Page 43 of Pay Dirt

Chapter 20

Nathan’s dad tried to convince me that I’d gotten the short end of the stick from the new oil find, but he’d been wrong. When I told him why I wanted what I asked for, I think he finally understood, even if he still thought I deserved more. I didn’t.

Nathan parked outside the property appraiser, and within minutes and a couple flashes of his badge, we were settled in a conference room with a plot map of the entire territory, which had streets and addresses for each home.

He stood out of the way while I did my thing using my crystal. I narrowed it down by going over each section, looking for the strongest vibration and arc swing until I was happy. I hunkered over the section and took a deep calming breath, letting the crystal guide me as I asked the questions in my head.

It landed with a thud on the tabletop, Nathan and I leaned over the map looking for the address.

“528 Sycamore Road. You know anyone that lives there?”

Nathan shook his head. “Not yet, but I will.”

We left the property office.

“Can we stop and get some food for those people?”

“If we show up at the library, workers might be suspicious why we’re there and putting food in their shelter. We might get them in trouble.”

I sat back in my seat with a huff. “We have to do something.”

He let out a hefty sigh and did a U-turn back in the direction of the fast food places. He ordered for everyone in the basement before we stopped and picked up several boxes of donuts. “What are those for?”

“Aida Mae runs the library. She loves me. I’m going to park around back and take the donuts in while you quickly unload the food. You have to be quick, though, so no one sees you.”

Nathan’s plan worked like a charm. I startled the people in the shelter for a second when I opened the doors, but that startle quickly turned into relief while Michael and the pastor helped me carry the food. I checked on Mary, and her fever had almost disappeared.

I was waiting in the truck when Nathan returned. “Worked like a charm.”

“Looks like it,” I said, leaning over to wipe the powdered sugar from his face.

“Everyone still okay down there?”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “I just wish they didn’t have to live in a dark hole and hide from the world, but I get it.”

Nathan started the truck and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I promise I’ll tell Mildred, and she’ll help when we leave. She cooks enough for an army. I’m sure she’ll take care of everything, and I’ll look into whatever company is coming in here trying to buy up the land. They’ll be all right. We’ll make sure of it.”

Mildred wouldn’t need to take care of them, not when my plans were taking shape, not that Nathan needed to know. I wasn’t a hundred percent certain that he’d agree with what I had up my sleeve.

We turned down Sycamore Road and passed the address once before circling around and parking a few houses away. Our attempt to look inconspicuous died. A knock on my window made me jump, and my heart raced.

A little old lady with a German shepherd on a leash stood outside the window.

“Crap,” Nathan whispered beneath his breath while I rolled the window down.

“Nathan Murray, I thought that was you.”

“Mrs. Beatrice, it’s good to see you.”

“It’s been a long time since you used to cut my grass,” she said. “Is this your girlfriend that I’ve heard about?”

“Yes, Mrs. Beatrice, meet Cassie.”

“It’s a pleasure, dear.” She farther into the truck. “I’m head of the neighborhood watch, Nathan, so I check out suspicious people. What are you two doing sitting out here?”

“Nathan is just showing me around town. I told him I might move here, and he’s explaining the subdivisions where the good places to live are, in the event I decide to start house hunting.”

“Oh, dear, you’d love it here. My neighborhood is kind of quiet. Not much happens around these parts. We’ve already scared off the troublemakers.”

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