Sam falls back in his chair. “That’s just it. I have access for daily expenses, but any withdrawal above fifty thousand requires both our signatures.”
“Yours and Joseph’s?”
He nods.
“Then how would Joseph get that much money?”
His face has grown pale.
“Sam, are you all right?”
He looks up at me but is staring through me.
I recognize the look. He’s in shock.
“Sam,” I say more firmly.
He blinks several times. “I don’t know how he did it, but we need that money to travel to our games. It covers lodging, meals, transportation, whatever comes up.”
“Does anyone else have access to that account?”
Sam frowns. “My assistant can see the numbers—she helps keep the books straight. But that’s it.”
“What is your assistant’s name?”
“Margaret Deluth.”
“How long has she worked for you?”
Sam stands and paces. “What does it matter? Like I said, she can see the numbers, but she can’t get the money.”
“I’m being thorough.”
“Are you a private investigator?”
“No, I’m hired to protect Joseph. I work in security. You can call Chip to verify.”
He nods, grabs his phone, and talks to, I presume, Chip. As he shoves his phone back in his pocket, he turns to me. “Sorry, just wanted to be sure. It isn’t every day I find all our money is gone.” He shakes his head. “Margaret started in August. She took over for my last assistant, who retired in June.”
“Do you run background checks on your employees?”
“What are you implying? Margaret is a good woman. Trustworthy.”
I arch a brow. He jumped to her defense quickly. “Is she more than your assistant?”
As if on cue, there’s a knock at the door. “Sorry to bother you, Sam,” a woman’s voice says as the door opens. Then she spots me, and I get a good look at her.
I’d bet my life savings this is Margaret. The woman is wearing a red skintight dress that leaves little to the imagination; the neckline even scoops low enough to show off all her cleavage. She’s dressed more for a nightclub than a day job. Though she barely looks old enough to get into a club.
Her eyes sweep over me, and she smiles. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you had anyone in here.”
“That’s all right, Margaret. We were just wrapping up. I have to get to practice.” His cheeks are flushed red.
He knows exactly what I’m thinking: the middle-aged coach and the sexy assistant. Too cliche.
I stand and extend my hand. “Yes, thank you for talking with me.”
He shakes it. I turn and walk to the door. Margaret is not subtle as she checks me out and then licks her lips. I turn back to glance at Sam, but he doesn’t notice her watching me.
