Page 40 of Paternal Instincts
“Yes.”
“I didn’t take the money.”
“That’s honestly not our concern. We’re more interested in locating Crowley Davis, who, as far as we’re concerned, was taken from the Soccerplex on the same night you randomly showed up there… and lied about it.”
Jude swiped his hand over his sweaty brow. “I heard rumors that Nixon was meeting with a forensic accountant that night. I know he’s spoken to a lawyer behind my back and is prepared to take legal action if…whenhe figures out where the money has gone.”
I waited, maintaining eye contact and applying silent pressure.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he said.
I held my hands aloft. “What am I thinking?”
“If I didn’t take the money, why do I care if he hires someone to dissect our books. I don’t care, but it’s the fact that he’s left me out of the whole process. He’s doing all of this behind my back. We’re equals, and he’s treating me like I’m guilty. People are talking. He’s destroying my reputation. I had two clients cancel their contracts last week. That’s not a coincidence. We should be investigating this together. As a team.”
“Mr. Marigold, why were you at the Soccerplex on Tuesday night?”
“I was looking for Nixon. I heard he was meeting with the accountant that night, but I also knew Crow had a soccer game. Ever since Genie fired the nanny, Nixon’s been… on edge. Scrambling. Scattered. His mind is everywhere. He’s got a lot on his shoulders. When I heard he’d scheduled a meeting with the forensic accountant, I raced up here to chat with him.”
“This was on Tuesday?”
“Yes, but Nixon was already gone for the day.”
“Gone? What time was this?”
“Five.”
“You’re sure?” I glanced at Aslan, whose brow furrowed.
“Yes, because most of our staff leave for the day at five, and people were packing up and heading out, including his secretary. She’s who told me he’d already left.”
According to Nixon, he’d been in a meeting until five thirty. “Go on.”
“I figured he must have scheduled the meeting for later in the evening, after Crow’s soccer game, so I raced out of here and headed directly for the Soccerplex to confront him. I searched the arena, but he wasn’t there. Neither was Crow, so I left.”
“Where did you go from there?”
“Home.”
“Not to his house a few blocks away?”
Jude sighed and briefly closed his eyes. “No.”
“You didn’t think to call him?” Aslan asked.
“Of course I did.” Jude’s petulance returned. “He wouldn’t answer his phone. I told you, when it comes to this business about the missing money, Nixon keeps me in the dark. He makes me chase him around to get answers.”
I turned over the evidence and Jude’s explanation in my mind, searching for holes, displaying it alongside what I’d learned from Nixon. Their stories didn’t match.
“What time did you get home that night?”
Jude thought for a second and shrugged. “No later than six thirty. The baby was still awake. She typically goes to bed at seven. My wife will confirm. Can I go now? I need to call Nixon.”
I glanced at Aslan, who shrugged, tossing the ball back into my court. I dug a card from my wallet and placed it on the desk. “Call me if you think of anything that might help us locate the boy.”
“Sure. Do you need my number?”
“We already have it.”
