N9ne: The Tale of Kevin Clearwater (King, #9)(17)

I re enabled her microphone on her camera, but since that only works when it’s powered on and she’s one of those people who actually turns it off when she’s done using it, I hacked into her cell phone for good measure. So far, I’ve found no proof that she’s got any involvement in Jared’s scam. Her computer is clean. Her texts are just a lot of her asking random people if they’ve talked to Jared or if they know where he is. There are no encrypted files that I can find, but that doesn’t mean she’s innocent. It could just mean she’s crafty and keeps her laptop clean.

Today, her laptop is on, and I hear her crying.

“What’s got you so upset?” I ask out loud to myself. I log onto the mirror program which shows me everything on her screen. It’s her bank records. It seems she’s in the red after a recent transaction made by Jared, who withdrew all sixty-thousand something dollars from their joint account the day he was planning to make a run for it.

“So, the plot fucking thickens,” I say.

On a hunch, I pull up the County Clerk’s office’s public records and do a deed search. The house that Lenny and Jared share is longer co-owned by Lenny and Jared. It’s owned by the Bank of Lee County who just today filed an eviction notice with the Sheriff’s department to schedule a formal eviction. In two days’ time, they’ll show up at her house and remove her and her things by force. The mailing address on record is Jared’s office. Lenny might not even know she’ll be homeless in two days’ time.

I can use that to my advantage. She’ll have to tap into the stolen money to save the house, or she’ll be out on the street.

“What’s it gonna be, Lenny? Your move,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “Show me where it is.”

My computer dings with an alert. Lenny’s making a phone call. I click the alert and the audio screen appears, the horizontal line moving across the screen jumps up as she speaks. “Hey, Lori? It’s Lenny.” She sniffles.

“Lenny, I heard about Jared. Are you okay?” Lori asks in her high-pitched nasal voice. Her question is one of concern, but there isn’t actually any concern behind it. I cringe, disliking this Lori person already.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Do you have any idea where he could have went?” she asks. “I really need to talk to him, and his phone is disconnected. It’s an emergency.”

“I’m sure it is, Lenny, but do you think looking for him is a good idea? After the way he left you?”

“It’s not about us,” Lenny assures her. I can hear her getting angry, like she’s talking through her teeth. “I need to talk to him about other things…some loose ends that need tying up right away.”

“Here we go. Come on. Say something, anything I can use,” I whisper, raising the volume.

“No, the flowers should be white, not purple, it’s summer for fuck sake!” Lori shouts to someone in the background. She sighs deeply. “I swear these charity events never gets easier, and the help gets worse with each one. Speaking of the charity event, will you be coming Saturday? Jared never prepaid for your tickets, so you’ll have to bring a check, but personally, I think it might be better if you let things die down a bit before you re-enter social circles, don’t you?”

“Lori, I’m not coming. I can’t. I don’t have the money. It’s all gone. I really need you to think. Jared and Pen are best friends. Pen didn’t tell you anything about where he could be? Has he spoken to him?”

“No, I said in the center of the table! Does that look like the center to you?” Lori scolds again before coming back on the line.

“Lori!” Lenny shouts to get her friends attention. But is this really her friend? Shit, I hate to hear how her enemies talk to her. I’ve been spoken to with more respect from someone I’d just stabbed in County.

Lori huffs in frustration. “No, Lenny. When I asked Pen, he said he didn’t know where Jared might have went, and when he tried to call him, the line was disconnected, just as you said. Pen needs to talk to him, too. You’re not the only one he walked out on. Pen and Jared have been best friends for over twenty years, and they’re invested in the club’s membership together. I mean to not even show up to the meetings? Can you believe it?” There’s a pause. “But I’m sure he’ll turn up, sweetie. He probably just wanted to get away for a while. Men do that. Sometimes, they need a vacay from life. It’s not easy being a successful man these days.”

“Men don’t empty their closets when they’re going on vacay or turn off their phones,” I argue. “He left me. I’m okay with that, or at least, I will be. I just need to find him so I can talk to him.”

“Lenny, I don’t know what to tell you. Jared left you. I’m sorry, but I have important things going on over here, too,” Lori scoffs.

What a fucking bitch. I almost feel bad for her. Almost.

“I know you’re busy, but he didn’t just leave, Lori. He stole every penny I had. Emptied out my bank account. I don’t know what bills he’s paid or hasn’t paid. I don’t have the passwords to get into the mortgage or any of the other bills because I’ve always just put my share of the money into our account. I’ve got nothing left.” There is a despair in her voice that wouldn’t be there if she had wads of cash laying around, but she could just be an incredible actor.