Chapter Six
Lingering Threats
Kyle
Days before Graham’s death
Peering out onto Aspen Way, Kyle couldn’t resist his smile. The relatively inoffensive-looking cul-de-sac had turned out to be a goldmine. In the years since he’d taken ownership, he’d been able to raise rents three times with little in the way of resistance and only a few ongoing expenses. It meant the portfolio was more than only profitable; it had been able to fund other, potentially more lucrative business investments and had taken his overall revenue close to the nine figures he sought.
He was impressed.
Every little house on the block had helped to pave his path to success, every family lining his pockets to stay in their modest homes, except for one.
His gaze darted to the property in question.
The Kendal home.
Graham had helped him in the past to tidy up his tax affairs, but Kyle’s business had quickly outgrown Kendal’s knowledge base—and his usefulness. Kyle needed new reasons to perpetuate his charity to the Kendals, and that’s what he intended to discuss with the alleged man of the house.
“I shouldn’t be long.” He looked at Stevens in the front seat. The driver had turned out to be a reliable hire, and Kyle had not missed the tiresome business of having to drive himself around. “Wait for me here.”
“Very good, sir.” Stevens nodded as Kyle climbed out of the back seat.
Tugging down his lapels, Kyle walked the short distance along the garden path, although the growing weeds on either side made the concrete increasingly difficult to find.
Isn’t there something in the tenancy contract about needing to keep the gardens in good order?
He’d have to mention it to Kendal. He wanted his property to look neat and tidy, especially if he needed to attract a new family to lease it.
Three sharp taps at the door filled the air as he waited for someone to answer. He could have given the tenants notice of his intention to visit and insisted that they were ready to talk things through, but that wasn’t really his style. He’d prefer to keep things casual and civilized if he could. Nobody needed to be penalized if they could just come to some sort of agreement.
His thought was interrupted when the door opened, but it wasn’t Kendal or his wife that greeted him. Instead, an unimpressed-looking juvenile stared at him from beyond the curtain of his long, dark hair. No doubt the youth thought his tresses and black tee made him a revolutionary, but Kyle wasn’t in the mood for babysitting. He’d seen more revolt in the boardroom than the teenager in front of him could muster.
“Who are you?” The young man hissed the words.
“I own your house.” Kyle’s lips stretched into a smirk.
“What?” The kid’s brow furrowed.
“This house.” Kyle gestured to the brickwork separating them. “I’m the landlord. I need to speak to your parents.”
The young guy rolled his eyes as though home ownership was corporate terrorism. No doubt the teen Marxist thought it was.
“Dad!” He turned, yelling the name at the top of his lungs. “There’s someone here for you.”
Kyle met his brown eyes as the teen glanced back, repressing the urge to laugh. Had he ever been so young and misguided? If so, he couldn’t remember.
“Who is it, Seth?” Kendal senior’s voice echoed along the small hallway. “I’m busy.”
“I don’t know!” Seth balked as his father came into view. “He says he owns the place.”
Kendal’s face blanched as his gaze darted to where Kyle stood.
“Graham.” Kyle pushed past the kid and stepped inside. “We need to talk.”
“We don’t have an appointment, Mr. Kyle.” Kendal gripped the end of the stairwell banister as if his life depended on it.
“Come now.” Kyle grinned. “We both know it would be better if we talked informally.”
Kendal’s son glanced between the two of them as he reached for his jacket. “Whatever this is about, I don’t want to be involved.” He slung the coat over his shoulder as he headed for the door. “I’ll be back later.”
The slamming door echoed around the enclosed space, rattling the photograph frame on the wall. Kyle’s attention darted toward it, eyeing the picture trapped inside. It appeared to be of a happy couple smiling on their wedding day. The man in the suit, who didn’t look much older than the brash boy who’d only just stalked out of the door, looked like Kendal, so he assumed the woman wearing white was his wife.
“Children, eh?” Kyle smirked. “Aren’t they charming?”
“You have no idea.” Kendal blew out a breath. “Look, if this is about your taxes, I did what I could, Mr. Kyle, but there’s a limit. Everyone has to pay something, you know.”
“It’s not.” Kyle’s tone was short. “I appreciate what you did with my taxes, but I agree, you’ve reached the limit of your value there.”
Kendal scowled. “That’s not exactly what I said, but—”
“This is about what happens next,” Kyle interrupted him. “And since you haven’t increased your monthly payments to me in the months since you helped, I’m assuming you still can’t afford to?”
