“He came back fuming. He wants the London store. He’d leave the boutiques to Rhonda, if he could. But Hilton Head at least has people he’ll talk to, so he won’t leave.”
Neither Matt nor Rhonda wished to return to the scene of the crime? Interesting.
“What about corporate?” Jax asked. “Shouldn’t they be in charge? Shouldn’t they send someone to handle the financial end? Send new employees?”
Nick settled in the big Morris chair from Evie’s attic and crossed an ankle over his knee. “The boutiques were Katherine and Matt’s ideas. They each operated their own. Afterthought was Kit-Kat’s. No idea why she decided on this place. Corporate has no interest. Kat was supposed to handle it all. I’m only here now because of her.”
Jax nodded as if he understood and reached into his grab bag of questions. “I’m really sorry for your loss. Katherine seemed like a dynamic businesswoman. I understand she and Lucia Ugazio developed the lotions using the Ugazio oils, so I suppose it’s natural that she wanted to control the sales.”
Nick grimaced. “The amount of oil required for the lotions is ridiculously expensive. They gave up on using that a long time ago. We’ve only been selling Lucia’s bottled virgin olive oil in the bistros. KK was furious about that. That doesn’t mean losing the inventory still wasn’t expensive. The packaging costs nearly as much as the ingredients. If the insurance would come through, I could pay off the outstanding bills and close up the shop.”
Jax donned his best lawyer straight face. “Could Miss Ugazio step in? Or was she angry at not using the olive oil in the lotions as well?”
Nick waved a dismissive hand. “I haven’t seen Lucia since the year I was hired. I was told she went back to Italy. If I can’t get Matt or Rhonda to step up, it’s all on me. I hate leaving bills and wages unpaid. I know what it’s like to struggle for money. It’s obvious the store is a loss. Insurance needs to cough up some cash.”
Huh, another one claiming not to have seen Lucia in years. Evie’s ghostly encounter seemed more and more likely. Jax held back a shudder at the thought of a long dead woman speaking through the woman he loved.
Concluding Nick really was almost as financially inept as he claimed, Jax poked at his willingness to dump his grievances. “If you’ll forward what you have, along with the insurance adjustor’s information, I’ll see what I can do. Shouldn’t the store have had a bank account covering expected expenses?”
Nick shrugged. “I cannot imagine how they were operating. Income didn’t match outgo as far as I’m aware. The account was almost empty. I tried asking Matt and Rhonda since they had access, but they shut me down. All I encounter are Matt’s bullies now when I ask questions.”
“Bullies?” Jax settled back in his chair and waited expectantly.
“His boyfriends. He hired them to keep Vincent and KK off his back. My family is not the world’s most functional. I’m thinking of leaving the business and becoming a lion tamer.” Nick’s sarcasm bled through.
“Matt was threatened by hissister? About what?” Jax aimed for idle curiosity.
“Jewelry, apparently. It was a running argument. KK liked old gold and gems. She’d have them shipped in with the oil. Matt liked cash. Vincent had to slam their heads together occasionally. I stayed out of it.” Nick pushed up from his chair. “I’ve bent your ear enough. I’ll send you my files, although if the insurance doesn’t come through, I don’t know how you’ll be paid.”
“Off the top of any check,” Jax assured him with a laugh. He stood and shook hands. “Send me addresses and contact numbers for Matt and Rhonda, as well, would you? Maybe I can intervene and persuade more from them than a family member. Will Vincent be taking charge of his daughter’s remains? I understand the coroner is about to release them.”
Nick looked unbearably sad. “No. He refuses to return here. As far as I’m aware, he’s not even preparing services.”
“Grief-stricken, I suppose. I’m sorry the burden falls on you.” Jax walked him to the door.
The moment Nick left the office, R&R returned, crowing.
“Italy!” Roark shouted. “Old gold from Italy! Smuggled in oil!”
Reuben was already poking at his phone. “Artifacts,” he said the instant someone answered on the other end. “Italian artifacts in the oil shipments.”
Evie curledup on the cushioned, wicker loveseat swing Jax had installed on the back porch. She welcomed the arm he curled around her and lay her head on his shoulder to watch Dante’s children run around the yard with her mother’s golden retriever. “Tell me people are basically good.”
“Mostpeople are basically good,” he said agreeably. “What brought this on?”
“The Gladwells, I think. And maybe Jane, although I think her tragic childhood warped her. She won’t confess, but we think she started the fire out of spite and a twisted hope that she could force Rhonda to trust her. She’s not precisely rational.” She turned to kiss his jaw.
“And where’s your unfriendly ghost right now?” He cuddled her closer.
“She’s been flickering out and looking grim since our visit to our sociopathic blogger. I’d really like to get KK into the same room with her father.”
“You think Vincent is the reason the ghost is lingering? He’s not leaving the UK.”
Evie shrugged. “After Jane’s revelations and Dante’s claims...I know about domestic violence in an intellectual sort of way, but the Gladwells seem so upper crusty British...Stupid of me, of course. But then I look at the twins and think about Lucia.”
“She may have rescued them from an unhappy situation?” Jax suggested.
She nodded. The screen door bumped open and Pris emerged with a pan of brownies. Offering the chocolate, her cousin spoke as if she’d been listening. “Dante is watching your office video. He reached explosive at the mention of old gold. We need to unleash his rage.”
