Forgotten Sins (Sin Brothers, #1)(28)

“How’s Trenton?” Johnston leaned his impressive bulk back in the chair. About fifty with rapidly thinning gray hair, he reminded her of a pit bull.

“Great. The audit went fantastic, all ducks are in a row.” They’d turn the notes into the IRS and Trenton would have another smooth year. Why the hell was Daniel present for the meeting? It was supposed to be strictly routine.

“Good. Good.” Johnston’s beady eyes narrowed. “Rumor has it you spent the weekend at the police station after two men died in your home.”

Talk about not mincing words. “Rumors are right.” She’d married a soldier, a killer. One who’d apparently been spying on her for quite some time. Embarrassment at her own stupidity heated her face. Her smile faltered, and she glared at Daniel.

He shrugged, brown eyes revealing nothing. “We have enough PR problems right now. Keeping secrets is always a bad idea.”

Daniel played basketball with Tom, and the two men seemed to get along well. Unfortunately, both Daniel and Josie were up for the vice president position for the branch, and Daniel apparently had no problem playing dirty. He must’ve gotten the news from Tom.

Johnston cleared his throat. “Just keep it out of the business, Josie. You know we can’t handle any more bad press.”

Yeah, about that. She tapped the file. “I’m still doing research, but I think there’s a discrepancy with the Larson Corporation account in addition to a couple other accounts.”

Johnston frowned. “What other accounts?”

“Davis Bakery, Agers Hardware, and Hall’s Funeral Home.”

Her boss’s nostrils flared. “Okay. What are the discrepancies?”

Josie shrugged. “I’m not sure. The assets aren’t lining up with reported income. My guess is Billy just lost track of the math. It’s probably something simple. I found one place in the Hall file which reported a lump sale where it was really spread over several months. Easy to fix.” She flipped open the file. “I wish Billy had left some notes on his dealing with them. I’m sure it’ll all make sense.” Billy had been their accountant and main contact with the specialty shop until the previous month—though she’d been assisting him.

Daniel leaned forward. “If the files are too much for you, I can take them over. You’re going through a difficult time personally right now.”

Josie bit back a retort. The man was just too handsome and charming. Clients loved him. She didn’t. “Thanks, but I’ve got it.”

Daniel shrugged. “I’m settled with the files I brought over from Salt Lake and can take on more if necessary.”

Josie forced a calm smile. The accountant hadn’t hidden the reason for his transfer three months previous—he wanted the vice president job. “My files are covered. Though you could always seek new clients in the area.”

A slow smile tipped his lips. “I just signed the Snowville School District. So, yeah, good idea.”

Darn it. That was a great client. She forced a chuckle. “That’s awesome. Congratulations.”

Johnston glanced at his watch. “Billy should be out of rehab in another month. Maybe. I’ve heard meth is almost impossible to beat. He may need to stay longer.” His beefy hand closed into a fist on his desk. “That’s why we don’t need any more bad publicity, Mrs. Dean.”

Probably true. Billy’s meltdown had put them in a bad light with several large clients. He’d missed deductions. Added wrong. And even gotten one client in trouble with the IRS. Josie only knew Billy professionally, but the guy had always been full of energy.

“I hate to ask this since Billy’s my friend, but considering his drug problem, do you think he was skimming?” Daniel asked.

Josie studied the smooth number cruncher. “You’re friends with Billy?”

“Yes. We’ve worked together, mostly via Internet and Skype, for about five years.” Daniel tilted his head. “Skimming?”

“Maybe, and I always look for that. But I think so far it’s been a matter of simple mistakes. Mistakes we need to catch before tax season.” She’d seen what drugs could do to people and figured Billy had just been working poorly. With enough time and dedication, Josie could get the files back into order without there being an IRS issue. “Don’t worry—I’ll figure it out.”

“I could take over the files, if you want,” Johnston offered.

“No.” Josie shook her head. Enough with all the men in her life trying to ease her way. The attempts always backfired. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m supposed to take over Billy’s clients until he gets back.” If he came back. And if she’d made the mistake while she’d been learning the file, she’d fix it. If Billy had made the mistake while on drugs, she’d fix it. “Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

Johnston shrugged. “Fair enough. Just keep me apprised. Like I said, we don’t need any more bad PR.”

Josie nodded, standing and heading for the door. “Of course.” Poor Billy. Growing up in foster care, she’d befriended many a lost kid who’d coped with life by taking drugs. She’d been offered pot at ten years old, meth at twelve, and cocaine at fifteen. But she’d always known there was a way out of the system, and that taking drugs would keep her in. It was a straight shot from foster care to juvey to jail. So she’d always said no to drugs. Unfortunately, her best friend had said yes to cocaine and had died from an overdose. Josie needed to visit her soon in the local cemetery.