Page 91 of Cowboys at Coconuts

“Not important. Let’s focus on today’s events.” Alex weighed her options as she dunked a chip in the salsa.I can drag this out and wait for him to calm down or be my blunt self.She decided on the direct angle and glanced behind them. The tables surrounding them were empty. Leaning forward, Alex lowered her voice. “You aren’t going to believe what I’m about to tell you.”

“Shit. Why all the drama? I’ve had enough for one day.” He gulped half his beer. “Spit it out.”

“I guess I’ll jump right in and—”

“Get to the bottom line.” Tony drained his beer and waved his empty glass in the air.

Gus nodded and promptly brought another. When the server was out of earshot, Tony said, “I’m off-duty now and need booze. Stop pussyfooting around, Alex. Just fucking tell me.”

Alex raised her eyebrows. “Okay. Listen closely. Mrs. Magilicutty was rich—very rich—from what I read in her will.”

Brows knitting, he asked, “How do you know she had a will?”

“I found her purse at Walgreens, remember? As I searched through it, I discovered a crumpled document buried at the bottom.” She winced. “Sorry, bad choice of words. Anyway, it had obviously been there a while.”

“Who keeps a will in their purse?” Tony polished off three more chips as he studied Alex.

Shrugging, Alex said, “Apparently, Mrs. Magilicutty does. Or did.”

Leaning back, Tony said, “Is that your big news?”

“Partially.” Holding his gaze, she swallowed before saying, “Mrs. Magilicutty left everything to you.” Alex swiveled on her bar stool and met Tony’s dumbfounded gaze as the information sank in.

Tony’s face turned ashen, barely detectable in the darkened bar, but still obvious to Alex. Running his fingers through his hair, he dragged out his response. “What did you say?”

Alex cocked her head. “You’re not hard of hearing, lieutenant.”

Tony shook his head. “I don’t want her money. Money ruins people.” He ticked off his fingers. “Four things that cause people to commit crimes are drugs, power, sex, and—”

“Money. You’ve told me this a gazillion times. See, I listen.” Studying him, she said, “I never thought you, we’d, have this conundrum. It’s bizarre, isn’t it?”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand why Mrs. Magilicutty shoplifted if she was rich. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Probably for the thrill.” Alex managed a small smile. “Or maybe she had a crush on you and knew that was the only way she’d get to see you.”

Actually grinning for the first time all day, Tony said, “I hadn’t thought about that possibility.”

“Back to her will. What are you going to do about the money?”

Whistling, Tony said, “Do you know how much shit I’ll catch from the other cops if they find out?”

Alex shrugged. “Who cares?”

“I do.” Brushing chip crumbs off his leg, he said, “I can hear it now. They’ll try to borrow cash or rib me and ask when I’m getting a Ferrari.” He stared at a slow-moving ceiling fan and a rowdy group of college kids, obviously pondering the magnitude of his new-found wealth. Placing both hands on the table, he said, “It isn’t worth the harassment.”

Finishing her wine, Alex motioned to Gus. “Want more food?”

He shook his head. “I can’t eat after all this.”

Laughing, Alex pointed to the almost-empty bowl. “You polished off those chips.” When Gus appeared, Alex ordered coffee for both of them and a slice of coconut pie to share. “We can figure this out together—if you want my help.”

He nodded. “Bankers and money go together, don’t they?”

“That we do.” After she put creamer in her coffee, she peered into the brown concoction as if for an answer. Within seconds, she brightened. “I’ve got it. I know what you can do.”

“What?”

Chapter 83

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