Sparkle Mystery; Chapter 6; An Inheritance Revealed

I don't care what the chief says. I am not tackling any of this without my grandmother. If I am clever, I think I can pull this off. I still got that fake ring grandmother had made. I will just switch it out and no one will be the wiser.

No one down the hall. Good, that is Barney doing guard duty. He has a sweet tooth so... a stop at the vending machine.

"Hey, Barney. How is it going? I got a problem… I snatched the wrong bar from the vending machine. You like the snickers bar? You can have this one if you want. I will even take duty until you have a chance to go to the bathroom. You can get a soda on the way back to wash it down."

"Janie, if I did not know you better, I would think you were putting the moves on me. I know what you are talking about though. They get those rows of bars so close it is easy to grab the wrong one. Sure, I could use the bathroom break for sure. Be right back."

"Thanks Janie. I will return the favor for you some time."

"Tootles, Barney."

"Okay, Grandmother it is you and me against the world now. We are headed to your house. It seems our cousins think they have the right to the property."

"Bless you, Janie. I am so glad we finally got together. When the dog pooped me out, I was lost. I had no way to get back to you. This is kind of crazy, but it looks like things might work out. That chief, Bruce sure likes you."

"Grandmother we gotta set some ground rules here. I do not want to get locked up for talking to you. I must pretend you are not here. Do you understand that?"

"Sure, I do. But that won't keep me from tellin' yah what I think. No one can hear me but you. Besides I think I have encountered some other ghosts along the way. There were a couple in that green house where you found that grandmother. Did I not tell you they were going to try and kill her?"

"Yes, you did. Thank you. You saved that woman's life."

"Ruddy did."

"Yeah, with you in his ear."

"We are here now. You gotta listen and talk to me when I can answer you. Please. I am going to turn the ring around, so the stone is on my palm side. It looks like a wedding ring that way, but I really do not want the cousins to know about you."

"Got it."

We gotta do something about this yard. It needs to be mowed. "Momma, wait there. Do not try and come through all that overgrown grass. I will be there in a second. Boy, this stuff is thick.

"Marie, get a hold of mother's arm. Don't let her go any farther. I am coming as fast as I can."

"Come on, you ole bat. I told you not to run from me. You give me the key to the vault now. Janie will not save you in time.

"Janie, Marie is hurting your mother. Run…"

"Let go of her Marie or I drop you where you stand. I got you Mother. Marie what in the world are you thinking. First of all, you have not been invited here. There is Jackie now. He will tell you again. There was nothing for you or your group in the will. The house and property belong to the Farrar Trust. Mother and I have been appointed by the court as the managers of that trust. So, for lack of a better way… BUG OFF."

"Get that fist out of my face Janie. What did you go get married or something? What is it with the ring? Don't go hide it now. Where did you get a rock like that?"

"Marie, you are hurting me. This was a gift from a friend. It is just a zirconia stone, it is fake. It is not even real. Can't I be allowed anything without you greedy vultures trying to take it away from me?"

"You are hurting me. Stop."

"I would suggest you do just that young lady. Assaulting a police officer is against the law. I am the chief and I am witnessing just that."

"Bruce, I am so glad you are here. Jackie will be here in a minute. He can explain things to you. I would like to have a restraining order put on the other half of my family. I do not need to fear my mother's safety every time I go to work."

"I will be happy to take care of that for you. I would also like to know where you got that …"

"Bruce, it is the fake one grandmother made… remember. I forgot I had it on and this … just keep whispering and keep the cuffs on Marie. She is the one that is dangerous.?"

"Jackie, we are all here. Please record all that you say so there can be no question as to what was said here. Everything has also been in compliance with my grandmother's last will and testament."

"I have also drawn up hard copy for each of you so if you feel you need to contest any of this, you may do so at your own expense. The estate will not pay for any investigations nor is it obligated to do so."

"Marie, I have set this up to protect Janie and her mother from you and your group from robbing them of what Irma wanted for them. The only way you could ever get this property or the rights to if three things happened: one, if the back taxes were deliquiate and two, if both of them were dead and three if neither of them had a will or had relinquished the management of the trust. That is not going to happen. Give it up. You will only dig yourself in deeper." Besides the minute you file to contest Irma's will you immediately relinquish all rights as a beneficiary.

"You mean, Janie and her mother get it all? We took care of the old bat too. No matter how many times she curses at me for trying to help. She was just mad because we sold her sister's house. We are realtors. This property is worth a fortune. It is zoned both commercial and residential. Anyone can open a business right here. This should be sold to a conglomerate who can develop it and turn this estate into track housing. The house alone is big enough to be a small motel. A headquarters, an income maker, a gold mine. You want to just live here. That is wrong on so many levels. Janie, think about it. You would not have to wear a gun, or even go to work. You could just sit back and clip the coupons. You and your mother could go on cruises. Travel… we could all cash in on the money cow."

"Chief, have you heard enough?"

"I sure have." I have a video of the whole thing to play to the judge. Come on, Marie… you have the right to remain silent…"

"Why am I being arrested?"

"You assaulted me. I am a police officer. Detective, first grade. Book her."

"I demand…"

"Thanks, Bruce, I would not have been able to pull that off without your help."

"What are the chances of being getting to go to work tonight? I think I need a nice quiet shift to work. Some rounds to make would really help me relax right about now."

"I will see what I can do."