Free Crime & Punishment by V.R. Dunlap Page A

his full attention, “I just called you because I thought I found an unexplained accounting issue.”
     
    Amy looked up at him cautiously. She cocked her head and decided to assume he was referring to her team's budget. “Well, I know my team is sometimes off from time to time, but it usually works out in the end. I am really not the right person to ask though. You need my manager probably. I'll have her give you a call,” she added and she started to get up to walk out, not wanting to discuss anything to do with accounting if she could help it.
     
    “The thing is, I don't need an explanation any longer.”
     
    “Well, that is good news,” she turned and as she opened the door to leave said, “Well, like I said, if you have any other budget questions...”
     
    He didn't wait for her to finish her sentence. “The thing is, Amy, I know you took the money.”
     
    Amy froze with her hand on the door, not quite sure what to do.  “What money?” she asked as innocently as she could, trying to give nothing away.
     
    “Well,” he said as he looked back at his computer, “it looks like you took five thousand dollars almost two years ago.”
     
    She paused and stood there unsure what to do next.
     
    “I think you might want to lock that door and give us some privacy to talk about this,” he said breaking the silence.
     
    Amy twisted the lock softly and returned to her seat.  He was right. This wasn't the type of conversation she wanted someone to walk in on. Part of her wanted to lie, to deny everything and see if he could prove it. But the look in his eyes, the fact he knew the exact amount and he had pinpointed her specifically said that he wasn't guessing. She was sure that if she tried to bluff she would lose. She took a deep breath and decided to throw herself on his mercy.
     
    “Look, no harm was done. I took that money a few years ago, but I have it almost all paid back – with interest! Really, there is no problem.”
     
    She looked at the expression on his face and realized how she sounded. Even she didn't think her story was reasonable.
     
    “This is a problem,” he answered seriously, “There is even a word for it, you know. It’s called embezzlement.”
     
    She shook her head, “It's not like that. I know I took the money, but I was in trouble and there was no one who would help me. I only borrowed what I absolutely needed and have been paying it back ever since.” She wanted him to understand, to believe her. She hadn't told anyone about the money and now that he knew, she wanted him to understand her side too.
     
    He frowned and shook his head. “No one will care if you paid it back. You didn't have anyone's permission to borrow it in the first place, which makes the money stolen, not borrowed.”
     
    Amy knew he was right but didn't know what to do. If he told on her, she would definitely lose her job.  The only question was whether she would face jail time, a fine, public humiliation or all three.
     
    She looked up and shrugged her shoulders unsure of what exactly to say next. “Please, it will all be paid and done in just one more month. That's all I need and it will all be finished. Please don't tell anyone”.
     
    “I am willing to keep your secret but,” he paused and looked her over, “I want something in return.”
     
    Amy's lips parted slightly as she started to answer and he continued instead.
     
    “What I want is to have you, on that conference table, right now, and I won't say a word to anyone ever.”
     
    She just looked at him, not sure what to say next. He always made comments like that but she was sure he was just joking. She smiled and waited for the punch line.
     
    “Well, Amy, what are you going to do?”
     
    “What?” she asked, feeling her stomach turn somersaults. “You can't be serious.”
     
    “I have always been serious, Amy,” he said simply.
     
    Amy felt herself get warm as she realized the implications of what he meant.  “But