I had never seen it.
Someone had deleted it before I could.
My world narrowed another inch.
The police detective assigned to the case, Elena Ruiz, returned from Kyle’s office carrying a stack of printed reports.
“Mr. Donnelly, can we talk?”
Amber started to leave.
Ruiz said, “Stay, please. I may need you too.”
She sat.
Ruiz placed the reports on the table.
“Your point-of-sale system shows a pattern of voided and re-entered transactions.”
“I need that in plain English.”
“Someone would charge a customer’s card, tell them it didn’t work, then run a second card or ask for cash. Later, one of the charges might be partially refunded or moved.”
“Moved where?”
“We’re still tracing it.”
Amber said quietly, “Gift cards.”
Ruiz turned.
“What?”
Amber looked frightened.
“Kyle made us sell a lot of store gift cards lately. He said corporate wanted it.”
“There is no corporate,” I said.
