Home Free - Fern Michaels [90]
“Given the tax regulations at the time he died, Mr. OO would have had to pay taxes on the amount he inherited above two million. And yet this deceased man, or someone presenting himself as this deceased man, invested ten million. Even an idiot can figure out that none of this is computing,” Charles said.
“So that can only mean he is playing fast and loose with the CIA fund. And it’s possible our Mr. Orzell has other investment accounts spread all over the place, using even more monies from that big fund. Mr. OO keeps the earnings and no one is the wiser. Is that what you think, Charles?” Nikki asked.
“Even though the economy is bad and the market has taken a hit, we’re still talking serious income no one knows about. Wonder how his tax records are done. We need to find that out. Like really soon.”
Isabelle was already texting Abner to tell him what Nikki had said.
“Done!”
Chapter 24
The group was about to retire to the main part of the house at nine o’clock when Charles received his first call from Avery Snowden. He held up his hand, a signal that everyone should wait. The Sisters sat down as the boys milled about.
Charles listened for a good five minutes before he powered down and advanced toward the group. “For starters, it’s snowing heavily in the District, which makes visibility difficult, but Avery does have Zeiss night-vision binoculars. There are lights on all three floors. Using the binoculars, Avery was able to see the nameplates on the mailboxes. It appears Mr. OO lives on the second floor. The names on the first-floor mailboxes are Evan Holloway and Denise Pomroy. Owen Orzell is on the second floor, and the third floor is rented to Joel Jessup.”
“Well, now, isn’t that amazing?” Annie said.
“Now what?” Myra asked.
“Now we’re going upstairs, and I’m going to make us some hot chocolate, which I will serve with my four-layer Black Forest cake.”
“Shame on you, Charles. There go my hips.” Nikki giggled.
Back in the main part of the house, the dogs welcomed them with joyous barks. Charles opened the door, and they barreled out into the snow.
“Do you want us to go to the barn and get the snowblowers?” Jack asked.
“Morning will be soon enough. It looks like it’s going to snow through the night. No sense in doing double the work,” Charles said, pretending not to see the relief on the boys’ faces.
The dogs were back in the house within minutes, shaking off the snow. Charles poured hot chocolate while Myra cut the cake. Annie passed the plates around the table.
Kathryn was the first one to say she was tired. She offered to help clean up, but Yoko held up her hand and asked everyone to wait a minute. When she had everyone’s attention, a smile split her features. “Harry and I want you to know we’re expecting. I’m almost four months along.”
The room rang with excitement as the Sisters crowded around Yoko, hugging and kissing her, then hugging and kissing her again. The boys crowded around Harry, who looked so out of it that Jack slapped him on the back and said, “You son of a gun! You’re going to be a father, Harry!”
A second later, Harry was flat on his back on the floor.
Yoko looked down at her husband. “Ignore him. Every time he thinks about becoming a father, he does that.”
The others roared with laughter as Bert and Ted hoisted Harry to his feet. Bert slung Harry over his shoulder and ran through the house and up the stairs, with Harry’s body twitching every which way, but he didn’t say a word until Bert set him back on his feet.
“C’mon, Harry, you are going to be a great father. You already got your feet wet when we took care of all those babies in Bryan Bell’s baby ring. Even Espinosa said you were as good as he was, and he had, what, nine, or was it eleven brothers and sisters to take care of when they were babies?
“Listen, Harry, you need to stop thinking about yourself and think about Yoko now.” Bert waved his arms about and started