Page 61 of Little Hidden Fears

“Talented, and then some. What is your interest in my investment in the club?”

“Your nephew, Owen. He works there, doesn’t he?”

“He does.”

“I hear he was transferred to the accounting department in the last year.”

Alexander leaned over, ringing a miniature bell sitting on a gold plate on the side table. A young woman came in, looking his way as she said, “What can I get for you, Sir?”

“Oolong tea, please, Marianne.” He then turned toward me. “Would you care for anything to drink, Miss Germaine?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

Marianne left the room, and he said, “Now, where were we?”

“I’d just asked about Owen being transferred to the accounting department.”

“Oh, yes. I’ll admit I had a hand in him obtaining the position. He liked his previous position a whole lot more, but it was useless, a job anyone could have done. I didn’t assist with his college tuition to have him sucking up to clientele all day.”

“Have you spoken to him since he took over the accounting department?”

“I wouldn’t call it a ‘department,’ given he manages the books himself.”

“Are you saying no one else works with him?”

“Not to my knowledge, no. The club is a decent size but not substantial enough to require a team, not when Owen’s so capable.”

It seemed Alexander was unaware Annie had been hired to assist Owen.

“Has Clark talked to you about how Owen’s doing in his new position?” I asked.

“We’ve spoken by phone a couple of times. Everything seems to be going well. I’ve heard nothing to the contrary. Why do you ask?”

“I’m curious about his bookkeeping. Does anyone ever look over the books to make sure everything is in order?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

I gave the question some thought, trying to think of the right way to say what needed to be said. Whenever possible, I told the truth, but in this instance, I had Annie to consider. I needed to find a way to keep her name out of it, and if lying protected her, then it was a lie I would tell.

“Miss Germaine, can I be straight with you?” he asked.

“Of course.”

“I’m a man who prefers frankness more than anything,” he said. “Whatever it is you’ve come to say, I do wish you’d come right out and say it so we can both get on with our day.”

He may have preferred frankness, but once I gave him the information I had on Owen, I wondered if he’d feel the same way.

I was about to find out.

CHAPTER 23

“I have reason to believe your nephew has been stealing money from the tennis club, writing checks to himself and cashing them, and no doubt altering the financials to cover his tracks,” I said.

We locked eyes for a time, and I waited for him to speak.

“That’s a big accusation,” he said. “How did you come by it?”

“Before Noelle died, she suspected Owen was stealing company money. I don’t know how she figured it out, but she told a friend her suspicions, someone unrelated to the club in any way. Not long after, she was murdered.”