Free Mysteries of Holt House - A Mystery by Marja McGraw Page A

help you?”
    Sharon snickered and I gave her a dirty
look.
    A man’s voice said, “Yes, I’m calling
about your ad in the paper. I’d like to make an appointment to come out and
take a look at the place.” The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t
quite place it.
    “Would one o’clock be convenient?” I
asked.
    “That’s perfect. I’ll see you then.” He
hung up before I could get his name.
    I tapped my appointment book with my
fingertip and glanced at Sharon. “This guy’s voice sounded familiar, but I
don’t know who it could have been.”

 
    Chapter
Eleven
    It was about half an hour before the
telephone rang again. I picked up the receiver and heard a woman’s voice. Her
name was Ruth Bell, and she’d be out at one-thirty to see the rooms. She
sounded quite timid or shy over the phone.
    I was happy that I’d received two calls so
early. It made me feel that people were interested in the ad. Maybe I should
have taken up writing for a living.
    “Lucy, how would you like to officially
begin work today?” I asked. “I figured it would be a couple of weeks before
everyone started moving in, but I guess I was wrong.”
    “I’ve been wondering when you’d ask. I
started this morning. You just didn’t know it.”
    “Okay, you’re on salary. And thanks!”
    The telephone rang again.
    “I don’t believe this.” I was having fun
and smiling from ear to ear.
    By the time I hung up I had James Thomas
coming out at two o’clock. He sounded very cheerful. Funny how you develop
opinions about people just from hearing their voices. I had a feeling I’d like
this guy. I was doing exactly what I’d chastised Lucy about; making snap
judgments.
    I received two more calls that morning.
Marion Webster and Richard English would be over on Sunday to have a look
around. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
    “Uh oh,” Lucy said, jumping up. “It’s
almost eleven-thirty. I’d better get lunch started.”
    “Need any help?” I asked.
    “No, I can handle it. We’ll do soup and
sandwiches today.”
    “Yeah, okay. I’ll get out of your hair.
Come on Sharon. I’ll fill you in on a couple of my latest ideas.”
    We left the kitchen, heading out toward
the garden.
    “I’m going to have a gazebo built in the
center of the garden.” I pointed at the bare spot.
    “That’s great idea. I’d almost be willing
to bet that’s what was planned for the space anyway. It would be perfect with
the garden surrounding it. In fact, why don’t you see if you can have music
piped in? That would really make it pleasant.” She was getting into the spirit
of the project.
    “What would I do without you? That’s a
terrific idea. I’ll talk to Mike and see if he can do the music, too. What the
heck, if I’m going to do this, I might as well do it right.”
    We headed for the house, ran into Josh
sitting at the patio table, and after the introductions we decided to wander
around the property some more. I wasn’t sure if it was mere chance or not, but before
I knew it we had wandered right into David.
    “I’ll pick up the lumber on Monday and get
started on that fence,” he said, looking at Sharon instead of me. “It’ll be a
simple job.”
    “Good. If you have any other suggestions,
let me know and I’ll see what we can do,” I said, trying to get his attention.
    I prayed I’d fill the house with people
fast, at least before I ran out of money. I was spending like a drunken sailor.
    Sharon glanced at her watch. “It’s time
for lunch.”
    “I guess we’d better go eat,” I said.
    The three of us walked companionably back
to the house where we found Lucy putting the food out for us.
    Lucy and David ate in the kitchen, while
the rest of us ate in the dining room. Lunch was what I would call polite. We
didn’t know Josh, and the three of us were a little subdued at first. He was
congenial though, so it wasn’t uncomfortable, just polite. We finished eating
and Josh retired back to the patio