CHAPTER THIRTEEN #2
“The man who left the company due to his relationship with Claudine warned me to be sure to keep all original materials related to my employment with Everett, Shuster, and Donnelly,” explained Clint.
“When he wanted to get his equity investment back on the project I’m now working on, the company attempted to screw him out of what percentage he was owed, saying he didn’t have the proper paperwork to back up his claim. ”
“Are you leaving the company?” asked Nell.
“I want that option,” said Clint. “I’m not sure what’s happening. I just know I don’t like how the original project agreement is changing.”
“Let me know if you need anything else,” Nell said. “I’ll bring the toolbox with me because I’ve decided to drive your car to Florida. That way, I can pack what I want to keep safe.”
“Okay. Thanks. Do you have hotel reservations for tonight?”
“Yes, but depending on how fast we get packed up, we might not stay nearby. We might get on the road, away from here,” said Nell, with such urgency I realized she thought we might be in danger.
A shiver traveled down my spine.
“Keep me informed,” said Clint.
“Of course,” Nell said. “Love you.”
“I love you, too,” said Clint.
Nell ended the call and faced me. “Let’s work fast, Ann. I don’t want to stay here any longer than we have to.”
“Okay,” I said. “Tell me what you want me to do.”
“Will you work in the dining room?” Nell asked me.
“There are empty moving boxes here in the garage. I want to pack up the family silver and other items you think I should keep safe. I’m going to box up jewelry and other items from the master bedroom.
Then we’ll pack the kids’ things they might need. ”
I grabbed some empty boxes and went into the dining room.
Nell came into the room and handed me some plain, packing paper. “This is left over from our move here. It works better than newspapers.”
She showed me what she wanted packed, and I set to work while she called the security company.
“I’m cancelling the insurance adjustor,” Nell said. “As the police told us, I see no evidence that any other part of the house was disturbed. Just the office.”
I went to work packing a lot of the dining room. Many of those items were family pieces that Vaughn’s first wife had loved and had been given to Nell.
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Later, while the security company worked on the system, I packed up articles from the children’s rooms—some clothing, books, and special items like posters, stuffed animals.
If Nell and Clint decided to move to Florida, they’d take care of the rest. In the meantime, while Bailey and Ned stayed with Vaughn and me, they’d be more comfortable with familiar items around them.
While I was working in the kitchen, the doorbell rang, and Nell went to answer it.
Libby Tayson from next door entered the house.
“My! What’s going on?” Libby asked, gazing at the boxes we’d placed by the door to the garage.
“We’re packing up a few items to take to Florida. I’ll be staying there until after the New Year. Come meet my mother, Ann Sanders. She and her business partner, Rhonda Grayson, own The Beach House Hotel. Ann, this is Libby Tayson, my best friend and next-door neighbor.”
Libby held out her hand. “Nice to meet you. My husband and I are hoping to stay at your hotel sometime this winter. Nell talks about it all the time.”
“Be sure to let us know when you’d like to come,” I said. “We’ll try to accommodate you.”
“Thanks.” Libby gave Nell a hug. “Are you all right?”
“I should ask you the same,” said Nell, standing back and studying Libby. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt. You didn’t see or hear anyone?”
Libby shook her head. “No, whoever broke in knew exactly where they should go and what they wanted. Did they get away with anything?”
“We’re not sure. Clint is still in Florida, where he’s recovering from his accident. We’re pretty certain the paperwork important to us hasn’t been touched.”
“What happened to Clint?” asked Libby.
Nell told her about the accident and then said, “For the moment, he’s remaining in Florida. We don’t know when that will change. It depends on how fast he heals.”
“That makes sense,” said Libby. “I see the security company is here to fix the system. Do you still want me to water the plants?”
“If you don’t mind,” said Nell. “But if you’re uncomfortable doing it, I’ll hire a service.”
“I’m happy to do it for you,” said Libby.
“Why don’t we move the smaller plants into the kitchen to make it easier for you?” I suggested, and both Nell and Libby acknowledged the idea with bright smiles.
“Perfect,” said Nell. “Then we’ll place the other plants in the sunroom. By the way, I’ll send you the new code for the security system via text. Ann and I will be leaving this evening.”
“Okay. Again, nice to meet you, Ann,” said Libby. “I’d better be on my way.”
After she left, I said to Nell, “Libby is a kind friend.”
Nell’s smile was warm. “Yes. I’ll miss her. Even so, Sabal is more like home to me.”
“I’m reassured that Clint is keeping his options open,” I said, unwilling to put any pressure on Nell to move to Sabal permanently.