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“Could Naomi have made it from Rhodes’s place back to the restaurant in an hour?” I tapped my finger on the smooth wood surface.
“Would’ve been tight, but yeah, it’s possible.”
“Are you thinking the three of them are in on it?”
“I’m not thinking anything. Except I found out what was in that safe deposit box.”
I lifted a brow. I never asked his methods, especially when he always came through with results.
“Twenty grand in stock certificates and the deed to some property out in Oregon. After some research, I found that the land belonged to his grandfather . . . who isn’t in good health.”
“This grandfather . . . mother’s father?”
“Yeah. Apparently, he didn’t want his daughter to have the land.”
Interesting. “Where was she when Rhodes died?”
“Her employer confirms she was at work at the time of death.” His phone buzzed in his pocket, but he ignored it. “I’m working on camera footage to support that.”
“The mother has the best motive, but something is off with the friends,” I said.
“The more info I find, the more questions I have.”
I wanted answers. Concrete ones so I could nail whoever was trying to frame Penelope.
“My guy at the transit authority is still trying to get footage of Penelope going from work to the restaurant. As soon as I get a timeline built that shows exactly where she was at the time of death, she’ll be clear. It’s dicey with the city, but I’m hoping in a few more days we’ll have what we need.”
His phone buzzed again. He checked it and frowned.
“Anything else?”
“Yeah. Foster is donating the park back to the city.”
I nodded. “Good.” I wouldn’t ask how he persuaded him to do so.
“As soon as the paperwork is complete, the city will sell it to your woman as long as she rectifies the homeless issue and doesn’t use the land for profit.”
How was I going to explain that to JoJo?
“Have the guy at the city call her when they’re ready to sell.” The only fingerprints I intended to have on the situation was my money . . . but she wouldn’t know that.
She wanted that park. I was going to get it for her.
“Will do.” He abruptly stood.
I stayed sitting in the room after he left, needing a moment to digest the information.
JoJo liked Naomi. But did Naomi know about the Cunningham wealth? Was that a factor?
Money made people do bizarre things. It sparked irrational and dangerous feelings.
I didn’t like the boys. But my dislike for them clouded my judgment when it came to their involvement.
Had the three of them plotted to frame Penelope? If they had, what did they have to gain?
Getting Penelope out of the picture didn’t improve their lives in any immediate tangible way. At least not that I could see.
When sabotage was the pure motivation for action, people became even more dangerous.
