Page 226 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“I’d like to transfer some money,” she said. She read off the account number, then her face paled. “Are you sure?” she whispered. She listened a few moments. “Could you fax me over the last ten transactions?” She rattled off the fax number then hung up the phone.

“Don’t tell me. The money’s gone.” He should have known she’d pull something like this. She wouldn’t want the money left where it could be retrieved.

Her face was nearly as white as the lace curtains at the window. She wet her lips. “I’m actually overdrawn by fifty dollars. They used my overdraft protection.”

“Where was it transferred to?”

“A Swiss bank account.” Her blue eyes searched his face. “I know how this looks, Max. Don’t you think I’d be smarter than to pull something like this?”

“You weren’t expecting to get caught,” he said. “With doing Gram’s accounting yourself, you had no idea anyone would take a close look at the accounts. It was just a fluke I noticed the discrepancy.”

The front door opened, and he heard the sound of Gram and Molly’s laughter.

“You run along and go potty,” Gram said. “When you get back, we’ll have some tea.”

“Okay.” Molly’s steps raced past the office.

Max waited until he heard her on the steps then went to the doorway. “Gram, would you come in here please?”

Becca paled even further, so much so that he wondered if she might faint.

“Is something wrong, Max?” Gram evidently heard the solemn note in his voice.

“Unfortunately, yes.” He pointed to the desk chair. “You’d better have a seat.”

Gram shot him a puzzled look but did as he said. “Becca, are you all right? You look like you’re about to fall over. Come sit by me.”

“I’m fine, Gram,” Becca whispered.

“Gram, some money has turned up missing from your savings account. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

“I know,” Gram said. “Becca told me the account balances, and I realized something was wrong. Do I need to cash in some stock or break into a CD?”

“No, you have enough liquid money for now. That’s not the most immediate problem.” Max wasn’t sure her heart could take the stress of what he had to tell her. “Why didn’t you tell me when you heard about it?”

“Tell me and quit beating around the bush, Max. I’m too old to play games.”

“He thinks I took it, Gram,” Becca burst out.

“Oh is that all? You know you can have whatever you need, Becca. Do you need more?”

“I didn’t take it, Gram.” Becca was beginning to sound even more desperate.

“Did you hear her, Max? She didn’t take it.”

“It was transferred to her account, Gram. And from there to a Swiss bank account.”

“I see.” Gram fell silent a few moments. “Who could have done this, Becca? If you say you had nothing to do with it, I believe you.”

“I know, Gram. You understand love, unlike other people.”

Max ran his hand through his hair. “What am I supposed to think, Becca? The evidence is right here in black and white!” He grabbed up a handful of papers and shook them in the air.

“Max, that’s no way to talk to Becca.”

Gram’s rebuke stung. “And this was no way for her to treat the grandmother she says she loves.”

“Someone else has done this to implicate her,” Gram said.

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