Organically Yours: Sanctuary, Book Five by Abbie Zanders (classic books for 11 year olds .TXT) 📗

“Why not burn down their own homes and collect the insurance?” Doc asked.

“I can think of two reasons,” said Cage. “One, because it would be too suspicious. Obermachers are in financial straits, and the family homestead just happens to burn down? No one would believe it was an accident.”

“And the second?”

“There is no insurance on any Obermacher Farms property. We’ve been doing a little investigating of our own. Friedrich let it all lapse.”

“Fucking hell. Is he really that stupid?”

“Apparently,” Smoke said at the same time Church said, “Yes.”

“What about the other one?” asked Heff. “Kiefer? Could he have done this?”

“It’s possible,” Mad Dog said doubtfully, “though from what we know about him, he seems more inclined to do what the others tell him to do than have an original thought.”

Doc had thought so, too, but now, he wasn’t so sure. Tina’s youngest brother was good at being invisible. Almost too good. While the other two had been giving Tina a hard time, Kiefer had been hovering quietly in the background, watching and listening. He hadn’t said a word until they walked away.

But in that moment when he’d asked Tina if she was okay, Kiefer’s eyes had turned to Doc, and his gaze had been sharp and assessing. Perhaps he wasn’t the dullard he pretended to be.

“The likeliest suspects are our buddy Eisenheiser and his cousin, Eddie,” said Mad Dog. “They’ve already demonstrated a mean streak and an appalling lack of intelligence. Based on what Doc said about Tina talking to Eisenheiser about the truck incident, it seems pretty obvious.”

“I don’t know,” said Cage. “Something doesn’t feel right about that. Seems too easy.”

“Or maybe you’re just overthinking it. We’re not dealing with geniuses here.”

“Petraski’s going to rule it an accident, guaranteed. Any hint of arson is going to bring in outside investigators, and he sure as hell doesn’t want that,” said Smoke.

“My thoughts exactly,” Heff agreed with a nod. “Have we heard anything from the Callaghans yet?”

“Not yet.”

The words were barely out of Church’s mouth when the phone rang.

Cage looked at the display. “It’s Ian.”

“Put him on speaker.”

“Ian,” Church greeted. “Are you prescient or something?”

Ian laughed. “Me? No. But Maggie, on the other hand ... Is Doc there? He’s going to want to hear this.”

“I’m here,” Doc responded.

“Good. Maggie gave those items to Lex. Lex was really impressed. She’d like you and Tina to come to the Goddess and talk business.”

“That’s awesome. When?”

“The sooner, the better. Gunther Obermacher’s at it again. He’s decided the offers they have aren’t good enough, and he’s been reaching out in an attempt to foster competition and drive up the price of the land.”

“Greedy bastard,” Smoke muttered.

“He’s an opportunistic prick, for sure,” Ian agreed. “And too stupid for his own good. The buyer he had lined up and has now subsequently pissed off? Anthony Tollino.”

Cage sat up at the mention of the name. “Tollino? As in the mobster?”

“Yeah, I thought you might recognize the name. And heads-up, Tollino is not happy with Gunther’s decision to expand the buyers’ club to include Tollino’s competition.”

“Just what we need,” grumbled Smoke. “Organized crime in Sumneyville. Uh, no offense,” he said, shooting a look toward Cage.

Cage, who had grown up in that world, grinned. “None taken.”

“Whatever you do,” Ian said through the speaker, “make sure Tina doesn’t sign anything until she talks to Lex and Aidan.”

Doc’s conscience required him to speak up, particularly since Tina was no longer capable of producing the products their potential interest was based upon.

“Ian, you should know—”

“About The Mill? Yeah, we know about that. Can you get Tina here tomorrow night?”

“I’ll do my best.”

Chapter Forty

Tina

“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?” Doc asked.

Tina was regretting her decision not to spend the night with Doc. Holding the phone to her ear wasn’t the same as having his lips there. The bed felt empty without him. She felt empty without him.

But things were moving so fast. So much was happening. Doc was everything she’d ever wanted and nothing she’d expected to find, and yet there was still a part of her—granted, a tiny part—that was afraid to believe it could last.

She worried that, with all the bad things going on, she was painting too rosy a picture, desperate to put her hope and faith in a future with him. Simply put, Doc seemed too good to be true, coming into her life just when she needed him most. Being all caring and protective and wonderful.

Believing that Maggie was right—that she and Doc were meant to be together—was too easy. Tina had become wary of anything good that seemed easy because experience had proven time and time again that it never was.

“Sure,” she answered. “Is Kate making something good?”

Doc chuckled. “Kate is always making something good, but I had something else in mind.”

“Mmm, I like the something elses you come up with. We could get some takeout and get creative.”

“Very tempting, but I was thinking more along the lines of going out to eat.”

“You mean, like a date, date?” Tina asked. “I suppose we could. News of our torrid affair has surely made it out by now. Being seen at Franco’s is probably the next logical step.”

“Not Franco’s.”

She frowned into the phone. Franco’s was the only sit-down restaurant in Sumneyville. Maybe Doc was talking about Andy’s, the hole-in-the-wall burger place in the next town over, or maybe the diner farther out. She had been to both and would be fine with either.

“No, and no,” he said when she told him as much.

“Then, where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“I’m intrigued. Okay, Mr. Watson, I accept your challenge.”

“Good. Wear something nice.”

“How nice?”

“Nice.”

“Now, I’m really intrigued.”

“Tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up at six. And, Tina?”

“Yes?”

“Have a bag packed and ready to go because I’m not taking you home afterward. Dinner isn’t the only surprise I have planned for you.”

A thrill ran through her as she snuggled into her pillow.

* * *

The next morning, Tina was questioning the wisdom of her ready acceptance for a night out as she stared into her closet.