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How on earth am I going to explain that there is a professional grade recording studio in this old house?
Suddenly, I’m thankful that Benjamin hid himself away in the closet.
“Oh, you know, just a hobby I was going to take up. I’m learning to play the piano.”
It’s the most ridiculous lie I’ve ever told.
“And you got all this stuff?” Gary eyes me dubiously.
“Sure! I thought I’d record a song or two,” I say brightly.
I hear a snort of laughter from the closet.
“Alrighty then.” Gary shakes his head, not even trying to hide how disconcerted he is. Without another word, he disappears into the depths of the recording studio.
I’m too embarrassed to even follow him downstairs, so I stay in the front hall. I swear I can hear the faintest chuckle from the closet.Goddamnit, Benjamin!
I can feel my cheeks turning crimson. I truly look 100% bonkers by now. No doubt, Gary is going to report back to the tiny community of Clover Springs that I’m off my rocker. I’m soon going to be known as Cooky Miss Kincaid, playing piano in her basement and living all alone in the big house as it crumbles around her.
“Well, that’ll do it!” Gary says brightly as he comes back upstairs. “Good news is, the foundation is in order. Looks like when you had that sound room put in, whoever did it had the good sense to bolster the foundation. Probably helped save the whole house, in fact.”
“Oh, thank goodness!” I let out an audible sigh of relief.
“What contractor did you use anyway?” Gary eyes me suspiciously. “I’m the only guy for miles around here.”
Oh no, is he offended?I better smooth this over, seeing as it looks likely I’ll be hiring Gary’s contracting company to do a LOT of work at Rose Manor.
“An out-of-town guy,” I say hurriedly. “You know, we just got your contact info from Pete’s Plumbing this morning. We didn’t realize there was such a skilled contractor in the area.”
I congratulate myself on flattering him and smoothing things over.
“We?” Gary asks suspiciously.“I!” I say hurriedly. “Sorry, it’s been a busy morning. So, do you have any idea how much all these repairs will cost?”
“I gotta get back and do a full tally with all the notes I’ve got here,” Gary says, waving his clipboard in the air. “You’ll get my full report in a couple days. It’s gone run at least $200k, I’d say.”
I feel my stomach drop. $200,000 is a hefty sum. But I remember my dad’s words on the phone this morning,fix whatever needs fixing.
“Well, thank you for coming, Gary,” I say, sticking out my hand to shake his. I’m becoming keenly aware of the fact that Benjamin’s hiding place has so far gone unnoticed and want to keep it that way.
“Sure thing, Miss Kincaid. That’s the kind of customer service you can expect from a local business, you know? Not like those big-time city slickers. I like to keep it personal.” He shakes my hand as he says the words, eyeing me sternly.
“I appreciate that, Gary.”
I open the front door and usher him out, peering through the peephole as he makes the way down the steps and into his pickup truck.
Only after he’s started the truck and driven away do I let out a sigh of relief, sliding my back down the front door as I sink to the floor.
This is going to be even worse than I thought.
Chapter Four
Lacy
“Hegone?”Amuffledvoice comes from the closet.
“Yep.”
“Two-hundred-thousand dollars?!” Benjamin bursts out of the closet, his face red.
