Page 26 of Vanish From Sight
Her eyes widened. She glanced at him before continuing to scan the paperwork. “Suzanne Gilford, a broker for Harland and Stafford. I know the group. They only handle high-end properties. Nothing under a million dollars. That’s way out of the budget of a police paycheck, Noah.”
“You’re right. They said it’s an LLC that purchased it. Do you know who owns it?”
“No. But with a little digging, I should be able to find out. So many properties are hitting the market at the moment. They come and go pretty quick. Then of course there are those premium ones that barely get any bites because they’re priced too high. What’s the interest in it?”
“Someone’s offered to let me stay there for free. Of course, I would pay for the amenities, gas, electricity, water and so on but…”
“Free?” She clasped her coffee. “That’s unheard of.”
He nodded, eyeing her.
She glanced back down. “And you said?”
“I had to consider it.”
She snorted. “Whoever owns it has more money than sense, that’s for sure. A place like that tends to linger on the market because no one has deep enough pockets to pay for it, but even so, there are other options like renting it out. Some folks do that. They’re usually relying on the monthly rent to cover the cost.”
“Apparently it’s all paid for.”
“Still, it’s cash in the pocket.”
“Cash they obviously don’t need.”
“Then it begs to be asked. What is the need?” she asked. “You know they wouldn’t offer you that if there wasn’t some kind of ulterior motive.”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. At least if I knew who owned it, it might give me a sense of who and the real reason why they were offering it.”
“They didn’t tell you?”
He gave her the letter that was provided by the realtor. Kerri sat quietly, sipping her coffee and scanning it. She folded it. “An anonymous but generous benefactor who appreciated what you did.” She bit down on her lower lip, puzzled. “The question is why? What kind of heat did you take off them? Or what do they think you might do for them?”
“I know.”
Kerri handed back the letter. “These things have a way of being turned around. Maybe not today but eventually. One thing I have learned in real estate, Noah, is that the rich aren’t rich for giving free rides. They nickel and dime everyone. That’s not to say they can’t be philanthropists but around here I’ve yet to see one that didn’t benefit on some level from what they gave.” She sniffed hard and cast another glance at the paperwork like it was tainted material. “I’ll see what I can find out.”
“Thank you.”
Over the next ten minutes he ate breakfast and chatted about what was new in her world. Then, as they sat in the kitchen, Noah heard the side door opening and the jingle of a leash. Moments later, he caught the familiar padding of paws on the tiled floor, and he knew that Luke’s German shepherd, Axel, had returned from his walk.
As soon as he was off the leash, he came tearing into thekitchen, a ball of fur and excitement. Noah grinned from ear to ear as he reached a hand down and Axel licked him before bouncing around the kitchen like a madman, his tail wagging furiously and hitting the lower cabinets. Axel ran up to Noah again, his wet nose nuzzling into his face. He whined loudly. “I know, buddy. It’s good to see you too.” Noah laughed as Axel licked at his face, his tail wagging so hard it almost knocked over a nearby chair.
“Axel. Calm down,” Kerri said.
The dog’s scent filled the room, a combination of wet fur, grass and the fresh air of the outdoors. Noah felt the warmth of the dog’s breath on his face as Axel continued to whine and then followed up with barking loudly, overjoyed.
“All right, all right,” Kerri said.
Noah glanced over to the doorway where Willow and Austin were standing, their eyes fixed on him. He could only imagine they were again struggling to see him without thinking of their slain father, his twin. He saw a flicker of pain in their gaze, and for a second, they hesitated before coming over and greeting him. Noah rose from his chair and opened his arms to embrace them. A lump formed in his throat. Willow had long blonde hair and was tall in stature. She reached him first, her arms wrapping around his waist tightly. Austin, with his stringy build and quiet demeanor, followed, embracing him with a shy smile.
They were the next generation of Sutherlands, a reminder of the love and legacy of Luke. They were just another reason why he’d returned. He felt a deep sense of responsibility to protect and support them, and even as they pulled away from his embrace, he knew he would do everything he could to keep them safe.
Later that quiet Sunday morning,Noah sat in the Bronco outside a local vet’s office, feeling anxious about his brother not showing up. He fidgeted for a moment with his phone before calling Ray’s number only to be met by a voicemail message each time. Eventually he called Ray’s home and got his ex, Tanya.
“Tanya, is Ray there?”
“And hello to you.”
“Sorry. Just he’s supposed to be meeting me this morning.”
