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“Guess he came out of it.” It was a miracle or maybe a testament to the man’s stubbornness. He wouldn’t leave this earth before gaining an iron-fisted rule over his family.
“I want whatever they gave him in case I ever have a heart attack.” She tossed a ball and Millie retrieved it.
I cut my gaze to her, which she ignored. “What did you offer him? To get him off our backs?”
She threw the ball a few more times and avoided looking at me. “Something of value to him.”
That wasn’t evasive at all. “What?” I couldn’t think of anything she had that Samuel Hollingsworth would want.
“This building.”
I stilled my legs. This was the home she’d made with her husband. They’d restored it, had life and love here. We had a home here. She loved this place.
“Why would you do that?”
She folded her hands on her lap. “I panicked. I thought I could reason with the devil and we’d be done with him.” She pressed her lips together. “It doesn’t work like that.”
“You love it here.”
“I do. But I love you and the dogs more. I have the memories from this place and no one can take those away from me.” Millie dropped the ball on top of her hands. “We have an alternate plan now too. Maybe we could talk the Elliotts into one of those fancy apartments in their building.”
“Woman.” I reached for her hand. She placed her old one in mine. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
“My reasoning was right, but it was a mistake. I only handed him more leverage. I’m too old not to know better.”
It was rare to hear her admit she was wrong. Although I wasn’t sure she was.
“What made you think he’d want this building?” Other than real estate was his business.
She squirmed, and I narrowed my eyes. “Did you know”—she cleared her throat—“that he owns every building on this block? And most of the next one too?”
I gaped. “You didn’t think you should bring that up before now?”
“It’s public record, if you’re willing to do a little investigation into the shell companies.” She released my hand and threw the ball again.
“But if he owns all the property . . . that means—” I blinked at her.
“Teague’s father is his landlord.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Teague
“Yo,Rivera. Am I losing my eyesight? Or am I seeing Hollingsworth putting his crap in a locker?”
I’d barely set foot back in the station and the ribbing had already begun. It was good to be home.
“No glasses needed, boys. I’m back.” I slung my bag into the metal bin and locked it.
“Does Captain know?” Burke slapped my shoulder.
Rivera and Walsh did bro handshakes with me.
“If not, he’s about to find out.”
My father had been released from the hospital a few hours ago. I hadn’t determined if that was doctor’s orders or my father simply doing as he pleased like always. After I’d showered and stopped by the rescue to say hi, I’d headed for the chief’s office.
Our chat had been brief. I wasn’t in the business of complaining or trying to make others look bad even when they’d wronged me. Maybe that was why I was uncomfortable with hiring a lawyer in the first place.
