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talent. And I can’t face the non-state of our non-finances on an empty stomach.”
    “Is it really that bad?”
    “Always. And total mayhem at the start. But somehow we keep muddling through. Meri, remember the first day on the Wilkinses’ Farm?”
    “Do I have to? The stone house had survived for almost two hundred years up until it was declared a historic home and okayed for restoration. We walked into a foot of water. A pipe had burst. Fortunately it happened only that morning. You’ve never seen people move so fast to pump out the water before it stained the fieldstone.”
    “You’ve all worked together a long time?”
    “Yeah,” Meri said. “I weaseled my way into an internship with Doug while I was in college, before I really knew what I was doing.”
    Geordie’s stomach bottomed out. Was Meri giving her a subtle hint?
    Carlyn thumped her chest. “I fortunately knew what I was doing from the get-go.”
    “Finance major,” Meri said. “I got her hooked on architecture and the rest is history.”
    “That’s really neat. I mean that you’re friends and colleagues and everything.”
    The two women exchanged smiles, a kind of camaraderie Geordie couldn’t remember having.
    “Yeah it is,” Carlyn said.
    “And karaoke partners,” Meri added. “Hey, it’s hard being the new kid. You’ll find your way. By the way, can you sing?”
    B RUCE LEFT THE plans with Doug and drove to Middletown to check on the progress of the Lovells’ bathroom renovation, stopping only long enough to drive through a fast-food place and down a hamburger while he drove.
    The fixtures had been put in, the plumbers had come and gone. He spent the afternoon measuring and laying backsplash tile, while one tiler came in to do the cuts.
    It was dark by the time he climbed back into his old Kia and headed for home. Man and car both needed a bath, and the Kia needed new brakes. Like that was going to happen. He might be biking it before the winter set in. Or maybe the Lowells would give him a big tip.
    He’d meant to check on a kitchen/great room demolition, but he was just too tired. But he did swing by to see if Doug was still on-site.
    Doug’s car was gone, but Carlyn’s was in the parking lot, along with Meri’s bike and Geordie’s little sports car. The Dumpster had been delivered and was already piled high with junk. He probably should have stayed to help oversee the clean out, but Meri was more than capable. He was just turning into a control freak and that was not a good thing.
    He parked at the back door and took a few deep breaths before going inside. The hall was dark but he could hear laughter coming from down the hall.
    It was coming from the annex. What could the girls be doing in there at this hour?
    He groped his way toward the sound and poked his head in the open door. The room was only partially lit, enough to show a pizza box and a six-pack of soda. The three of them were sitting at the table behind Geordie’s laptop.
    Were they helping her to organize her slides? Honestly, if she couldn’t do the most basic work by herself, she really needed to be off the project.
    She saw him first. Froze like a deer in headlights then jabbed at the projector. The room suddenly went dark. Leaving the women barely silhouetted against the little light from the hall.
    Carlyn stood and a second later the overhead light came on.
    No one gave him any kind of explanation. Just looked.
    “Is Doug still around?” he asked, knowing it was a stupid question, because Doug’s car was gone.
    “He left about an hour ago, “ Meri said. “We’ve just been looking at—” She broke off. “Can I do anything for you?”
    “No.” They were acting awfully suspicious. “Did you finish documenting your photos?”
    Geordie didn’t answer. Damn her, he wasn’t an ogre. “Well?”
    Carlyn struck one of her poses. “Signed.”
    Meri mimicked the same pose. “Sealed.”
    He waited, but Geordie didn’t join in. She just gave him a