“Interesting.Do you have time to show me the point-of-sale platform really quickly?”Cavin didn’t typically look at data on such interfaces, but ultimately, he often analyzed numbers that came from that very source.
“Yeah, I can actually pull it up on my phone and give you a quick tutorial of the application before we open, and then you can spend however much time you need researching the numbers.”
Cavin grinned.“That will be perfect, and I will be right here in the store with you for a while in case you need any help,” he mentioned.“I would also like to see the goals Walter created.”
Noel spent the next ten minutes reviewing the point-of-sale program with Cavin, ultimately directing him to the numbers of interest.With Noel’s permission Cavin snapped photos of the data and of the goals.Like Noel mentioned previously, the mark Walter created often seemed to be missed.However, Cavin previously researched candy store statistics for the purpose of his own proposal for Beaufort Candy Company, and the sales at Noel’s store far exceeded the revenue needed to turn a relatively healthy profit in this industry.
“After spending time working in your kitchen and familiarizing myself with your processes, I realize you make everything from scratch in-house using top-quality ingredients, so your costs are probably higher than the average candy store,” Cavin pointed out to Noel after digging through the data while she mixed ingredients in the kitchen for a fresh batch of salt water taffy.“Are there any other expenses, especially significant ones, you can think of outside of normal operating business expenditures?”
Noel considered the question as the machine in front of her churned and stretched the taffy, pulling it like extremely elastic rubber bands.“Well, having a waterfront shop causes the insurance to be a bit high due to the threat of flooding from hurricanes,” she explained.
“I have already calculated that,” Cavin confirmed although hurricanes weren’t top of mind at Christmastime.
“We don’t pay rent because we own the building,” Noel pointed out.
“Right,” Cavin noted,and what you own might be worth way more than you realize, he thought.
Cavin asked a handful of other questions about expenses and then did more math while studying the numbers on the spreadsheet he created on his laptop.Thankfully he still possessed the computer, but it would probably only be a matter of time before his dad thought about confiscating it.
“I have run all the numbers, and some things are not adding up,” Cavin conveyed, wanting to leave it at that for now.
“Do you think we are in a bigger hole than I imagined?”Noel asked.“Do you think that is why Walter’s offer is so low?”
Cavin wanted to reveal his suspicions to Noel so badly he could barely contain himself.“No, I do not believe the hole is bigger,” Cavin assured her with confidence.In fact no hole seemed to exist.
“That’s good news,” Noel uttered.
Cavin shut his laptop hastily and jumped up from the stool he sat on all week while helping Noel prepare candy.Taking a deep breath, he once again realized how good this kitchen smelled.He never visited a place in all his life that smelled better.
“I need to head over to the register of deeds office,” Cavin announced.
“Okay,” Noel replied appreciative of his diligent work.She had no idea what he was searching for, but his determination was evident.“I hope you find what you are looking for.”
Cavin didn’t necessarily want to show up at the local register of deeds office in person because if his theory was correct, he had no idea who else could be in cahoots with Walter and Georgia.However, the property information he previously viewed online, which he double checked again last night, didn’t match his conclusion.So, no other option existed.
A cold breeze blew across his cheeks as Cavin made the brief walk from the candy shop to the register of deeds office.Once he arrived, a kind older lady with a monotone voice and gaudy glasses showed him all the same property documents he saw online although it took her ages to dig each one out of a file cabinet and flip through the pages with him.Noel’s building showed as deeded to Beaufort Candy Company, Inc.with Noel listed as the sole owner.Cavin expected to see Keaton’s name listed as well, but it wasn’t although that wasn’t a big deal.The records showed the property being passed down from Noel’s parents to her.The adjacent building’s deed belonged to Walter Benson’s family’s company with his name listed as the owner.Similar to Noel’s, the documents showed the property being handed down from his father.
All of this information didn’t add up when it came to the proposal...because the official documents from Walter Benson to Noel Puckett showed Walter Benson as the prospective buyer of a property that included both buildings, and Noel Puckett as the seller who legally owned both buildings.The major red flag was that in the proposition, the title was under Noel’s current building’s address, but the details showed that such property consisted of both buildings—something that neither she nor anyone not knowing how to decipher the fine print would have ever noticed.
