Contraband

16

Max drove to the station and parked in a detective’s slot. Tommy was at his desk, feet up, reading the Key West Citizen.

“I see your native sloth has emerged again,” Max said.

“Call it research. I’m seeing if there are any local stories about the airplane.”

“Go ahead, I’ve got a couple of calls to make.” She sat down, pulled out the cards Jack Spottswood had given her, and called the funeral director. It took ten minutes to convince him that he should choose the best coffin he had for less than $7,500, dress her aunt in a shroud, and that, no, she didn’t wish to view the corpse. He could advertise a graveside service for a couple of days hence, clear the date with her aunt’s pastor, then send her a bill. Next call was to William Kemp, her aunt’s accountant and someone she knew, as she did almost everyone else in Key West.

“Jack sent me the file,” William said, “and I have all her tax returns in my files. I reckon the large building on Duval is worth at least six million dollars and the smaller one half that.”

“Jack says he thinks the renter might want to buy it.”

“He’ll offer you a million, hoping you’ll bite. Hold out for six.”

“I’ll consider that.”

“I guess you want to know what your new net worth is and how much the taxes are.”

“Right.”

“Let’s see what you decide to keep and to sell, then we’ll talk. Have you checked out your aunt’s house?”

“Not for a couple of years.”

“Well, she spent the last six months or so renovating the place. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. There’s a key under the flowerpot to the right of the front door.”

“I’ll take a look at it,” she said, “and I’ll call you later.” She hung up, and her cell rang. “Yes?”

“It’s Jack Spottswood. The tenant has offered a million dollars for the larger of the two buildings and half that for the smaller one, all cash, quick closing.”

“I want six million for the big one and three for the little one, and that’s firm.”

“I’ll call you back.”

“What’s going on?” Tommy said from behind his paper. “Why are you talking millions?”

“My aunt Maxine died and left everything to me. You want to take a ride with me and see her house?”

“Why not? There’s nothing in the paper about an airplane.”

Aunt Maxine’s house was a large Victorian in Old Town, not far from where Jack Spottswood lived, and Max thought his house was probably the best in town. They got out of the car and looked at the place. It was newly painted, and the landscaping was copious and well cared for. They walked up the front steps, and Max noted that the old wicker furniture on the front porch had new seat covers. She found the key, but the door was unlocked.

“Hello?” a woman’s voice called. “Who that?”

“Are you sure she’s dead?” Tommy asked.

“That’s her housekeeper. Birdie?” she called back.

A plump, elderly African-American woman bustled into the room. “Miss Maxine!” she cried and enveloped her in a bear hug. “We haven’t seen you for a long time.”

“I’ve been real busy, Birdie. I’m sorry I didn’t get by before she was gone.”

“She had an easy death,” Birdie said. “I brought her lunch in bed, and when I came back for the tray, she had left us. She had been real tired for a couple of weeks, and I thought it might be coming. I had the doctor in, and he seemed to think pretty much the same. She was ninety-seven years old.”

Max looked around. “Well, you’ve certainly kept the place well.”

“She got in a redecoration fever a few months back, and she spent a small fortune on the place. It was like she knew you’d be moving in.”

“Let’s look around,” Max said. “You lead the way.”

Aunt Maxine, Max thought, had either had a real flair for interior design or a first-rate decorator. The place was ready to sell.

“I’ve taken all her clothes out,” Birdie said. “Nothing fit me, so I took the liberty of giving it all to my church for their sale.”

“That’s perfectly all right, Birdie.”

“Her jewelry is still in the safe.” She produced a slip of paper. “That there is the combination. She bought all new linens for the whole house.”

“How many bedrooms?”

“Her master suite and four more,” Birdie said. “I live in what used to be the guesthouse out back.”

“Well, you go right on living there, Birdie,” Max said.

“When will you move in?”

“Just as soon as I legally own the place,” Max said. “I’d love it if you stayed on.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Birdie cried.

Max inspected every room in the place, then she and Tommy went back to the car.

“Well,” Tommy said. “All of a sudden, you’re a grande dame!”

Max took a sheet of paper from her purse. “We’ve got two more houses to look at,” she said. They went and took a look at the two rentals and met the tenants. They had been renovated, too, but one of the tenants gave notice and said she was leaving town shortly.

“That’s a real nice place,” Tommy said. “How much you want for it?”

“She’s leaving in a week,” Max said. “You and your wife can move right in. It’s yours, rent-free, for as long as ye both shall live.”

Tommy was speechless. “Wait till I get home tonight. My wife’ll faint.”

Back in the car, Max answered her phone.

“It’s Jack. Our prospective buyer has increased his offer to two million for the big one and a million for the other.”

“Jack,” she said. “Tell him, in the nicest possible way, that it’s six million and three million or to go fuck himself. When is his lease up?”

“In about six weeks.”

“If he doesn’t meet my price, tell him I’ll take vacant occupancy at that time.”

“I got it,” Jack said and hung up.

Ten minutes later, Jack called back. “Okay, he’s on board.”

“How soon can we close?”

“Let me run a title check, and then we’re ready. Two or three days to get the paperwork done. By the way, your aunt Maxine put the estate in a trust. You and I are the trustees, so there’s no probate. Before the day is out, you’ll own everything. You’ll need signature documents for the bank accounts and the stock account. Then you can start writing checks. You can pick up your new checkbooks at First State Bank at, say, two o’clock. Oh, and I’ll get you a dozen copies of her death certificate. You’re going to need those.” Jack was an owner of the bank, so he made things happen fast.

“That’s good news, Jack. We’ll talk later.” She hung up. “Well, Tommy,” she said, “I guess I am the new grande dame of Key West.”