politeness, without too much enthusiasm. After all, uppermost in their minds must surely be the rent, so far not mentioned.
“You could have the use of the shed there,” Josie said. “It’s a bit scruffy, but it does lock. We don’t keep any shop stock there because of the damp. But you might be able to fix that? Or we could get Dad to do it.”
“That looks most useful,” Justin said. “I am quite happy to damp proof, so long as my handiwork is satisfactory!”
“And over there is the parking place. No garage, I’m afraid, but once the garden gate is locked, it’s all quite secure.”
“Excellent,” said Justin. “Now, perhaps we could go back in and talk about finance. The rent was not mentioned in your advertisement, and I would like to settle everything in advance, if that is satisfactory.”
“I’m afraid my husband is not back from work, but he will let you know the rent and the financial side of it,” Lois said. “We do have two more applicants coming tomorrow,” she lied. “And, of course, we shall need references. My husband will deal with all that, once we have made the necessary checks.”
Blast! thought Justin. He had wanted to clinch the deal straightaway. The shop flat would be ideal for his purposes, with the garden shed. Josie had obviously taken to him, so his chances were good. He had no alternative but to agree, and said he would look forward to hearing from them very soon. References could be delivered to them tomorrow.
*
H e drove back to T resham and his cluttered bed-sitter, changed out of his good suit, and pulled on some jeans and a sweater. There were rehearsals this evening, and he meant to look in. His time at drama school had not been wasted. Although he had not exactly made it to Carnegie Hall, he had a pleasant tenor voice and loved to sing. He often joined the chorus when the troupe put on a pantomime.
After a sausage roll and baked beans, he remembered he had to report to his uncle Robert. He would be much taken up with the drama of the woman in the monkey cage, but he had still found time to send a message to Justin to make sure the shop flat was his, even if it meant offering a little more than the asking price for rent.
“Hello? Uncle Robert, is that you? Can I come over and let you know how I got on with the very lovely Lois Meade and her equally lovely daughter? And I need a couple of references. Just up your street! Splendid. See you in half an hour or so.”
*
“ I ’m not too sure about him,” said J osie. “ I thought he was lovely, though a bit too smooth. What did you think, Mum?”
Gran and Lois sat on one side of the kitchen table, and Josie and her father the other.
Lois frowned. “Perhaps. But that’s the way they are these days. And if, as you say, he is an actor, then I suppose he can put it on whenever he likes.”
“Well, we’ll see what Derek thinks,” said Gran. “When are you going to see him, boy?”
“I think I can find time tomorrow afternoon,” Derek said. “Now, let’s talk about rent, and leases, and references and all of that. Then I shall be well prepared. As for his true identity, we can easily check. Now, Josie, you’d best be off back home. Matthew will be wondering if you’ve left him for good.”
After she had gone and Gran had retired to her bedroom, Lois and Derek sat on at the table for a while, pencilling out figures and deciding on questions to be asked.
At last Lois yawned, and said she was tired and ready for bed. “Derek,” she said, “don’t you wish we’d never decided to let the flat? It gets more and more complicated. And Josie’s not wholly happy about that Justin Brookes.”
“The money would be useful, me duck, and although I see your point, I think we should give him a go, provided everything else is in order. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“That’s what worries me,” said Lois.
Eighteen
P ettison’s ex-cleaner, M rs R ichardson, lived in one of the
“You could have the use of the shed there,” Josie said. “It’s a bit scruffy, but it does lock. We don’t keep any shop stock there because of the damp. But you might be able to fix that? Or we could get Dad to do it.”
“That looks most useful,” Justin said. “I am quite happy to damp proof, so long as my handiwork is satisfactory!”
“And over there is the parking place. No garage, I’m afraid, but once the garden gate is locked, it’s all quite secure.”
“Excellent,” said Justin. “Now, perhaps we could go back in and talk about finance. The rent was not mentioned in your advertisement, and I would like to settle everything in advance, if that is satisfactory.”
“I’m afraid my husband is not back from work, but he will let you know the rent and the financial side of it,” Lois said. “We do have two more applicants coming tomorrow,” she lied. “And, of course, we shall need references. My husband will deal with all that, once we have made the necessary checks.”
Blast! thought Justin. He had wanted to clinch the deal straightaway. The shop flat would be ideal for his purposes, with the garden shed. Josie had obviously taken to him, so his chances were good. He had no alternative but to agree, and said he would look forward to hearing from them very soon. References could be delivered to them tomorrow.
*
H e drove back to T resham and his cluttered bed-sitter, changed out of his good suit, and pulled on some jeans and a sweater. There were rehearsals this evening, and he meant to look in. His time at drama school had not been wasted. Although he had not exactly made it to Carnegie Hall, he had a pleasant tenor voice and loved to sing. He often joined the chorus when the troupe put on a pantomime.
After a sausage roll and baked beans, he remembered he had to report to his uncle Robert. He would be much taken up with the drama of the woman in the monkey cage, but he had still found time to send a message to Justin to make sure the shop flat was his, even if it meant offering a little more than the asking price for rent.
“Hello? Uncle Robert, is that you? Can I come over and let you know how I got on with the very lovely Lois Meade and her equally lovely daughter? And I need a couple of references. Just up your street! Splendid. See you in half an hour or so.”
*
“ I ’m not too sure about him,” said J osie. “ I thought he was lovely, though a bit too smooth. What did you think, Mum?”
Gran and Lois sat on one side of the kitchen table, and Josie and her father the other.
Lois frowned. “Perhaps. But that’s the way they are these days. And if, as you say, he is an actor, then I suppose he can put it on whenever he likes.”
“Well, we’ll see what Derek thinks,” said Gran. “When are you going to see him, boy?”
“I think I can find time tomorrow afternoon,” Derek said. “Now, let’s talk about rent, and leases, and references and all of that. Then I shall be well prepared. As for his true identity, we can easily check. Now, Josie, you’d best be off back home. Matthew will be wondering if you’ve left him for good.”
After she had gone and Gran had retired to her bedroom, Lois and Derek sat on at the table for a while, pencilling out figures and deciding on questions to be asked.
At last Lois yawned, and said she was tired and ready for bed. “Derek,” she said, “don’t you wish we’d never decided to let the flat? It gets more and more complicated. And Josie’s not wholly happy about that Justin Brookes.”
“The money would be useful, me duck, and although I see your point, I think we should give him a go, provided everything else is in order. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“That’s what worries me,” said Lois.
Eighteen
P ettison’s ex-cleaner, M rs R ichardson, lived in one of the
Similar Books
