Читать книгу The Perfect Solitaire - Carmen Green - Страница 13

The other ladies had been questioned and released and Zoe stood facing her sister in the stockroom.

“Why would I want to sabotage Zoe’s business? For your information, I believe she’s wasting her money hiring you, and if I had any say, you’d be fired.”

Faye hurled the words at Ben. To him, she sounded like a woman who had something to hide.

Watching Faye closely, Ben figured that Zoe had been the reasonable child and Faye the drama queen. They’d been there three hours and the other staff members were gone, their statements supporting Ireland’s.

“You’re being passive-aggressive again.” Faye bit into her sister like a barracuda. “Why don’t you just come out and call me a thief?”

“Are you?” He didn’t care for Faye the way Zoe did. If she was behind the thefts, this would be the fastest ten thousand dollars Hood I.N.V. had ever earned, and the shortest opportunity he’d ever get at a second chance.

“I’d be stealing from myself if I did. I gave you five thousand dollars to start this business.”

“You loaned me the money, and I paid you back thirty days after I opened the doors, Faye.”

“So you’re the big-shot owner, now. I knew this would go to your head,” Faye retorted.

“I didn’t say that, Faye. We just got robbed. Someone could have been seriously hurt.”

“Including me. Nobody asked if I was all right.”

Her false indignation was laughable. “Do you need a ride to the hospital?” Ben offered to entertain her nonsense for a moment. “It’s only five minutes away. In fact, if it’s critical we don’t even have to wait for an ambulance, I can drive you there myself.”

“I said I could have been hurt. All you’re worried about is your precious jewelry.” She’d directed the last comment to Zoe, shifting away from Ben’s scrutiny. Zoe started to speak, but Ben held up his hand. “Where do you work, Faye?”

“First Bank of Greenville in South Carolina. Why?”

“How long have you been there?”

“Twelve years.”

“Vice president?” Ben asked.

“Assistant vice president,” she sniffed, her chin elevated.

“Ever heard of Rodrigo Martinez?”

“No.”

“Not in all your years with the bank? Wow, I wish I had your memory.”

“I can’t recall meeting anyone with that name. I may have. Those are two common names. I mean, I don’t know.” She backpedaled, looking as unsure as she sounded.

“That’s odd.” Ben knew he had her.

“What’s so odd about me not knowing every Martinez in the south?” She tried to laugh but couldn’t pull it off so she folded her hands, wiped them together and refolded them.

“I bet once I complete my investigation Rodrigo Martinez will be from Greenville, South Carolina, just like you. I’ll bet when I pull the video on this incident, his expression will probably show that he’s surprised to see you when he walked in the store. Wasn’t he?”

“No. I mean, I might have said hello. I greeted everyone. We want people to feel at home at Zoe’s.”

“Oh, please,” Zoe groaned.

“I’ve worked in this store before, and Zoe can Oh, please if she wants to, but I stayed today as a favor to her.”

“That’s right, Ben.” Zoe rose from her chair and Ben and Faye watched her. “Faye didn’t want to be here. You wanted to come with me, but I told you no, twice. I insisted you stay here and help Ireland.”

Ben kept his focus on Faye. “You didn’t want to be anywhere close to the robbery you planned. So when the crowd got thick, you slipped outside. Nobody could connect you to the theft. You were here, but you weren’t.”

“I didn’t steal anything!”

“You left the case open, didn’t you?” Ben felt her confession coming.

“No.”

“You sure? The video will show you leaving the doors open, looking left then right, sliding them open a little more and then slipping out the door. Your friend preoccupied Ireland so that one of the look-alikes could stick his arm in and grab what he wanted. All the time, Ireland is calling you. You heard her, didn’t you? How do you think a judge will interpret your role in this little heist?”

“I didn’t do anything. I was outside,” she said desperately. “A man was interested in me.”

“What was his name?”

“Uh. Um…Ricky.”

“Martin?” Ben offered.

“What?” Faye blinked rapidly. “Yes. No! I don’t know his last name.”

“That’s the first thing a woman finds out about a man, right, Zoe? His name? Where he works? What’s his phone number, Faye? His e-mail? Let’s call him now and set up your first date. Who is he, Faye?”

“I don’t have to answer you.”

“Oh, my God. You really stole from me!” Zoe screamed at her sister.

Tears ran from Faye’s eyes. “Are you going to let this happen? I’m your blood.”

“And that gives you the right?” Zoe snapped.

“It’s just jewelry. I’m your sister! Family is supposed to mean more to you than…stuff.”

“Why’d you do it?” Zoe asked.

“The divorce is costing me everything. You wouldn’t miss the money from a few necklaces—you have insurance—but this could help me get back on my feet. All you had to do was file a claim and they would have paid you back.”

Ben had seen selfishness before, but never like this and never so blatantly between sisters.

“You’ve always been selfish,” Zoe told her. “Jealous. You’re so lazy. That’s why you wanted to go with me today. All you had to do was ask to borrow the money and I’d have loaned it to you.”

Faye slapped the desk. “Borrow? I’m assistant vice president of the Greenville Bank. I live in a three hundred fifty thousand dollar house, and I eat tuna out of a can and sleep on an air mattress! I’ve had to sell everything. I’m not borrowing anything from you, do you hear me? This is the least you can do with your high-and-mighty self. I don’t need anybody’s help. Fine. Help me, then. Let me walk out of here.”

Ben wondered what Zoe was going to do. Faye was clearly trying to take advantage of Zoe who seemed to be intently studying her folded hands.

“Faye, it’s too bad your life is a mess, but you don’t get to decide you’re going to fix it at my expense. Ben, I never thought I’d be saying this, but, call the police in here and have them arrest my sister.”