Traci Tyne Hilton - Mitzi Neuhaus 03 - Buyer's Remorse by Traci Tyne Hilton Read Free Book Online

minutes? I want to talk,” Mitzy said. “You’ve heard about Lara?” she asked.
    “Yes. My card was in her pocket so the police called me to identify her. It was so horrible.”
    “It feels wrong of me to bring business up at a time of tragedy like this. But there is at least one thing I need to do.”
    “I know how you feel, but business does go on whether or not it feels right.”
    “I wanted to give this back to you,” Mitzy said, handing her an envelope. “It’s the earnest money check. Also, I wanted to ask if you knew why she was in the house that night. We hadn’t closed and she didn’t have a key.”
    Tina made eye contact with Mitzy and nodded. Her eyes were drawn and tired looking. “Do you remember the open house she came to?”
    “Of course I do,” Mitzy said. “You all made the offer that afternoon.”
    “Do you remember that your keys went missing?”
    “Yes…that was one of the more memorable moments. The whole set went missing from my purse.”
    “I think Lara may have stolen them.”
    Mitzy sat back. “Why would she do that?”
    “While I worked with her several things went missing. There were a few times when selling agents contacted me after Lara and I viewed homes.” Tina pulled a chair up and sat down. She leaned forward, “Once some small knickknacks had gone missing. The second homeowner contacted me after a set of keys from the key rack by the door had gone missing. To be honest, I did not see how it could be a big deal. Everyone loses keys.”
    Mitzy nodded, she could see the connection already.
    “The first call, about the knick-knacks,” Tina continued, “didn’t seem like my problem either. Some potential buyer may have taken them, but at that point I had no reason to mistrust Lara. Then there was another call. And then your keys went missing.  When my thumb drive disappeared off my desk I finally believed it was her. She was probably a kleptomaniac. But what can you do about that? I did not have any ideas. That was just last week. You had signed the offer, so I would be done with her. I know I wasn’t being proactive.”
    “I understand,” Mitzy said. “You had hardly realized the problem was real before she was murdered.”
    “I wish I felt like that excused it. The point is: I believe she had the keys to your house and that’s how she got in.”
    “Oh wait,” Mitzy tried to give a reassuring smile. “I don’t think you have to feel so bad after all.”
    “Why?”
    “My keys weren’t on her person when she died.”
    “Was the deadbolt locked when you got there?” Tina asked.
    “It was,” Mitzy said with a nod.
    “Then whoever killed her must have taken the keys.”
    Mitzy’s lifted her hand to her throat and let it hover there. “That keychain,” she said, “had my office keys, my house, my parents’ house. Even my car. It had everything on it.”
    “Then let’s hope the killer threw them out so they couldn’t be evidence.”
    “Yes, let’s hope so,” Mitzy said. “I have another question. It’s none of my business, I know.”
    “I don’t mind, Mitzy. I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to know more about Lara. Now that she’s gone … I find I wish I knew more about her as well.”
    “What kind of work did Lara do?” Mitzy asked.
    “She worked at a little boutique on Hawthorne Street called Neveah’s Wardrobe.”
    Mitzy tilted her head and frowned.
    “I know what you’re thinking,” Tina said, “But don’t ask me. I don’t know where she got that down payment from. She was adamant that she was doing this on her own.”
    “When she was house shopping did she ever bring anyone with her? Her mom or dad? A friend?”
    “Never. I asked if she wanted anyone’s second opinion and she was very offended. She was doing it on her own, and that was the end of the matter.”
    “Do you think she could have stolen the money?” Mitzy asked.
    “I don’t think being a klepto is the same thing as stealing large sums of