Cake and Taxes: A Yellow Rose Cozy Mystery (Yellow Rose Mystery Series Book 2) Read Free Page A

with you in a second,” Betty said, giving the batter a taste.
     
    “Take your time. It'll take me a minute to power up and get set up.” Martin pulled out his cell phone and used it as a hot spot to get an Internet connection. After entering a user name and password he asked, “What'cha making?”
     
    “Cake.”
     
    Martin feigned a surprised look. “You're such a smart lass,” he said.
     
    Betty grinned. “Caramel apple crunch with Oreo crust. Custom order.”
     
    Betty wasn't sure if it was the word caramel , crunch , or Oreo that triggered the hound dog look in Martin's face. She smiled to herself, then pulled a slice of something from the refrigerator along with a fork and a pint of milk and set it on the table.
     
    “Cherry cheesecake. Saved a slice since I know it's your favorite.”
     
    “All your creations are my favorites,” Martin said, fork in hand.
     
    “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
     
    Martin patted his ample stomach. “Don't I know it,” he said, taking his first bite.
     
    After he'd finished his afternoon snack, Betty cleared the table and the two got down to business.
     
    “What exactly are we looking for?” Martin asked.
     
    “Not sure. A clue, I suppose. I told you yesterday about overhearing Ned and Marge in the alley.”
     
    “Yes. Ordinarily I'd say it was Ned being his usual hot-headed self. But with Marge Nelson being found dead a few hours later...”
     
    “I know. Still, the news reports say that witnesses heard what sounded like gun shots in the appraisal district parking lot around 2 p.m. An employee returning from lunch who was parked nearby discovered the body. Ned was at the store working then. I know because I went in to see if he had any compound for some loose bricks at the back of the store here.”
     
    “Have you already given your statement about what you witnessed to the police?”
     
    “Yes, by phone. They said that I may need to make a formal statement in person later, but if so they'll contact me.”
     
    Martin finished tapping at the keyboard. “Here we go,” he said, turning the laptop sideways so that Betty could see. “This web site has the values for all homes, commercial buildings, and business personal property located here in Magnum County.”
     
    Betty stared at the screen. “Hmm...type in 'Ned's Friendly Hardware Store.' But without the apostrophe.”
     
    Martin tapped away and soon new information appeared.
     
    “Good,” Betty said. “Now click on 'View Details,' then 'Roll Value History.'”
     
    More tapping followed by more information. Martin studied a set of numbers. “Wow. Ned's business' value has doubled in the last three years.”
     
    “Which means the taxes for his business have roughly doubled depending on the tax rate for each year. No wonder he was giving Marge an earful.”
     
    “Why was she there, anyway?” Martin asked.
     
    “Each year a BPP, or business personal property, appraiser comes out and gets information from business owners regarding their equipment. Everything that's not part of the land or building is included. The land and building are on a commercial property account.”
     
    “Sounds like you did your research before opening up here,” Martin said.
     
    Betty nodded. “Anyway, the appraisers do field work primarily from January through June and yesterday Marge came through this part of town.”
     
    “Do you know what your taxes for this year will be yet?”
     
    Betty shook her head. “According to the Texas Property Tax Code, new businesses like mine aren't assessed the first year of operation as long as they open after January first of that year.”
     
    “A break for you, then. For a short period, anyway.”
     
    “Yes. I don't mind paying my fair share. I doubt Ned does either. The money collected goes toward funding the local school districts among other things. But apparently he thinks his current assessed value is more than a little out of line.”
     
    Martin started