Shattering Shadows [MxMxM]

Chapter 8

For the next week I was locked up in my apartment going over all of the documents and forms that Tracey had sent over. There was more going on within Rodney's account than I had previously imagined.

I know he can be a bit dramatic at times so I expected a few pennies out of the till, or maybe snagging a top or two from the shop. Never did I expect what I found.

Maybe I should have listened in on that meeting with his accountant and lawyer... Oh well.

It seems as though whoever was stealing from him, did start with what I had initially thought. It was only small change and notes being taken from the register. This way of steeling nearly always goes unnoticed because the money is taken out before it is recorded in the books, but over time and with a lot if digging, it can be easily found and traced back.

Rodney did mention that Jane had caught and fired the guy responsible. Yet, when I found him and questioned him myself during the week, he claimed that he only took required change when he was short for his lunch and that he always returned it. If Rodney knew his, I highly doubt he would have fired him. But even so, that was a year ago. These records date back to when he first opened.

On top of the constant small portions of money leaving the shop in that method, I also found something that I have never seen before, at least not personally. Rodney has 25 employees in total between all five of his shops. Yet, there were 35 employee names registered on the pay roll, but no persons to stand for the names. An extra two payrolls added per shop within the first 6 months of opening. And when a new employee would be added to the system, another earned a small raise. These changes should have been obvious to Rodney, and it would have been, if it was he who handled the payroll and hiring.

I have a few theories worked out in my head when the next weekend arrives, and all that's left to do is to go through it with Rodney himself, and put it together as evidence.

Files in hand, I make my way towards Rodney's apartment which is upstairs above his shop. Throughout the week I heard little to nothing from my two friends besides casual checkins. Ignacio informed me that he found out nothing more on the matter when he caught up with Rodney but there was something definitely going on. How he reacted last night after his short phone call with his girlfriend worried us both, but we can't go making assumptions on the matter either. I did that once with regards to Jane, but Rodney did not take it too kindly. He hates any sort of conflict and believes no one has a bad bone in their body, especially not his beloved Jane.

Ignacio and myself will be there for him when he needs us but there isn't much else we can do until then. I know that if it was myself, Rodney would force me into a cuddle session like last night until I was ready to spill the beans. Cuddles and comfort are my kryptonite. Rodney? Surprisingly, we've yet to find it. In the past we've tried but the only way to help him is to wait for him to come to us. Frustrating to say the least.

Finally arriving outside the shop, I enter the lone door along side it that brings you upstairs to the Rodney's home. There used to be eight apartments, two on each level, but he ended up buying the top two floors when he made enough income and renovated them into his own mini penthouse apartment.

As I leave myself in to his home with my spare key, I can hear faint voices down the hallway. Or should I say voice. Jane, once again, is shouting at who I presume to be Rodney but it's too muffled for me to make it out. I know she can have her moments of being a bitch, especially when I'm around, but I never heard her actually raise her voice and get angry at Rodney. This to me was completely new.

I walk further away from the shouting, hoping it's nothing more than a lovers quarrel, and sit myself down in the spacious living room. The style of the apartment would make you believe that it is a show house, not one that is the home to Rodney. Once again, Janes doing.