Blood Will Tell by Anita Coffee Thomas

Author:Anita Coffee Thomas [Thomas, Anita Coffee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 47

Thursday, July 22

Detective Ed Rawley and his partner, Ben O’Malley, showed up at Lockwood Enterprises the next morning, stopping to tell the wide-eyed receptionist to let Mr. Lockwood know they needed to speak with him. Showing their badges, they assured her they did not need an appointment. Employees walking the halls nearby or watching from their glass-walled offices were gaping, wondering why the police were there.

“Send them back,” Lockwood growled and slammed the phone down, wondering how much worse this day could get.

After introductions, he asked, as cordially as possible, “So, gentlemen. What brings you here today?”

“We have some questions that relate to the death of your CFO, Howard Taylor.” Rawley kept his expression impassive, while watching Lockwood’s face for any signs of panic or distress. But Jack did not skip a beat, his eyes meeting Rawley’s without wavering, his manner cool and confident.

“Have a seat, please. I’m more than happy to help you in any way I can. Howard’s death has been a blow to this company and to me personally.”

“We have evidence of irregularities in donations to your arts foundation, evidence showing those donations have been going to a personal, offshore account, and not to any nonprofit arts organizations.” Rawley waited, curious to see the effect this statement would have. Did he notice the rhythmic pulsing of the skin below Jack’s left eye? Determined to maintain control, Jack just cocked his head and furrowed his brow, as if trying to understand the detective’s obvious confusion.

“I can’t imagine why there’s a problem with these donations going to an investment account that earns a high return while we review grant applications to determine worthy recipients for our foundation’s money.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think that sounded like well-rehearsed boilerplate.” Rawley quickly countered, “So you freely admit donations are going to a personal account offshore? I can check, but isn’t that a violation of the tax code regulating charitable donations? It sounds like a convenient way to avoid scrutiny of how these monies are actually being used.”

“Detective, I have no problem explaining the wisdom of this decision, which I, of course, cleared with our corporate tax advisers. So, I have to ask the obvious question: To what so-called evidence are you referring? And what does any of this have to do with the death of Howard Taylor?”

“We have physical evidence, a written record, of donations over the past three years and more going to an account labeled ‘Lansdowne.’”

Goddamn it, there it is. The other shoe has dropped. Jack was forming his next response, one calculated to shut this questioning down now, all the while keeping his eyes locked with Rawley’s penetrating gaze.

“Were you aware, Mr. Lockwood, that Howard Taylor was meeting a corporate auditor on the day he died? What do you suppose that was about? And more importantly, can you tell me when you last saw your CFO?”

“Certainly. He left the building around 12:30 and I caught up with him in the garage. I asked him to stop

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