Maybe that would help me identify a viable killer candidate because Greg didn’t seem to think that Steve’s having a mistress was enough of a motive. Emma curled up on the couch with me as I started the research. I’d go back to what Amy and I had found the day before. The businesses.
I found Steve’s business first. It was a computer start-up that had an office just north of Bakerstown. I figured Steve must have worked from home because they’d said they were out of San Francisco, but when I looked at locations, I realized they had a satellite office near what was probably their hometown. I wrote down the town name and the Bakerstown address. I wasn’t sure that a visit to the place would tell me much, but stranger things had happened. Maybe I’d take a drive out there on Monday. As I scrolled through the “About Us” tab, I found pictures of the management team. Steve was listed as owner and CEO. And down the page I saw Candice’s picture as head of legal. So she was the company lawyer. Candice was pretty in a completely California surfer-girl style, her long, blond hair straight with highlights. She was the typical trophy wife type. After making notes about what I’d found, I went looking for Nan’s digital footprint.
I found several Google hits that went to old blog posts about day trading. She had been active in the practice and had been a big supporter of the craft. Some of her blogs read more like infomercials about day trading and mentioned her online school. When I found the class link I blinked at the cost. Almost five thousand for a twenty-session class, along with access to a private Facebook page and a one-hour consultation session with Nan.
Testimonials filled the page, with students claiming to make their money back and more with only part-time work effort. One thing my aunt had always taught me was just because someone says it’s true doesn’t mean it is. And something we’d learned lately: Not everyone was who they said they were. I wondered if any of Nan’s students’ quotes were real. I couldn’t access the Facebook page, but on a hunch I typed in complaints against Grow Rich Today, which was the name of Nan’s company. It didn’t take long for the hits to start building on my screen.
“There’s the true story,” I said as the list of hits continued to grow. Nan’s proven technique didn’t seem to be replicable and she had a ton of unhappy customers. I wondered if Greg had started to research the complaints. I wrote down what I could find, especially the ones with names and harsh complaints.
Then I closed the laptop. Who was I kidding? No one killed another person just because their training didn’t work out. Did they? I ripped out the pages from my notebook, folded them in half, then wrote Greg’s name on the top. I put the papers in the middle of the table. I’d let a real professional deal with this part of the investigation.
Time to get ready for brunch with the girls.
* * * *
When I left the house I’d taken a minute to cross the street and knock on Esmeralda’s door. I’d been planning on inviting her to come to brunch with us. Either she was still sleeping or she was out. I didn’t want to think that a third option might be the real truth: She didn’t want to see me.
Amy and Evie were already at Diamond Lille’s when I arrived. I hurried to the booth, glancing around to see if Carrie was working today. I put my tote on the bench next to Amy and stared at Evie. “You want to explain your dinner yesterday?”
She frowned and closed the menu. “Man, this is a small town. I can’t believe the gossip train is already talking about who I’m having dinner with.”
“I didn’t get my information from the gossip train. Remember, I was here when you came in. Were you on a date with Doc?” I leaned closer so my voice wouldn’t travel.
“What?” Evie’s voice raised as mine lowered. “You thought that was a date?”
I glanced over and saw Carrie watching us. I nodded toward her. “No, but she did. She and Doc are, well, something, and it hurt her to see you with him.”
“I just talked to him about the victim. I had a theory and wanted to run it past him. So I invited him to