Dancing with Detective Danger Read Online Free PDF

woman.”
    The young woman pursed her lips in dismay. This was what Sterling had hoped for. “I’m sure it’s just some kind of simple misunderstanding, but, Janice, if you could tell me when was the last time you spoke with him, I’m sure we can clear it up pretty quickly.”
    “I’ve already talked to a detective this afternoon. I’ll tell you what I told him. If you want any information you’ll have to talk to public relations.” The woman rose abruptly and looked like she was searching for a quick and quiet escape.
    “I’m sorry to trouble you, Janice. I don’t want you to reveal anything that would get you in trouble.” Sterling glanced over her left shoulder, her right shoulder, then leaned close. “I’ve heard a nasty rumor and I would like to spare Mrs. Rutherford and you and everyone else at the bank the embarrassment of it.”
    The woman’s shoulders slumped and she sighed heavily. “It is already that. It has been such an embarrassment for some time,” she said in low tones, shaking her head. “And I’ve kept it quiet because, well, I didn’t know quite what to do. Mrs. Rutherford deserves better. Better than what Mr. Rutherford has given her.”
    “By that you mean the other woman?” Bait and wait seemed to be working, Sterling thought, getting slightly giddy inside.
    “Of course. The two of them kept it pretty low key in the office, but it wasn’t much of a secret that Mr. Rutherford was spending lunches, shall we say, with Pamela. So clichéd.”
    “Clichéd? How so?”
    “The young ambitious bank executive and the older man. Pamela had him wrapped around her finger.” The woman’s voice fell to a stage whisper. “But the worst of it is the strange bookkeeping.”
    Sterling’s heart skipped. “Really? How awful.”
    Her eyes darted warily, but the young woman continued. “I don’t know anything about it but I overheard some executives discussing the problem with the account information in Mr. Rutherford’s computer files and they’re trying to keep it quiet. I’m sure you can understand. If this got out, well, it wouldn’t be good for our top-tiered customers, which would be bad for us all.”
    “So you haven’t had a chance to talk with Mr. Rutherford today?”
    The young woman bit her lip nervously. “He left me a voicemail this morning. He said he had a business trip to Chicago and he would be in touch later. That’s all I know. Although there is some rumor that his lady friend is missing too, so maybe they ran off together. I hate to speculate. But I do feel, as I said, that Mrs. Rutherford deserves better. That’s why I told her on the phone that Mr. Rutherford is not where he’s expected.”
    Sterling believed the woman didn’t know anything more, and didn’t even know Pamela had been killed. Apparently the bank’s executives hadn’t had time or concern enough to give all the employees the news. Hopefully they’d be told about the death before they heard it on the evening news. “Well, you’ve been very helpful, Janice, and I appreciate your concern about discretion.” Sterling handed her a business card and smiled. “If you have anything you’d like to talk about, please don’t hesitate to call me or stop by my office.”
    Janice nodded and sat back down, letting her attention fall to her paperwork on her desk.
    On her way back to her office, Sterling called her sister to let her know what she’d learned about Jerry, but she got her voicemail. She left a message just to keep her sister up to speed on what she’d learned at the bank. She glanced at the time and realized Lacey would have left to be home when her son got off school. It wouldn’t hurt for her to take off early herself, Sterling thought. She had files at home she could work on, but a good run before the day ended would help settle the nerves rattled by her day. She didn’t even bother to go upstairs to her office when she reached the parking lot and her car. With all that had happened,