Swindled in Paradise by Deborah Brown

Author:Deborah Brown [Brown, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Paradise Books LLC
Published: 2015-10-12T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Phil had scribbled the address for the elusive Ursula on a sticky note attached to the top of one of the envelopes she’d handed me. I passed it off to Fab, who perused it before pulling out of the parking space. She called Phil and asked several questions, but the conversation lasted only a few minutes, during which Fab used her business voice. I didn’t hear yelling from the other end of the phone and sighed with relief.

Ursula Richards had landed in an upscale, gated condominium community in Duck Key. The unit was owned by a businessman out of the Miami area, and according to records, it was a second home. What was unknown was whether she was a renter or a guest.

Fab had her foot pressed down hard on the gas, flying down the Overseas Highway on this sunny, blustery day. I kept my eyes peeled out the window, watching the palm trees sway back and forth, the waves churning in the Gulf of Mexico.

“How was your night the other night?” Fab asked.

“I lost at strip poker.” I smiled. “I couldn’t have had a worse hand.”

“How many pieces of clothing did you start with?”

“One.”

She threw her hair back and laughed. “Excellent idea! I’m going to boost a deck of cards from Jake’s. I know where the new ones are stored.”

“Winner gets to decide how to spend the rest of the evening. You’ll have to plan everything in advance and remember not to gloat, since you’ll probably cheat.”

“Ohh.” She frowned. “I’m not that great at cards. I’ll have to choose something else.”

“You can’t be gracious and let Didier have his way once in a while?” Her frustrated look amused me.

“Didier always gets his way,” she blushed. “Not that I mind all that much.”

“Miss Fabiana,” I mimicked Mother, “get your mind back on the job. What are we doing exactly?”

“Thank goodness for Phil. I’ll smooth over the waters somehow.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Let’s hope she never quits or, worse, retires.”

“Phil uncovered that Ursula owns an interior design business and has office space in an upscale furniture store in South Miami. She called Ursula and scheduled an appointment regarding a job redoing the lobby of the Shores Hotel,” Fab related. “Phil bought us time to slip into the condo and have a look-see without having to worry about jumping out the window.”

“How is Phil going to pull off this meeting without Ursula catching on? It’s ballsy.” I could see this plan ending badly.

“Phil assured me when I asked the same question that she’s got it handled. She’s sending an associate who’s going to pass himself off as an executive of the hotel—invite her into the bar and interview her. Phil has every confidence in her man candy, as she called him. He’s played the part of an executive on more than one occasion.”

“I’d feel more comfortable if one of us was involved, but let’s face it,” I stared over at her. “Neither of us have the skills for that scam.”

Fab ignored me.

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