Page 29 of Death on a Scottish Train

“A secret hiding space,” I whispered.

“What’s that?” Ewan asked. I slid the lid out and picked up a laptop that had been hidden.

“Why would he hide his laptop like this?” I pointed to the false bottom and then the computer. “And why would he have two? There was one at the office, as well. I remember that Henry boxed it. That’s weird right? Unless there is something on here he didn’t want others to see.”

I shivered. “I hope it is nothing disgusting,” I said.

I opened the lid, and the machine turned on, but it was password protected. I told Ewan.

“One of my guys is good with all things computer related. He can figure it out.”

“I want to try something.” I typed in, trainspotting, and the screen popped open.

“How did you know the password?” He’d come around to the other side of the desk where I sat.

“I guessed. People pick their hobbies and pets. I read that in one of the FBI handbooks I’ve been studying on electronic theft. I made Abigail go in and change all of our passwords.”

“You should do that every few months. Though, if you’re like me remembering them can be difficult.”

I nodded. “Abigail found an app to help with that. And we have extra authentications for the patient files and anything financial. I get a coded text.”

“Smart. Let’s take a look and see what the accountant was up to.”

I opened several of the files. I’d been half expecting dirty pictures. But all that was there were train pics and what looked like client files. I recognized two of the names. They were the same as the ones on the desk.

“We need to ask the secretary about these,” I said as I opened the computer file to see if it was the same as the paper one. “Or a forensic accountant.”

“What is it?”

“I know nothing about accounting, but I understand enough to see that the numbers in the paper file and the ones on the computer do not match up,” I said. I waved the manilla folder.

“Maybe, everything hadn’t been logged.” Ewan offered.

“Could be, except that it’s nearly ten thousand dollars difference between the two on one of these accounts.” I pointed to the differences.

“I’m not a forensic accountant, but that seems like a large sum to be so different in one quarter. And look, it shows as a loss here. But a gain on the computer.”

I glanced up at Ewan. “Are you thinking what I am?” I asked.

“That our accountant might also be a thief?”

“You’re going to need a forensic accountant to figure all of this out. But yes, that is the way it appears. I bet that’s why Revenue Scotland are investigating the firm.”

“I know a great accountant in Edinburgh,” he said. “I’ll call her.”

Her? Why did I assume it was a man? And why did I even care?

Maybe, it was the excitement in his voice when he mentioned her.

Again, why would you care?

Because I liked Ewan. There. I said it. Maybe, not out loud but I admitted it to myself.

There was a knock on the door. Before Ewan could respond, it opened.

“Hey Boss, I brought help and some more evidence boxes,” Henry said.

Before Ewan could answer, my phone rang. It was Abigail.