“They were friends?” September asked, surprised because of the age difference.
“The kid was quite a bit older than Tommy,” Kitsy said. “Maybe six years or so? But I saw them together a few times, sometimes with some of those other scruffy kids, too. Tommy’s mother let him run wild. She paid no attention to who he was hanging with. It’s a wonder he was as nice as he was, but then he was . . . a little bit mentally challenged, almost like he had dementia himself sometimes.”
September remembered the Burkey name from the list of previous Aurora Lane owners she’d compiled. The Burkeys had never returned her calls. “Which house did the Burkeys live in?” September asked.
“They were catty-corner to the Singletons, and the rental house with the druggie kid was a couple doors down from the Singletons, toward the main road. All those houses on that side have land that borders that old farm, which is acres and acres.”
September knew the area well now. “And part of the farmland ends up at Schultz Lake.”
“That’s right.”
“The druggie’s house was on the same side of the street as the Singletons and Mr. Bromward?” Gretchen asked.
She nodded.
They asked her some more questions about the residents of Aurora Lane, but Kitsy Hasseldorn was tapped out. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help,” she said as she followed them out. Tracy, the receptionist, was on the phone as they approached, but upon seeing Kitsy, she hung up and sat straighter in her chair, her smile as fake as her breasts.
*
Andi was furious with Carter. Now that reaction had set in, she wanted to kill him. How could he just call up the Carreras? He knew how she felt. If Luke hadn’t come and supported her, she didn’t know what she’d have done.
She climbed out of her car at the office and waited for Luke to park and get out, too. She knew that half of her just wanted him to be around, but the other half sought safety and protection. That was what she told herself anyway, and it didn’t matter in any case because he was here and she was glad.
She was shivering when he reached her.
“You okay?” he asked, looking down at her in a way that made her stomach flutter.
“I’m more mad than scared now.”
“I’m going to want the blow-by-blow of what happened once we get to the cabin.”
“I’ll just be a minute.”
“I’m coming in with you.”
She gave a short laugh but didn’t argue as she entered the building. They walked across the glossy black tile of the entry foyer to the two elevators that led to the upper floors.
“What’s Carter’s game?” he asked.
“He’s focused on getting more financing for the company at any cost. He expanded too soon, all in the name of saving money in the long run. He’s not wrong, he’s just . . . he always takes the easy way. That’s what Greg used to say, and it’s proven to be true.”
The elevator dinged for the floor of Wren Development. Andi unlocked the main office door and found a pile of mail left on the edge of their part-time receptionist’s desk. She swept it up as she unlocked her office door and headed straight to the credenza, where her phone charger was still plugged in, its cord a neat coil.
Luke came in after her. “This is your office?”
“Yeah. Now.” She put the charger in her purse. “We should be in something less expensive, but we have a lease that isn’t up for another year and a half. It wasn’t a problem until we started building the lodge. I think it’s all going to be great in the end, but it may have been too big a project in scope.”
“You’re building a hotel.”
“A large hotel,” Andi agreed. “I think we have the resources to do it, but Carter’s put us out on a limb. Greg was more conservative, and so am I.”
“Where does Emma stand on all this?”
“Mostly she agreed with Greg, and now with me, but now she’s less reliable than ever. We need some checks and balances.” She looked up at him. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
He smiled. “I haven’t done anything yet.”
“Yes, you have.” She plucked a white envelope addressed to her from the pile of notices and junk mail. No return address. A feeling of déjà vu and dread stole over her.
“What?” Luke asked, seeing her face.
Andi opened her top desk drawer and plucked out a letter opener. She slit open the top of the envelope and carefully pulled out the hard note card within. At the same moment she read It’s too bad when little birds have to die, they heard the elevator bell ding. Luke was beside Andi in a moment, reading the note.
“This came through the mail?” he demanded tersely.
“Yes.”
She was still holding the card, albeit in shaking hands, when they heard a male voice ask, “Carter?”
Luke was out Andi’s door in an instant and looked toward the reception area. Andi could see him but not their visitor. “Can I help you?” he asked.