Debts and Debtors: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #3) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries) by Sarah Biglow Read Free Book Online

something else that Detective Harper found.”
    “What now?”
    “The gun that was found with Thomas’s body … the one used to shoot him was registered to him.”
    “That isn’t possible. He didn’t keep weapons in the house. Thomas hated guns.”
    Kalina leaned in a little closer. “Did you have a gun?”
    “God, no!” The wine glass slipped through her fingers and smashed against the coffee table, spraying the carpet with red wine and glass shards.
    Jillian jumped into action, rushing out of the room and returning moments later with a dustpan and brush to sweep up the shards. She glared at Kalina but Kalina stayed put. Savannah curled into herself on the couch and dabbed at her eyes.
    “You could help,” Jillian snapped.
    Just as Kalina opened her mouth to fire back at her sister, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from AJ. He must still have been at the shop. Without excusing herself, she stood up and left the living room.
    “Hey, you should be home soon, right?”
    “Yeah I’m on the way but I wanted to tell you something.”
    “OK. What is it?”
    “I did what you’d do and did some newspaper digging. There was an article back in the summer about the fear that the property would displace people in the area. And I have a friend, Adrien Parker and his family are moving because the bank foreclosed on their house. And get this … when I mentioned Mr. Chase, Adrien got all pissed off. Said that was the guy who showed up and forced them to accept the foreclosure.”
    “Where do they live?”
    “Um, not far from the waterfront.”
    “Thanks, AJ. You did great. Now get your butt home before your mother has a heart attack.”
    Her nephew hung up and Kalina studied the blank screen for a moment. Things were starting to make sense. She didn’t know much about foreclosures and the like but she did know someone who did and she was going to pick their brain as soon as she could make an excuse to get out of the house. But first she needed one final answer from Savannah.
    “Who was that?” Savannah asked as soon as Kalina walked back into the room.
    “Oh, that was nothing. Just someone calling the shop’s main number. It forwards to my cell. I actually need to get back but I wanted to ask you one last thing. Did you notice if any of your neighbors had been moving away or getting foreclosed on recently?”
    “No. Why would you ask that?”
    “Well, I was just wondering why someone would spray paint ‘Traitor’ on your front door, that’s all. Sorry about the wine, Jill.”

 
    CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    Kalina climbed back into her car and let out a sigh. If Thomas Chase was working for the developer and forcing people out of their homes so the hotel and condos could be built that would definitely brand him a traitor, especially to families living on the waterfront. And it might give someone a motive to want him dead. She didn’t quite believe that Savannah didn’t know that her husband had changed careers and had gone from selling people homes to ripping them away from families. She pulled out her phone and dialed the switchboard number for the police station.
    “Ellesworth Police Department,” Jimmy said on the other end of the line.
    “Hey Jimmy, it’s Kalina. I need a favor from you.”
    “Sure, what’s up?”
    “Do you know anything about debt collection and foreclosures?”
    “Some. My brother Alex knows more.”
    His brother worked as a firefighter in town. A family of public servants. “Is he off shift today?”
    “I think so. Why, what’s going on?”
    “I’m just curious about some things. With the big development going in on the waterfront I want to be more informed about how it’s happening. Can you guys swing by Geeks and Things in say an hour?”
    “I’ll give him a call. Should I let Detective Harper know?”
    “That’s not necessary.”
    “If you’re sure. I’ll hopefully see you in an hour.”
    “Great, I appreciate it.”
    Tossing the phone on the passenger seat,