Chapter 8: Rain

It rained all Wednesday, and by evening Jill's kitchen sink had started leaking onto the floor.

"It's fine," Jill said, holding a bowl under the pipe. "It's a character-building leak."

"It's a puddle," I said.

"A puddle with character."

She grabbed her keys. "The hardware store closes at seven. Don't let it flood."

She left, and the door shut behind her, and I stood in a wet kitchen with a mop.

June was asleep in the next room under the quilt, with the bear half out of her backpack and the backpack on her pillow.

At six-forty someone knocked.

Ross Ellery stood on the landing with rain running off his coat and a leather folder under his arm.

"The ledger," he said. "My assistant finished it. I'd rather not email it."

"You came in person to hand me a debt."

"You wanted a date and a number."

"The award is still on for Friday," he said. "Derek listed Gwen and her son as his family. I haven't stopped it."

"You're letting him walk in and collect it?"

"I'm letting him walk in," he said.

I let him in.

He looked at the puddle, the bowl and the mop.

"How long has that been leaking?"

"Since about the time you said you'd rather not email."

He set the folder on the table, took off his coat and rolled his sleeves to the elbow.

"Where's the wrench?"

"You're the CEO of an insurance company."

"My grandfather made every Ellery learn a trade," he said, already on the floor with his head under the sink. "Mine was plumbing. Hand me the light."

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