Page 82 of Smokescreen

“She showed up for a surprise visit this week.” Reid’s voice held a touch of irritation.

“That woman never struck me as the outdoorsy type.” Wayne gave Reid a look.

“She’s not.”

“When did you run into her?” Olive asked out of curiosity.

“This morning. She was grabbing some coffee at my favorite spot down the street.” Wayne raised his paper coffee cup in the air.

Olive’s lungs tightened. Why in the world would Daphne still be in town?

CHAPTER 35

Olive wasn’t ready to drop this conversation. “You saw Daphne this morning?”

Wayne tilted his head before taking a sip of his coffee. “Is that a problem?”

“No, except we thought she left yesterday morning to go back to California,” Reid muttered.

What was Daphne hoping to accomplish by remaining in town?

There was definitely much more to the woman’s presence here than she let on.

Olive vowed to find answers.

Maybe Daphne was even involved somehow in the scheme Olive was investigating.

Olive would get to the bottom of this if it was the last thing she did.

She set aside her thoughts about Daphne. She’d think about the woman more later.

Right now, she wanted to hear what Wayne had to say about this will.

As he stared at the papers in front of him, the attorney let out a deep breath that seemed to indicate bad news.

Olive braced herself for whatever he was about to say.

“Now to the reason you guys came.” Wayne glanced between both of them. “I know you’re anxious for an update on this will.”

“Very.” Reid’s voice sounded short and clipped.

“Let me start with this first.” Wayne set his coffee down, his face turning grimmer. “The law firm that’s supposedly representing Lucy in this matter . . . they’re real and based out of Billings. I put in a call with them to ask more questions, but I haven’t heard back yet.”

Reid scowled. “That’s unfortunate.”

“Itispossible for someone to reproduce a letterhead that looks official and is from an actual business,” Olive pointed out. “Especially with the advances we have in technology. It makes being a criminal easier than ever.”

Wayne let out a breath before rocking his head back and forth. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear. But I have to say this document Lucy brought you looks legitimate.”

“But it’s not. I need to prove that.” Reid glowered as the words left his lips.

“The fact my father has now passed makes this more complicated,” Wayne said. “All we really have to go on is this document versus that one, your word against hers.”

Olive studied Wayne a moment. “Your father notarized both versions?”

“He did.”

“What about the dates they were signed?” Olive continued. “They should be different on them, right?”

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