Part 20 (1/2)

the newspaper office. As it was Sat.u.r.day, no one else was

there and she had to unlock the doors and turn on the lights

herself. She puttered around the empty building waiting for

him to arrive, and just when she was about ready to give up,

she noticed a new s.h.i.+ny black pickup, with its sales stickers

still intact, park out in front of the office. And out sauntered

Rick. She bit her lip and prayed for grace. This wouldn't be

easy.

After settling into her office, she turned on her tape

recorder and began. ”Mr. Westerly told me that you all

signed the sale papers for his property last week, and the sale

is final. Is that correct?”

”Yep. We're past the five-day rescission deadline too.” He

folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in the chair.

”So it's all finished and done now.”

Maggie glanced toward her window. ”Is that a new truck

out there?”

He grinned. ”Well, a developer's got to look prosperous,

if you know what I mean, plus it'll be a tax deduction. We've

already ordered some magnetic signs to put on the doors of

our trucks, and our name is TS Development. Personally, I

wasn't sure if we should be spending too much money just

yet, but as Greg says, it takes money to make money.”

”Yes, that brings me to another question, if I may. Where

did you and Greg come up with enough money to purchase

Westerly's land?”