Modern - Chapter 13

"So where do we start?" I asked Derren, looking at the giant stack of files on his rickety coffee table.

He frowned. "I'm not sure. I've already been through most of this. I guess I could have you look over the most recent accounts and tell me if you see anything that doesn't look right."

I sighed. It was boring work, but I dove in with as much energy as I could muster. I loved crime shows and had a very hard time putting down a good suspense novel. I had never expected that actually helping catch a criminal could be so very. . . well, boring.

Work had been interesting. Derren had recommended over our dinner last night that we remain aloof, as though we were new acquaintances and didn't know each other outside the office.

It had actually been surprisingly easy, but we also didn't really work anywhere near each other and, unless Derren needed to chat with Mr. Crawford again or get his hands on any of my boss's files, he wasn't really likely to seek me out.

Now we were sitting in his living room, trying to comb through all the information he had gathered. It was a very long process.

"What exactly are we looking for again?" I asked. I had already questioned Derren about this multiple times, but his answers were so vague that I really didn't think I would be able to help him. How could I find a needle in a haystack if I didn't even know what the needle looked like?

"I wish I knew. Something suspicious," he answered, clearly as exasperated as I was.

I tossed the files I was looking at on the floor in front of me and sighed. "I don't think this is getting us anywhere."

"I know," he muttered. "But unless you have a better idea, I'm not sure what to do."

I thought for a moment. "Okay, so let's break this down. The two crimes we're looking at are embezzlement and corporate espionage."

"That sounds right."

"Embezzlement would need someone in the accounting department to help with that, right? A person couldn't realistically embezzle money without someone in accounting on board?"

"I assume so."

"But the accountants wouldn't have access to much information that would be useful to competitors."

"No. That would probably be someone in management."

"So someone I'm already working closely with is probably involved in the corporate espionage."

"Most likely." Derren frowned. "But you don't work very closely with the accountants."

"No. So I'll work on investigating the management team and you can get in with the accountants."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You just have to become buddies with a couple of them. Aren't you already friends with some guys from the finance department? You've already got an in! Just make it sound like you're super impressed with the finance team and the accountants and act like you're studying their methods for use in the New York office."

Derren sighed. "You know what I love about IA?"

I frowned. "Nothing. Everyone hates IA."

He laughed. "Exactly! When I'm IA, I don't have to worry about making people like me because no matter how nice I am, they'll all hate me anyway."

"Oh, are you an introvert?"

"Maybe," he answered with a shrug. "Kind of? I like doing things with people. I just don't like having to get in tight with people. I'd rather let my friends find me."

"Huh. You've never really struck me as the shy type."

"Yeah, well, our relationship is unique."

"That's certainly one way to describe it," I agreed with a smile. He returned my smile and raised an eyebrow.

"So do I really have to buddy up with the accounting people?"

"They're called accountants and they're nice. This really isn't a hard task. Just be nice and keep hanging out with your friends from finance and you'll do great!"

"I think what it is is that I just hate feeling pressure to be someone's friend. Like, I can get along well with most people and I can make friends, but if I know that I'm supposed to be friends with someone for some reason, I feel pressured and it makes it harder for me to be friends with them."

"Okay, then how can I remove the pressure?"

"You be friends with them instead and I'll just keep looking at files."

"You really think that's the most effective way to do this?"

He shook his head. "I know it's not. Your idea is a good one. I'll just have to hope that my anxiety doesn't make me weird and awkward and keep my finance friends from introducing me around."

"I'm sure you'll do great! You're very charming and personable."

"I think it's a little easier when your icebreaker is a hot makeout session," he said with a wink. "I have a feeling that's not the best way to get in with the accounting department."

"Probably not," I agreed. The accountants were mostly either men or married, if memory served.

"Well, I'll jump off that bridge when I come to it. For now, I have something better in mind. If we're agreed that going through these records is getting us nowhere. . ." He paused and waited for my nod before continuing. "How about we grab some takeout and watch a movie? My treat."

"You do owe me for making me go through boring records for the last hour," I answered thoughtfully. "Make it Chinese takeout and you've got a deal."

He laughed and pulled out his phone. Pulling up a menu, he read it to me and we quickly decided what we wanted. While he placed the order, I headed back to my apartment to freshen up. He had dragged me to his place directly after work and I wanted to change into something more comfortable than my pencil skirt and lacy blouse.

I decided to take a shower, since he had to go get the food anyway. I was out and dressed in worn jeans and a large t-shirt from my alma mater when he texted that he was back with the food. I quickly combed through my wet hair and braided it, then headed down.