Chapter 24

The old fuzzy looking guy actually gave a short laugh as he handed the identification back to Norm. Then the guy chuckled, “I didn’t know we still had Rangers any more. I thought they all got disbanded when I was a kid.”

“No sir,” Norm replied in an upbeat fashion, “we’re alive and well, thank you very much.”

Danni stood behind Norm but, was extra careful not to touch a single thing in this dinky little office. She was afraid she might contract a fatal disease if she did. The building itself was a defunct motel. This old guy, Grayson Wallace Smokes, now used it’s front office as his own. He also seemed to rent out the few remaining, serviceable, hotel rooms on a weekly basis, only. The place seemed to be more flop house than anything else. Despite appearances, the sign out front said this was a real estate office even if the inside looked to be anything but.

As Norm small talked with the guy, Danni looked around the room. The first thing she noticed was the shot gun, leaning in a corner, just behind Smokes desk. She might have thought it a threat but, considering this part of town and his renters, she might have been more surprised not to see one.

The weapon was most definitely serviceable. It was probably the only thing in the office that did not have a thick layer of dust on it. Even the guy’s family pictures had a layer so thick it was nearly impossible to tell who was in the photos. Most of the pictures were not even on a proper shelf. Those spots were already covered in useless junk. He kept the pictures on a window ledge that seemed to have successfully beaten back an encroaching pile of trash.

Danni picked up a picture and blew away some of the dust. The man in the picture was definitely a much younger Smokes. The little girl that he was joyfully playing with was probably a lot older now. Danni figured the guy probably did not care too much about whoever it was. Not only did he let the pictures get dusty but, they were on the other side of the room from where his desk sat.

“Hey,” Smokes called out interrupting Norm, “little girl. Do you mind?”

“It’s Agent Nguyen,” Danni told him. Then she sat the picture down and apologetically added, “and sorry.”

Smokes went right back to his original train of thought as if he had never spoke to Danni, “like I was saying Mister Scoggins. I have no clue who owns that property over on Austin Street. I just manage it. That’s what my company does. I have to leave the buying and selling of properties to people who can afford it.”

Norm thought about it and then asked, “I don’t understand. Somebody pays you to run the place. You don’t know who?”

“Look,” Smokes went on, “it’s real simple. Buying commercial properties isn’t like buying a house. Most of them cost too much for any one person to foot the bill. You’d be lucky to find a bank that would even listen to you under those circumstances. What usually happens is somebody finds a group of investors. They collectively come up with a down payment and put the money in a trust. That money sits in the bank and guarantee’s that loan. I get paid off the interest from that trust.”

Norm nodded and then asked, “so the bank hires you?”
“Sometimes,” Smokes replied. “Other times it could be for a corporation, you know? A company that somebody starts specifically to trade in real estate.”

“I didn’t know that,” Norm said turning on his charm. Danni was not even sure which was the most shocking. Hearing Norman Scoggins say that he did not know something or, seeing him with charm. Norm did not notice the funny look he was getting. He just continued, “would PBS be one of those companies?”

Smokes laughed and slapped his hand on his desk. A pile of junk moved when he did. He then said, “I only wish.” Then the man turned somewhat sour, “they’re pretty new on the block. They showed up about two years ago, strictly small time, mostly listing residential properties and stuff like that. Then a few months ago they really moved up town. They got a lot of cash behind them now. They’re strictly a one stop shopping kind of place. They buy, they sell, and they manage. They don’t ever bring in people like me.”

Danni put her hands on her hips and then asked, “so you don’t have anything to do with them?”

“Not likely sweetheart,” Smokes replied. “They’re too good for the likes of me and a half a dozen other guys in my position. Right now, they’re eating up property like they’re some kind of ravenous beast.” Smokes stopped rattling on and thought hard for a second. Then he looked genuinely happy when he said, “you don’t think they got something to do with all my vandalism problems, do you?”

Norm nodded to the man in a polite fashion and said, “well that’s what we’re trying to find out Mister Smokes. Have you had any problems at other places you manage?”

“Sure have,” Smokes was extraordinarily happy, “but I couldn’t say rightly which ones off the top of my head. Only reason why I remember

Austin Street was because of one or two particulars. I tell you what, I’d have to ask my accountant. He’d know.”
Norm asked, “is he around?”

“Oh no,” Smokes replied, “I can’t afford anybody full time. He’s been part timing with me for years. He’s really a lawyer, but real estate books is what he specializes in. He does books for most of the small timers like me.”

Norm nodded again and then asked, “you wouldn’t happen to know where we could find him, would you?”

“Yeah,” Smoke enthusiastically agreed, “I might be able too. His name is Gregory, um, Greg Beckett.”