find anything, but they were worried it was complicated, and they’d rather file the corrections before they get audited—if they get audited.”
“They’re anxious about their taxes, aren’t they?”
“They are. They don’t want any financial surprises.”
I read between the lines, assuming that the couple was particularly worried about their taxes. “Would they like to do the initial meeting with me tonight after work? As long as they don’t mind Edgar Allan Paw and Lenore settling in and a possible trip to the pet store, I don’t have anything else planned for tonight. If the animals like car rides, I can go pick up the files.”
“They can bring the files to you, I’m certain. We already have the digital copies, but they also have all the paper records, too. I’ll give them a call and see if they want to move the timeline up. If they have an early night, it wouldn’t surprise me if they take you up on that.”
“How do you want me to proceed should I find any other unwanted surprises in this audit?”
“Call me over and warn me I’m going to need a stiff drink after work tonight,” he replied before hopping to his feet. “I will futilely hope for no more surprises today.”
“Please send me that list of oddities, please. For some reason, I think I’m going to need it.”
According to the introductory paragraph of the file Garret sent me, several bottles of alcohol, twenty accountants, and a bad shift had resulted in a brainstorm session of frighteningly plausible methods in which someone might hide illegal activities. It amused me that the file openly acknowledged alcohol had been involved in the creation of a work document with a disclaimer that it had been after hours.
Some of the entries, including the stable visits for a ride, left me a giggling mess. From falsely increased invoices to unusually expensive trips, the brainstorm session read more like a guide to skimming money from a company. As accountants could be trusted to cross every t and dot the i while they were at it, the guide included links to the expected costs of various goods, services, and trips.
To my relief, I plowed through all of the unregistered invoices but found nothing else questionable at first glance. With a little luck, the rest of the audit would be mundane and boring and lack sex workers, adult toys, or bedroom activities unsuitable for public places.
As promised, Garret brought pizza along with offerings for Edgar Allan Paw and Lenore, who warmed up to me enough to shuffle closer to my feet rather than sticking to the bed set out for them. When my dog wanted to go out, he heaved a sigh, stood up, and shuffled to the door and stared at me with sad eyes.
Lenore wanted to go, too, and she cried when I clipped Edgar Allan Paw’s leash to his collar.
That sent me to my phone to call my boss asking how I could possibly take the cat on a walk, and he showed up with a harness and leash for the kitten, which she wore without much protest. Rather than make her try to keep up, I carried her in the crook of my arm while I led the old dog to the elevators for a stroll to the park down the street so he could do his business outside.
To my delight, Lenore limited her protests over going outside to the occasional whine, and once I had them at the park, I discovered she would ride on Edgar Allan Paw’s back.
My unlikely pair drew attention, including the owners of other dogs giving their pets a chance to stretch their legs. My old man handled them with skepticism but grace while Lenore hunkered in his thick fur and hid.
To keep from stressing them more than necessary, I waited until Edgar Allan Paw lost interest in sniffing around the park before leaving, taking care to make use of the nearest trash can to deposit his odiferous offerings. To keep from trailing muddy prints all over the lobby, I cleaned his paws, which he tolerated with a flick of his ear and no other sign of being annoyed by my activities. I praised him for being a good boy, took the pair back to my office, and out of curiosity, I moved the dog bed closer to my desk to see what would happen.
Edgar Allan Paw approved of my decision and opted to use my foot as a pillow.
Life was good, and I meant