Page 96 of Lost Lake
“What is the basic monthly guaranteed amount?”
He scrunched his forehead. “Now that’s private information, and I’m not free to share it without that warrant you mentioned.”
El didn’t appear flustered at his answer. “I can respect that. How about an approximation? Is it less than fifty thousand a month?”
He shook his head.
“Between fifty and one hundred grand a month?”
“On the upper end of your range. But that’s all I’ll say about exact finances without that warrant.”
El tapped her pen on her notebook but kept her gaze on Sloan. “That’s a large chunk of change annually. Tell me how you raise the money.”
“Thank goodness that’s not part of my job description.” He laughed and swiped the back of his hand over his forehead. “But seriously, I don’t know all the details. I just show up at fundraising events when I’m told to by the board of directors, who are in charge of the fundraising. Basically, that means Jonas Trent does it.”
They would have to go to the top to get complete answers.
“How often are your books audited?” El asked.
“I guess it was a little less than two years ago. We don’t receive any federal funds, so we aren’t subjected to annual audits.”
“But you do receive payments for the children from the state, correct?” Gabe asked, hoping to disprove Tinsley’s statement.
“Actually, no. We’re funded solely by money raised by the board.”
So Tinsley had told the truth, but Gabe didn’t know why they wouldn’t want any money from the state. Maybe Sloan could tell them. “Why would you turn down the state’s money?”
“Again, another question for the board of directors.”
El eyed him in her practiced interview stare. “Which you said is basically Jonas Trent.”
“I mean, yeah, in most things.” He paused, his gaze darting around the room, as if looking for a way out of this situation. “But I figure the entire board makes decisions like that.”
“Is Mr. Trent’s office in this building?”
“He has the whole second floor.”
Excellent. Gabe liked the idea of marching right up there and putting him in the hot seat next. “Do you know if he’s in?”
“I saw him this morning, but it’s not my job to keep track of him.” He smirked. “Is that all the questions you have for me?”
“Are you familiar with a man named Howard Mason?” Gabe asked.
He immediately shook his head, his expression blank. “No. Don’t know the guy. Now if that’s all…”
El didn’t move a single muscle toward leaving, but kept her gaze raptly fixed on his. “One more question. Do you know a Kenna James?”
“Kenna James?” He narrowed his gaze in direct contrast to his innocent response to knowing Mason. “The name sounds familiar, but I don’t know where to place her.”
Gabe got out his phone and flashed Kenna’s picture at Sloan.
Sloan shook his head. “No. I don’t think I do know her.”
“She worked as an admin volunteer for Safe Harbor,” Gabe said.
“Oh, yeah. That’s probably where I saw her name. On an email or something.”
He was hiding something. Gabe was sure of it. “But you never interacted with her in person?”
