“No, are we okay?”
Evan looked at him.
“I don’t know yet.”
That answer frightened Curtis more than reassurance would have.
Evan picked Sophie up from her cousin’s house.
Made dinner.
At 8:30, she finally asked why he was home.
“I’m suspended.”
Her fork stopped.
“What did you do?”
“Asked questions.”
“That’s not usually suspension material.”
“No.”
“Are they firing you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Can they?”
“They can try.”
Sophie stared at her plate.
“Are we going to lose the house?”
Evan put his fork down.
“No.”
“You don’t know that.”
He looked at her.
She was right.
“I don’t believe we will.”
“That’s different.”
“Yes.”
Sophie’s eyes glistened.
Evan hated that.
He reached across the table.
“Listen to me. Whatever happens at Blackidge, I will handle it. You do not have to solve this.”
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“What if it isn’t?”
Evan thought before answering.
“Then I’ll tell you.”
She nodded slowly.
It was the only promise she trusted because he had never promised her that life could not go wrong.
At 9:14 the following morning, Grant Worthington received an email.
Subject:
EXTERNAL AUDIT — IMMEDIATE DOCUMENTATION REQUEST.
He read the first paragraph.
Then again.
The independent audit firm requested all records connected to Blackidge’s December non-cash compensation program.
Acquisition documents.
Certificate agreements.