Page 47 of Smuggler's Cove

Madison gritted her teeth. “What happens now?” She was hoping for a quick resolution.

“We are trying to identify the body, and the coroner will have to determine cause of death. It could take days. Weeks. Months, if it was foul play.”

Madison was taking long, deep breaths.Months?“I see.” She wanted to get the show on the road. “What can we do to help?”

“Just a few questions. For now. Do you have a list of your uncle’s contacts? Friends? Associates? Other family members?”

Madison looked at Lincoln. “Honestly, we do not. I hesitate to say we were estranged from Uncle Kirby, but the communications became less frequent over the years.”

“I understand. Families can be like that.” He clicked his pen and jotted down a few notes. “Can you recall the last time you spoke to your uncle?”

Madison looked at Lincoln again. “Several years, I think.”

“And how did you come to find you inherited the marina?”

“Our family lawyer.”

“And did he mention how he came into that information?”

Lincoln spoke up. “No. It hadn’t occurred to me to ask.” He turned to his sister. “Maddie?”

“I didn’t think to ask, either. Does it matter?”

“Hard to say, but there had to be someone who knew how to get in touch with you after your uncle passed away.”

“I’ll call Sidney,” Madison offered. “May I?”

“Yes, of course,” Detective Burton answered. “If you don’t mind, you can use this.” He slid the black flying-saucer-looking phone in her direction. “Please put it on speaker.”

Madison shivered.Were they suspects?She pulled out her mobile and looked up Sidney’s private number, then dialed via the conference room phone.

“Sidney Rothberg,” he answered with a questioning tone.

“It’s Madison.” She paused.

“Madison. I did not recognize the number.” Sidney’s voice floated into the room.

“Lincoln and I are at the police station in Smuggler’s Cove. We are sitting with Detective Burton.”

“Are you alright? What happened?” Sidney’s voice was tense.

“After we got back yesterday, Detective Burton phoned and informed us that a body had been found tangled in some fishing lines under Uncle Kirby’s dock.”

“How dreadful.” Sidney’s voice lowered. “What happened?”

“No one knows. They do not know who the person is, either.”

“What can I do?” Sidney asked.

“Detective Burton was curious as to how you got the information about our inheritance. We do not know any of Uncle Kirby’s associates.”

“Interesting you should ask. I didn’t think anything of it, but the package was delivered by hand. It contained a letter of introduction from your uncle, which was handwritten, along with a copy of his will. I had everything checked out, and you and Lincoln are the owners of the marina. I sent you copies of everything.”

Lincoln chimed in. “There seems to be some question about tidewater rights, but we can discuss that later.”

“According to the paperwork, you own the dock and the building. I will check into the water rights as soon as we get off the phone. I apologize. It had not occurred to me.”

“Me either,” Lincoln said. “It was the real estate agent that brought it up.”