Chapter 2

We didn’t talk much after that. I took her in, and we spoke to the real estate lawyer shortly. As she explained what was going on, he looked shocked. He then called an assistant. She specialized in probate law. And then she went through the tail again. No, she didn’t have the will, but it was in the safe at home. She then outlined the steps that needed to be taken. First, get ahold of the will. Next, file a case for probate with the correct judge. It seems the judge who signed the eviction order handled criminal cases, not probate. She said this would take some time and wanted to know where she was staying and her contact information. This resulted in Sara crying again. It seems that none of her friends would help her. She had already gone through the list of them sitting on the curb. Oh well, I had come this far. So I said she could stay with me at my place for now. We left with her a blubbering mess. At least everything was being taken care of by a lawyer now.

As I pulled into the apartment complex, she asked, “You live here?”

“Yes,” I said as I led her into the manager’s apartment.

“You work here as well?”

“Not very much,” I said. She gave me a look. I handle the problems that come up. So far, there have been only three.”

“So, how long have you worked here?”

“Oh, about a month so far,” I stated as she looked around the room. Unless you counted the studio lights and backdrop I had set up, it wasn’t decorated yet. One used couch sat before the TV screen, which I had used as my computer screen. However, I led her to the second bedroom and said she could stay there as she looked at the empty room. We can go get you a bed later.”

“I ... I don’t have any money.”

“Oh, don’t worry. It’s a guest bedroom, and I had planned to finish it as such.” I showed her the kitchen and bath and pointed out my bedroom. Well, she peeked inside. “Well, this looks like a guy’s bedroom.”

“Well, I am a guy after all.” I smiled at her and added, “Well, I guess there should be some rules.”

Then, with a downcast look. “What are they?”

“No clue. I have never had a roommate before.”

This made her smile. “So you’re going to make them up as we go along?”

“Well, I guess that will work. But I did think of one rule already.”

“And that is?”

“No parties.”

She snorted. “Like I have any friends left that would come to one.”

“Well, some college guys had one that got out of hand. That’s why I ended up with the place.” That statement left a question on her face. So, I had to explain the events that led me to buy the place. She looked at me funny for a moment and shook her head.

We got her a bed, and I got Dad to pick it up. Afterward, we ate at a local fast-food place with my dad, who just winked at me when he left. It was my turn to shake my head.

“What now?” Sara asked me.

“Well, by the time Dad relays to Mom about my new roommate. She will be planning the wedding next.”

“You kidding?”

“You don’t know my mother.”

She looked like she wanted to deny it but said nothing.

The subject turned to food. She said she needed a job, and I asked how she would get there.

“Crap, my car is at the house.”

“Okay, so is it in your name or your parents?”

“It’s in my name. My parents bought it for my 18th birthday.”

“Well, that’s one more thing for the lawyers to sort out.”

“Well, what can I do to earn some money? It’s not like I can depend on charity for long.”

“Have you claimed the insurance yet?”

“Insurance?”

“Yes, life insurance. I assume they had some.”

“Wouldn’t the lawsuit have that tied up?”

“No life insurance only pays the beneficiary. It’s not part of the inheritance.”

“Well, if they had it, the paperwork would be in Dad’s desk or the safe at home.”

“Call the lawyer, Janice, and ask her about that too.” She did so.

Three days later, the probate judge allowed Sara to retrieve the documents in the company of her lawyer and a deputy. He did not allow her free access because, to quote the lawyer, the suspicious death was still under investigation. She was, however, allowed to retrieve her car. And Janice filed the will with probate. She was correct. She was the only person named in it.

A few days after that, the sheriff’s department asked her to come in to discuss her parent’s car accident. This was perplexing because all she knew was what they had told her. She went to call Janice to ask questions, but her phone was shut off. It seemed it was a company phone and was assigned to her dad. As he was dead, the three phones issued by the company had been shut off. The person she talked to said rather rudely they would not turn it back on under any circumstances.

She did take Janice to the sheriff’s office for the interview. She could only repeat what the police had told her: that they had been sideswiped by a truck and that the police were still looking for the driver. She did learn that the truck was stolen. And she had to account for being at her graduation ceremony with many witnesses when it happened. They wanted to ask more, but Janice put a stop to it. It was plain they were trying to blame her for some reason. It turned out the reason was her uncle. The one contesting the will. He had painted her as a troubled, greedy youth who may have paid someone to kill her parents for the inheritance. No, Janice informed her that she would need a criminal defense attorney if that went any further. And that would cost money she didn’t have. She had not been charged; however, the life insurance would not pay until the case was settled. And if she were found guilty in their deaths, she would not get a thing. Also, she would forfeit any inheritance.