Page 10 of Burke (The Haven #2)
“But you do. You could do something completely different and a whole lot easier if you wanted to, but you don’t. For whatever reason you’re bound and determined to be this bloody icon of goodness,” Silvia said, with a sneer.
“Okay, this is turning nasty, so, on that note, I’m getting off the phone. Good night.” And when she ended the call, she then faced Burke. “Sorry you had to hear that,” she muttered.
“No, it’s a good thing,” he clarified. “It shows me just how low she has gone and how much she doesn’t care about anybody.”
“No, she really doesn’t,” Shirley agreed. “And it’s hard, it’s sad, and it’s making me angry and all kinds of other things that I can’t describe, but there’s really nothing I can do about it.”
“No, she’s past the point of anybody doing anything about it. She trusts this Frankie, and she doesn’t seem to have the morals to live a normal life.” Burke stared at her phone and shook his head. “I can’t believe I even went out with her to begin with.”
“The detective had an interesting take on that.”
He looked over at her in surprise.
She shrugged. “Maybe I gave him the wrong impression, I don’t know, but I’d mentioned that you were a veteran, recovering from multiple surgeries, and that my sister had thought you would get a very large pension, so she could live free and clear.”
He just stared at her, and then he started to laugh.
“If that were the case, we wouldn’t have homeless vets all over the place, and so many living in single-room boarding houses, trying to survive and figuring out why they don’t fit in the world anymore.
” He stared at her with wry humor mixed with frustration.
“It’s a constant problem because these men sacrificed so much and end up with so little afterward.
” Burke continued. “So, what are we supposed to do, when we meet up with somebody like her, and all she wants to do is destroy us more?”
Shirley didn’t say anything to that.
He finally shrugged and added, “Look. It’s not your problem. Sorry.”
“No, it’s not my problem, but I definitely feel a sense of responsibility because she’s my sister.”
“But you aren’t responsible,” he said, “and you’ve done the right thing now. Is this what they’ve been doing for money all this time? It makes me wonder how many other people they’ve done this to.”
“I’ve wondered what they were living on and assumed it was something shady since there was no evidence of anyone working, but I didn’t know what.
When I realized that she had intentionally targeted you, I just couldn’t stand by and let her do that.
And, hearing her now, this is clearly at least one of the scams they are living off of, but there is no telling what else Frankie will teach her. ”
“I appreciate your letting me know,” Burke said, as he motioned down the street. “My investigator would have figured it out, but you’ve helped me get a jump on it. Come on. Let’s go see about that coffee.”
“I want to see what they have for food. I haven’t eaten yet.
” When he frowned at her, she shrugged. “I just got off work, and I had to come down to the police station. I didn’t want to see the detective during my work hours or do anything to cause any waves with my job because I’m doing okay, but it’s not as if I’m making a whole lot of money.
I did make a bunch before, and I have saved some, but I don’t dare let Silvia know about that. ”
“Does she know anything about your bank accounts?”
She frowned at that. “I would like to say no, but I can’t be sure.”
“Then I would highly suggest that you close your accounts, move your money, and don’t let her know anything about it. If she has the slightest inkling that you have money, the day will come when she doesn’t, and she’ll come looking to take yours. What about your credit cards?”
She winced and shook her head. “She probably does know about those.” He looked at her steadily, and she nodded slowly. “You’re right. I need to protect myself, don’t I?”
“Particularly if they find out you had anything to do with turning them in.”
She took a couple steps, but the shock was clearly hitting her now.
He asked, “Is it a local bank?”
“Yeah, it’s just around the corner.” She froze, staring at him. “Good God.”
“I know,” he replied. “Let’s not have her wipe out your money just because she can.”
“Do you think she can?”
“I don’t know,” Burke admitted. “It depends on how you’ve got it locked up, who has access, and whether she’s your next of kin.”
“She is, and, yeah, if I die, she gets everything.” Then she stopped and winced. “Jesus, please tell me that we’re not having this conversation.”
“You tell me. How dangerous is this boyfriend?” She just stared at him unable to stop the fear whitening, tighting her face. Burke nodded. “Come on. Let’s get coffee, then we’ll make a game plan.”
He led her down the street to a small diner, and, as soon as they were seated, he ordered coffee and asked for menus. When the coffee came, she just sat here, staring at him, lost in her own world. He took a quick look at her, then ordered burgers for the both of them.
She protested, “No, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not fine,” he declared, staring at her. “Let’s get you some food, and then we need to make a plan.”
She stared at him. “It’s just the thought that my sister would do that to me.”
“So, let me take her out of the equation. Would this boyfriend do it?”
“Absolutely,” she declared instantly. Then she looked at him and nodded slowly. “And that means she would probably do it too.”
He just nodded and didn’t say anything.
She felt the tightness in her chest as she realized how much she would have to do in order to stay safe.
“Your paychecks, does she know which accounts they go in?”
Shirley winced. “I just got paid. I can go to the bank tomorrow.”
“That would be a good idea. Also, you should change your beneficiary on any of your paperwork.”
She sighed and shook her head. “I don’t want to think like that.”
“Maybe not, but you’re telling me this Frankie guy is dangerous, and, if they are short on money, that just makes them desperate enough to take money from you. I’m sure Frankie’s already thought about it multiple times, as far as being a possible game.”