Thirteen Diamonds by Cook Alan

Author:Cook, Alan [Cook, Alan]
Language: deu
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

“Okay, Tess, are you ready to review the evidence to date?”

“Ready when you are.”

Tess sat on my couch with her yellow pad, her pen poised for writing. We had just returned from our Monday morning water aerobics class and the endorphins flowed in our bodies. Or maybe acid flowed in our stomachs. Tess had decided that I was incorrigible and would never drop the case, so she saw her job as trying to keep me out of trouble. I poured her a cup of coffee, which she promptly smothered with cream and sugar. I poured myself a cup and left it black.

“Let's start with Gerald's will. First, he left $500,000 to Silver Acres.”

“A goodly sum of money. And people have been known to kill for an inheritance, but in this case that would be weird because the money is going to a nonprofit organization.”

“Right. Next, he's leaving $100,000 to his grandniece, who is apparently supporting a surfer. But she inherited the house she lives in and makes big bucks—or at least big compared to what our generation made. I did some chatting with her surfer boyfriend and asked him whether April had had a vacation recently—very innocently, as if I were concerned for her health. He said no, not for six months. She has taken some business trips, but nothing to North Carolina. There's no evidence that she has been here during the last two years or that she has any connection with anyone here.”

“Besides,” Tess said, making a note, “from what you've said about her, in some ways you wish she were your granddaughter instead of Sandra.”

I laughed. “Well, Sandra could use an attitude adjustment in regard to men. The other significant provision of Gerald's will—actually, an attachment—is forgiving Dora a $25,000 loan. Dora told me she didn't know about Gerald's forgiveness provision, which is actually more incriminating than if she had known about it. And from the way she almost fainted when I mentioned it, I believe it was a complete surprise to her.”

“And you said Gerald's copy of the note mysteriously disappeared.”

“I don't know how mysterious it was but the lawyer said he hadn't found it. Anyway, the fact that she owed Gerald money gives Dora a theoretical motive. Let's move on to other evidence. Ida—I believe the word is, allegedly—sleeping with Wesley, our beloved bridge leader. If Gerald had found out and threatened to tell Wesley's wife...”

“Now it sounds like a soap opera.” Tess made more notes. “Wesley could be an assistant or an accessory, or something. Instead of narrowing down the motives and suspects, it seems like they're expanding.”

“I know,” I admitted. “I guess I'm not cut out for this detective business. I prefer everything to be mathematically precise. And there's one more thing that I've only just touched on with you. Ellen used to live in San Diego and was married to an economist who worked with Gerald. And...Gerald apparently took credit for work Ellen's husband had done that helped Gerald get the Nobel Prize.

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