Page 64 of Love & Other Disasters

“You’re meeting them at their office at two.”

J.P. jotted down the address and assured Bob he’d meet with the agent. Melvin’s embezzlement would not stay a secret much longer. If it came out in the news before the company made customers aware, it would damage consumer trust. Would they all leave the company? A hit to revenue would sink Medi-Health. He picked up the phone and dialed Bob.

“We need to let the customers know, if this story leaks to the public first, we’re done.”

“Agreed,” he said, “we need to bring in PR to devise a plan.”

“We have to get out in front of this.”

“Let’s see how the meeting with Agent Morales goes. They may turn around and not pursue the case.”

“Right,” he said, unconvinced. Bob was going to screw this whole thing up.

Jordan parked in front of the modern red brick building with long rectangular windows and a rounded glass atrium main entrance. The automatic doors slid open, and Jordan stepped into a warm, clean lobby with shiny floors.

Not much in life made him nervous, but as he approached the counter with its bullet proof glass encasing the occupants, sweat dripped down his back. This was ridiculous. Why should he worry? None of this was his fault. But as he asked for Agent Morales and informed the officer behind the counter he had an appointment, the knot in the pit of his stomach tightened. She directed him to wait at the row of chairs off to the side.

“Jordan Harper?” a petite Hispanic woman in a dark pants suit walked toward him. He stood and offered her a hand.

“I’m Special Agent Alejandra Morales,” she took his hand in firm handshake. “Thank you for coming in.”

“Anything I can do to help.” He made eye contact, and she’d sized him up in a matter of seconds.

“Follow me,” she said, turning. Her dark brown hair knotted low at the back of her head, and she moved with the confident air of someone who kicked ass and took names. He didn’t dare argue. Agent Morales led him through the lobby. Down a hallway, she scanned her badge at a door to a plain room with white walls, concrete floor, and a table with a few chairs around it.

“I didn’t realize the TBI would get involved with this,” he said, taking a seat.

“The TBI is authorized to investigate any criminal violation upon the request of the District Attorney General for the judicial district in which the offense occurred,” Agent Morales replied. She sounded like a handbook.

“Makes sense,” he said. “How quickly are these things investigated?”

“We take Healthcare fraud seriously. It takes time to gather and track all evidence to build the case. And you were the person who uncovered it, correct?” She asked, taking control of their conversation. To which he nodded.

“You mind if I record this?” But Agent Morales pulled a small black device on the table between them without waiting on an affirmative response.

“I don’t mind.”

“Special Agent Alejandra Morales, interview with Jordan Harper the CFO of Medi-Health,” she said. “Tell me about becoming CFO of Medi-Health.”

J.P. took a deep breath and began with the interview and talked until he’d gotten to the present day. Stopping at one point when the agent offered him water, and then occasionally sipping from the cup.

“I will need information on your P.I. and copies of the files you received from them,” she said. “I assume this person’s licensed?”

“Yes, he’s legit.”

She nodded, “Now why did you also have this employee Violet Murphy looked into?”

“It was a personal matter,” he replied.

“How so, Mr. Harper?”

“We’d met before, and when I found out she was working for Medi-Health I wanted to vet her before possibly re-engaging in our personal relationship.”

Agent Morales’ eye brows went half way up her forehead. She had given nothing away until now. “And by personal relationship, you mean…”

“A romantic relationship. We met through friends before I became CFO, and I didn’t know she worked there until I showed up to work. I had her investigated to make sure she wasn’t in on the fraud with Mr. McAvoy.”

“And your P.I. concluded there was no evidence of Ms. Murphy’s involvement?”

“That is correct.”

Agent Alejandra Morales picked up the recorder. “End of interview with Jordan Harper.” She stopped the recording and looked over at him. “You don’t strike me as an impulsive or a stupid man, Mr. Harper. This relationship with Ms. Murphy is both.”

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