Page 75 of Finding Forever

Acoustic battens.

Beth stopped. The acoustic treatment in the music room had been installed earlier that week. She’d gone in yesterday and admired the finished result, but what she’d seen wasn’t the same as the picture on the original quote.

She read the product description twice. Then she left her office and walked quickly to the music room. The new acoustic battens covered each wall, giving the room a warm, finished appearance. They were definitely different from what she’d ordered. And, unless she was very much mistaken, they were considerably more expensive.

She stepped out of the music room, looking for Hank. He was farther along the hallway, fitting a handle to one of the doors. “Hank?”

He glanced at her. “What’s up?”

“Do you know where these acoustic battens came from?”

His hand paused. It was barely noticeable, but Beth saw it. “The supplier, I assume.”

“I know that.” She pointed toward the music room. “They aren’t the ones I ordered.”

Hank returned his attention to the handle. “You’ll have to ask Dave.”

Beth’s unease sharpened. “Did Dave change the order?”

“I don’t deal with the accounts, Beth.”

That wasn’t an answer. “Hank?”

He sighed and looked at her. “Dave handles most of the construction orders. I just install what turns up.”

Beth studied him for a moment. There was something he wasn’t telling her. But with an eighteen-thousand-dollar sewer repair hanging over them, she didn’t have time to drag it out of him.

She returned to her office, and this time, she checked everything. The shelving in the storeroom caught her attention next.

Beth had chosen reasonably priced metal units. What had been installed was heavier, commercial-grade shelving that looked as though it could survive for decades.

She found the invoice. It was for the cheaper shelves.

Beth leaned closer to the screen. That couldn’t be right. She checked the order number against her paperwork, then walked into the storeroom and found the manufacturer’s label on one of the uprights. It was a different product.

Back at her desk, she checked the cupboard hardware. Same problem. The hinges installed throughout the center were better than the ones listed on the invoice.

She went through the timber purchases next. Some receipts were there. Others weren’t. By lunchtime, papers covered most of her desk.

Beth sat back and rubbed her forehead. For weeks, she’d been relieved that the renovation budget was holding together despite everything they’d added. She’d congratulated herself on careful purchasing and Dave’s ability to negotiate good prices.

Now it didn’t make sense. The center hadn’t received cheaper materials. It had received better ones. And somehow the accounts weren’t showing the true cost.

Her phone rang. Natalie’s name appeared on the screen.

Beth answered. “Hi.”

“I’m checking that we’re still meeting tomorrow to go through the opening arrangements.”

“Yes. Ten o’clock.”

There was a brief silence. “Is everything all right, Beth? You sound distracted.”

She looked at the invoices. “We’ve found a problem with the sewer line. Part of the old pipe has collapsed.”

“Oh, no.”

“The plumber thinks it’ll cost about eighteen thousand dollars.”