Chapter 25

Books were piled up around me and I was elbow deep in paper my right hand flying over a calculator while my left was bringing sheets around.

"Fucking hell…" I pointed. "Give me the next one." Jenny did so, then continued watching me. "You have a real problem here. Three years ago someone opened a new account and has been paying money from the company into it." I put the book down. "It's not a company account or a business account. Basically, this account doesn't appear in the hard copies, and they come up short. They look good at a glance but transactions have been missed out of it and comparing it to the computer copies, here..." Turning to the computer print outs I pointed. "It's taking ten thousand a week, you've lost one million dollars to this account give or take a few thousand. And the next payment is tonight." Jenny lent over me and frowned.

"Ben, what the hell is this?" A man came in from the busy office floor and looked at the computer screen as Jenny pointed. He shrugged.

"I have no idea. This is the first time I've seen this account..." He frowned. "Rick, the department head fired off some of the older staff members… they might know about it." Jenny shook her head and pulled up her phone.

"Stop the money going to that account now, I need to make a few calls." Ben nodded, and I slipped aside as he tapped his way across the keyboard.

With a sigh I went back over the books again and placed markers into the book every time there was a mistake then took the printed copies of the computer files and began to play with my highlighters. By the time I was done the papers looked like a two-coloured mess.

Jenny walked back into the office and sighed. I handed her the papers and she frowned.

"What have you done?" I grinned then looked to the panicked men that filed into the office. "These are some of the section managers and the COO…" she waved a hand at me.

"Ok I highlighted all the transactions that have been left out of the books in pink." I pointed to the first pink line then opened the first book. "See, this area and that one?" I pointed to the second pink line. "These look innocent until you look here, they hide the fact that this yellow has disappeared." I pointed to the first yellow line. "These yellow lines are the stolen money." Jenny nodded and looked around. "You also have nine employees that are being paid rather highly to the same account." She frowned and looked at me.

"How did you get access to the payroll?" I shrugged.

"I didn't, you did." I pointed to the screen on the computer. "You logged in and I searched, using your ID, for any information on the account. And it turned up in the payroll… nine times." She looked at the name of the employees and gritted her teeth then turned as Ben pointed at a Name.

"He was fired three years ago when I started. It caused a big stink. I remember the name. And she was fired two years ago…" He blushed. "I kind of had a crush on her…" Jenny lowered her head.

"We need to get the police in here now." One of the older men sat at the table and took my work. His eyes narrowed as he went over the first few sections.

"I'll take responsibility for this…" He muttered. "I was the one who trusted that dammed snake and this is how he repaid me." Jenny waved a hand at me and I stood up as she pointed to the floor manager.

"You, call back everyone who was fired by Rick Hendy. I want to know why they were fired and see if any of them know about this." The woman nodded as I was pulled from the room. "Fuck that. Girl, I was hoping you could smooth things out and cut costs, but this is ridiculous. Ten thousand a week and no one knew." I shrugged.

"No one was keeping an eye on the place for nearly three years… your going to get vultures…" a thought crossed my mind and I bit my lip. Jenny was looking at me as I pondered and I shook myself out of it.

"What was that look about?" I shrugged.

"My imagination is getting the best of me." She nodded and crossed her arms.

"Why?"

"Well," I looked around then pulled her into an empty office and closed the door. "I don't believe in luck or coincidence and three years... So, get this. I find it rather odd that three years ago Derick, your alpha and who owns this company becomes a widower allowing him to be distracted enough for this account to be created." She frowned so deep I thought her face was going to fall off.

"That… I…" She stopped and thought. "Give me a moment." She walked out of the office and back into the room where we had been all morning and through lunch. I grabbed my phone and flicked through the names until I found that annoying fellow, Rodger.

'Hi, do you know anything about a pack called the Black Claw? And keep an eye out. I don't think they're friendly and might be coming after you. They definitely want me and the Banshee, not sure why but it isn't good as they're working with strange hunters.' I sent the message and waited.

Early afternoon rolled into late afternoon and someone brought me a sandwich from the canteen. Jenny had vanished with the police and the section managers of the company and I was beginning to feel forgotten about. I looked to my phone it was 5:05 and people were beginning to check out for the day. Slowly I got to my feet and stretched then looked around the office. It was getting quiet. I flipped through my phone and messaged Jenny that I was heading out for food and left.

Freed from the office I walked towards the city center. There was a steak house near here I really wanted to go to. I heard it was amazing but never took the opportunity to come to this side of the city. I wondered a little way then heard my name being called. I looked around and saw Mathew with a few werewolves. Politely, I waved and waited until they got close and he looked around.

"Jenny's not with you?" I explained what was going on and he nodded.

"Yeah, she told me as much which is why I'm here… not that I'll be of much help. But where are you off too?" I grinned.

"To get food, there's a steak house around here I wanted to try. I have my phone so if you need me just call." He nodded then looked to one of the men.

"Ok, but take Dean with you. He's one of the best warriors in the pack." He saw the confusion on my face. "It's just a precaution. After the hunters at the mall and your walk home I…" He stopped himself with a frown. "it'll stop Jenny and I from worrying about you." I could tell he wanted to add the fact that I was a half breed but he had stopped himself. I nodded.

"Fine. It'll be good for me to socialize a bit." I waved a hand at the men vaguely, since I didn't know who Dean was and I hoped he would follow. A tall and well-built man stepped forward with a little bit of hesitance in his step.

'What is it with me and were-folk?' He looked like a bodyguard from the movies in a sharp suit and his hair pulled back into a ponytail. His sent was like sandalwood and it mixed with a good quality cologne that wasn't too overpowering.

"So…" He cleared his throat "you're walking there?" I nodded.

"Yeah, I came with Jenny and don't have a car. And it's only three blocks away, finding parking is such a pain in the neck." He nodded and followed as I began to make my way towards the restaurant.