Page 38 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

“Do you have plans this afternoon?” Ed asked.

“I’m a free man.”

“Take a drive with me?”

“Don’t you have a meeting?”

“I’ll be back in plenty of time.”

“Then sure.”

—

Ed drove Stone to the outskirts of town and parked on a quiet side road in what appeared to be the middle of nowhere. From there, they walked through a grove of pines to the top of a small ridge.

Ed nodded at the view. “Not bad, huh?”

Below, the land was a mix of trees and clearings, with not a building in sight. And beyond, the mountains cut a jagged line against the sky.

“Gorgeous,” Stone said.

“I was thinking that this would be a wonderful spot for an Arrington Resort.”

Stone looked at Ed, then back at the land, and assessed it anew.

“I take it this land is available.”

Ed nodded. “You remember the people who left my office before lunch?”

“I do.”

“They’re Alfonso Otero’s children. Alfonso was a fixture here in Santa Fe for decades.”

“I’ve met him a couple of times,” Stone said. “But did you say was?”

“He passed away two weeks ago.”

Ed explained that while Alfonso had once been one of the city’s most successful businessmen, he had racked up considerable debt by the time he’d died.

“As executor of his will, I had to deliver the bad news. None of his kids were involved in the business and had thought everything was okay.”

“They were expecting a big inheritance?”

“No, but I’m sure they wouldn’t have turned it down. What theyweren’texpecting was to inherit a company that owed more than it was worth.” Ed motioned to the area below the ridge. “What you’re looking at is the estate’s most valuable asset.”

“Why didn’t he sell it before he died?”

“He tried, but there were no takers.”

“Is there something wrong with it?”

“Not a thing. Just didn’t find the right buyer.”

“Zoning restrictions?”

“Nothing that can’t easily be dealt with.”

Stone studied the land for several moments. “If the Oteros are able to sell it…”

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