The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(82)

“Sick?” Helen asked. “Oh, my, that’s not good news. What was the matter? Was she terribly ill?”

“I’m afraid so,” he said. “Cancer. Lost her hair from the chemo and she was looking pretty bad. She’d lost weight and had dark circles under her eyes. You called just in time—I’m going to have to put her things in storage and clean out the house.”

“You haven’t heard anything from her?”

“No, ma’am. Like I said, she’s been sick. She wasn’t able to pay the rent for months and we let it slide as long as we could. If she had at least called...”

“If she’s too sick to call, I suppose she’s too sick to make the rent,” Helen said.

“I have a storage locker—large. I can hold her things for six months. That’s in the lease, by the way. But I can’t hold it any longer than that. Our rentals are for our retirement.”

“I’m sure she’d understand. How long has it been since you’ve heard from her?”

“At least three months. But she was sick a lot longer. We worked with her, you know. I wouldn’t turn out a sick woman. I’m afraid she might’ve... You know, it’s possible she passed.”

“Mr. Sudmeyer, births and deaths are public record. You can look at the obituaries...”

“Oh, I did. But she said that she’d lived in Minneapolis for ten years but wasn’t from Minnesota. And I’ll be damned if I can remember if she even said where she was from. I suppose I could search all fifty states but the wife and I—we’re not that slick on the computer. I could ask my granddaughter...”

She hasn’t passed, Helen thought. And she’s a master with makeup. She was a petite woman and it was possible she wore clothes a size or two larger than she needed so it looked like she was wasting away. But what was the point? You can’t make a living by dodging the rent.

“Oh, dear,” Helen said. “It’s been almost a year since I talked to her and she promised... I’m ashamed, it’s just plain selfish of me to think of that loan when poor Victoria might’ve—”

“You loaned her money?” he asked.

“It’s been quite a while ago now,” Helen said.

“We loaned her money, too. A good amount. She needed it for medical expenses. Not that we really had it to spare...”

Pow, Helen thought.

“I’m sixty-five,” Helen said. “And not made of money, either.”

“Well, we’re in our seventies and our whole plan was to live off the rent on a few houses. But she was in need. What’re you gonna do? I want to sleep at night.”

“Would you mind taking down this number, and if you hear anything at all about Victoria, would you give me a call?” Helen asked. “I’d so appreciate it.”

“I will. And if you hear anything...?”

“I’ll call you, of course. And, Mr. Sudmeyer, I hope everything is all right and you get your money back.”

Helen sat for quite a while with Sully’s phone in her fist, thinking.

She wondered if lots of people dodged their rent. She had acquaintances who had rental properties and about half of them complained that their property was damaged or their renters ran out in the night, owing them money.

Helen had a thought. She looked up the cost of chemo and the range was wide, depending on the specific cancer and the drugs required. It was all over the place—from ten grand to five hundred thousand dollars. There were dozens of programs that could offer help, depending on the patient’s financial status.

Victoria really didn’t seem like the kind of person who would take money from a landlord who didn’t have much to spare. Sure, she’d given Hannah and Owen a little trouble, but once the judge and then Hannah stood up to her, she backed off and seemed happy to have someone to share a glass of wine with.

Someone whose net worth she was working out in her head.

Then she chuckled, not because anything was funny. Victoria had worked in a seniors’ services center. Nursing homes. Real estate. Mortgage companies. Oh, my.

She took Sully’s phone back to him at the store.

“Well?” Sully said.

“After some novice investigating I might have figured out Victoria Addison, but it will take a lot more to be sure. I think maybe she’s a grifter.”

  Victoria called Helen just to say hello, her voice sounding weak and thready. “It’s just the pain medication, Helen. That’s all. I’m really doing just fine. I don’t have the results just yet.”

“Oh, drat,” Helen said sympathetically. “And when do you suppose that will happen?”

“Tomorrow or the next day,” she said.

“So, did you have to stay overnight in the hospital?” Helen asked.

“Yes, I’ve been here two days but I’m very sure I’ll be discharged right after I see the doctor tomorrow. Tell me, Helen. Do you think Hannah is a good person? Kind?”

“Sure,” Helen said. “She’s very sweet...”

“Bit of a tiger about keeping me away from Noah,” Victoria said. Then she coughed dramatically.

“I think she’s just trying to honor her friend’s wishes, and I am sorry about any misunderstanding between you and your daughter. But that’s not Hannah’s fault. You know I speak the truth.”