Mountain Street? I’ve just listed it, and buyers are always fascinated by historical details.”
“Really, Charlotte, we can’t use the Society computer for personal projects,” Victoria huffed.
“All they need to know about that old place is that if the termites stop holding hands, it’ll fall down around them,” Stella stated.
The woman named Charlotte drew back her head. “With a little imagination and effort, the Randolph house could be made quite charming. I think we should take pride in our old structures.”
It was an admirable enough statement, but the woman came off sounding stuffy, pretentious, and holier-than-thou.
“Okay, I’ll see if I can find anything.” Stella waved a dismissive hand. “Right now we have something more important. We have the perfect candidate for our librarian position, and if we don’t grab her right now we’ll lose her.”
I doubted that, but I didn’t contradict her.
Stella pointed at me. “This is Ivy Malone. She was a librarian for thirty years. And she knows all about computers.”
Charlotte gave a small blink, and I realized that until then she hadn’t even noticed me behind the desk at the computer. So I hadn’t lost my invisibility after all. Good. Sometimes it comes in handy.
“This is Charlotte Sterling,” Stella added to me. “She works part-time for Cutter Realty.”
Charlotte shot Stella a sour look, as if she thought her position warranted a more complimentary description than that. But what I was thinking was, Sterling. Some relation to Kelli’s boyfriend?
I held out my hand and took a chance. “I believe I met your son yesterday.” Okay, lay it on thick. I needed this job. “The prominent lawyer, Chris Sterling? Kelli Keifer introduced us.”
“You’re the people living in her uncle’s house?” She gave me a sharper examination, and I nodded. “Chris mentioned Kelli was letting someone live there when I stopped by the office a few minutes ago.”
“She’s going to help investigate the murder,” Stella volunteered brightly.
“Really?” Charlotte asked. “Would you have time to do that and work here for the Historical Society too?”
I was a little surprised that none of the three women seemed to question the investigative capabilities I’d so rashly claimed, and that Charlotte was more concerned about the time element, but I was happy to take a detour down this path. “Actually, we haven’t discussed working hours yet. Or pay,” I said with deliberate emphasis.
Stella said they opened the Historical Society Building only three days a week at this time of year, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with hours from ten to four, which is when I’d be expected to work. Victoria produced an hourly payment figure that was indeed at pittance level. No health insurance or other benefits, she emphasized. At that rate of pay both the motor home and I might turn to dust before I could buy a new engine.
I couldn’t produce cheers of joy, but a job is a job, and I said, “That sounds satisfactory.” We all looked at Charlotte Sterling as if she held the deciding vote.
“Sounds fine to me, if that’s what everyone else wants.” Surprising me, Charlotte turned to me and smiled with unexpected warmth. “I’m sure Ivy can handle the position most capably. Welcome to Hello.” She shook my hand with continuing warmth. “I think you’ll like it here.”
Maybe she thought I’d be buying real estate soon.
Stella told Charlotte she’d let her know if she located anything about the Randolph house, and Charlotte, with a brisk tapping of high-heeled boots, departed. I noted now that the open door to the side of the main room revealed a well-equipped kitchen, a TV set, and a number of round tables. Perhaps this was where the important business, CT & G, of the Society took place.
Stella was now poking through desk drawers. “There are probably some forms to fill out, but I’ll have to call Marianne and find out what they are. And
“Really, Charlotte, we can’t use the Society computer for personal projects,” Victoria huffed.
“All they need to know about that old place is that if the termites stop holding hands, it’ll fall down around them,” Stella stated.
The woman named Charlotte drew back her head. “With a little imagination and effort, the Randolph house could be made quite charming. I think we should take pride in our old structures.”
It was an admirable enough statement, but the woman came off sounding stuffy, pretentious, and holier-than-thou.
“Okay, I’ll see if I can find anything.” Stella waved a dismissive hand. “Right now we have something more important. We have the perfect candidate for our librarian position, and if we don’t grab her right now we’ll lose her.”
I doubted that, but I didn’t contradict her.
Stella pointed at me. “This is Ivy Malone. She was a librarian for thirty years. And she knows all about computers.”
Charlotte gave a small blink, and I realized that until then she hadn’t even noticed me behind the desk at the computer. So I hadn’t lost my invisibility after all. Good. Sometimes it comes in handy.
“This is Charlotte Sterling,” Stella added to me. “She works part-time for Cutter Realty.”
Charlotte shot Stella a sour look, as if she thought her position warranted a more complimentary description than that. But what I was thinking was, Sterling. Some relation to Kelli’s boyfriend?
I held out my hand and took a chance. “I believe I met your son yesterday.” Okay, lay it on thick. I needed this job. “The prominent lawyer, Chris Sterling? Kelli Keifer introduced us.”
“You’re the people living in her uncle’s house?” She gave me a sharper examination, and I nodded. “Chris mentioned Kelli was letting someone live there when I stopped by the office a few minutes ago.”
“She’s going to help investigate the murder,” Stella volunteered brightly.
“Really?” Charlotte asked. “Would you have time to do that and work here for the Historical Society too?”
I was a little surprised that none of the three women seemed to question the investigative capabilities I’d so rashly claimed, and that Charlotte was more concerned about the time element, but I was happy to take a detour down this path. “Actually, we haven’t discussed working hours yet. Or pay,” I said with deliberate emphasis.
Stella said they opened the Historical Society Building only three days a week at this time of year, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with hours from ten to four, which is when I’d be expected to work. Victoria produced an hourly payment figure that was indeed at pittance level. No health insurance or other benefits, she emphasized. At that rate of pay both the motor home and I might turn to dust before I could buy a new engine.
I couldn’t produce cheers of joy, but a job is a job, and I said, “That sounds satisfactory.” We all looked at Charlotte Sterling as if she held the deciding vote.
“Sounds fine to me, if that’s what everyone else wants.” Surprising me, Charlotte turned to me and smiled with unexpected warmth. “I’m sure Ivy can handle the position most capably. Welcome to Hello.” She shook my hand with continuing warmth. “I think you’ll like it here.”
Maybe she thought I’d be buying real estate soon.
Stella told Charlotte she’d let her know if she located anything about the Randolph house, and Charlotte, with a brisk tapping of high-heeled boots, departed. I noted now that the open door to the side of the main room revealed a well-equipped kitchen, a TV set, and a number of round tables. Perhaps this was where the important business, CT & G, of the Society took place.
Stella was now poking through desk drawers. “There are probably some forms to fill out, but I’ll have to call Marianne and find out what they are. And
Similar Books
