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I nodded. “There is none, and even if there was, I don’t know if it would work, but I think I need to make it a priority.”
“We can call the electric company this morning,” Dad reassured me. “Once it’s turned back on with them, we can move forwards.”
Stan bobbed his head in agreement. “Hey—heard about that little chat you had with that rat, Declan Tierney, last night. That why you’re after the cameras?”
“Yeah. I don’t trust him,” I said honestly. “I wouldn’t put it past him to do something to force me to sell it.”
“You’re right not to. I wouldn’t trust that prick as far as I could throw him, and I used to do shotput. ’Scuse me French,” he added at the end. “Don’t usually swear in the front of a lady.”
My lips twitched into a smile. “Don’t worry. I’ve called him worse in my head.”
Stan chuckled. “Tell you what, Charlotte. Get that electricity of yours turned on down there today, and I’ll swing by tonight after work with a portable router. Only works off data, mind, but it’s come in pretty handy, and should do you until you get the internet on. I’ll set that camera up for you, too, and give the place a quick once-over. No charge.”
I blinked at him for a second. I’d completely forgotten he was an electrician. “Oh, no, Stan, I can’t ask that of you. I’m happy to pay for your—”
“Nope,” he said firmly. “Your grandpa was there for me when Penny died, and I was never able to repay him. Least I can do is make sure it’s safe for you.”
I pressed my lips together in a grateful smile. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
Dad touched my shoulder. “When you’re done there, why don’t you join us for dinner tonight?” he asked the other man. “God knows we’ve got enough food to feed the entire street.”
Stan looked at him, smiled, and nodded. “O’right. I’ll like that. Ta.” He turned to me with a twinkle in his eye. “Right. Be there about six, Charlotte, if that works.”
“That’s perfect. Thank you so much.”
With another nod of his head, he trudged back inside his house and closed the door behind him, and I swung my attention back to my dad.
“That’s really kind of him,” I said softly.
“Sure is,” Dad said, motioning for me to follow him back inside. When I had, he shut the door. “Penny died about twelve years ago, if I remember correctly. They didn’t have any family here—they’d only lived here a year or so at the time, and Stan didn’t have anyone to support him. No kids or anything, and your grandpa took him under his wing and looked after him through his grief, so I suspect he’s happy to have some way to repay that.”
“Was that Stanley I heard outside?” Mum asked, coming downstairs while tying the belt of her dressing gown.
Dad smiled at her. “Yes. I’m glad you’re awake, dear. We need to call the electricity company to get it turned on at The Ivy.”
“Ah, of course.” Mum secured the rope belt with another knot and pushed her hair behind her ears. “I suppose you need me for that, don’t you?”
“We do, because Stan is going to give the electrics a once over later on, and it’ll be much more helpful with it working.”
Mum grinned at me, although the sadness of her grief still lingered in her gaze. “Then can someone make a cup of tea while I undoubtedly suffer through at least twenty minutes of godawful hold music?”
CHAPTER SIX
The lights worked.
Under Stan’s advice, I was to turn off the electrics to the main area of the house once I’d confirmed they were working. He wanted to run a couple of tests I didn’t exactly understand, but I would flip the trip switches like he’d said.
The annexe had been an extension about twenty years ago, and it had its own trip switch box thingymabob, so he was quite happy for me to use the electrics in here instead of the main house.
I couldn’t be happier about that.
I wasn’t, however, happy about having to venture into the main building with my friend, the dead badger.
Not that he was my friend.
I just really hoped the box with the switches was not in the kitchen.
Mum seemed to think it was in the laundry room, and that wasn’t any better. It was right next to the wildlife morgue, and there was no way I’d be able to avoid that smell. It was kind of noticeable in the annexe, to be perfectly honest, and I was absolutely dreading having to get rid of it.
