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“NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK home,” Katie said to Dana the next day as she assisted her into the living room.
“Feels so good to be home, trust me,” Dana said.
“Troy’s going to be here soon. He said he had an emergency call at the station.”
“He did? Is everything all right?”
“Oh, just a mischief call.”
“I see.”
Dana sat down on the comfy sofa by the fireplace. Her heart raced with anticipation of getting more research done.
“I’m going to fix us a cup of coffee. Don’t go anyway,” Katie teased.
“Oh, I don’t intend to.” Dana then pulled out her cell phone out of her handbag and made a quick call to Troy. She knew Troy had been called away, but this was very important. She needed to get some information fast about Brenda’s murder case, before the real killer got away—or worse, tried to finish her off. She felt that it was Brenda’s killer who pushed her down her stairs—but now she had to prove it.
“Dana, how are you feeling this morning?” Troy answered, concerned.
“Lucky and glad to be alive, Troy.”
“Lucky?”
“Yep, I fell down the stairs and sprained my ankle.”
“Dana, most people wouldn’t call that lucky.”
“It’s all about perspective, Troy. As Grandma Rae used to say, it’s not what happens to us but how you react to it that matters. Besides, always look at the bright side, right? It could have been my neck.”
“So true, Dana. That’s what I love about you.”
Her heart jolted. Did Troy just say love?
“Um,” Dana said, feeling flustered. “Troy, I know you’re busy right now, but I was wondering if you could do me a medium-sized favor.”
He laughed. “A medium-sized favor? Never heard that one before.”
“Well, it’s not exactly a huge favor and it’s not a small favor either.”
She could sense he was smiling on the other end of the phone line.
“Go ahead. What’s the favor?”
“Well, I need to get a copy of Mrs. Barinotta’s will. Is that possible? I mean, wills are public domain right?”
“Well, yes and no.”
“Yes and no I can get a copy? Or yes and no, will’s are public domain?”
He chuckled on the other end of the phone line. “Dana, wills are private and personal when they’re written. However, they do become public record at some point after the testator, the person the will belongs to, passes away. Once the court has possession of the will and it goes through the probate process, they’re filed and become available for the public to access.”
“Really now? So it’s not just celebrity wills?”
“No, Dana, it’s not just celebrity wills. And may I ask why you want a copy of Mrs. B’s last will and testament?” She could hear the concern in his voice as in he really didn’t want her to investigate Brenda’s case any further, but Dana was aching to get to the last piece of the puzzle. No one had any clue as to who pushed Dana down the steps, so she had to take matters into her own hands. She knew it must’ve been Brenda’s killer. But there was one little itch that she had to scratch and that wasn’t the one underneath her bandages on her ankle.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she said innocently.
“It’s nothing?”
“Well, all right, Troy. I know you said you wanted me to stay clear of Brenda’s murder investigation, Troy and I will, it’s just that I have this puzzle in my mind and there’s a missing piece of it and I think...I mean, I know it’s in the will. Please!” she pleaded sweetly.
“Dana!”
“Troy!”
“This is very serious. You were lucky to have survived that fall, thank God for that.”
“I know. And we both know that it could very well be Brenda’s killer who shoved me down those steps, but Garth and Henrietta have been arrested for Brenda’s murder. They’re both behind bars right now. So they didn’t push me down the steps, did they?”
“You have a point, Dana. All right, I’ll get you a copy of the will, but please be careful. You mean a lot to me.”
“I do?” Butterflies sprung up in her stomach. “You mean a lot to me too, Troy.”
* * *
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Dana read over the printed copy of Mrs. Barinotta’s Last Will and Testament. A chill slithered over her.
There it was in black ink, the direction of the estate. Everything would go to Garth and Henrietta, if anything happened to her niece Brenda Barinotta. She then glanced further down the Will. There was something that seemed a bit off. Way off.
Katie was by her side and so was Troy.
Rocko from the farmer’s market came by with a bag of fruits. She was so grateful.
“The tree looks beautiful outside your windows. Love the leaves. You’re lucky,” he said.
“Why do you say that, Rocko?”
“Because that tree is one of a kind. The leaves are so colorful. I studied it and there’s no other like it in Ontario.”
“Thanks for that bit of useful information, Rocko,” she smiled. Trust Rocko to try to strike up a conversation with his little facts and...
Dana’s eyes widened. She glanced at the leaves again. Her heart pumped hard and fierce in her chest.
“What’s wrong, cuz? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I think I have.” Dana reached over to the side of the bed.
“Hey, girl. Let me get that for you.” Katie walked over and picked up her MacBook and handed it to her.
“Thanks, cuz.”
“Do you think you should be working right now, Dana? Doc said you should rest.”
“Thanks, Troy. But you know there’s nothing wrong with my hands, thank heaven’s. It’s my ankle that was twisted.”
She quickly searched through some sites on Google.
She keyed in L. Roberts and a few names for pairing. Then Dana reached over and picked up a copy of the will again. She read over the will then looked at the computer screen and a grin of approval touched her lips.
“Bingo.”
“Bingo?” Katie echoed looking confused. “Dana, what has gotten into you? Why are you looking at the will and the computer screen? What have you found?” Katie leaned over and glanced at both the will and the information on the computer but seemed confused.
“I think I found out who killed Brenda. And I believe it is the same person that pushed me down the basement stairs.”