Deja Vu Read Online Free PDF Page B

run.
    “What? My God, Myra, that scream would wake the dead! What’s wrong?”
    Myra told her. She wound down with, “You said you wanted roots. Well, the soil on that farm is about as rich as you can get to put down some good, strong, healthy roots. The house itself is a real hot mess and will need a lot of work, but that’s a job for Isabelle. It’s been sitting empty for about seven years now, so that should tell you something. We’ll be neighbors. The three of us. It doesn’t get any better than that. Buy it, Annie. Please.”
    “Okay,” Annie said agreeably, “but what exactly am I buying, ladies?”
    “Three hundred and fifty acres of prime Virginia real estate. That’s how many acres are on the Needleman parcel. The layout is pretty much the same as my place here and Nellie’s farm, though mine is considerably larger. It will need a lot of work, but like I said, Isabelle is your girl. Oh, Annie, this is your chance to put down those roots and still be close to me and Nellie, not to mention all the girls. It’s the perfect solution. But you have to be happy with the purchase. I know you’re into bright lights and glitz and glamour, but this could be your nest to come home to when you’re … you know … burned out from that busy life.”
    “Okay, I’ll call Conrad and tell him to do it. He’s my business manager,” Annie said for Nellie’s benefit. “Do you know the name of the Realtor?”
    “Alice Orman, Adventure Travel. It’s right on Main Street in town.”
    “Okay, I’m going to do it. By the way, how much is it?”
    “Well the barber said it was reduced from thirty-seven million to thirty-six but he, the barber, thinks you can get it for thirty-five. I’d offer thirty-four five and offer a cash deal, no mortgage. The barber said the estate is eager to sell, and in this economy they might jump at a cash sale.”
    “I’ll have to buy it through one of my holding companies. If they find out I’m the buyer, the price will double or triple. People think I’m made of money and stupid at the same time.”
    “That should work,” Myra said happily. “You might want to stop by the barbershop and offer the barber a finder’s fee or whatever it is they give someone who turns you on to a property.”
    “I do love the way you spend my money, Myra.” As she punched in her business manager’s phone number, Annie said, “Maggie’s on it. A tail will pick up Elias at the gas station. She’s going to have Joseph do it. She said he is exceptional at tailing cars. She’s going to have Ted positioned somewhere farther on to pick him up the closer he gets to town. She’s on that, too, and that’s all we have to worry about.” Annie turned her back and spoke quickly to the person on the other end of her cell phone. She was beaming when she hung up.
    “I do think, ladies, I may very well be your new neighbor very shortly.”
    Myra and Nellie jumped right in with suggestions.
    “A sunroom for the morning sun where you can have your coffee.”
    “The library has to be redone, and I think mahogany would be great.”
    “Super-duper state-of-the-art kitchen that will make Charles drool.”
    “One of those really modern bathrooms with thirty-seven jets to pound your body!”
    “A real veranda with a lot of Southern rocking chairs.”
    And on and on it went until Annie’s cell rang. She was grinning from ear to ear when she said, “The estate accepted my offer for thirty-four five. In thirty days, I will be your new neighbor!”
    “All rightttt! Myra, what does this call for?” Nellie asked.
    “Mr. Kentucky himself. Coming right up,” Myra said as she headed for the kitchen and the bourbon. “Should we include Charles in this little celebration?”
    “Let’s not,” Nellie said cheerfully.
    “Okay,” Myra said just as cheerfully.
    Within minutes the celebration party was on.
    When all three cell phones rang, one after the other, four hours later, there was no one coherent or who