Waterson smiled, sure he had a rube well in hand. “As you can see, the property in question is located in an oil-rich section of the state. For reasons known only to them, the other oil companies have not chosen to purchase this particular property.”

“Have you contacted them about buying it?” Jake asked. “It looks like the oil deposit could be worth developing.”

“My clients prefer to sell to private individuals.” Waterson looked a bit uneasy.

Jake was suspicious now, as he was meant to be. “Who are your clients?”

Waterson cleared his throat. “They are, uh . . . They live in Germany.”

Jake whistled his amazement. “I can see why they don’t want to approach the oil companies, then.”

“Exactly. Those companies wouldn’t want to be seen doing business with Germans so soon after the war, particularly if they are sending money to our former enemies.”

“We don’t have a peace treaty yet, so they’re still our enemies,” Jake reminded him.

“Ahem, you’re right, of course, so you understand why it is necessary to keep the sale of this property private.”

“I understand completely,” Jake said solemnly, impressed by the detail Mr. Waterson had given this project.

“So do you still think you have a client who might be interested in purchasing this land?”

Jake rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I might. I’ll have to give it some thought and ask a few questions, but I do have a client or two who aren’t deeply concerned about, uh, following the rules.”

“I’m sure there are no rules about buying property owned by German nationals,” Mr. Waterson said hastily.

“No rules, but public opinion can be brutal, as you reminded me yourself. Can you give me an idea of how much acreage we’re talking about here and what would be a reasonable price?”

Waterson sighed. “My clients are not in a position to be greedy, of course, but I’d think ten dollars an acre seems fair.”

“And how many acres are we talking about?”

“Twenty-five thousand.”

Jake whistled again. “I don’t know if we could get that much, but let’s see. You’ll get a commission and so will I.”

“Naturally, Mr. Miller. Ten percent is the usual fee.”

“Each,” Jake clarified.

“Each,” Waterson confirmed. “How soon do you think you might find me a buyer?”

“Give me a few days.” He gave Waterson one of his business cards with the address of his fake office and a phone number that Harriet would answer.

“I will look forward to hearing from you, Mr. Miller.”

—

Did you have an enjoyable evening?” Elizabeth asked Jake when she was finally able to reach him on the telephone later that night.