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Scarlett sat there going over years of incidences atHearts and Paws.There’d never been another accident like hers or anything major. If she allowed herself to believe her sister had been behind the whole incident with Jäger, then why wouldn’t she pull off something as convoluted as this? But it didn’t explain where the money was going.

“What do you want to do about it?” Edward asked, drawing near her. She didn’t know him well, yet the kindness in his tone and his silent strength warmed her.

“We have to keep digging. There’s no way we can’t. I won’t have the sanctuary’s reputation tossed into the shitter because of one person’s antics.”

Dave went back to his desk and picked up the phone. “I know a person.”

“Who?”

Dave held up a finger. “Hey, Timothy, got a second?” He laughed. “I have something juicy for that brain of yours and a bottle of your favorite scotch if you do this.” He slid his gaze to Scarlett’s and captured her. The twist of his features into that of a predator excited her and scared the shit out of her. “Wonderful. If you’ll come by the office, I’ll give you the full details. Oh, and Tim, keep this secret. We can’t let this one get out, not yet anyway.”

Dave hung up the phone and joined them, just as a knock came at the door. The head of security, Tommy, she thought his name was, entered the office a moment later. Worry creased his brow along with a bit of trepidation. He glanced over at her then quickly deviated his gaze back to Dave.

"Sir, Delores is gone. I made sure she got into her vehicle and drove away."

“Thank you, Tommy,” Dave said. “Is there another reason you’re here?”

“I’d like to apologize for earlier.” Still, he couldn’t or didn’t want to look at Scarlett.

“Which part?” she asked. “The part where you avert your eyes or the part where you came running, even though I was in the right?”

The man frowned. “Both, I suppose.” When he did glance at her, she saw the sorrow in his eyes.

“That will be all,” Dave said.

Tommy nodded.

When the man left the room, Dave blew out a breath. “Sometimes I wonder if leaving my father’s staff in place had been a wise decision.”

“You have too kind of a heart,” Kenny replied. “They see it and mistake it for weakness.”

Scarlett agreed.

“Maybe you’re right,” Dave replied. “Anyway, Timothy will be here this evening to discuss this situation. He’s the best forensic account in all of Colorado and I believe he should go over the books forHearts and Paws.”

Forensic accounting? Was this happening to her? "How much trouble will I be in if he finds something?"

“None,” Kenny answered, a little too quick for Scarlett’s liking.

“Not that I don’t believe you,” she said, “but, I’d rather hear it from Dave.”

“Depends on what you know and what you don’t.” Dave shrugged. “However, I have a feeling whatever Maisie is doing, she wouldn’t involve you. Hell, she might even think you’re too stupid to look. After all, who’s the one who has kept to themselves all these years?”

She frowned. When Dave put it that way, it made her blood boil. The single question she couldn’t get out of her mind had been, why? Why would Maisie do whatever she was doing? Why did she borrow money and use the sanctuary as the collateral? Why had she lured Scarlett into the enclosure?

“It doesn’t make sense,” she whispered.

“What?” Edward hedged.

“All of it. The loan. My accident. The breeding.” She glanced over at him. “Take your pick.”

“I feel like this could be a trick question.” Edward scratched his head.

“Wait!” Scarlett held up her hand. “What if she’s doing this to set me up?”

“You mean take the fall for all of it?” Kenny paled. “Dave?”

“Not happening,” Dave answered. “She would have had to have signed your name to the contracts and put it into the business account without you knowing.”