“Nope. We don’t allow pets here.”
“Not even cats, though? They’re so quiet. Gizmo is the sweetest boy, really.”
“Except when he turns on faucets?”
“There is that.” I took a sip of my coffee. Deb did have some sort of magic when it came to making it, that was for sure. “I couldn’t leave him at the work site I found him at. I kept trying to find him a home and the shelters are just busting at the seams, and I was afraid he’d be euthanized.”
“I know, kiddo. I sympathize, but it’s in your license agreement, no pets.”
I braced myself. “So, what now? Do I get evicted?”
“We’re not going that far.”
Relief washed over me.
“We’ll have to use your security deposit for the damage. Some should be covered by your renter’s insurance. Did you have flood damage on it?”
One thing I didn’t mess with was policy coverage. Being in the rehab business, I knew that was stupid, even if it meant my premiums were a bit higher than the usual. “I have the max coverage, actually.”
“Good, then it should just be your deductible that will come out and some things that won’t be covered, I’m sure. We’ll figure it out, but you’ll have to find a home for the cat.”
“Yeah, I figured.” I already loved him so much. The idea of giving him to someone else made my heart hurt.
“Now, tell me why you look like you’ve been trying out for a disaster film.”
I laughed. “Do you get out to the lake much?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I’m usually working too much to get out there, but I have driven around there a few times.”
“The old Barrows house on the lake? The green Victorian...”
“Oh, right. The haunted one.”
My jaw dropped. “You’ve heard of her too?”
Deb laughed. “Yeah, that’s why no one has bought the old place. Every time someone does, they get driven away by the ghost.”
“No…” I leaned forward. “Really?”
She nodded. “One story I heard was that all the power tools stopped working when they tried to replace the roofline. The ladders kept getting toppled over and the workers would get stranded on the roof.”
My eyes widened. “That’s crazy.”
“Yeah. Wild goings on at that place.”
“How have I never heard about this? I love that house. I’ve done all the research about Harriette and her family.”
“Think you’re missing the important parts of the research. Check the haunted Reddit pages. You’ll be in for a wild ride. Is that your next job?”
I nodded. “A man by the name of Nolan Devereaux bought the property. I’m trying to convince him to let me rehab it with my company.”
“Well, from what I’ve heard, the ghost doesn’t like a lot of change.”
“How the heck did you hear about this?”
She shrugged and gave me a secret smile. “I know things.”
That was a fact. Deb Gordon was one of the few people who had stayed on after Warner had bought the building. He’d dismissed most of the old employees—all except for Deb. She knew everything about this city and the surrounding towns of Crescent Cove and Turnbull.
She patted my hand. “I expect updates from you on that house. I love all those ghost hunting shows. I gotta get back to the desk. Davis will be working on your kitchen tomorrow. He’s finishing up patching Amberly’s place today.”
“Okay. How long do I have to find a home for Gizmo?”
“A week.”
I winced. “Okay.”
“Just keep him away from the faucets.”
My cheeks reddened. “Got it.”
“Take a shower, sweetie. You’re a wreck.”
“Thanks, Deb,” I said wryly.
“Call ‘em like I see ‘em.” She winked and gathered her tablet and mug of coffee. “Have a good night.”
I was too tired for the stairs, so I headed for the elevators on the right side of the lobby. I lived on the second floor which had six one-bedroom apartments, three on either side. It was quiet since most of my neighbors were still at work.
