Page 88 of Precise Justice

“Thank you,” Lucy said.

“You know what?” Melissa said to Lucy. “I really like doing that.”

“Me too,” Lucy replied and wiggled her eyebrows.

“I’ll tell them,” the receptionist said into her headset.

“Someone will be right out,” she told the detectives.

“And it always works,” Lucy said.

“Tell me something, Susan,” Melissa said after seeing her name plate. “What was it, the word detective or homicide?”

“Both together. This must be about Priscilla?” Susan asked.

“Just between us girls, what was she like?” Melissa asked.

Susan looked around to make sure no one could overhear her then said, “Just between us? She had a reserved parking spot for her jet-powered broom.”

“Ouch,” Melissa said.

To their right they saw a well-dressed, middle-aged woman coming down the stairs.

“That’s Beth, Ray’s executive assistant. She’s very nice and good at her job.”

“Thank you,” Lucy told Beth when she opened Davies’ office door for them.

“Have a seat, what can I do for you?” Davies stood, pointed at the chairs and asked.

“Thank you for seeing us,” Melissa said. “We’re here to find out about your key man life insurance on Priscilla Powell.”

“We’re investigating her death,” Lucy told him.

“Ah, well, I’m not sure what I can legally tell you. Do you have a subpoena or court order? I suppose I could call our lawyer,” Davies said.

“I tell you what, no, we don’t have a subpoena. We could get one if that becomes necessary and if we need a copy of it. Can you explain how they work, these policies without getting into specifics of Priscilla’s?”

“Sure, yeah, I can do that. They’re for high ranking management personnel,” Davies said.

“Priscilla was an executive vice president,” Melissa said.

“And she owned a piece of the company. We insured her life primarily to give us money to search for a replacement. But, in Priscilla’s case, the money will be paid to the business and we will pay off the family, Priscilla’s heirs, to redeem her stock. Buy back her shares.”

“So, this will become part of her estate,” Melissa said.

“Exactly. To be distributed through her Will,” Davies said.

“Did she have a Will?” Lucy asked.

Davies hesitated and looked around deciding whether or not to answer that question.

“Yes,” he finally decided, “We made sure she did. I don’t know what’s in it and we do not have a copy. But she assured us she had one.”

“What happens if the family, or whoever her heirs are, decide the life insurance amount is not enough? That they believe her shares are worth more?” Melissa asked.

“Then we have a problem. Our stock is not publicly traded so there is no market value. We could end up in court. I have been told by our CPA firm; the amount is reasonable and will be accepted. But, you’re right, the heirs could dispute it.”

“Do you know who has a copy of her Will?” Lucy asked.