65

NEIL CANCELED A LUNCH DATE HE HAD MADE AND INSTEAD had a sandwich and coffee at his desk. He had instructed Trish to fend off all but the most urgent calls as he worked feverishly to clear his calendar for the next few days.

At three o’clock, just as Trish came back with a fresh batch of papers, he phoned his father. “Dad, I’m coming up tonight,” he said. “I’ve been trying to get that Hansen guy on the phone, but they keep telling me he’s out. So I’m going to come up there and track him down myself. There’s a lot more going on with that guy than just giving lousy advice to old women.”

“That’s what Maggie said, and I’m sure she’s onto something.”

“Maggie!”

“She seems to think there’s some kind of connection between Hansen and the women who put in applications to Latham Manor. I’ve been talking to Laura Arlington and Cora Gebhart. It turns out Hansen called them out of the blue.”

“Why didn’t they just hang up on him? Most people don’t get involved over the phone with stock peddlers they don’t know.”

“Apparently using Alberta Downing’s name gave him credibility. He urged them to call her for a reference. But then—and this is where it gets interesting—he talked about how some people have investments that are losing buying power because of inflation, and he just happened to give as examples the very stocks and bonds that Cora Gebhart and Laura Arlington owned.”

“Yes,” Neil said. “I remember Mrs. Gebhart saying something of the sort. I need to talk to this Mrs. Downing. Something’s definitely not right here. And, by the way, I expected you’d call me as soon as you saw Maggie,” he added, knowing that now he sounded annoyed. “I’ve been worried about her. Was she okay?”

“I planned to call you as soon as I finished checking out her take on Hansen,” Robert Stephens answered. “I thought perhaps that was more important than filing a report with you,” he added acerbically.

Neil rolled his eyes. “Sorry,” he said. “And thanks for going over to see her.”

“You must know I went immediately. I happen to like that young lady very much. One more thing: Hansen dropped in on Maggie last week and made an offer on her house. I’ve been talking to real estate agents to get their opinions of its value. Maggie had speculated that his offer was too high, given the condition of the house, and she’s right. So while you’re at it, try to figure out what game he’s playing with her.”

Neil remembered Maggie’s startled reaction when he mentioned Hansen’s name, and how when he had asked if she knew him, her answer had been evasive.

But I was right about one thing: She did open up to Dad, he thought. When I get to Newport, I’m going straight to her house, and I’m not leaving until she tells me just what it is I’ve done wrong.

When he got off the phone, he looked over at Trish and the papers in her hand. “You’ll have to take care of those. I’m out of here.”

“Oh my, my,” Trish said, her tone teasing but affectionate. “So her name is Maggie and you’re worried sick about her. What a learning experience for you.” Then she frowned. “Wait a minute, Neil. You really are worried, aren’t you?”

“You bet I am.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Get moving.”