I was so confused, I didn't know what to say.
Kimmie paused to study my face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I summoned up a smile. "It's just that, well, that's not whatwepay."
"Oh, I believethat," she said. "Rent's been going up all over." She looked toward the window. "It's because of the beach. The closer it is, the pricier things get."
She looked back me and sighed. "And one thing about waterfront, they're not making any more of it, that's for sure."
I nodded, even as my mind whirled. Why was my rent less? Rent never went down.Did it?
Kimmie was still talking. "Just between you and me, even the coffee shop was having trouble."
"Trouble with what?" I asked.
"The rent," she said. "Just like everywhere."
"But they got it all sorted out?"
"Yeah, but only because a new company bought the property."
"Oh, so you're under new management?"
Kimmie shook her head. "No. It's just that a different company owns the building, and they're charging us less for rent."
So rentdidgo down, at least sometimes. Still, something about the whole situation seemed not quite right, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
So later that afternoon, I did a little research, and what I learned made me feel more than a little funny.
Chapter 68
Allie had just walked into the apartment when I said, "I've got a question. Double J – does that mean anything to you?"
She shut the door behind her and dropped her purse onto the nearby side table. "Yeah, why?"
"Well?" I said. "What does it mean?"
She looked at me like I was crazy. "You know what it means.You'rethe one who got me the job."
I groaned. "So itisthem?"
"If you mean Jax and Jaden, yeah. What, you didn't know?"
"No. I didn't. I mean, I knew their initials, and I knew the name of their regular company, but I didn't know they had that whole other side thing going."
"You mean the real estate?"
"Yeah. It's like they own half the city."
"Not justthiscity," she said. "They've got property all over."
I was frowning now. "Yeah. Includingthisplace."
Allie stared at me for a long moment. "No." And then, she glanced around the apartment. "They don't, do they? Are you sure?"
"Definitely. And get this, theyalsoown the restaurant where I work."
"Oh. Um, no kidding?"
