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“Five hundred to six hundred million. That definitely has to be Trollinger’s motive.”
“Be sure to let your geologist buddy know how much we appreciate him.”
“I owe him a bottle of scotch, but it was Jena and her husbands who discovered the Trollinger connection.”
“Maybe we should send them a couple of bottles, Nic.”
“Definitely. Without them we wouldn’t know that Trollinger paid off that EIA clerk to hide the Steele Ranch file.” The guy had been arrested but didn’t have any clue how to find Trollinger. “This improves our position with the case but we still need more. How’s Jena’s research with the Louisiana records going?”
“Walter Steele’s identity hasn’t been disproved yet, I’m afraid. She’s still digging, though. I’m sure she’ll find something.”
“None of this would be happening if it weren’t for our girl, Sylas.”
He nodded. “She is brilliant, that’s for sure. You know that we are going to have our hands full at Phase Four with her.”
“But there’s no one else I want my hands on, bro.”
“Me either. When’s your first lesson with Zac?”
“Tomorrow.” What he’d learned from Sylas and Ashley during the drive to Denver about the life intrigued and excited him. He couldn’t wait to get started on his training as a Dom. “If it weren’t for Mr. Jenkins, I would be leaving for Chicago tonight.”
“He’s a good man. Let’s send him a bottle, too.”
They had contacted Mr. Jenkins and told him what had happened to Ashley with Anna. When Nic offered to extend his notice another two weeks to allow Sylas to remain in Destiny with Ashley, Mr. Jenkins thanked both of them but declined the offer. In fact, he had insisted that they stay with Ashley. “I’ve never worked with finer men than the two of you. Forget your notice. Your last day at the office, gentlemen, was this past Friday, but I’ll make sure you are paid until the end of the month. Don’t worry about Braxton. We’ll be fine. You take care of Ms. Vaughn.”
“Here she comes.” Sylas motioned to the café’s entrance. “And with a big smile on her face.”
Nic stood and turned to the door.
She ran into his and Sylas’s arms. “I did it. I’m finished. And I think I nailed it.”
* * * *
Ashley took the cup of coffee from the new paralegal. “Thanks, Erin.”
Erin handed Jena a cup as well.
“I sure need this,” Jena said. “Thanks.”
She, Erin, and Jena had been working non-stop trying to find something, anything, that would prove the man claiming to be Walter Steele was an imposter. So far, nothing.
“I finished going through the stack of files you gave me this morning, Ms. Vaughn…I mean, Ashley.”
“You’ll get used to it, Erin. This office is very casual.” She liked Erin and knew the twenty-four year old was going to fit in perfectly. “Did you find anything that might help with the Steele Ranch case?”
“Sorry to say I didn’t. Nothing suspicious. Walter Steele has lived in Florida for over fifty years.”
“That fits the timeline when Bill’s brother left Destiny. What else?”
“He was a handyman in the town. He does have a record. Several counts of public intoxication and multiple DUIs. He hasn’t had a driver’s license in years. Before buying that condo a year ago, he lived at the Sleepy Moon Motel for fifteen years.”
“No way his story is true,” Jena said. “How the hell does a handyman who is only paid in cash and has never filed a tax return save enough cash to buy a two-hundred-thousand-dollar condo? The only answer that makes any sense is Cindy Trollinger gave him the cash.”
“But we don’t have any proof. What else, Erin?”
“Prior to that, Mr. Steele rented a room from a man who has since died. I called the manager at the motel. He corroborated Mr. Steele’s story. I also got in touch with people Mr. Steele has worked for. Mrs. Emily Cotton told me that Mr. Steele has been doing work for her family since the 1970s. He’s never claimed to be anyone but Walter Steele.”
“And of course her family paid him in cash like everyone else, right?”
