Cory's Dilemma by Dan Petrosini

Author:Dan Petrosini [Petrosini, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-22T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Three

What do you think, we got a damn layaway plan? Send me the rest of the fucking money or you’ll regret it.

Cory recounted his conversation with Lew. He’d been buzzed. Had he made a mistake with the amount when he sent the wiring instructions? He scrolled through his texts. The amount was correct. He punched in his manager’s number. It went straight to voice mail.

Was he avoiding him? He waited five minutes and redialed. No luck. He called the office but was told Lew was out and not expected back. Pouring himself a drink, he heard a text arrive. He figured it was Lew. It wasn’t:

Where’s the rest of the money?

I’m checking on it.

Don’t fuck with me.

I’m not. I told my manager to send it. I’m trying to get a hold of him.

Cory called Tracy and asked her to track down Lew. He made another drink, but before he could take a sip his cell rang. He didn’t recognize the number and hesitated. Figuring it was Lew calling from another location, he answered.

“Mr. Lupinski?”

“Yes? Who is this?”

“Wendy Wilcox, the accountant.”

“Oh. Hi. What’s going on?”

“Well, I started to audit the books, and found something concerning.”

“Wires to my friends?”

“No. This concerns a series of transfers. You see, in an audit, we verify what appears on the books. We go a level deeper to make sure what shows on the surface is actually where the money goes and—”

“Tell me what you found.”

“Well, there are a dozen transfers, in varying amounts, that went into Mr. Stein’s account.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“Yes, I always start with transfers and wires, focusing on big round numbers. I like to vet those first. Right away, I noticed a transfer for fifty thousand dollars in the check register. According to the paperwork, it went to a company called the Promotion Pros. But, following where the money actually went, it didn’t go there, it went to Lewis Stein.”

“I can’t believe this. Are you sure it isn’t some kind of paperwork mistake?”

“Unfortunately, it appears orchestrated. After uncovering the first inconsistency, I searched the books for others and found eleven other transfers, each of them to Lewis Stein.”

“The bastard is stealing from me?”

“It’s preliminary, but that’s how it appears.”

“How much money in total?”

“Five hundred and sixty thousand dollars.”

“I swear, I’ll kill the bastard.”

“Please calm down, Mr. Lupinski. It’s possible Mr. Stein has an explanation.”

“What can you send me as proof about what you uncovered?”

“I can send you copies of the transfers detailing where the money went.”

“Text them to me. Now.”

Realizing the reason the blackmailer only got half the money, Cory gulped his drink. He was broke, he thought, as the documentation hit his phone. He opened three. There didn’t seem to be any doubt that his manager got the money. Why? Was Lew involved in the blackmailing scheme as well?

It couldn’t be, otherwise he’d know the money wasn’t there. But was that just a cover to make him think he wasn’t involved? He bounced between believing it was a ruse, to thinking it was impossible.

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