Free Medium Well (9781101599648) by Meg Benjamin

rehearsal again.”
    â€œI’m on my way.” She started toward the street. “Did you listen to that MP3 I sent you?”
    â€œYeah.” He snorted. “Cab Calloway? Come on, Biddy.”
    â€œTrust me. It’s us.” She grimaced as the call-waiting sound chirped in her ear. “Look, I’ve got another call, but I’ll be there as soon as I can. Honestly. I’m moving as I speak.” She clicked on the incoming call, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, Sis?”
    â€œDid he take it?” Biddy thought she could hear Araceli’s fingernails tapping on her desktop. Probably her imagination.
    â€œMr. Henderson? He said he’d get back to us. He didn’t seem too impressed, though. He thought the house was dirty.”
    â€œSo?” This time she definitely heard tapping. “Of course it’s dirty. The carriage house hasn’t been occupied for thirty years at least. I think Beatrice Steadman just used it for storage. Ramos should have been able to talk him through that. That’s standard stuff.”
    â€œMr. Ramos did talk to him, but Mr. Henderson didn’t listen. He didn’t say no, though. Just that he wanted to consider it.”
    Her sister snorted. “Shorthand for no sale. Something’s going on with Danny Ramos. He used to be able to close a sale within a couple of days. He’s either losing his touch or he’s up to something.”
    Biddy’s shoulders tightened. “‘Up to something’? Like what?”
    â€œLike trying to queer the deal so that he can buy the place himself—or have somebody else do it for him. For a cut-rate price.” Her sister sounded as if she’d bitten into something very sour. “I’ve worked with salesmen who pulled that before. Only I won’t let him get away with it in my office. I’m going to call Big Al about this.”
    â€œNo, Sis, don’t do that!” Biddy managed to keep her voice level. “Mr. Ramos is really trying to sell the house. But it’s a very tough sell. I mean, have you ever seen the place? It’s a dump.”
    â€œYou don’t have any idea what he’s trying to do, Biddy. You’ve only worked for him for a couple of months. You’re just starting out. I know this business. Believe me, it’s more than possible that he’s trying to pull something here.”
    â€œAraceli, he’s not doing anything like that. Honestly, he’s not. He’s doing his best to sell the place. It’s just . . .
really
hard to sell.” Mainly because he freaked out every time he walked in the door. Biddy paused at the corner of the patio, trying to think of a way to end the call.
    Her sister’s voice dropped an octave. “Okay, you’re so sure he’s trying—prove it to me.”
    â€œProve it?” Biddy pinched the bridge of her nose. “How am I supposed to prove it, Araceli? You either believe me or you don’t.”
    â€œFrom now on, give me a report about everything that happens with him. And I do mean everything—hour by hour if you need to. You send it to me by e-mail at the end of the day. Every day. Starting now.”
    â€œA report?” Biddy felt the beginning of an ache at the base of her skull. “You mean you want me to spy on him?”
    â€œCall it whatever you want. If he’s honest, it won’t make any difference to him if you tell me what he does. I need to know everything that goes on, in detail, Biddy! I’m the manager here; I don’t need any surprises. You may not know what to look for, but I do.”
    â€œFine. Will you promise to stay off his case if I do this?”
    Araceli blew out an exasperated breath. “I’m running a business. I can’t promise something like that.”
    â€œYou can promise to back off and let both of us do our jobs. I can’t get anything done with you hovering like this.”