Borderland - Jennifer Seet

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a meeting. Check into your father’s finances on your own before he calls. What do you think?”

      “I might just do that,” Karen said quietly as she watched Jake drive away.

      A smirk on his face, he looked in the rearview mirror and noticed her watching; his ego took hold, causing him to conclude that she must be interested.

      But just as curtly, his thoughts turned to the money he had taken from Travis Morton’s bank account, a glimmer of worry crept in, disrupted his thinking, then instantly evaporated, leaving him with a false sense of security.

      I’ve got plenty of time to move money around and replace it. She’ll never know! He grinned as he thought about how adept he had become at using his clients’ money.

      Since he had access to several bank accounts, he could take some when he needed it and they never knew the difference. His drug habit had become quite expensive over the last few months, making it imperative to find funds to cover his debts. He had come up with the perfect scam. He withdrew money from a client’s account to cover medical and household bills and allowed a little extra for himself. And, although he knew it was not his money to play with, the drugs robbed him of any values or ethics. Of course it was always his intention to pay it back, but the procrastination had led to borrowing from one account to cover another, robbing Peter to pay Paul.

      Not a bad deal, he thought, rubbing his hand across the bottom of his nose, a gesture that was becoming more and more frequent. Unaware of damage done by his cocaine abuse being noticed by others, he didn’t realize that a simple repetitive gesture of rubbing his nose was enough to set off alarm bells in some of his acquaintances.

      Jake thought about the next hit, hardly able to contain his excitement at the prospect, while congratulating himself on how he handled Karen Sands.

      Tomorrow he would maneuver the funds and everything would be back to normal.

      As he drove through the cemetery gates, Jake marveled at his ingenuity. He had been right to come out today and approach her, and he presented such a caring attitude. She had to be impressed! He tried unsuccessfully to stifle a chuckle as he drove away, oblivious to the fact that Travis was watching.

      He was there for the whole ceremony, and that included the ‘ceremony’ put on by Jake Turner. He watched until the car faded in the distance then he faded away too.

      * * * * *

      Upon entering her father’s house, Karen noticed a red blinking light in the distance, and, as she approached the living room, realized it was the voice mail on the phone. She pushed the button, smiling as she heard Jonathon’s voice.

      “Hi, honey. It’s me,” he said rather seriously. “Please call me as soon as you can. Love you,” whispering as he hung up the phone.

      Punching in the familiar number to their office, she waited for it to ring, knowing that he would be there to answer it.

      “Hello,” she heard her husband say.

      “Hi yourself. How are you?”

      “Alright, I guess, but how about you. Did everything go okay? I’m just sorry I couldn’t be there with you.”

      “I know, I know. Remember we talked about this and we agreed that you would stay and take care of the business.”

      “Yeah, I know,” he sighed, “but I’m having guilt pangs.”

      “Well, don’t. I just returned from the cemetery. A lot of Dad’s friends and employees were there. Several people gave some nice tributes to him.”

      “That’s great, but I’m still sorry I wasn’t with you.”

      “I know, but as I told you the other night, Dad and I talked and he was truly sorry for the way he treated you. He was hoping to make it up to us…” her voice trailed off.

      “Your father loved you, Karen. I’m just glad that the two of you had a chance to reconcile your differences. That’s all that matters.”

      “Thanks, honey. But, what’s going on there? You called and it sounded urgent.”

      “You know that Lofton deal that we have been trying to close for two months now? Well, they want us to meet with them day after tomorrow.”

       “Day after tomorrow! Can we postpone it? I won’t be back.”

      “It has to be then. They’re leaving for Europe that afternoon and won’t be back until Christmas.”

      Karen hesitated, trying to organize her thoughts, “I suppose I could fly back, and after we close you could come back with me to help with the estate.”

      “Sure, we could do that. Just call when you have your flight scheduled so I’ll know when to pick you up. Anything else?”

      “Yes!” She was remembering her uneasy feelings about Jake Turner. “I might have an appointment at my dad’s bank tomorrow. I’ll try to schedule it first thing in the morning so I can get a flight out sometime in the afternoon.”

      “Sure, no problem. As long as you get back in time to sign that contract, I’ll be happy.”

      Karen hung up the phone with a promise to call him as soon as she had the flight number and time of her arrival.

      She immediately grabbed the phone book and looked up the number of the bank, talked with a very friendly woman named Logan Massey, and arranged an appointment for the next morning at 9:00 a.m.

      After explaining the urgency of her request, Logan promised to have the account ready for both of them to peruse.

      Karen then made a flight reservation leaving at 5:10 p.m. the next day and called Jonathon, giving him the necessary information. Yawning, she hung up the phone and collapsed into her father’s favorite easy chair for a short nap. Before long she was fast asleep.

      Harry tiptoed in and placed a blanket around her legs. He watched her sleep for a few minutes, wishing she would get through the next few weeks relatively unscathed, but his senses told him differently.

      * * * * *

      In a luxurious apartment, only miles away, Jake Turner relaxed with his latest drug buy. He leaned over to inhale a line of cocaine and the rush hit him instantly. He slumped back against the pillows on the couch, wringing his hands together in anticipation of sensations his body would experience.

      Smiling, gloating at the thought of how expertly he would take care of the small matter involving the funds he took from Travis Morton’s bank account, he congratulated himself on the little act he had put on at the cemetery. How she must have fallen for it!

      Jake, my man, you are the master! She’ll be so wrapped up in grieving the death of her old man… won’t make any moves until after they go over the will. No hurry…plenty of time. Maybe I’ll just stay home tomorrow. I deserve a day off. A cruel smile formed on his lips, a thin straight line with no upward curve.

      Such a sweet deal! No reason to panic. I can continue to raid clients’ bank accounts and no one will be the wiser.

      As night fell and shadows began to form in the living room, Jake never lost that wicked smile on his face. But, someone else watched, feeling only pity.

       CHAPTER FIVE

      The day after the funeral Karen sat across from Logan Massey. Logan, she found out, was the assistant branch manager at the bank. She established a friendly rapport with the beautiful, young woman, noting the sincerity in her voice when she expressed sorrow at the death of Karen’s father. She also felt a trust build up because they immediately got down to business, assuring the appointment would be completed in a timely manner, allowing her to catch her flight to California.

      As promised, Logan had the account information ready when Karen arrived at the bank. “I’ll try

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