patted her hand. “I’m sorry. I know you were close.”
    “He
discovered me.” Her voice sounded calm, devoid of emotion. “He’s been in charge
of my career since before I even had one.” Pain bloomed in her chest at the
ultimate betrayal. For ten years she’d been ruthlessly focused on her
career—she’d given up so much... and the knowledge that her manager had been
stealing was a body blow impossible to take. “I trusted him.” She’d been a
fool. A stupid, malleable idiot. The fact that she had been fourteen when she’d
first signed on the dotted line to make Lester her agent wasn’t relevant. She
wasn’t a kid now. And at some stage during the last ten years she should have
checked closer into what her manager was doing. She should have…
    “He
had an unbelievable package as your manager.” Ben leaned back into the sofa’s
plush cushions. “I can’t be the only person to have told you his deal was way higher
than industry average.”
    “You’re
not.” The one person she should have listened to had told her exactly the same
thing months ago. “So, what happens now?”
    “Do
you know where he is?”
    “I
left him in Los Angeles yesterday. He was to fly back with me, but he said
something came up.” She tried his number. “It’s off.”
    Ben
nodded. “We need to call the police.”
    Over
the hours that followed, the depths of Lester’s deception became clear. The
private investigator explained to a small group made up of Stacy, Ben, a police
detective, and an FBI agent, just how and where Lester and his accountant had
been skimming funds.
    “We’ve
been watching Mrs Kensington for a while. She’s a professional.” The tall,
laconic FBI man, Agent Black, leaned back in his chair.
    “A
professional what?” Stacy swallowed.
    “A
con artist.” Black’s dark gaze pinned her. “But she’s not conning your manager,
Miss Gold. They’re in it together. We have to catch them before they leave the
country.”
    Her
cell phone buzzed on the coffee table, diverting everyone’s attention. She grabbed
it and peered at the screen. “It’s my bodyguard. Excuse me.” She walked to the
window, out of earshot before answering. “Hi.” Her voice sounded tired. Beaten.
    “Sorry
to bother you, boss. I’ve been trying to contact Lester, but he’s not answering
his cell.”
    She
grimaced. Stared out of the window at people walking around in the sunshine,
enjoying life.
    “My
check bounced.” Apollo’s tone was apologetic, as if he really didn’t want to
bother her with his problems.
    “Lester
has screwed us over.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m in Kickin’ Music
Tours’ offices with the police and the FBI. He’s emptied the company bank
account, and stripped whatever he could from the tour profits.” Her hands were
shaking. “They’re tracking his cell, but it looks like he’s on the run.” She
screwed up her eyes tight.
    “He
what?” Apollo sounded incredulous.
    “Can
you email me details of the check that bounced? I can’t handle anything