28
Cavin spent the remainder of the day surrounded by documents scattered across the rental’s kitchen table which appeared somewhat like a wall collage the FBI might concoct to study a case.He scrutinized each article again, as well as the photos, until his head hurt just trying to gain a better understanding without questioning Walter Benson in person.Getting his hands on the tax returns might confirm part of what Cavin expected, but Walt probably wouldn’t offer any insight into the most important piece of the puzzle.Analyzing the tax documents required a conversation with Walt that he wanted to avoid for the time being.The man obviously concocted a well thought out plan leading Cavin to assume the seasoned accountant also formulated a clever backup plan which likely included offering Noel a bigger check for her property.
Eventually Cavin reached a point in his research that prompted him to make a phone call to a person who might be able to help.He remembered some specific spoken words, and even if the individual didn’t have the desired answers, a second set of eyes attached to an intelligent brain might prove helpful.However, Cavin made a promise to two little children and a lovely woman to spend Christmas Eve with them.He couldn’t do two things at once, and he didn’t even know when this person might be available, so he decided to go ahead and quickly dial the number to find out.
When Cavin walked back to the candy shop, he found Levi and Laney serving hot chocolate as expected.Ever since school let out for Christmas break, the two worked the stand a good part of each day, and Cavin decided to assist them for the last thirty minutes before helping close down the sidewalk business.Afterward, the three of them and Noel held their daily search for Scout.
They encountered Scout twice, each time attempting to lure him with food.Even though he came within a dozen feet of their hands, the skittish dog ran off before they could grab him.When they dropped treats and backed away, Scout would eat a bit while keeping his eyes on them the whole time then jet off when anyone approached.The cute Goldendoodle was a smart little fellow.He came up to the candy shop entrance late at night to munch down the food and drink the water Levi and Laney left out for him or other dogs who wanted it which Georgia complained attracted wild animals.She talked to both Cavin and Noel about the issue on separate occasions, but they simply listened and told her they would keep a close eye on the security cameras to see if it became a problem.The footage often showed Scout, but the times when Noel saw it live and scurried down in the middle of the night to attempt to wrangle Scout, he bolted before she could twist the lock on the door.
Even in the December cold, the lows so far stayed above freezing, so Scout managed to survive the elements somehow.However, the overnight Christmas Eve forecast showed lows expected to drop into the twenties and even called for a slight chance of snowfall.As Noel, Cavin, Laney, and Levi left the Christmas Eve candlelight service where Noel delivered the best version of “Mary Did You Know” that Cavin ever heard, she encouraged the kids not to get their hopes up because the area meteorologists often got everyone excited about the possibilities of snow but rarely did Beaufort see any white precipitation.
Early on Christmas morning as the sky began to glow with morning light, everything seemed to fall into place.Rather than being awakened by Santa climbing down the chimney or his reindeer’s feet pattering on the rooftop, Levi’s and Laney’s little ears perked when they heard the sound of barking.Both kids sat straight up from their mattress looking at each other before shouting in unison, “Scout!”
Although still in her room, Noel woke early to wrap presents as Christmas music played softly in the background.She didn’t hear Scout’s barks, but she couldn’t miss the shrill sounds of Levi’s and Laney’s voices and the commotion they made jumping out of bed and running through the house.Concerned, Noel pounced off the floor as if on a trampoline and met them in the living room not sure what was happening but hoped the kids’ excitement was simply related to Christmas morning and opening presents.
However, Noel never expected them up before seven o’clock after their late night pajama party of baking and decorating cookies while watchingA Charlie Brown Christmas.In fact Cavin promised to arrive on the hour to help with the kids’ Christmas presents.Since he had nowhere else to go, Levi and Laney invited him to celebrate Christmas morning with them, and Noel agreed to the idea.
As these thoughts raced through Noel’s mind, the children’s noises quieted just long enough for her ears to recognize the sound of barking.
