Smoke in Mirrors

Meredith kicked in, just as it always did when crunch time hit.
    She raised her chin. “Are you absolutely certain Meredith embezzled that money?”

    “Positive.”
    “How did she manage that?”
    “Easy. Took a job as an alumni endowment fund development officer at Eubanks College. As the person in charge of the money on a day-to-day basis, she had access to all the accounts and to a lot of wealthy alumni. Add in the fact that she had the morals of a con artist and great computer skills and you have the recipe for embezzlement.”
    “If what you say is true, why are you here? With that kind of money involved, I would have thought you’d have gone to the police.”
    “I’m trying to avoid the cops.”
    “When there’s more than a million dollars missing?” She saw a chance to go on the offensive and grabbed it. “That sounds very suspicious to me. It certainly casts some doubts on your story, Mr. Walker.”
    “I want to avoid the cops because that kind of bad publicity can really hurt an endowment fund. Undermines the faith of potential donors. Makes them question the integrity of the folks entrusted with the responsibility for managing the money, know what I mean?”
    She’d had enough experience with the delicate politics of academic endowment fund-raising to realize that he had a point. But that was no reason to let him off the hook. Besides, he didn’t look at all like the kind of person who got involved in college endowments. That business was run by suave, cultured types who wore good suits and who knew how to make nice with wealthy alumni.
    She gave him her most polished smile. “I think I’m getting the picture here. My turn to take a wild guess. Could it be that you haven’t reported the missing money to the authorities, Mr. Walker, because for some reason you think you might be a prime suspect?”

    His dark brows rose in silent appreciation of the direct hit. “Close, Miss Hutton. Not quite on target, but very, very close.”
    “I knew it.”
    “Meredith left a trail that would point to my brother, Deke, if the embezzlement is exposed.”
    “Your brother.” She digested that slowly. “Where exactly is the headquarters of this Bethany Walker Fund?”
    “It’s part of the alumni endowment of Eubanks College. It was set up to support research and teaching in the field of mathematics.”
    “Eubanks?” She frowned. “I’m not familiar with that institution.”
    “It’s a small college in a little town called Wing Cove. About an hour and a half’s drive north of Seattle.”
    “I see.”
    “The fund is named for Deke’s wife, Bethany, a brilliant mathematician. She died last year. Deke is the head of the board that oversees the fund’s operations and investments. In three months there will be an audit. If that money turns up missing, he will look like the guy responsible for making it disappear, thanks to sweet Meredith.”
    A typical Meredith operation, Leonora thought. Make sure the victim of the scam won’t call the cops.
    “I realize how upsetting this must be for you and your brother, Mr. Walker. But I must say, for a man who wants to keep the situation low profile, you seem to be quite chatty on the subject.”
    “That’s because I have a strong interest in recovering the money. I want it back in the fund’s account before that damned audit.”
    “I understand,” she said. “But why are you talking to me about this?”
    “Simple. You’re my best lead.”
    She stared. “I beg your pardon?”

    “Let me put it this way, you’re my only lead.”
    Panic shot through her. “But I don’t know anything about that missing money.”
    “Yeah?” He looked unconvinced. “Let’s say for the sake of argument that you’re telling me the truth—”
    “I am telling you the truth.”
    “Even if that is the case, you’re still my only lead.”
    “Why?”
    “Because you knew Meredith better than anyone else, as far as I can tell. I’m really hoping that you can help me out here, Miss Hutton.”
    In your dreams, Leonora thought. “I just told you, I didn’t have much contact with her this past year. I wasn’t even aware that she had a job at Eubanks College. I didn’t know she was living here in this apartment until the authorities contacted me after the accident.”
    “No kidding. According to the manager, she used your name on the rental application.”
    Leonora said nothing. It wasn’t the first time Meredith had borrowed her good name and credit