Page 70 of Lost Hours
Mina shifted in her chair and leaned closer. “We’ve had reports that you’ve recently spent quite a bit of time with Mayor Sutton at the Rusty Hull restaurant. Can you tell me what you were doing together?”
“Updating his will.”
Nolan couldn’t believe she was being so forthcoming, but he was glad she was. Hopefully, she’d keep it up and provide the mayor’s will.
“Isn’t a busy restaurant an unusual place to discuss a will?” Mina asked.
She silently folded her hands on the desk. Her long nails were coated in a silvery-white color. “Probably, but he didn’t want anyone to know he was making changes, and he hasn’t been able to drive here to take care of it in my office.”
“Is that due to the cancer?” Mina asked.
Janice gaped at her. “How could you possibly know that? He told no one except me.”
“It was revealed at his autopsy.”
“Autopsy.” She clapped a hand over her mouth and took a long breath. “For some reason hearing that word makes his death seem more real.”
“I know he was your friend as well as your client, and I’m sorry for your loss.” Mina sat wordlessly for a moment. “I hate to have to ask you questions at a time like this, but I know you’ll want us to find the person who killed him.”
“Of course.”
“Do you know why he hid his cancer from everyone?”
“To keep the time he had left as normal as possible. He especially needed that with Becca. He didn’t want her to feel bad until it was clear that he wasn’t going to beat the cancer.”
Mina got out her notepad. “Why did he change his will?”
“I’m sorry.” Janice stared at her hands. “I really am, but I can’t help you. Attorney-client privilege continues even in death, and I’ll need a warrant to ignore it.”
Not a surprise, but Nolan had hoped for a different answer.
Mina didn’t seem surprised either. “I can get a warrant, but all that will do is delay our investigation.”
“Like I said, I’m sorry.” Janice’s eyes creased. “I simply can’t share the details.”
Mina crossed her legs and gripped the arms on the chair but didn’t speak for a moment, and Nolan knew she was thinking. About what, he had no idea, but Janice didn’t blink or move. A perfect lawyer pose, not stymied by anything happening around her. She probably was excellent in court.
Mina relaxed her hands on the chair. “About this latest will. Did Ernie have a copy of the document containing the final changes?”
Janice leaned forward. “I had no idea that he’d died, so I emailed it to him this morning right before you got here. I assume you’ll be able to find it in his email.”
Mina nodded. “He obviously wouldn’t have signed it, and it won’t be official.”
“That’s correct,” Janice said. “He’d have a copy of the will we drew up after his wife passed away. Both electronic and paper. That’s the document I’ll present to the probate court.”
“But you’ll contact the beneficiaries about their inheritance, correct?” Nolan asked, not able to keep silent any longer.
“Yes, but not by gathering them all together as you see in TV and movies. Ernie has named me his executor. As such, I’ll contact the beneficiaries after the will goes to probate.”
Mina’s phone chimed from her pocket, but she ignored it. “Can you think of any reason the killer might have associated the mayor’s death with the Lost Lake Locators team?” She shared about the team and their purpose, the pride in her voice warming Nolan.
Janice looked him over as if seeing him for the first time. “Interesting, but no. Ernie never mentioned the team, and I know nothing about them.”
“Might he have mentioned the refurbishment of the Portside Inn and Lighthouse?” Nolan asked, thinking Mina might not mind him asking such a question.
“Yes, I think he did mention that. But really just in passing as we drove by the location. He mentioned that he liked seeing younger people moving into town.” She tapped a fingernail on the desk. “I know he didn’t state who the occupants were, though. I would’ve remembered such an interesting team.”
Nolan had hoped the mayor would’ve said something so they could figure out the connection, but he wasn’t surprised the guy didn’t discuss them with his out-of-town lawyer.
