God's Eye by A.J. Scudiere Read Free Book Online

emerged, gray hair as impeccably groomed as the smile he pushed to his face when he spotted Katharine on the leather couch. “Miss Katharine.”
    She smiled back at him, her grin genuine even though his was tight. He had called her Miss Katharine since she was two. Something subtle in his demeanor gave a cue that he was bothered. “Uncle Toran.”
    His hug was firm and solid, and he spoke as he always had–directly into her ear. “You help your Daddy out now. We need you on this.”
    “Absolutely.” The personal communication and trust he extended to her were more than her own parents had given her. Always had been. Maybe he knew it and maybe he didn’t, but encouragement from him worked like a charm. Every time.
    She went into her father’s office, previous anger dissolved and gone, ready to face whatever challenge he set before her. Seating herself into a firm leather wing chair, she faced the man with the same hazel eyes she had inherited. His hair had been a thick, deep brown and was now liberally shot through with wire the color of steel. It aged him, but only added to his authority. He leaned back in his chair, not bothering to stand. His greeting was as impersonal as the rest. “Katharine.” And the simmering anger came right back. Two could play at that game. Even as she wondered where the meanness came from, she spoke, as coolly as he had. “Daddy.”
    He didn’t notice the icy endearment, and pushed a short stack of papers across the desk to her. “We have a problem. We are missing funds.”
    She almost blurted that she was in research, but then again, maybe she wasn’t anymore. There was a very fine male sitting in her office right now already up to speed on how to do most of her work. She didn’t know whether it bothered her more that he was so attractive–though she couldn’t say why–or that he was so fast in taking over her spot. She pushed her thoughts and her impatience aside. And waited.
    “Toran and I have worked on it as much as we can. We’ve chased paper and followed leads for a few weeks now. This is what we have.” He pointed at the papers. “We suspect the payroll department is responsible for the disappearances–they have the greatest access and we have satisfactorily ruled out all other departments. If the culprit isn’t in payroll, then they’re working through that division.”
    Picking up the papers and leafing through them, Katharine nodded.
    Her father continued dispensing information, and she listened while she looked at what he’d handed her. “You worked with all but a few of the newer payroll people. You hired a handful of the employees when you were in HR before that. And everyone here knows that you move around the company frequently. Being my daughter may be a hindrance, but the rest is a great advantage. They likely won’t tell you all their secrets, but no one will be suspicious if you start checking records or pulling files. We have a prime suspect as well.”
    That made her head pop up, and for a brief second she met her father’s eyes.
    “Mary Wayne. She seems to be living above her means and is the only one in the department doing so.”
    Katharine started and her brain turned over her father’s suspicion. She had hired Mary. Had liked the woman. Mary’s background and references had been impeccable. That this must be a mistake was Katharine’s immediate gut reaction. Then again, people changed.
    “Get to work on this. We need it shut down as fast as possible. Use your assistant–he hasn’t been with the company long enough to be the culprit.”
    With a final nod to her father, Katharine organized the papers and, tucking them under her arm, left the office. She had said only one word during the whole exchange. Sharon waved to her as she left but didn’t say anything, and for the first time it occurred to Katharine that Sharon usually expected her to leave her father’s office tense and preoccupied.
    For thirty-two years, her life had progressed