Blind Trust Read Free Page B

family,” Kate whispered. “Greg and Brian had to move into an apartment. I think Verna’s storing some of their stuff.”
    â€œAny idea why his wife left?” Maybe she didn’t want to get caught up in her husband’s illegal activities.
    â€œShe ran off,” Verna hissed. “With some handyman drifter she had working on the house. I warned Brian he was traveling too much. She cleaned out their accounts. Mortgaged the house to the hilt and skipped town.”
    Sounded like Brian needed money to dig himself out of that mess.
    Unless . . . The plaintiff in the TV courtroom echoed Verna’s description. Tom cocked his head to Kate and mouthed, “For real?”
    Kate shrugged.
    Trying another tack, Tom asked the woman, “Do you get out much?”
    â€œMy ladies’ mission sewing circle on Thursday mornings and church on Sundays.”
    A religious woman. More reason to doubt her as a viable suspect. Or it could be a front. He’d known plenty of criminals to hide behind a facade of uprightness. “Who takes you?”
    She waved her hand in the direction of Kate’s house. “The neighbor.”
    Kate frowned and shook her head that it wasn’t her. “What about your groceries?” Kate asked. “Who usually picks them up?”
    â€œI’m sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to put you out.”
    Kate patted the woman’s bony hand. “I don’t mind shopping for you. I was just curious. I want to know you’re being taken care of.”
    â€œMy son hired a housekeeper who comes in. She picks up groceries sometimes.”
    â€œDo you do your own banking?” Tom asked.
    Verna’s attention drifted back to the TV as a red sports car veered into the driveway. Verna upped the volume on the remote.
    Tom strode to the TV and hit the Off button. He wasn’t buying the doddering routine. It was too convenient. “Mrs. Nagy, I’m Detective Parker. We need to know where you got the money you gave Miss Adams.”
    â€œDetective?” She turned her attention to Kate. “Are you in trouble?”
    â€œWho’s in trouble?” the lanky, fair-skinned sports car driver said through the screen, then pushed his way inside.
    Tom recognized him from the photos in the hallway. From the rumpled suit, the man looked as if he’d been on the road for hours. From the look of his car, his wife hadn’t wiped him out entirely. Tom extended a hand. “You must be Verna’s son.”
    â€œBrian Nagy.” The man clasped Tom’s hand in an iron grip. “And you are?”
    â€œDetective Tom Parker.”
    Nagy dropped Tom’s hand like a hot potato and knelt at his mom’s side. “What’s going on? What happened?”
    â€œYour mother came into possession of counterfeit bills, and we are trying to trace their source.”
    â€œOh, Mom, I told you we need to get you into a nursing home. Things like this wouldn’t happen.” He glanced up at Tom as if he might convince her. “She doesn’t want to go. I worry about her when I’m on the road. But I never imagined anything like this. Where did it happen? What are you going to do?”
    â€œYour mother gave Miss Adams several counterfeit bills with which to purchase her groceries. We’re simply trying to ascertain where they came from.”
    Nagy surged to his feet and pointed at Kate. “How do you know she’s not responsible and trying to lay the blame on my mother?”
    Kate gasped.
    Tom patted the air in a calming gesture. “We’re not blaming anyone, just trying to get some answers.”
    Verna’s son gave a stiff nod and knelt next to his mother again. “Mom, do you remember where you got the money?”
    Verna shook her head, but the frightened look in her eyes told Tom she was lying. The question was—why?

2
    â€œI think your neighbor is protecting someone.”
    â€œYou