True story. “Focus,” he said. He handed out the folders with the evidence of Cal’s creative accounting, along with Levi’s plan on how to steer the damaged ship without going under. “I’ve also sent each of you the digital file.”
“What is this?” his mom asked, flipping through the pages.
“It’s an accounting of where the store stands financially. I’ve run all the monthly and year-end reports, so what you’re looking at are the balance sheets for the different departments, all of which have their own bottom line, debt-to-income ratios, accounts receivables and payables, assets, and inventory orders.”
“Why does it look so much worse than last year?” his dad asked.
“Because it is worse than last year.” Levi paused. “Orders were placed for store inventory, large orders. The money left your account to pay for those orders, but we never received the inventory.”
“Well, that doesn’t make any sense,” Tess said. “Cal was in charge of all of that . . .” She gasped softly. “Oh my God.”
His dad ran a hand down his face. “Fuck.”
“Hank!” his mother gasped.
His dad slugged his OJ down.
Jasper farted. At least Levi was pretty sure it was Jasper.
Tess looked like she wanted to throw up. Instead, she also drank. Swallowed. Pounded her chest. Then pointed at Levi. “Are you telling me that the lying son of a bitch I’m still married to was stealing from Mom and Dad to fund his new life with his girlfriend on some gorgeous island near Bali that he could never find the time to take me to?”
He nodded grimly. “It looks like he was creating invoices for fictitious accounts to funnel the money to himself.”
“Fictitious accounts?” his mom asked.
“Yeah, there are a bunch. One of them is called Buffy Slater.”
His mom drank her glass down.
“What?” his sister shrieked and leapt to her feet. “Buffy Slater is the babysitter’s name! We need to sue. We need to call the police! We need to kick his ass!”
“Yes,” Levi said, pouring her another drink, nudging it toward her. “All of that, and not necessarily in that order.”
Peyton stuck her head in the kitchen. She was in Wonder Woman pj’s, hair looking like an explosion in a mattress factory, her face pink as if she’d been sleeping on it. “Hi! I wanna have a drink too!”
His sister drew in a steadying breath. “Not now, baby.”
“Okay. Then can I have candy for breakfast?”
Levi went to the pantry and came out with a single-serving-size packet of natural fruit gummy bears and a to-go box of apple juice.
Peyton beamed her thanks. “Will you come to my tea party? I’m all set up in my room.”
He crouched in front of her, opened the gummy bears for her, and then ruffled her hair. “Give me a few minutes.”
“My mommy says that, but a few minutes never happens.”
“Have I ever not come to you when I said I would?”
She thought about that. Then shook her head.
“So I’ll see you in a few minutes,” he said.
“Okay, but don’t forget to dress up as a girl superhero! Only girl superheroes can come into my room.”
He grimaced, but his sister pointed at the screen. “How long?” she whispered. “How long has this been going on?”
Shit. Levi really didn’t want to tell her this. He gave Peyton a kiss on the forehead and gently nudged her out of the kitchen. Then he rose to his full height and looked at his sister. “Two years.”