Page 70 of The Beach Hut on Plum Island
“Liam, I’ve told you already, unless we’re around Titus or Gloria, I’m Julie,” Julie reminded him and turned to Finn. “I’ve used funds from my mother’s estate, which were to go to Harriet when she married.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Please don’t tell her. Harriet gets rather prickly about these things. I’m getting too old to face the consequences my daughter likes to dish out.”
“The funds will be transferred to you as soon as you sign the form.” Liam rifled through the pages. “And the legal documentbetween yourself and Julie is about the title of Gladstone Property and the olive trees. Once you’ve acquired them, you will hold them for three months after the property sale has gone through and then sign them over to Harriet.”
Finn’s eyes narrowed suspiciously on Julie. He had a feeling he was about to become a pawn in a scheme. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to be the one on the edges of a nuclear fallout?” he asked her. “And why do you think your plan will work over the original one?”
“The money can’t be traced back to a Joyce as it’s in my mother’s family name,” Julie pointed out. “As my mother was a famous actress, no one ever knew her real name, not even the press. She had it legally changed and then married my father, taking his name.”
“Julie’s grandfather started acting when silent movies were still around,” Liam told Finn. “How cool is that?”
“Oh!” Finn looked at Julie. “So you come from a long line of movie stars?”
“I do,” Julie confirmed. “But I’m afraid the legacy stopped with my mother.” She gave a smile. “As much as I’d like to play getting to know each other, we don’t have much time.”
“Right!” Liam nodded and turned to Finn. “You need to sign all these forms. They basically give me power of attorney for the inheritance from a long-lost relative.”
“What?” Finn frowned.
“Oh!” Liam said. “We forgot to mention you’re the only living relative of Magdaline Kline.”
“Who?” Finn was feeling more and more confused.
“My mother,” Julie told him. “Now you know why she legally changed her name.” She shuddered. “Liam will be making the trip to Greece as the representative of his wealthy client.”
“My firm is still registered in Boston,” Liam explained to Finn, “so there are no immediate ties to the Gladstone family.” Helooked at Julie. “The Joyces and Sam Donovan are monitoring all the Gladstone’s calls to ensure that they don’t contact the bank for any reason.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Finn asked and looked at Julie. “How long does it take to get the jet ready?’
“Oh, you’re not going,” Julie told him. “For a number of reasons.” She took a seat in the office chair. “Titus has decided no one attached to the royal family is to leave Plum Island.”
“Gloria may already have alerted herfriendat the bank about you.“ Liam shrugged. “I’m not sure why, but you never know. Crazier stuff has happened around here lately.”
“Liam will be going on his own,” Julie told Finn. “We’ve chartered a jet for him hired in Liam’s firm’s name so nothing gets traced back to us.”
“This incident with Harriet, and Estelle being detained, may have played to our benefit,” Liam added. “Titus has put a stop to anyone connected to Harriet going anywhere until whoever tried to kidnap Harriet is found.”
“While the police have Estelle in for questioning,” Julie told them. “I doubt she was the one to try and kidnap Harriet. Well, not on her own anyway.” She shook her head. “The Gladstones are either involved in this scheme or being framed for it.”
“I see what Harriet means when she said the Gladstones tend to ruin everything,” Finn said with a sigh. “This is supposed to be Alex and Daniella’s week. Their wedding guests are arriving today and tomorrow.” He looked at Liam. “Who’s going to run the hotel while you’re in Greece?”
“That’s why I have a manager,” Liam reminded him. “Besides, I’m the only one that won’t be noticed if I’m missing from any of the functions.” He sighed. “Alex and Harriet just won’t get their parties in the UK now that Titus has put a halt on traveling.”
“Liam is also the only one who has a valid reason to go toBostonfor business,“ Julie pointed out. “Unfortunately, if you gomissing Finn, it will look suspicious. This way will not draw any suspicion while Liam buys back the Joyce family’s property.”
“It makes sense,” Finn admitted and looked at Liam. “Are you okay with this?”
“Hey, I haven’t had this much fun since we were surfing pros,” Liam assured him.
“This is your idea of fun?” Finn gaped at his lifelong best friend.
“I love buying and selling things, you know that,” Liam reminded him. “This, to me, is fun.”
“Yeah, your sister is right,” Finn teased. “You are totally weird.”
“She said that about both of us,” Liam pointed out. “Now get signing.” He looked at his gold pen in Finn’s hand. “And don’t forget to give me my pen back.”
“Fine, but explain each contract in normal language as I do,” Finn told him.
Liam gave him a brief overview of the documents Finn was signing. Finn couldn’t help feeling he’d literally just signed his life away, and his hand ached.
