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T Is for Trespass

T Is for Trespass

Titel: T Is for Trespass Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Sue Grafton
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dispute, which is why I’m here.”
    “The facts are obvious. There was an accident. It’s as simple as that. Gladys told me it was covered on their home-owner’s policy and the company had refused to pay. She said suing was the only way to force their hand.”
    “Auto.”
    “‘Auto’?”
    “It’s not their home-owner’s policy. She’s suing the company that carries the defendant’s car insurance.” Personally, I wondered if I was shooting myself in the foot. We were clearly working at cross-purposes, but I got out my tape recorder and went through my drill; identifying myself, Lettie Bowers, blah blah blah. Then I said, “How long have you known the Fredricksons?”
    “If you want the truth, I don’t know them well and I don’t like them much. Am I under oath?”
    “No ma’am, but it would be helpful if you could tell me what you know as truthfully as possible.”
    “I always do that. I was raised that way.”
    “I take it Gladys Fredrickson’s talked to you about the accident.”
    “She didn’t have to. I saw it.”
    I leaned forward slightly. “ You were at the intersection?”
    She seemed confused. “There wasn’t any intersection. I was sitting right here, looking out the window.”
    “I don’t understand how you could have seen what went on.”
    “I couldn’t miss it. I do my pickup work by the window, which gives me good light and offers a nice view of the neighborhood. I used to do needlepoint, but lately I’ve gone back to knitting and crochet. Less strain on my eyes and easier on my hands. I’d been watching them at work, which is how I happened to see the tumble she took.”
    “Gladys fell?”
    “Oh my, yes. It was entirely her fault, but the way she explained it to me, the insurance company will have to pay anyway if everything goes well.”
    “Could we back up a few paragraphs and start this again?”
    I took a few minutes to go back over the lawsuit, filling in the details while she shook her head.
    “You must be talking about someone else. It didn’t happen that way.”
    “Fine. Let’s hear your side of it.”
    “I don’t mean to sound judgmental, but she and her husband are penny-pinchers and they hate to hire help. The rain gutters were jammed with leaves. We’d had a number of spring storms and the water had been pouring down in torrents, right over the edge instead of going into the down spouts. First week of nice weather, she got up on a ladder to clean the gutters and the ladder toppled. She landed on the wooden deck and the ladder came down and clunked her in the head. I was surprised she didn’t break her back, as much as she weighs. The sound was awful, like a bag of cement. I ran out, but she said she was all right. I could see she was woozy and limping badly, but she wouldn’t accept help. Next thing I knew, Millard pulled the van around in front and honked. They had a heated discussion and then she got in.”
    “Did she tell you this in confidence?”
    “Not in so many words. She said it was just between the two of us and then she gave me a wink. And here all this time, I thought the claim was legitimate.”
    “Would you be willing to testify in the defendant’s behalf?”
    “Of course. I don’t approve of cheaters.”
    “Nor do I.”

    Late afternoon, as a special treat, I took myself up to Rosie’s and ordered a glass of wine. I’d wait and eat when I got home, but I’d done a good day’s work and I deserved a reward. I’d just settled into my favorite booth when Charlotte Snyder appeared. I hadn’t seen her for weeks, since she and Henry had quarreled. I thought her presence was coincidental, but she paused in the doorway, looking around, and when she spotted me, she headed straight for my table and sat down across from me. She had a scarf tied over her hair, which she removed and put in her coat pocket while she shook her hair back to its natural shape. Her cheeks were pink from the cold and her eyes were bright. “I took a chance on catching you here when you didn’t answer your door. If you tell me Henry’s on his way in, I’ll disappear.”
    “He’s having dinner with William. It’s boys’ night out,” I said. “What’s up?”
    “I’m hoping to redeem myself in Henry’s eyes. I heard the court appointed a woman named Cristina Tasinato as Gus Vronsky’s conservator.”
    “Don’t remind me. I was nearly sick when I heard.”
    “That’s what I wanted to talk about. According to the bank, she’s taking out a

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