LITMIR.BIZ

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stepped into the entryway. “I’ve missed you, too. You don’t know how many times I almost called. It’s been crazy. I guess you heard that I had to do community service.”

      Karen closed the door behind them. “Community service? You know we don’t watch the news much. What happened?”

      Leesa walked into the living room. “Oh, then you don’t know what happened with L. L. Lane Unlimited.”

      Karen shook her head. “I just know you’re here, and it’s so good to see you. Come in. Sit. I’ll make tea.”

      Leesa pulled her jacket off and sat. “Oh, don’t go to the trouble. I just drank a bottle of water.

      “It’s all her fault. Father left his entire estate to Lyza’s little boy, Levi. I knew nothing about it until the reading of the will. Talk about being shocked.”

      Karen sat in the floral print wingback chair across from Leesa. “Lyza had a baby? Wow. I guess I’ve really been living in a cave. Last I heard, Lyza was disowned and married a pastor in Africa.”

      Leesa rubbed her temples. “Father made amends with them before he died. They brought Levi to the house. Father died that very day, while they were in the room. I wasn’t even there when he died. I’m told it happened right after I left the room, but I don’t really know what happened. Sometimes I get suspicious about how he died. Anyway, I guess he found out about Levi before that. Father liked using private detectives. ”

      Karen patted Leesa hand. “Leesa, I am so sorry. You must be devastated. I know you worked hard for the business. I think last time we talked, you were making a lot of changes. Did your father know about that?”

      Leesa shook her head. “I didn’t tell him anything because he wasn’t supposed to talk business. But I think Bill told him.”

      “Who’s Bill?”

      Leesa leaned back into the chair. “Father’s reverse figurehead. He poses as the office manager, but he’s got his nose in everything. He worked with Father since he first started the business. Father said Bill refused to accept a powerful title, but he’s always been Father’s right-hand man. I know Bill couldn’t wait to report everything I did. I caught him making a special trip to the house.”

      Leesa swallowed. “He couldn’t wait to tell Father I was making big changes in L. L. Lane Unlimited. I confronted him, but he denied it. He said he was making a social call.”

      “You didn’t believe him?”

      Leesa studied Karen’s innocent face. How could she understand what I’ve been dealing with? “Karen, you have no idea what a bunch of liars work there. Now Lyza’s running the show. She had the nerve to ask me to come back and work on Kramer’s Island.”

      Karen clapped her hands together. “But isn’t that good?”

      Leesa’s eye felt wet. She dug in her purse for a tissue. “Good for her. That project was my baby. It was a fish cannery, for crying out loud. I took it from a broken down fish cannery to an island amusement park that rivals Disneyland. Now I’m the caretaker for the next three years until she turns it over to me.”

      Karen leaned forward. “She’s turning it over to you? That’s wonderful!”

      Leesa dabbed her eye. “In three years. She says it will take that long for it to make money again. Until then, she feels it should belong to L. L. Lane Unlimited. Well, L. L. Lane Unlimited is Lyza Lane Unlimited. All her talk about doing this for her son makes me sick.”

      Karen stood. “Did the will require her to give you the park?”

      Leesa looked up at Karen’s questioning expression. “No, but I’m sure she’s got something up her sleeve.”

      Karen smiled. “I think she’s being generous. You should be thankful. I’m going to get us some iced tea. You sit here; I’ll be right back.”

      Leesa watched Karen go into the kitchen. I should be thankful? She doesn’t understand the situation.

      She’s like the rest of them. She’s probably going to call them when I leave.

      Leesa tried to shake off the paranoia. No, she wouldn’t do that.

      …Would she?

      Karen brought two glasses of iced tea and set them on coasters on the coffee table.

      Leesa picked up her iced tea. “Can I take you and Todd to dinner tonight, out at Kramer’s Island? Oh, maybe you don’t want to go back there. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think.” Leesa glanced at the picture of the little girl on the fireplace mantel, her heart pricked by the reminder that the child had died on Kramer’s Island.

      Karen ignored the apology. “Todd’s out of town on business. I’d love to cook you dinner. How about a homemade pizza?”

      Happy to change the subject, Leesa agreed. “You know I love pizza. Excuse me; I need to use your restroom.”

      Leesa hobbled to the restroom, pain shooting up her back. She rubbed her back and pulled a red capsule out of her bag. She held it up and looked at her reflection in the mirror. I’ll feel better soon.

      Leesa took the pill and entered the kitchen to find Karen sprinkling the top of the pizza with cheese. “What do you like on your pizza? So far, I have cheese and mushrooms. What else do you like for toppings?

      Leesa counted on her fingers. “Cheese, mushrooms, onion, green peppers, and black olives, if you have all that.”

      “I do, because those are my favorite toppings, too.” She added the remaining ingredients and slid the raw pizza into the oven. “Twenty minutes to wait. How about more iced tea, or would you like a Diet Pepsi?”

      Leesa brightened. “Sounds good. You know how to make me feel better. Pizza and Diet Pepsi.”

      Karen rinsed her hands and dried them on a paper towel. “I like that combo, too.” She filled two glasses with crushed ice from the refrigerator and retrieved two cans of Diet Pepsi from the pantry.

      Leesa sat at the kitchen table and poured Diet Pepsi over the ice in her glass, watching carefully so it didn’t foam over. “You know what I like about you, Karen? You’re my true friend. You always tell me the truth, whether I want to hear it or not. You don’t know how few people are like that.”

      Karen placed two plates and napkins on the table. “Don’t put me on a pedestal.”

      Chapter Seven

      Chuck O’Malley parked his Cadillac Escalade in underground parking at the Lane building. This time, I’m going to talk with the real Lyza Lane and not her sister pretending to be Lyza. I still need to thank her and tell her how she helped turn my life around.

      Once in the main lobby of the Lane building, he made his way to the guards’ station. One of the men checked badges as people entered the secure area of the building. The other man scrutinized the computer screen in front of him.

      Chuck approached the man behind the computer screen. “Excuse me, could you tell me what floor Lyza Lane’s office is?”

      “Those offices are on the seventh floor. Take the elevators on your right. Sign in here.” Chuck showed his ID, signed in, and accepted the visitor’s badge. He hurried to make the elevator.

      People squeezed together to make room for Chuck, and no one got off until the fourth floor. Three people got off, and those remaining spread out a bit. Everyone else exited. Chuck scrutinized the people getting off as they split up. None of them looked like Lyza. He went to the receptionist’s desk.

      “I’m here to see Lyza Lane,” he announced.

      The receptionist smiled. “Your name, sir?”

      “Chuck, er… Charles O’Malley.”

      The young woman looked at his badge, then down at a computer screen.

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