“No.” Kendal glanced at the floor. “Is there another increase?”
“Yes.” Kyle would have preferred not to have to do this in the hall, but no one had invited him to sit down. “This is the third since I’ve bought the house.”
“The third?” Kendal’s eyes were as large as saucers.
“Hmmm.” Kyle took a step toward him. “I hope you agree I’ve been more than patient with you, Graham. You’ve been paying less while all your neighbors cough up the real value of the rent around here.”
“Yes,” Kendal started, “but—”
“And I’ve been kind,” Kyle added. “Aside from that one encounter about taxes, I don’t think I’ve called on you at all.”
“No, you haven’t.” Kendal’s fingers grasped the wood so hard that they started to turn white. “You’ve been patient and kind. Thank you.”
“But even my patience has a limit.” Kyle folded his arms across his chest. “So, if you want to stay in your home, I have to ask, what else can you offer me in return?”
“Offer you?” Kendal’s brows knitted. “I told you, I don’t have the money, Mr. Kyle.”
“Other assets, then?” Based on what he could see of the place, Kyle realized it was a long shot. “Shares or bonds, maybe?”
Kendal shook his head. “No.”
“Shame.”
Kendal was giving him nothing to work with.
“So what do we do, Graham? Do you just expect to live here paying a rent tariff from five years ago?”
“No, I…” He flung his hands into the air. “I don’t know what to say!”
“ Think, Graham!” Christ, the guy was pathetic. No wonder his son was so uncultured. The kid never stood a chance. “What can you give me before my patience runs out entirely?” Kyle’s focus flitted around the dingy hall. “You must have something of value in your life!”
“I only have my family.” Kendal sounded despairing, and as Kyle looked closer, he noticed how much hair his tenant had lost since their last meeting. Apparently, family life wasn’t as golden as Kendal was pretending it to be. “My wife and my kids. Nothing else!”
“Your wife, eh?” Kyle’s attention returned to the picture of their wedding day. The young brunette smiling at the photographer that day had seemed tempting enough. Perhaps she could be part of the deal? “And where’s she?”
“At work.” Kendal’s shoulders slumped as though that concept alone was a crime.
“She always seems to be at work.” Since it was only the second time he’d visited, that accusation was hardly fair, but Kyle noticed the way Kendal bristled at it.
“We both work!” He spat. “Some of us have to.”
“And do you have a more up-to-date photo of your lady?” A quick perusal of the area revealed none.
“What?” Kendal frowned. “Why?”
Kyle laughed. “I think you know why, Graham. You owe me a lot of money, and you have to pay it somehow. If you don’t have the financial collateral, then maybe you can offer her as a surety.”
“Offer you my wife?” Kendal’s cheeks flushed. “Are you fucking mad?”
“Careful there, old chap.” Kyle closed the distance between them and glanced into the lounge in search of a recent photo of Mrs. Kendal. There, on the small, aged nest of tables by the sofa, was what he assumed was one. An older version of the dark-haired woman smiled back at him, bookended by two younger guys—one of whom Kyle had just had the pleasure of meeting. “You’re going a little red in the face.”
Kendal’s wife was older than his usual type, but as his gaze flitted back to the photo, he decided she was attractive, and with a little time and attention, she could probably bloom. He’d wager Graham had little of either for her.
“How dare you!” At least five inches shorter than Kyle, Kendal was struggling to seem intimidating, but he prodded a finger into his chest, regardless. “You can’t have my wife, and you can’t just come in here unannounced! You need an appointment.”
“Think about it, Graham.” Technically, the irritating little fool was right. He should legally make an appointment to speak to his tenants, but then Kendal should have been paying his rent. “You give me a few hours with your wife every month, and… if she’s any good, I’ll consider erasing all that back pay you owe me.”
“Get. Out!” Kendal seemed short of breath as he pointed to the front door. “I don’t want to see you again unless there’s an agreed appointment time.”
“You’re making a mistake, Graham.” Kyle’s tone was melodic, like a twisted nursery rhyme. “Pay up, or you and your wonderful family will be out of here.”
He suppressed his snigger at the outrage simmering in Kendal’s eyes. In all his years, Kyle had never known the kind of powerlessness facing Kendal, and he didn’t envy the fool.
“I said, get out!” Kendal was close to tears as, one palm raised, Kyle retreated to the door.
“It’s your call. I’ll give you one week.” He watched the vein on Kendal’s head throb at the information. “If I don’t hear from you with your wife’s contact details, I’ll start eviction proceedings.”