The space wasn’t what I’d been expecting at all. Everything was a modern style in black and white with glass accents. One side of the room was his sleeping area with a simple streamlined bed and a nightstand on either side. The other half held a large glass-topped desk with a metal frame. It ran along one whole wall with multiple monitors and stations he could roll between. Then there was a small seating area with two armchairs and a glass coffee table. There were no personal touches on the walls or decorations on any surface. This space was designed to create no distractions whatsoever.
“I hear your day has been rather busy,” Atticus commented. “I feel that as your friend, it’s my duty to inquire how you’re feeling.”
“That’s a hard question to answer,” I said with a sigh.
Atticus nodded in understanding. “Then I do not obligate you to answer unless you choose to. Do you still have the time to go over some items with me? It’s quite understandable if other things of a higher priority need your attention.”
“Atty, you’re a higher priority, and I told you I would help you. I’m a woman of my word, so please, show me where you feel anything isn’t making sense,” I assured him, gesturing for him to lead the way.
“As I mentioned at breakfast, I’ve gone over this numerous times, and while the numbers come out correctly to what I had, the outcome doesn’t feel like it should be what it is,” he shared as he pulled another rolling chair out of a closet for me to use.
Taking a seat, I turned to face him. “All right, tell me this, do you feel the number is too big or too small.”
“Too large. The records I’ve seen of other jobs done by other similar companies are far less expensive. I understand the boss might give some a deal as well as getting goods through Luca, but it wouldn’t convert to this large of a discrepancy,” Atticus explained.
“Do we have copies of the original agreements, the invoices, or other paperwork we can cross-check with?” I inquired.
Atticus frowned. “Most everything is done electronically. I get emailed copies from all the companies sent to me every night.”
“Are these sent to the corporate office first? Or are they just delayed in sending to you all at once?” I pressed.
“No, they get sent to the main accountants for each respective company. They do the day-to-day work, and I check over them to ensure they’re done correctly. My job is to oversee the money as a whole for the Caprioni Family,” Atticus said, breaking it down for me.
I nodded as something was nagging at me. “Does everything Continental Properties do go to the same person?”
“Yes, because they have so many jobs going all at once, they have a person who compiles everything for them based on each job. Then those files get sent to me to ensure all everything’s accounted for and invoices are getting paid.”
Grabbing my cell, I called Gunner. “Hey, are you at the house?” I asked when he picked up.
“Ah… yes, I am,” he answered, sounding confused. “Should I not be?”
“Calm down, come to Atty’s room. I have a project I need you to help us on,” I informed him.
“I’ll be there in a moment,” he said then the call was disconnected.
Atticus turned to face me. “Did you figure out the problem already? We haven’t even looked at the numbers yet.”
I reached out and placed a hand lightly on his knee. “That’s because numbers never lie, but people do.”
“I don’t understand. How can they lie when I have the paperwork to show what they were charged?”
Leaning back, I let out a sigh rubbing my forehead. “I’ve heard other companies doing this when they’re cutting corners on projects or running a scam but never to this magnitude. Is this the first time you’ve thought this about their reports?”
“It’s the first time I’ve looked at their whole portfolio all at once. I’m always looking at bits and pieces, not the whole situation. When you look at it case by case, there isn’t anything that would raise concern, but looking at it as a whole, their cost is extraordinarily higher than others,” Atticus reasoned. “The increase started about a year ago. Before then, all was fairly standard, but the occasional project being more than expected.”
There was a knock at the door then Gunner stepped in a moment later. “You need me?”
“How can we get original copies of invoices sent to us from the companies we purchase from?” I asked.
He wandered over to us with his hands in his pockets. “I’m not sure what you mean?”
“I want to see a copy of the bill that the supply company has, not the one we do,” I rephrased.
“Are you implying what I think you are?” Gunner asked.
“You tell me,” I countered.
Gunner didn’t answer me right away, instead made a phone call. “Ryker, I need you to deep dive into Nancy Mercer’s computer and tell me if she’s manipulating invoices for Harrison and Raymond.” He paused, listening to his answer then frowned. “Son of a bitch, how long? Ayear?” Gunner roared. “No, I got this. Thank you for offering, though. Can you send me copies of all of that?”