Page 55 of Saving Her Heart
"The what?"
"Fabulous Badass Investigators," Betty explains proudly. "We're doing our part to protect Kendall."
"By dressing like the Men in Black?"
"Women in Black," Joan corrects. "Much more stylish. Now, what have you found?"
Before I can kick them out, Declan walks in, takes one look at the Walking Ladies in their ridiculous outfits, and immediately turns around.
"Nope. It's too early for whatever this is."
"Declan Hayes, you get back here!" Gladys orders. "We have information!"
That stops him. "What kind of information?"
The Walking Ladies exchange looks like they're about to reveal state secrets. Betty pulls out a manila folder marked "TOP SECRET" in glitter pen.
"We've been investigating," Florence says with a huge smile that makes me nervous. "Did you know Valerie's been having an affair?"
"That's not relevant—" Declan starts.
"With whom?" I interrupt suddenly interested.
"With Kendall's boss," Joan finishes triumphantly.
I freeze. "Mr. Morrison?"
"The very same," Gladys confirms. "We have photographic evidence. Well, Florence has photos. They're a bit blurry because she forgot her glasses."
"I can see shapes very clearly!" Florence protests. "And those shapes were definitely canoodling."
"Canoodling?" Declan asks.
"It's what we called it in my day," Betty says primly. "Much nicer than the words you young people use."
"The point is," Gladys continues, pulling us back on track, "Morrison's been feeding Valerie information about Kendall's schedule. Every property visit, every inspection, every meeting. And get this—he's been trying to buy these properties for two years."
"Why would he want to buy properties he already manages?"
"He doesn't want the buildings," Joan says, pulling out another folder. This one's marked "SUPER SECRET" in even more glitter. "He wants the land. Prime real estate for development if the buildings were, say, destroyed or deemed unsafe."
My blood runs cold. "You think Morrison's behind everything?"
"We don't think, dear. We know." Joan opens the folder, revealing bank statements, emails, and what looks like architectural plans. "Financial records showing payments to Brad. Development proposals dated six months ago. And this—" She pulls out a photo of Morrison and Valerie at what appears to be an intimate dinner.
"How did you get all this?"
"My grandson works at the bank," Joan says innocently. "Such a helpful boy. Single too, if you know anyone."
"That's illegal?—"
"So is conspiracy to commit arson," Gladys points out. "Besides, we didn't steal anything. We just happened to notice the papers that fell out of Morrison's car."
"Fell out?"
"After Betty accidentally bumped into it with her walker. Seventeen times."
I rub my temples. "I can't use illegally obtained evidence."
