Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“That’s all right, Rina. This is Jonathan Oaks, my late stepmother’s son,” I said, introducing him even though Rina definitely already knew who he was.
“Pleased to meet you,” he told her with a polite smile.
“You, too,” Rina said, appearing to flush a little before turning her attention back to me. “I just wanted to let you know that Alf wants to speak to you about repairs to the fencing at the back of the gardens.”
“Okay, I’ll find him later,” I said then noticed Jonathan staring at me pointedly as if to say, Ask her about the receipts. “Oh, and um, do you know if there are any receipts missing from petty cash?”
Rina frowned. “No, everything’s there. Why?”
I pressed my lips together and glanced at Jonathan before returning my attention to Rina, “Then it appears we have a thief in our midst. There’s over one hundred and fifty euros missing.”
Rina’s eyebrows shot sky high. “What? That can’t be possible. I promise you, Ada, I would never—”
“Please, I don’t suspect you. But someone else could’ve taken a key from one of us and slipped it back before we noticed.”
Rina tapped her chin, her expression clouding with suspicion before she lowered her voice and stepped farther into my office, closing the door behind her. “What about Hannah? You caught her in here that time, and the petty cash box was right under your desk that day. I know because I put it there after collecting the final receipts for the month.”
“Hannah?” Jonathan asked, clearly intrigued by this whole thing. I wasn’t bloody intrigued. It was a headache I didn’t need.
“One of the carers,” Rina told him, and I knew the moment he recalled where he’d heard her name before, that she was the one Cathal had left me for.
“Are there security cameras installed in the building?” Jonathan asked.
“Yes, but there aren’t any outside my office, unfortunately.”
“Well, perhaps you might consider having one installed. If this person stole once, you might catch them in the act again.”
Rina glanced at me. “Could be another thing to ask Alf about? He helped install most of the cameras we have now.”
“Okay, thank you. I’ll run it by him.”
“Well, I need to get back to work, but let me know what you want to do next.”
“Will do. Thank you, Rina.”
She left, and my attention returned to Jonathan when I sensed him staring at me.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking concerned.
“It’s just a headache I don’t need, but I’ll figure it out.”
His features softened, like he wanted to reduce my stress in some way, then his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the message. “Well, some good news at least. Our lunch has arrived.”
11.
Ada
After speaking with Alf, who, like Rina, I didn’t suspect of taking the money, we decided it was best to set up a small wireless camera in my office instead of having a large, wired one installed in the hallway outside. That would only alert the thief that we were onto them. At first, I was a little uncomfortable having the barely noticeable camera on my shelf, but after a couple days, I completely forgot it was there.
I also didn’t enjoy reporting to Fabers, the company that operated Pinebrook Lodge and several other care homes in the county, about the missing money. I was on the receiving end of a few strong words from Jeanette, the lady I spoke with in Head Office, and told that it was my responsibility to find the culprit, loosely implying they’d rather avoid the drama of having the authorities involved for such a small sum. If it were a member of staff, they were to be promptly fired.
I really hoped it wasn’t a member of staff. I considered most of the people who worked at Pinebrook good and honest. Plus, I hated firing people. I mean, what if they really needed the money and stole out of desperation? Having experienced my share of money troubles, I was uncomfortable firing someone going through similar issues. Still, there were always better options than resorting to theft.
On Wednesday, it was pub quiz night. Normally, I looked forward to letting my hair down and socializing with everyone, but that week was different. I found myself constantly scrutinizing each person, wondering if they could be my thief.
So far, Rina, Alf and I were the only ones who knew about the missing money. Everyone else was blissfully unaware that they were all suspects.
“A glass of red?” Rina asked as we entered the pub and approached our usual table. Our team was called the Quiz Hawks—don’t ask who came up with the name because I couldn’t remember. It might have been a drunken group decision. Anyway, we were on a winning streak, having won the last two quiz nights in a row.
“Sure, thanks,” I said then went to join Lewis and Hannah, plus Debbie and Cate, who worked in the kitchen.