“Only my daughter.”
“I remember. Jasmine, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Where is she at the moment?”
“Preschool, why?”
“What’s she like?”
“Standard four year old. Got two speeds, full pelt and asleep and nothing much in between.”
“A handful then?”
“Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change her for the world but sometimes she can be tiring.”
“You got any help looking after her?”
“Cara takes her in from time to time. She’s the lady who runs the cupcake place next to my store. Eileen helps when she’s fit enough but Jasmine’s not that much hard work. The toughest bit was the first year.”
“Why was that?”
“Moving out here with dad and Winnie. He’d lost nearly all his money and we had to start somewhere new. I barely knew him. He only took me in because Mom died and I had nowhere to go when her house got foreclosed. No life insurance. He brought me and Winnie out here and he told me I mustn’t try to use the box until he was dead. He was worried he’d gamble away my inheritance but he never told me what the box did. Said he would explain before he died but the end was sudden when it hit. Caught a virus and gone like that. Never got chance to tell me how to use the box.”
“Box?”
“Sorry. He gave me a box when I turned eighteen that’s supposed to be the key to my inheritance but it’s just a Milk Duds box. It doesn’t do anything. Why am I even telling you this? It’s like I’ve known you for years, is that weird?”
He carries on like I haven’t asked. “I hear there’s a few businesses in town struggling, any idea what the problem is?”
“I know exactly what the problem is. The mayoress sets the local taxes through the roof which makes it hard to make any profit. Then she’s got her deal with the sheriff to set up speed traps on all the roads in and out, they each take a cut of the profits from the fines that get dished out. Combine that with Bobby Sandwell controlling who gets loans and mortgages and you’ve got a dying town that needs a lot of help.”
“Did you say Bobby Sandwell?”
“That’s the sheriff’s kid. He’s in charge of loans at the bank but him and his dad decide who gets a mortgage and who doesn’t. Anyone trying to buy anything in town without their approval gets knocked back every single time.”
“What if I told you I could solve all those problems.” He sits back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Your friend’s medical condition. That expensive?”
“Just a bit.”
“I could solve that too.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I want to help you.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Yes it does.”
I shake my head. “No one just helps other people without wanting something in return.”
“You’ve been paying your friend’s medical bills. Built up some debts, I’m guessing. What did you ask back from her?”