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

Kalina headed back to the shop to make sure she was ready for her late-night visitors. A part of her felt bad leaving Chris out of this investigative mission but he had other things to worry about. Besides, he needed to get some sleep.
    Waiting for their arrival gave Kalina time to settle the day’s bookkeeping. The shop had done well in profits. Black Friday was officially a success. The bell above the front door jangled and she looked up to see Jimmy and Alex stride in side by side. Alex was older than Jimmy by at least six years and had a broader build.
    “Thanks for coming over, guys. Why don’t we grab a seat in the back?”
    They settled around one of the tables strewn with pieces of Settlers of Catan. Jimmy fiddled with a few pieces while Alex sat with his arms crossed over his chest.
    “So what do you want to know about debt collection?”
    “How it works. Why someone might get involved in it.” She pulled out a pen and notebook Chris had given her to take notes.
    Alex rubbed his chin. “Well, you get into it for the money. See when the bank or a credit card company has a client who isn’t paying their debts off, they sell the debt to a collector on the cheap. A five thousand dollar loan might get sold for one thousand. Then the collector goes to the debtor and offers to wipe the debt clean if they pay twenty-five hundred. The collector nets fifteen hundred of that for himself.”
    “And the bank or the credit card company doesn’t get anything for it?”
    He shook his head. “No. They get the money on the front end when they sell the debt package.”
    “So someone would have to actually have the money to buy the debt in the first place and then they make it back with collecting on the debts. Pretty lucrative if you don’t mind ruining people’s lives.”
    Kalina nodded as she scribbled down the example he’d given. It still didn’t seem like a career a mild-mannered guy in his 60s would suddenly take on. It was also suspicious that Savannah wouldn’t have known if her husband made a huge purchase.
    “You know … we found a receipt for a money transfer in the study at the Chase house. Something like thirty thousand dollars,” Jimmy said.
    Kalina leaned forward, pen poised to write. “Who was it to?”
    “Didn’t say. Just had bank information on it.”
    Alex cleared his throat and eyed his younger brother. “I don’t think you should be sharing details about an ongoing case, Jim.”
    “Right, of course. Just forget I mentioned that.”
    Kalina gave Jimmy a smile. “Don’t worry about it. I appreciate you guys explaining the debt collection stuff though.”
    “That kind of life can be dangerous too. You try to collect from the wrong person and things could go sideways fast,” Alex said and stood up.
    “That’s what I’m afraid of,” Kalina muttered.
    “I need to get home. I’m on shift tomorrow,” Alex announced and Jimmy followed his brother out.
    Kalina barely stifled a yawn as they left. It had been a busy day and she’d been running on adrenaline more than she’d realized. She rubbed at her eyes and yawned again. Time to go home and sleep on the information she’d gathered. Maybe things would make more sense in the morning. Before she turned out the lights and headed home she set a reminder in her phone to check city planning records in the morning.

 
    CHAPTER TWELVE
     
    The next morning Kalina woke with a headache. It had taken far too long to fall asleep the night before and her dreams were filled with disparate pieces of the Thomas Chase puzzle. She dragged herself out of bed and into the kitchen for a much needed cup of coffee. Her phone beeped at her to remind her of the task she’d set. Thankfully, the town made all building plans digital when they were approved; it made fact checking as easy as a couple mouse clicks. She downed her first cup of caffeine in record time, pouring herself a second cup before she settled in front of her laptop in the living room. She had