Page 26 of The Prez’s Daughter

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“Andy Bernadette is broke. Honestly, the man doesn’t have two pennies to rub together. He can’t be buying a house,” Paulie said.

Savage’s eyes were working faster than they usually would, as Paulie had three computers on and nearly twenty different documents on each.

“But his grandmother, however, that old bat is completely loaded, and it would seem there is some confusion about who will get that money when she dies.”

“Confusion?” he asked.

“Yep, total confusion. You see, Mrs. Martha Bernadette has a final attachment in her will, where she can specify who she wants her estate to go to,” Paulie said. “This is the most confusing part, and wills are all about terminology, but this woman is not blindsided by her grandson. She even has a clause that states any event of her death would need to be investigated, and any potential foul play would also need to be resolved, to release her estate.”

“She believes there is a chance that someone might want to kill her?” Savage asked.

“I’m assuming so, yes, unless she has spent all her life being suspicious, and that is what she is trying to take care of now. I don’t know,” Paulie said. “I don’t know the particulars. I told you this. I can paint a picture, but I don’t know the person.” He let out a shrug.

“How do you know this woman is an old bat?” Savage asked.

“Details between lawyers. Documents and emails she doesn’t get to see, but the lawyers don’t like her. I’m assuming she is making their jobs difficult.” Paulie clicked and highlighted where the “old bat” comment appeared. “I guess she’s not very nice.”

“She is a woman who is used to getting what she wants.”

“Well, this might be an interesting detail, as I like to keep an eye on you and your boys, but Martha has a great deal of family. Most of which have gone away to earn their own fortune rather than relying on the good graces of their grandmother. To me, that’s the way to go. Earn your own money, then you don’t have to fold to others and all that. However, in the last year, another name has been added to the mix. A Maeve Summer, and seeing as I know one of your boys is now married to an Eden Summer, this is the same woman that is engaged to marry Doc,” Paulie said.

“Why Maeve?” Savage asked. He knew Maeve was a good woman.

“It would seem Maeve has become her regular makeup artist, or beauty expert. We’re talking at minimum once a week, and Maeve also does the personal visits. However, I also delved into Maeve, and other than documenting the appointment and the whole transaction for taxation purposes, there is nothing else.” He shrugged. “My guess, Maeve doesn’t even know that the old bat actually likes her, and based on a few texts I got from the old bat, she actually likes Maeve and even considers her a friend. She also mentions your girl.”

“Charlotte?”

“Yep, a text a few weeks ago.” Paulie typed on his computer and a screen popped up that he highlighted and read, “Maeve is as delightful as ever, and she brought a new girl with her. She looked nervous, but had a nice smile. I like her, and Maeve said she’s a good woman.”

Savage nodded, and he knew Charlotte and Maeve were actually good friends, even though they were soon-to-become stepmother and stepdaughter.

“I’m going to keep looking, but if something happens to the old bat, I would look into the grandson. Also, you might want to tell Maeve to watch her back. If someone finds out she is high on the list to inherit the estate, then something might happen to Maeve.”

“Have there been any hospital visits or alerts that Martha’s described?”

“None as yet, but I can keep looking.”

“Please do so,” Savage said.

“You’ve got a hunch?” Paulie asked.

“All the fucking time.” He ran a hand down his face. “It’s interesting that she’s decided to make it a weekly visit with Maeve, and I know it lasts for several hours. Who is she texting?”

“It’s her niece,” Paulie said, then clicked his fingers, looking like he finally remembered something. “They communicate every single day, but this is where things get a little complicated. The niece, Betty Jackson, has not been seen or heard from in over a year. The texts started happening then, and nothing else. Also, Andy had a giant debt. We’re talking close to a quarter of a mill, and overnight, the funds were transferred. At first, I didn’t think anything about it. Rich grandma bailing out her grandson, but the texts and stuff, I can’t get a location on it at the moment, but that was because I didn’t think much of it.”

“Get the location. Also, give me Martha’s schedule where Andy is not present. Find me a timeline so I can go and talk to her,” Savage said. Something in his gut told him something wasn’t right.

Paulie typed away, and seconds later Savage’s cell phone pinged.

“I guess you’re going to be a busy man after this Thanksgiving,” Paulie said, and the computer screens went blank. “Do you know what you’re doing with her?” Paulie nodded his head up to the ceiling.

Savage looked to his friend.

“You see, I know you, Savage, and I know you don’t just fall for anyone. You have never brought a girl home. I certainly have never been introduced to one.”

“She’s special.”