“Yep. So, the records’ office keeps amended deeds, and after I looked up Walter’s real estate holdings, I looked up the addresses for previous sales and such. Two of them went to him through amended filings. In both cases, Moira’s real signature is on the original, but the final versions where Walter’s listed as the new owner have her forged signature. When I checked the originals, the properties were both supposed to go to Sarah Cole.”
With wide eyes, Mina glanced at me. “Just like the antique store,” she said.
“Yep,” Claire chimed.
The grim look Mina aimed at me matched the dark pit forming in my stomach. Absently, I scratched Joe’s head as he stood up on his hind legs, feet pressed to my thigh as he begged for more bacon. Someone back then had been stealing property, it seemed.
“Have you told Ozzie all this yet?” Mina asked.
“No. He’s still eyeballs deep in not just Moira’s case but that one from yesterday. I want to double-check a few things before I light that fuse.” She heaved a sigh, then changed the subject. “I also looked for connections between Walter and Moira’s boyfriend, Rich Stevenson.”
“Real estate connections?” I asked.
“Yes. I came up with zilch. Legally, they aren’t connected, but I don’t know about any verbal agreements, like property usage and such. If any of that took place, well, that’s a lot harder to trace without talking to people and spreading all this all over town. Even I know better than to do that. I’ll leave that up to Ozzie.”
Smart woman, I couldn’t help but think. He’d be angry enough she didn’t let sleeping dogs lie and dug up more property records.
Mina let out a quick laugh. “I can foster some gossip at work. People talk in coffeeshops, you know.”
“Oh, I’m sure.” Claire chuckled. “But let me deal with Ozzie first.”
Mouth cocked to the side and amusement lighting her eyes, Mina let out an aggrieved sigh. “Fine.”
Claire laughed. “Thank you. I’m going to go dig a little more before Ozzie gets home. I’ll text you after I talk to him and let you know what he says.”
“Sounds good.” Mina’s hand hovered over the phone. “Talk to you later.”
“Yep. Bye.” The line clicked off.
Mina cleared the call, then sagged into the counter, her eyes meeting mine. “Walter’s looking more guilty all the time.”
“Yeah.” Grabbing yet another piece of bacon, I stared past her as I munched, thinking. “Maybe.”
“Why maybe?”
I met her eyes. “I still don’t understand why he would sell the antique store if he murdered Moira and put her in the wall. It’s risky, you know? He had to know you’d want to renovate the space.”
She shrugged and opened the waffle maker. “Maybe he didn’t care anymore. It could be he decided it was time for warmer pastures. Ozzie still hasn’t been able to locate him. If he fled to a non-extraditable country, it might not matter even if he does.”
I shook my head, honestly a little in awe of Walter. It was practically the perfect plan. Some of those countries without extradition treaties were fairly cheap to live in. With the proceeds from his three commercial deals and whatever retirement savings he had, he could live more than comfortably for the rest of his life and never have to worry about being arrested.
“We can’t do anything more about it tonight, though, so I vote we table it all until tomorrow.” Mina loaded waffles and potatoes onto a plate, then slid it over to me. “Don’t give any of that to Joe. He’s bad enough about scrounging on my counters for food.”
I chuckled, even as my mouth watered at the deliciousness wafting into my nose. “Deal.” Reaching for the syrup, I paused right before dousing my waffles in it. “Did you remember the chocolate?”
A pretty pink blush dusted her cheeks, even as a coy smile slipped over her face. “Eat your waffles and find out.”
I flicked open the syrup cap with my thumb. “Yes, ma’am.”
CHAPTER 21
Mina
“Is it extra busy in here this morning, or is it just me?”
I glanced over my shoulder at the sound of Claire’s voice, then turned back to the cup in my hands and finished filling it before responding. “It’s a little crazy, yeah.” I snapped a lid on the cup, then slid a sleeve on before handing it to the customer.
“I’m not sure what’s going on.” I tore the next ticket off the stream that dangled from the order printer.
