Holding the Dream by Nora Roberts Page B

I’ve never given a client anything but my best. I’m not a thief.”
    â€œI find it difficult to believe you are, Kate. I’ve known you since you were a child and always considered my decision to hire you one of my best judgment calls. I know your family.”
    He paused, waiting for her to rebound, to express her fury at being used. To demand to assist the firm in finding the answers. When she did nothing but stare blindly, he had no choice.
    â€œHowever,” he said slowly, “this matter can’t be ignored. We’ll continue to investigate, internally for now. It may become necessary to go outside the firm with this.”
    â€œTo the police.” The thought of it dissolved her legs so that she had to brace herself with a hand on the table. Her vision grayed and wavered. “You’re going to the police.”
    â€œIf it becomes necessary,” Bittle told her. “We hope to resolve the matter quietly. Bittle and Associates is responsible,at this point, for adjusting the escrow accounts.” Bittle studied the woman standing at the end of the table, shook his head. “The partners have agreed that it is in the firm’s best interest for you to take a leave of absence until this is cleared up.”
    â€œYou’re suspending me because you think I’m a thief.”
    â€œKate, we need to look into this carefully. And we have to do whatever is in the best interest of our clients.”
    â€œA suspected embezzler can’t handle accounts.” The tears were going to come, but not yet. She could hold them back just a little longer. “You’re firing me.”
    â€œA leave of absence,” Bittle repeated.
    â€œIt’s the same thing.” Accusations, disgrace. “You don’t believe me. You think I’ve stolen from my own clients and you want me out of the office.”
    He saw no other choice. “At this time, yes. Any personal items in your office will be sent to you. I’m sorry, Kate. Marty will escort you out of the building.”
    She let out a shuddering breath. “I haven’t done anything but my best.” Picking up her briefcase, she turned stiffly and walked to the door.
    â€œI’m sorry. Christ, Kate.” With his lumbering stride, Marty caught up with her. “What a mess, what a disaster.” He started huffing when she took the stairs down to the main level. “I couldn’t turn them around.”
    She stopped, ignoring the pain in her stomach, the throbbing in her head. “Do you believe me? Marty, do you believe me?”
    She saw the flicker of doubt in his earnest, myopic eyes before he answered. “I know there’s an explanation.” He touched her gently on the shoulder.
    â€œIt’s all right.” She made herself push through the glass doors on the lobby level, walk outside.
    â€œKate, if there’s anything I can do for you, any way I can help . . .” He trailed off lamely, standing by the door as she all but ran to her car.
    â€œNothing,” she said to herself. “There’s just nothing.”
    * * *
    At the last minute she stopped herself from running to Templeton House. To Laura, to Annie, to anyone who would fold her in comforting arms and take her side. She swung her car to the side of the road rather than up the steep, winding drive. She got out and walked to the cliffs.
    She could stand alone, she promised herself. She had had shocks, survived tragedies before. She’d lost her parents, and there was nothing more devastating than that.
    There had been boys she’d dreamed over in high school who had never dreamed back. She’d gotten over it. Her first lover, in college, had grown bored with her, broken her heart and moved on. She hadn’t crumbled.
    Once, years before, she had fantasized about finding Seraphina’s dowry all alone, of bearing it proudly home to her aunt and uncle. She had learned to live