The study smelled faintly of the rich scent of aging oak barrels drifting from the nearby bottling line, a reminder of the thousands of gallons of bourbon resting in the dark warehouses. Julian Frost paced the narrow length of my study, his leather soles squeaking against the Persian rug. The tall casement windows of Blackridge Manor looked out over the barren blue-grass pastures, but Julian kept his eyes fixed on the cream-colored balance sheet in his hands.
“It is ninety thousand dollars exactly, Ethan,” Julian stammered, his fingers trembling as he polished his wire-rimmed glasses with the wide end of his blue silk tie. “An outgoing wire transfer from our primary consulting account. No invoice. No work order. Nothing. It is just gone from our operating cash.”
I sat behind the oak desk, rubbing my left temple where a dull, rhythmic throb had begun to take root.
“Who initiated the transfer, Julian?” I asked, my voice deliberate and slow.
“The bank records show your digital signature was used,” Julian said, his stammer returning as he hastily slid his glasses back over his ears. “But I know your schedule. You were at the warehouse in Bardstown all that Tuesday, inspecting the new charred oak barrels. You were nowhere near the office computer.”
I paused, letting the silence stretch between us until the only sound was the wind rattling the dry maple branches outside.
“The digital key is kept in the master safe in my office,” I said. “Only you, Victoria, and I have the access codes. There is no other copy.”
“I did not authorize it,” Julian said quickly, his voice rising a fraction. “I would never touch that account without your direct written consent, Ethan. You know that. I value my job too much to make a mistake of that size.”
“I know your record, Julian,” I said. “What is the name of the recipient company on the bank sheet?”
“V and H Consultants,” Julian whispered, glancing toward the heavy oak door of the study as if he expected someone to be listening on the other side of the brass lock. “A domestic corporation registered in Delaware just three months ago. There is no physical address listed on the wire transfer form, only a post office box in Lexington.”
