Page 57 of The Aura Answer
Jax called back when they were almost home. “I’m going through Block’s black book. Do you know anything about your sister’s mortgage?”
“I thought you were renting a storage unit!”
“Multi-tasking. I’ve stored your other sketches and now I have to do something while I’m waiting. I figured Gracie was driving and didn’t want to call her.”
“I know nothing of mortgages. She and Craig bought that house together. I assume she acquired the mortgage with the house after the divorce. Why?”
“Do you really want to hear this right now?” He seemed to be flipping pages.
Evie anxiously watched mileage signs. She needed to be home. Gracie’s house was everything to her sister. But Evie had a feeling that getting there faster would not solve whatever problem Jax had uncovered. “Is there a better time?”
“Probably not. This way, I can turn off the phone while you scream.” Pages rustled. “Judging from what I found in Block’s files, your former mayor not only sold real estate, but he often provided the mortgage loan so people with limited means like your sister could buy what he sold. A traditional bank requires big down payments, excellent credit, and proof that the buyer can make payments. When a client couldn’t provide all that, Block did an end run around the requirements by borrowing the money himself and loaning it to his buyers, at a higher rate, ofcourse, because of the risk. He had access to private lenders like Layman.”
“So he was like one of those extortionate pawnbrokers or paycheck loan companies except he dealt in real estate? I’m not ready to scream, but we’re inching closer. He charged rates poor people couldn’t afford, then took their houses when they couldn’t pay?” Evie wondered if she could punch a ghost.
“It gets better, or worse, depending on perspective. I’ll have to confirm with R&R, but in my casual understanding of the contracts they found, Block and Layman formed a mortgage company together. Block owed Layman a fortune on the loans, so he transferred his mortgaged real estate and the mortgages into this LLC.”
“Motive for murder?” Evie sat upright. “Layman gets everything Block owned?”
“We’ve assumed that all along. If this is all his property, and we haven’t found more, Block owed more on the properties than they’re worth—individually. Afterthought real estate prices are stagnant. No one wants land in a cotton field, which is why Block has been pushing development. He was hoping to drive up the value of the properties he held liens on.”
“I’m not liking the sound of thatindividually.Grouped together his holdings are worth more? How?” Evie checked the road signs. Almost there. She didn’t understand the path of this conversation but she still felt ready to explode. She needed to be doingsomething.
“Blocks of land are worth more, yes. And what I’m looking at is a list of mortgages this LLC holds. My landlord’s office building and surrounding property, your sister’s house and half her neighbors...”
“Not screaming yet,” Evie said cautiously. “Gracie pays her bills. I’m sure your landlord does too. Mortgages are just loans, right?”
“The screaming part comes in when you understand that the way these contracts were written, the mortgage owner has the powerto demand payment in full at any time. If Layman calls in all these contracts, how many of the current owners could go to the bank and borrow enough to pay them off? If they can’t, he will own half the town and can turn it into a three-ring circus.”
He clicked off when the screaming started.
Twenty-Two
Wednesday morning,waiting outside the storage unit in the chilly air, Nick clicked off his cell phone and shoved it into his pocket with satisfaction.
He had a job, a real actual job paying enough money to have some sort of life again.
So why was he feeling as if he dangled on a precipice?
Because Gracie’s family didn’t like the man who had recommended the company who had just hired him? A man like Franklin Layman knew people all over the world. Just because Turlock Jr. had told him about the marketing gig, and Layman had recommended the company, didn’t mean anything bad. Nick had sent in his resume earlier out of curiosity. Apparently after a call from Layman, the Charleston import business had taken a look at Nick’s international experience. It sounded like an ideal fit.
Evie and Jax would probably be glad to see the back of him. He’d have to move into the city since he still didn’t have a car, and it would be a while before he could afford one. Instead of paying off his credit card, he’d have to cash in his plane ticket to put a deposit on his own place.
Having a job grounded him so he could smile with his old confidence when Gracie pulled up in her Kia. He’d bicycled over while she delivered Aster and Loretta to some Christmas activity. He’d unlocked the padlock Jax had provided and had the protective wrapping off the frames.
“I’m thinking we should have done this last night, in the dark.” Gracie climbed out wearing neat wool slacks and another of those lush sweaters, this one in a blue to match her eyes. “I’m not sure what we’re doing should be seen in the light of day.”
“We were hungry and lasagna called. And you’ve been reading too many mysteries. You saw the sketches yesterday. They’re nothing ground breaking.” He gestured toward the unit’s open door. Even in daylight, the interior was dim.
“But this is all the evidence we have!” she all but wailed. “Jax said this awful man could demand that I pay off my mortgage! I can’t do it, not on my salary. Block was the only way I could get that loan after Craig bailed. Wehaveto find out what Layman is doing.”
The niggling discomfort in Nick’s midsection increased. “I’m not sure these sketches will help. Maybe we’re making mountains out of molehills?”
He wouldn’t actually be working for the monster, he reminded himself. And maybe Layman wasn’t the monster they were painting. He’d been generous enough with his information.
“That’s not the way my life works. I’ll just have to make sure I make all my payments early and pray a lot.” With an air of gloom that did not sit well on her normally serene features, Gracie yanked a dusty plastic lantern out of the back seat. “Will you be able to take photos? Evie found a battery-operated lantern, but I can’t imagine the light will be good.”
“It will be useful for propping up the frames. The outside light and my flash should be sufficient otherwise.” Relieved to have the uncomfortable discussion diverted, he dragged outthe longest sketch, the mantel piece Bertie had wanted for his family.
