Accidentally Wild (The Wilder Brothers)

“He also said he was looking to invest in the area, sir. Asked me about the main players in the real estate investment industry down in South Carolina. Really picked my brain when he figured out I was stationed in Charleston,” Colton said.

“And what did you say?” Cash asked.

“Nothing. I own the game this man plays in this area. I’m not giving out my trade secrets,” Colton said.

“Then how did you know to tell my son about it?” my father asked.

“Because he already knew about the infamous Wilder family,” Colton said.

“He what?” Cash asked.

“Yep. Specifically asked me about you guys, actually. That’s what threw a red flag up in the back of my head. And when the mansion burned down, and Everett reached out to me, I was more than willing to speak with him,” Colton said.

“So, what did you learn on this newest trip there?” my father asked.

“Well, I figured out who this man works for. It’s a company called Cinder Block Enhancements. Don’t know much about it. There isn’t much chatter about it or its practices in the greater New York area,” Colton said.

“Which means they’re probably new,” my father said.

“But with the knowledge they have of the marketplace, they aren’t new people dealing in a new industry,” Cash said.

“Exactly,” Colton said.

“Do we have a name for this man?” my father asked.

I dipped into my back pocket and pulled out my wallet. I slid the card Colton gave me two weeks ago over to him and he picked it up. He did exactly what I did with it. Turned it over and around, looking for anything other than the name and the number on the piece of rectangular paper.

“This isn’t a business card,” my father said.

“No, sir. The man gave me his personal information. I had no want to use it until now,” Colton said.

“Why now?” Cash asked.

“Turns out, Cinder Block Enhancements has purchased a lovely property three blocks down from a rather infamous mansion that just burned down,” Colton said.

My eyes panned over to Cash and I could see his cheeks tinting with anger.

“What?” he asked.

“Yep. Heard it through the grapevine before I got a lovely little phone call from that personal number. How he got my information, I’ve got no idea. I sure as hell didn’t give it to him,” Colton said.

“So, this shadowy figure who can track down personal phone numbers and create companies out of thin air has purchased a mansion three blocks down from ours that burned to the ground,” I said.

“Yes,” Colton said plainly.

“We’ve got to go to the police, Dad,” I said.

“It’s a hell of a lot of coincidences, but it’s nothing substantial. The fire marshal nor the police will be able to do anything about it,” my father said.

“He’s right. It sucks, but he’s right,” Colton said.

“Then what can we do?” Cash asked.

“I’m not done with my story,” Colton said.

“Then finish it up, would you?” I asked.

“Son, be patient. He’s doing us a very big favor we didn’t ask him to do,” my father said.