“My wife took Daniel up on the sale of our house years ago for these condos. In return she got her pick of places. Rather than go for the water view, she went cheap.”
“We can see the water just fine,” Cindy snapped. “And you weren’t caring for the house anyway. We made more on the sale for these condos than if we hadn’t done it and you know it.”
“Sounds like you got a deal,” she said. And anyone the McGregors did a favor for would expect their palm greased right back.
She’d have to file that information away.
“We are getting up there in age,” Cindy said. “And it helps for our retirement. You’d do well to remember that. Some people in this area have helped many others and they should be thankful rather than whispering and dredging up the past.”
“Yeah,” Bill said, “when I can convince my wife to move south it will help us. She’s too busy getting involved with things that don’t concern her anymore.”
“Enough,” Cindy said, giving Bill an icy glare. “Just because you don’t care what happens to the area anymore doesn’t mean everyone feels that way. My father was on the town board and I’m just following in his footsteps. Gale understands the importance of community, don’t you?”
“Oh, I do. I also understand that sometimes you’ve got to step back and watch rather than get immersed in things that might come back to you.”
Cindy flushed some and Bill laughed. “Which is why you should stay away from Rory,” Cindy said.
Which meant she knew his name and was playing dumb until now. “He’s only here gathering information for his book and a potential documentary.”
“What?” Cindy asked, clearly startled over that bit of news. People just wanted to believe without the facts too much. “I didn’t know that. I thought he wanted to find her killer.”
Gale shrugged her shoulders. It was genuine shock on Cindy’s face. The same that Rory said Daniel had when he’d brought up the documentary.
You couldn’t always fake that shit.
“That is my understanding. He’s interviewing locals and then will take the next step. I’m sure you’re aware that those documentaries can end up catching killers or having it lead to more clues. Not sure if that is his intent or he just wants to keep his sister’s memory alive.”
“It could bring more press to our area,” Cindy said, frowning as if she was deep in thought.
“That’s right. Could bring in a lot of tourism too. Not everyone is afraid or scared of one unsolved murder that is fifteen years old. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d love to get out of these heels.”
She moved toward the elevator while Cindy and her husband were bickering in hushed tones toward the door to their condo. She was positive she’d heard Bill tell Cindy that he’d told her to stay out of it.
She wouldn’t jump the gun, but would let Rory know that that could have been the source of her note.
“Thanks, Gale.”
She jumped when she heard Rocco’s voice and turned. She’d been waiting for the elevator to come down from the fifth floor. Probably could have gotten there faster by the stairs and then she might have heard the noises that Cindy was complaining about.
“For what?” she asked.
“Just interrupting Cindy. She has some complaints every other week. She thinks because she offered her house for sale to Daniel before he could ask and then got a deal for one condo years ago, that it gives her some right to bitch.”
“She got a discount here too, huh?”
Sounded like paying off some officials in her mind. Cindy had been on the town board for close to two decades that she could remember. One of those, “I’ll give you a deal if you push my shit through” deals.
Rocco flushed. “Sorry, shouldn’t have said that. I’m speaking out of turn.”
She put her hand on his arm. Poor guy always looked to have someone shitting on him. Even in school people were talking about him.
“Don’t worry about it. If it helps any, I don’t hear any noises, and if I did, I wouldn’t care too much. Mice will leave you alone if you leave them alone. Such is life. Everyone should just stay in their lane.”
“That’s what I say,” Rocco said.
The elevator doors opened and she moved in. “Have a good night.”
The minute she was in her condo, she sent her lovely text to her brothers and Rory.
