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three of you, then I’m all in.”
    “What if we end up going to jail?” Grace asked her.
    “Who better to share a cell with than you ladies?”
    “Sorry, Trish, but it’s nothing quite so dramatic,” Momma said, happy to play along.
    “Maybe next time, then,” the diner’s owner said. Was she honestly a little disappointed that we weren’t about to do something illegal?
    After she was gone, I asked Momma, “Do you have any ideas about how best to approach him?”
    “Our best strategy is to just march into his office later today and demand a meeting with him,” she said.
    “Can’t he just refuse to see us?” I asked.
    “Not if he still wants that property,” Momma said smugly. I had a hunch that she was right, since her instincts were almost always dead on, especially when it came to business. My mother had been the land baron of the family for as long as I could remember, which was what had surprised me even more about my father’s purchase. I was upset learning what he’d done, but mostly I was happy to know that he’d been thinking about me and looking out for his baby girl, something I always was to him and would be even now if he were still alive.
    “When should we tackle him?” I asked.
    “I believe later this afternoon should be just right, since I know he leaves his office promptly at a quarter after four every day, rain or shine. The real question is what should we do in the meantime?”
    “If it’s okay with you, Grace and I have to go see someone before then,” I said.
    “Would you care to share the identity of your mystery suspect?” Momma asked.
    “It’s Amber North,” Grace answered softly.
    “I don’t envy you that visit,” Momma said with a slight shudder.
    “Do you know her?” I asked my mother. I couldn’t imagine the circumstances when those two diverse women would have ever met.
    “Our paths have crossed a few times in the past,” she said, but when I looked expectantly toward her for more information, none was forthcoming.
    “Were you two able to speak with anyone this morning?” Momma asked.
    “That’s right. We haven’t told you about that yet.” I recounted our chance encounter with Christine in front of Gabby’s shop, keeping her identity a secret, as promised. Chops to Momma. She didn’t ask either one of us who our source was. I continued, “After she pointed us in Nathaniel’s direction, we went straight to his office. He actually thought we were going to invest with him.”
    “It’s not that ridiculous an idea, Suzanne,” Momma said. “Contrary to outward appearances, Nathaniel Bloom does quite well for his clients. A little too well sometimes, if you ask me.”
    “I’m going to ask you what you mean, if Suzanne won’t,” Grace said. “Is there something you know that we don’t?”
    “I’m not saying he’s used his position on the city council for the betterment of his financial clients, but some may argue that’s the case. Also, he offers better returns than most index funds do, something that is highly suspicious in and of itself.”
    “Do you have any investments with him?” I asked. Maybe it could serve as a way to get Nathaniel to speak a little more freely with us, and I wasn’t above using whatever means I had at my disposal to make that happen.
    “No.”
    When she didn’t elaborate, I asked, “Why not?”
    Momma frowned before she spoke again. “There’s just something about the man that I don’t completely trust,” she said. “Don’t ask me to explain why I feel that way, because it’s something I’ve never been able to quite put my finger on.”
    “Enough said. I trust your gut,” I answered. “We’re going to take another run at him, but not right away. I think we’ll let him stew overnight before we approach him again.”
    “So then it’s settled,” Momma said. “After you and Grace speak with Amber, you and I will tackle Curtis, Suzanne. It sounds like a good strategy to me.”
    “I just hope we