Bidding War Break-In by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

Author:Carolyn Ridder Aspenson [Ridder Aspenson, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-02-26T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Emma Crimmins hollered from inside her house. “I’m coming, I’m coming.” She swung the old wood door open and the wind from the force of it blew a clump of stray hairs away from her face. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Nice to see you too, Emma.”

“Why are you here?”

“To talk, why do you think?”

She tried to push the door shut, but I blocked it with my foot, a trick I’d seen countless times on the crime shows I watched. I just have a few questions. It won’t take long.”

“I’m not talking to you, you traitor.”

I kept my foot in place so Emma couldn’t close the door. “Magnolia doesn’t really care if I sell the townhome or not, does she?”

She sighed, and as she did, she checked outside, swinging her head from side to side as to see if someone was watching. “Fine, come in, but just for a minute. I don’t want them to know I’m talking to you.”

I stepped inside, and she closed the door. “You’ve got five minutes, so say what you need to say.” She stood straight as a stick, and completely still except for her left foot tapping on the floor.

I laid my cards on the table, realizing it would probably be a mistake, but I was more interested in getting out of her what I could than protecting what she’d find out I knew soon enough. “I saw Magnolia with a sketch of the retail section of the development. When I asked her about it, she gave me some story about a drawing class. And then she told me not to sell the townhome, but she said not yet. What does that mean?”

She didn’t respond, just tapped her foot on the floor.

“If she doesn’t care about the townhome, why target me? Am I the fall guy for something else?”

She crossed her arms over her chest, rubbed the sides of her biceps, and shook her head. “Oh heavens, Lily, this isn’t about you at all.”

“Then what is it about?”

She leaned toward her front door and peeked out the side window. “I don’t really know, okay? All I know is Magnolia is pretending to care, that’s all. And she asked for my help, and when a sister of the Women of Society asks for help, we help.” She brushed a fallen strand from her shivering chin and then crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not privy to the details.” She walked the few steps to her front door again, opened it slowly a touch, took a look outside, and then opened it all the way. “Now, I really need you to leave before she finds out I talked to you. Please, just go.” She grabbed my arm and yanked me toward the door.

I stepped through, but not far enough for her to close it behind me. Before leaving, I turned around and asked, “Emma, why me?”

Her shoulders slumped as she let out a breath. “Luck of the draw, Lily. That’s all.”

I backed out of the door frame, my mind swimming in confusion.

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