Page 48 of Deadly Misfortunes

Not even Katrina, who had wanted to go to college to become a schoolteacher. But Prescott had made her dream come true. Sascha was happy to live frugally and use her talents in the business.

“Mr. Landry found an abandoned mansion that the bank had foreclosed on for nonpayment of the mortgage and taxes. He took out a loan to buy it and renovated it with the help of friends and professionals, even laying the brickwork himself until it was finished. Then he flipped the house and made two million over costs.”

Sascha’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. He paid back everyone who had helped, paid off the house, the cost of materials, and cleared two million dollars. He was nineteen. He invested some of the money in mutual funds and then bought another house to flip, but this time he was able to pay everyone for their work and cover the construction costs. Rose was integral in decorating the homes with furniture from their parents’ furniture shops, and she loved to shop at thrift stores for unique items.”

“Wow, that is so cool.” Sascha saw both of them in a whole new light.

“I was really proud of him for starting out with essentially nothing and making a fortune for himself. To think I had diapered his bottom even when he was an infant,” Maria said.

Sascha smiled. She imagined Gregory wouldn’t have wanted Maria to tell her that much. “Does he have any baby pictures?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sascha finished her egg and leaned back into her chair. “Do you think we could have a look at them?”

“I’m sure Mr. Landry wouldn’t mind.”

Sascha hopped up from her chair. “Okay, where do we look?”

Maria led her to what Sacha would call a junk room. Boxes of files, papers, and other stuff filled the room.

Placing her hands on her hips, Sascha stared at the mess. “Why would he have his precious baby photos in a heap of junk like this?”

“He didn’t feel they were important.”

“Nonsense. Family mementos are always important.” She walked into the room. “So where do we look?”

“No telling, ma’am.” Maria pulled out a plastic box and opened the lid.

“Do you mind if I do the same?”

“No, go ahead. With two of us looking, we should find them in half the time.”

“Are you sure that Gregory won’t mind?”

“I’m certain, ma’am. In fact, I’m sure he’ll be amused you were interested in seeing them.”

Sascha sat on the floor next to a box and pulled out a newspaper clipping as the phone rang.

“Be back in a moment, ma’am.” Maria rushed out of the room.

Grasping a newspaper clipping from the box, Sascha saw the headline claiming “Baby Mix-Up at Memorial Hospital.

Gregory paced at Sascha’s apartment as he waited for Maria to answer the phone.

“Hello, Mr. Landry.”

“Is she awake?”

“Yes, sir. She’s looking through some of your stuff in storage to see your baby pictures.”

He smiled. She was sure cute. Then he surveyed the mess of her place, and his heart sank. He hated to upset her with what the maniac had done.

“Is it bad, sir?”

“Yes, Maria. If I could, I would spare her seeing it, but the police need her to check and see if there’s anything missing this time.”