“Yeah.It was a ridiculous sum.”
“You didn’t sell?”As she shakes her head, I answer before she has a chance to say anything.“Because that”—I point at the house as I back out of the driveway—“isyourhouse.”
“Ugh.Did I blab everything to you last night?”
I chuckle.“Pretty much.”
“Anyway.I researched the man before I called him and there’s an interesting story about his father, who died recently, and a missing treasure Feinster Junior supposedly stole while he was in Germany in World War II.”
I glance her way as I weave my way through town.I’m not sure where I’m going, but I think it’s best to keep moving.I can guarantee Bill has eyes on us.Not just his.
“Keep going.”I want to hear the whole story.
When she’s done, I can’t believe it.“You want to know what I think?”
“What?”
“I think Feinster took that treasure and double-crossed the German soldier.”
“Uh-huh.”
“He hid it until his trial was over, then he grabbed it and made his way across the country from Dayton to San Francisco, stopping in Zodiac Hills.”
Glancing at Lou, I see she’s nodding.“Makes sense.Interstate 80 wasn’t finished until the mid-50s, so prior to that, the main road through Nebraska was the one we’re on right now.Also, the place the bag was stashed, the butler’s pantry, was an addition that Martin Little built in 1951.”
“When was the trial over?”
Lou pulls her phone out and taps away.“Interesting.”
“1951?”
“Exactly.June of 1951.”
“So, Joseph Feinster got off scot-free and then headed this way.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.Why would he stash the treasure here, in Zodiac Hills?”
I’ve been wondering that myself.
“I know!”Lou’s voice sounds like a shocked gasp.“That German guy was following him.”
“Ah, yes.Feinster double-crossed him.He promised him half the treasure.”I’ve got a sinking feeling about this.“What was the German soldier’s name?”
I’d bet a million bucks it was Schumacher.
“It never said.I read all there was about it online.”Lou looks out the front window.“Where are we going?”
“Excelsior.”
“Why?”
“We’re going to the public library to do a bit more research.”
