Free The Florentine Deception by Carey Nachenberg Page A

the seller will be patching up the staircase before the sale. It’s nothing to worry about.”
    â€œI know,” I said. “I just wanted to see the space once more before I make my decision.”
    â€œI understand. Sorry for the trouble.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I think I’ll take another look at the backyard.”
    â€œBe my guest.”
    Without another word, I proceeded out the back door and flipped on the walkie-talkie.

Chapter 13
    Following the gravel path to the rear-left side of the property, I found a small, hand-built wooden shed set amongst a thicket of bamboo. An imposing padlock prevented entry. Gardening supplies, probably. But it could be an unassuming place to hide a small safe too. I lowered onto my haunches to peer through a knot about a foot from the gravel.
    â€œBreaker breaker,” squawked the speaker. Startled, I jerked, nearly toppling backward. I steadied myself then pulled the walkie-talkie from my pocket.
    â€œYou find something?”
    â€œMaybe. I need a little help. I plotted the dimensions of all the second-story rooms on my graph paper.” Chirp. “Now I’m in the attic, and I’m having difficulty figuring out what’s where. These rooms are so oddly shaped, it’s not easy.”
    â€œSo what do you need me to do?” I asked, my stomach tensing in anticipation.
    â€œWalk through the rooms and tell me which ones have recessed lighting. I can see the backsides of the fixtures popping up through the insulation, so once you tell me how many lights are in each room, I should be able to reconcile.”
    â€œI’ll be right there.”
    Regina, lost in her magazine, ignored me as I passed through the kitchen.
    â€œI think I’ll take a look at the upstairs rooms again. I really like the master,” I said nonchalantly. Regina looked up, delivered a wide, toothy smile, nodded, and then returned to her matrimonial planning.
    Steven had placed a ladder in the middle of the second floor hallway, just beneath the hatch to the attic.
    â€œWhere’d you get the ladder?” I voiced into the walkie-talkie.
    â€œJust what kind of business do you think Crouch Home Inspections is? A full service operation. I brought it in the truck.”
    â€œImpressive.” I lowered the volume and continued. “Okay. I’m here. What next?”
    â€œI’m standing right next to the light fixture about twenty feet west of the hatch. Do me a favor and figure out what room it’s in.”
    â€œOne sec.” I walked down the hall and looked into each of the two smaller bedrooms.
    â€œThe hexagonal bedroom has a ceiling fan with lights. There’s nothing in the other room.”
    â€œTurn it on for a sec.”
    I yanked the fan’s chain and it began to whir.
    â€œYeah, that’s it. One second,” squawked the walkie-talkie. “Okay. From here, about thirty feet north of the fixture is a group of, let’s see, nine, ten, eleven—eleven recessed lights. See if you can find which room they’re in.”
    â€œI think that’s near the back of the house.”
    I proceeded downstairs and into the tri-level den. Scanning the room, I saw eight large bulbs sunk into the ceiling. Fearing that Regina would hear our exchange, I stepped into the hallway bathroom and eased the door shut.
    â€œThere’re eight big recessed lights in the den, and the ones closest to the backyard are about six feet from the back wall.”
    â€œHmmm. That’s strange,” said Steven.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYou’re sure there are only eight bulbs?”
    â€œI’m sure. Just the eight.”
    â€œSo where are the other three? I’m looking at one parallel group of three and two groups of four sticking out of the insulation.”
    â€œMaybe the other three lights are in an adjoining room? Isn’t the master bedroom on the other side of the living room wall?”
    â€œI’m a