[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.A year later, I sold that property, used the profitand a bank loan to invest in a bigger building.I did that for a fewyears flipping and trading up.Real estate was booming, and I made out okay. He shrugged, ate more popcorn.Milo said, You re a modest man, Mr.Koppel. I know what I am and what I m not. Koppel turned his head to the side, asif recoiling from insight.His jowls quivered. Do you have any idea whomurdered Mary? No, sir.Do you? Me? No, of course not. She was murdered in her home, said Milo. No signs of forced entry. You re saying someone she knew? said Koppel. Any candidates, sir? I wasn t privy to Mary s social life. How much contact did you and she have? We stayed friendly, and I kept up my spousal support. How much support? It evolved, said Koppel. Immediately after the divorce, she got nothingexcept the furniture in our apartment because we were both starving students.When I started to earn a decent income, she called and asked for support.Weagreed on a figure and over the years I ve increased it. At her request? Sometimes.Other times, I decided to share some of my good luck. Keep the ex happy, said Milo.Koppel didn t answer. Sir, how much were you paying her at the time of her death? Twenty-five thousand a month. Generous. It seemed fair, said Koppel. She stuck with me when I needed her.Helpingthrough those panic attacks even after I cheated on her.That deservessomething. Milo said, Twenty-five thousand a month.I went through her bank records,never saw any back-and-forth on that level. You wouldn t, said Koppel. Mary lived off her practice and re-investedwhat I gave her. Page 168 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html In what? We re partnered on some of my properties. She let you hold on to what you owed her and put it back in properties. Mary did very well partnering with me. Who gets her share of the partnered properties now that she s dead? Koppel s fingers grazed the rim of the popcorn bowl. That would depend onMary s will. I haven t found a will, and no executors have come forth. That wouldn t surprise me, said Koppel. For years I ve been telling her todo some estate planning.Between her practice and the properties, she wasbuilding up a comfortable estate.You d think she d have listened, being soorganized about everything else.But she was resistant.My opinion is shedidn t want to think about death.Her parents died pretty young, and sometimesshe had premonitions. About dying young? About dying before her time. Tears beaded Koppel s lower eyelashes.Therest of his stubbled face was impassive. She have those premonitions recently? Koppel said, I don t know.I m talking back when we were married. Milo said, Assuming there s no will, what happens to her real estateholdings? If there are no creditors or heirs, said Koppel, they d revert to me.Ahundred percent in the case of the ones whose mortgages I carry I own a littlefinancing company, allows me to keep things in-house.Those that arebank-financed, I d have the choice of paying off Mary s share or selling. One way or the other, you d get everything. Yes, I would. Milo crossed his legs.Koppel emitted a deep, rumbling laugh. Something funny, sir? The implication, said Koppel. I suppose there s a logic to it, Lieutenant,but do the math: Mary Lou s holdings net out to.I d say one and a half,maybe two million dollars, depending on the real estate market.I grant youthat isn t chicken feed.Eventually, she could ve retired nicely.But to me, asum like that isn t significant.you say you ve looked into my holdings? Two million s a drop in the bucket, said Milo. That sounds ostentatious, said Koppel, but it s true.A couple of millionwouldn t make any difference. Page 169 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html During good times, said Milo. Timesare good, said Koppel. Times arealways good
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]