“I’ll get this to Bent, and we’ll see what we can find.”
“Anything useful on there?”
Vera slid the phone back into its bag and stuffed it into hers. “It’s difficult to say.”
Erwin huffed a breath, as if she knew Vera wasn’t being honest with her. She waved a hand at the files. “Do you have to look at what I’m taking?”
Vera hadn’t explained her reason for wanting to see her this morning. The announcement of her find had derailed all else. “It would be best if I took a quick look.”
Erwin dropped into the boss’s chair and gestured to the stack. “There you go.”
She was clearly annoyed that her news hadn’t prompted the reaction in Vera that she’d evidently hoped for.
Vera skirted the desk and began a slow, thorough perusal of the first file. She paused before moving to the next one. “You have a thing for true crime?”
Erwin’s expression turned puzzled. “What? No. I hate those documentaries.”
“But you check out true crime books from the library.” Vera thumbed through the next file. So far, business reports. P&Ls. Letters to associates.
When Erwin didn’t respond, Vera glanced at her. “You didn’t think we’d have a look at what you read? The things you do in your spare time? You said yourself you watch crime TV.”
“I do sometimes,” she groused, “because half the time that’s the only thing on television worth watching. But I don’treadabout it.” Her shoulders sagged as if she’d been defeated somehow. “The truth is, I don’t do a lot of reading at all. The books in my house are just for show. I don’t even know the titles. I just like for people to think I’m well read.”
Vera didn’t doubt this. Erwin was the perfect example of a narcissist. She went to great lengths to put on a certain facade for those around her. She needed to be seen as intelligent and accomplished. Vera had already picked up on the woman’s lack of empathy when the murder victims were mentioned—her story about her roommate was a perfect example. The whole sad tale was relayed with little or no emotion for the dead girl or her family. Then there was the passive-aggressive behavior. Definitely a narcissist.
“Good grief.” Erwin shook her head, her expression puzzled. “I can’t believe it. I didn’t even think about those books, or I swear I would have told you.”
Vera closed the file in her hand, placed it on the stack. “You really didn’t think we’d check into your habits? Your routine?”
Erwin’s head wagged side to side hard enough to rattle her brain. “No. I don’t mean that. I fully expected to be looked at as a suspect. I just can’t believe I didn’t think about all those weird books Alicia asked me to pick up for her. Like I said, if I had remembered, I would have told you.”
How handy to blame the coma woman. “You’re saying Alicia asked you to check out those books.”
“I swear!” Erwin held up her right hand. Then she waved both hands in the air. “Well, technically she didn’t ask me. I was far too lowly a human for her to speak directly to. She left me a list when she wanted me to do something for her.”
Vera hummed a note of doubt. “I don’t suppose you kept any of those lists.”
Erwin huffed an exasperated breath. “I did not. But if you don’t believe me about the books, have Luna pull my history. I never checked out a single book until ...” She frowned as if trying to recall something. “About a month ago. I checked out the ones you’re talking about for Alicia and then no more. Those weren’t for me. I’m not a reader.”
“I’ll look into that.” Though she felt Erwin was being truthful, primarily based on Luna’s confirmation, she wasn’t about to let the woman off the hook so easy. Vera finished skimming the files, and none looked suspicious. Erwin held a three-ring binder and appeared to be reviewing it. “Are you planning to take that?”
“I have no idea.” Erwin’s eyes were huge with something like shock when she handed the binder to Vera. “I’ve never seen it before. It was under a couple of those files in his inbox.”
Vera placed the binder on the blotter pad and opened it up. A quick skim of the cover sheet explained the contents. No wonder it was sothick. “It’s an appraisal of the Wilton property.” Vera flipped through a few pages. “A very detailed, in-depth appraisal.” She turned to Erwin. “The entire property.” The value was staggering.
Erwin’s expression had shifted from shock to something like disappointment. “Why would he have an appraisal like that done?”
“For insurance purposes, maybe.” Vera was aware that high-value properties like this one were under close scrutiny by insurance companies. There was a great deal to be lost in a property this size. Staying on top of any upgrades or failures to maintain any and all structures by the owner was crucial. She glanced at the file. The concept seemed completely logical.
“I should call the appraiser.” Erwin reached for the binder.
Vera held it out of her reach. “Why don’t we let the sheriff make that call? I’m sure the appraiser will be more forthcoming with the authorities under the circumstances.”
The shock and disappointment were gone, replaced by what looked very much like hurt. “Let me know what he says, okay?”
Vera wasn’t sure why it would matter to Erwin now. Her employer was dead. The estate would be passed along or sold off, whatever the will prescribed. That was something else Vera needed to know more about. They knew what their persons of interest were set to receive in terms of dollars, but what about the actual real property? The veryvaluableproperty.
“Come on,” Vera said to the other woman, who still looked confused about the binder. “I’ll walk you out.”
