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“He was a successful professional,” Barbara said. “How could he be broke?”
“He didn’t get much work in his later years,” Ziggy said, “but he kept spending money.”
“What about his condo?”
“It isn’t a condo,” Ziggy said. “It’s an apartment. And the Mole Hole was jointly owned. Jimmy’s share goes to the remaining partners.”
“Good thing I waited to book Antarctica,” Grandma said.
“I don’t believe any of this,” Barbara said. “What about the keys?”
“There are no keys,” Ziggy said.
“Of course there are keys,” Barbara said. “Edna has them. We all know he gave them to Edna. And those keys are worth a fortune.”
Grandma rolled her eyes. “What a bean brain,” she said.
“Is that it?” Angie asked Ziggy.
“Yes,” Ziggy said.
“We came downtown for nothing?”
“Yes,” Ziggy said.
Everyone quietly filed out of the conference room. No one said anything. We all stood in front of the elevator, the doors opened, and everyone shuffled in.
“We’ll take the next one,” I said, stepping back.
“Good thinking,” Grandma said when the elevator doors closed in front of us.
* * *
—
My mother was ironing when I brought Grandma home.
“We’re okay,” I said. “You don’t need to iron.”
“This is just ordinary laundry-day ironing,” she said. “I heard about Jimmy’s will. I started getting phone calls ten minutes after you walked out of Ziggy’s office. Who would have thought Jimmy didn’t have money?”
“My Galapagos trip is canceled,” Grandma said, “but I’m still going to Gatlinburg.”
“Are you staying for dinner?” my mom asked me.
“No. I think I’ll see what Morelli is doing. I’m all dressed up, and I feel like going out to a fancy restaurant.”
There was a knock on the door, and Grandma went to answer it. I followed after her just in case it was Lou Salgusta with a blowtorch.
“It’s Benny’s young men,” Grandma said, looking out.
“Mrs. Rosolli,” one of the slic
k-haired kids said, “I hope we aren’t disturbing you, but we have a delivery to make from Mr. Benny the Skootch. Mr. Benny the Skootch said this is because Ms. Plum was so nice to him and brought him a pizza with the works. And Mr. Benny the Skootch always pays back. Are we allowed to deliver the package to you?”
“Of course,” Grandma said. “That’s very nice of him. How is he?”
“He’s well. He’s all stented up. He might get out of the hospital tomorrow.”
