Hour of Need (Scarlet Falls #1)(40)
“Why do you make so much money?” Mac asked Hannah.
“I speak three languages. I work eighty-hour weeks for a large private firm, and I’m willing to live in hotels. Small-town firms can’t pay hefty salaries.” Hannah dropped the paper on the blotter. “I didn’t borrow as much money as Lee either. I had scholarships and a work-study program. Basically, I’ve had no personal life for the last ten years.”
Grant knew all about having no life outside of work. “Why would he keep borrowing if he was already underwater?”
“You know Lee, the perennial optimist.” Hannah rubbed her neck. “Remember when we were kids. Lee was always the one to say things would work out.”
“So what will happen to the house now?” Grant asked. “I’d hate for the kids to be forced from their familiar surroundings.”
“Lee’s student loans go away with a death certificate. We’re lucky there. They don’t always. Actually, both Lee and Kate had decent life insurance. It should be enough to bring everything current, with a bit left over. If they hadn’t died, they would have lost the house in six months.” Hannah set the paper down.
“Did they have any money in the bank?” Grant couldn’t believe Lee was broke. What the hell was going on with his brother?
“No.” Hannah shook her head. Her short, straight hair fell back into its precise cut. “Their savings ran dry months ago. They used every dime for the down payment on this house.” She paused, sucking a deep breath in through her nose.
“What is it?” Grant asked.
“I don’t know how to say this. I feel guilty for even thinking it.” Hannah stared at the desktop. “In the last few weeks, Lee’s account shows two inexplicable cash deposits of nine thousand, five hundred dollars each, just small enough to avoid federal reporting requirements.”
Shock silenced them.
“There has to be an explanation.” Grant’s mind scrambled. “Could he have closed an account somewhere?”
“I’m still looking.” Hannah’s eyes reflected Grant’s disbelief. “But so far, the money seems to come from nowhere.”
“Where could Lee have gotten almost twenty grand?” Mac asked.
They stared at each other for a minute.
“Keep digging. There must be some logical explanation.” Rejecting the possibility that Lee could have done anything amiss, Grant rubbed his forehead. “But if their life insurance should cover their outstanding debts, then whoever takes the kids can stay in the house.”
“I think so. Unless more liabilities turn up, or we find their will and it makes other provisions.” Hannah gathered the papers on the desk. “But if it comes down to it, I have some cash put aside. They won’t have to leave this house if we decide they should stay.”
“Same here.” Except for the money he sent to the nursing home, most of Grant’s pay went into the bank. He didn’t have a family to support and had few housing expenses. His savings account was healthy. If Lee had told him he was so broke, Grant would have helped out.
Maybe if Grant had called more, he’d have known his brother was in financial trouble.
“Where could they have stored their legal documents?” Grant scanned the room. Its small size limited possible locations, but the rest of the house . . .
She shook her head. “I’ve been through his entire desk and computer files. If they had a will, it’s not here.”
“Maybe they didn’t have a will.” Mac rubbed an ink mark on the tan leather ottoman next to his thigh. “They didn’t count on dying this young.”
“True, but Lee was a planner.” Hannah slid the papers into a folder. “Even in debt, he provided life insurance for his family. The will must be here somewhere.” She opened a second file, and they all drew a collective, silent breath. “Now we need to talk about funeral arrangements. I thought we’d use Stokes Funeral Home on First Street. It’s the one we used for Mom.” Her voice cracked. She paused to press her knuckles against her mouth.
Grief filled Grant’s chest like concrete.
Mac slid the ottoman forward and pulled her into a hug. “Why don’t you let me take care of the funeral arrangements? I’ll go down there today, talk to the director, and we can reconvene here tonight. That way, when . . .” Mac paused as if he couldn’t get the words out. “When the medical examiner releases the bodies, we’ll be ready.”
“Are you sure?” Grant was used to handling the tough decisions. Of course, he was also accustomed to his orders being followed, and that only applied in the military. His family did not recognize him as a superior officer. The only one who listened to him was Carson. Faith screamed in his face for eight hours a night. Mac’s lifelong modus operandi was to agree, then do whatever he wanted. Hannah would argue until the season changed. And he didn’t even want to think about his discussion with Ellie next door. She clearly wasn’t following any orders.
“Yeah.” Mac exhaled hard, then nodded. “Hannah has the legal and financial stuff under control. You’ve got the kids handled. Let me contribute something.”
“It’s all right with me,” Grant agreed. “Hannah?”
She nodded. “Thanks, Mac.”
“We need to coordinate errands so one of us is here with the kids. I asked Julia from next door to babysit for a couple of hours this afternoon to help out. But considering everything that’s happened, I’d still feel more comfortable if one of us is in the house.”