“What if there never was a will? Maybe Mary is working with Adams and Dean both? Maybe they tried to run us off by making the place appear unsafe. When that didn’t work, they decided to plant a fake will to take back the property. The rare earth rights make it worth way more than what you paid for it.”
Blake’s forehead creased. “But Mary mentioned during probate there had been a will.”
“Maybe it played out the way she said until Dean came back and told her how much they’d both stand to gain if she helped him regain the property and sell it for an insane amount of money. We know Adams is trying to shut us down. Nothing about his presence here makes sense unless they’re working together. Maybe Dean planted the will at The Sanctuary.”
He nodded. “You’re probably right. I mean, why would Maryact upset about the will if she was in on it?” He turned into Mary’s drive and turned off the truck. “Six months ago I would have laughed at such a crazy idea. I’m not laughing now. Though I’m not convinced, it makes a sick kind of sense. We didn’t have Allen’s signature checked. I’ve been in that hayloft a thousand times and never found a cavity in the floor either. Let’s use caution for now. We’ll talk to Mary and then call Hez.”
They got out of the truck and mounted the long staircase to the front door, shooing away the gulls that dive-bombed them. The sound of the waves was a soothing rhythm in the background.
Mary met them on the deck before Blake could ring the bell. Her cheeks were pink and her hands fluttered like a frightened bird. The scent of her perfume, something obnoxiously floral, mixed with the scent of the ocean. “Good morning.”
When she didn’t meet Blake’s gaze, his suspicions ramped up more. Paradise was right—they needed to be careful here to make sure nothing underhanded was going on.
“I wasn’t expecting you. I’m having lunch with a friend and don’t have much time. What can I do for you?” Mary folded her arms across her chest expectantly without inviting them inside.
Paradise smiled and took a step closer to her. “This won’t take long.”
Mary glanced at her watch. “You had a question?”
Blake pulled out his phone and called up his Notes app. “Could you give me the names of some of Dean’s friends? Does he have any old girlfriends?”
More color flooded Mary’s already blotchy cheeks. “Oh my, that’s a hard one. You know how young men can be—so secretive. He had a girlfriend a few years ago, but I’m not sure what happened to her or where she is now.”
“What was her name?” he prodded.
Mary didn’t answer for a moment, then finally shrugged. “Elowen Quintero.”
“Unusual name.”
“She said her first name was Cornish and her mother thought it sounded like a fairy. She was very sweet, much too nice for Dean.” Mary’s lips compressed in a disapproving grimace.
Blake put it in his note. “Any friends he usually hung around with?”
“They always varied. His best friend in high school was Wade Greene.”
“Greene?” Paradise asked. “Is he related to Creed?”
“His brother.”
Blake jotted down the name. Creed wouldn’t welcome them interrogating his brother, but they couldn’t let his disapproval deter them. Could there be some kind of connection? “Does he still live in the area?”
“I think he lives near Magnolia Springs.” Mary glanced back toward the door behind her. “I really need to get going or I’ll be late.”
Paradise tensed beside Blake and touched Mary’s arm. “One more question. Mr. Adams was here just before we arrived. We saw him leave. I didn’t realize you knew him.”
Mary’s face flamed with more color before the red receded and left her pale. “He—he—I mean, we’re seeing a little of each other.” She glanced at her watch again. “I’m meeting him for lunch, so I really need to go.” She backed away and slipped inside the house before she firmly shut the door in Blake’s face.
He took Paradise’s hand to walk back to the truck. “I don’t buy it for a second. She’s not seeing Adams. Why would she lie about that?”
“I think she was taken aback and it was the first thing that came to mind. She probably hoped we didn’t see him.”
Blake opened the passenger door for her to climb in. “Where to first? Adams or Wade?”
“Wade. We’re more apt to get something useful out of him.”
Maybe she wasn’t ready to confront Adams. It might be a conversation Blake needed to have by himself with the man.
Blake had been quiet and reflective since the will had been found. Paradise shot him a glance as he drove to the address Jane had provided for Wade Greene. If only she could take some of the burden from him, but he wouldn’t let her even if she could.
