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LATER THAT EVENING Dana and Katie sat in the living room of the Victorian by the fireplace. Truffles had just had her meow mix and was purring softly with satisfaction as she laid by the crackling fire in her kitty basket.
Dana had her feet curled up on the couch with her MacBook open, making some entries on her blog for her followers. But funny enough, the entries she was making on the blog was nothing compared to the mystery that was unraveling right now at the Renaldos’ mansion.
“Isn't it just so weird about the butler and the whole scenario with the family in the household?” Katie asked Dana.
“Yes, of course it's weird. I still don't know what transpired. Everything happened so fast. Poor Mr. Renaldo. The family and the staff at that estate sure seem mixed up. But Miles seems like such a nice guy though. The only normal one.”
“Yes he does. That was so sad that his fiancée was inconsolable but under the circumstances...”
“Yes it was.”
“And she blamed Goldie, their would-be stepmother.”
“True,” Dana said, taking notes. “Oh and the brothers were quite odd as well,” Dana commented.
“You could say that again. There's such a chill in the air at that mansion.”
“And I don't think it’s anything to do with Mr. Renaldo’s death. You can just feel the tension between the family and the household staff.”
“Oh, there is tension all right. I felt it.”
Just then Truffles purred softly.
“You think there's a lot of tension in the household too, baby?” Dana said softly.
“So what story are you working on for your mystery riddles blog?”
“I wish I could use this story. But I'm actually working on a riddle to do with this killer and his girlfriend. Everybody wants to know why he killed her. Everything seems fine on the surface. But when he came home he caught her with his best friend. But she didn't know that he found out.”
“How did he find out?”
“Oh he had taken a snapshot of her. But then there was a shadow in the picture and it happened to be a shadow of the guy hiding near the closet.”
“You're kidding. Where do you come up with these?”
“Oh I kid you not. Thanks for the compliment, though.”
“No seriously, that’s amazing, cuz.”
“Oh, it's just a thing I’ve always had. I like to make up stories and solve puzzles. Though I have to admit I don't even know if I can solve this one.”
“Why is that? I'm sure if anyone can figure out who killed that poor rich guy, it’s you.”
“I wish I could say that, too. But there are just so many possible suspects. I mean for one thing the children have a lot at stake. They will inherit millions and millions of dollars possibly billions according to his fortune—on his death.”
“That's true, but then what about the fiancée?”
“That's a good point. She's quite an odd one, too. She just ran off to go to her lawyer when the family accused her of killing Mr. Renaldo. I wonder if he signed something in advance.”
Just then the door knocked. Dana got up to answer the door and led their guest into the living area. It was Bea from Bea’s Salon.
“Hey, Dana,” Bea said as she walked into the door, “Hey, Katie.” She turned to Katie.
“Hey, Bea.”
“As I promised earlier, I just thought I’d stop by to bring over this magazine for you. I thought you would find it helpful.”
“Oh thanks so much, Bea.” Dana hesitated for a moment before saying anything else. “Oh, by the way Bea, have you heard anything about Mr. Renaldo's family?”
Bea was always on top of local news, just like Gerdie-Sue.
“Well, now that you mentioned it,” Bea said looking at her newly manicured nails. “You know it's no news that the golden girl, Goldie was supposed to marry the rich guy but was having an affair with every poor guy in the district.”
“She was? You're kidding me, right?” Dana was stunned. “Why would she risk losing millions by cheating on the old man?”
“Oh, you haven't heard the last of her, honey. The girl is doing everybody in town.”
Katie said, “Please tell me that you're exaggerating.”
“I wish I could, honey. But the girl certainly knows how to get around. She’s even seeing Phil, the pharmacist.”
“Phil, the pharmacist?”
“Yes, honey. Looks like she really had a thing for the drug guy.”
“But why would she chance it knowing that Renaldo can give her so much?”
“Well it's obvious she didn't really love him,” Bea said.
“Hmm.”
“Oh, and here's the goods,” Bea added, “It looks as if nobody in the household got that much from the old guy. Looks like all of them wanted him dead. According to reliable sources I cannot name, he was a miser he was. He liked his future son-in-law though. The only nice guy in the house seems to be Miles. He’s a collector like me. I met him at the Collectors and Hoarders club of Berry Cove. At least he had a job. He works part time at some cleaning company cleaning offices.”
“Yes, I met him at the café he looked torn and broken in spirit over it all.”
“Of course he would be. Jackie’s probably worried about her fortune more than him. But once she gets her money she’d be set for life. She's not so much worried about her daddy or anybody else. I don't know what Miles sees in her. As far as his sons are concerned Junior and the other guy Tony, well I don't know much about them except Junior was a pharmacist himself. I think he had some pharmacy out west but then he lost his business in the divorce. That poor rich guy never signed a prenup.”
“Oh no.”
“Oh yes. Seems like stupidity runs in that family. None of those rich men sign prenups. Don't they know that there's a lot of gold diggers out there?”
Dana just thought about something. She really had to tell Troy about these new findings but first she would finish up her blog entry for the week.
Oh boy, were things ever looking worse by the minute.