Dead Silver

9

A sizable heap of busted-up plaster and two beers later, Renee called to us from the doorway again, saying that some friends of hers had dropped by and they'd like to look around.

When we stepped outside this time, the sun had broken through a pocket in the clouds. The bright shock to my dust-filmed eyes made them tear up, blurring my glimpse of the two people with Renee. All I could tell was that she was standing beside another woman, with a man a little ways behind them, and that something about Renee seemed different. When I knuckled my vision clear, I realized that she was wearing a buff-colored leather shearling coat that she hadn't had on before. It was brand-new, with tags still hanging off a button.

She introduced the couple as Evvie and Lon Jessup, old family friends who lived a few miles south of Helena. Evvie was forty-plus, somewhat plain but elaborately groomed. Her hair was tinted a brittle red-orange that almost glittered. Lon was a sturdy, bearded guy several years older, who looked like he'd be at home working the land.

"Look what they gave me," Renee said, smoothing the coat's front with her hands. "Isn't it beautiful?" It was, indeed-at least a couple hundred bucks' worth of beautiful. And yet, there was something almost helpless about the way she spoke, like she was more embarrassed than pleased.

If Evvie sensed the same thing, it didn't show. She had a slow smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes, and when her smile deepened, so did the crinkles.

"Little Renee hasn't lived here in so long, we weren't sure she'd have anything warm enough to wear," she said.

Renee rolled her eyes. "'Little Renee.' You can tell we go back a long way."

"So many happy memories here," Evvie said with a sigh. "Such a beautiful house." Then she extended a hand to indicate the pile of rat trash. "But this mess. You poor dear." She gave Madbird and me a glance that seemed faintly accusing, as if we'd caused it.

"Evvie's in real estate," Renee said. "She's interested in handling the sale. Is it okay if we go into the study?"

So, there was a little more to this visit than a friendly call. Maybe more to the expensive gift, too-intended to make Renee feel obligated.

"It's not dangerous, just dirty," I said. "I'd take off that new coat, if I was you."

"We don't have to go inside, hon," Evvie told her. "I just need a peek." She stepped to the doorway of the carriage house and gazed in.

Lon Jessup had stayed in the background, not speaking except to say hi, but now he walked over to join his wife.

"You're brave men for taking this on," he said to Madbird and me as he passed. "We appreciate you helping Renee out." He leaned in the doorway beside Evvie, with his thumbs hooked in his belt. He was probably familiar with construction; most ranchers were, along with a wide range of other skills.

"Why are you cutting into the walls?" Evvie said. "I thought you were just fixing the damage."

Renee glanced uneasily at Madbird and me. I groped for an answer that would disguise our real purpose.

Madbird, ever quick on his feet, said, "Rats could of got inside them, too. We're making sure there ain't something left in there that'll stink."

Evvie didn't respond. Instead, a few seconds later, she swung around to face us.

"So how long's it going to take you?" she demanded, suddenly peremptory.

This put her first question into a context that I'd learned to recognize over the years, as had Madbird; his lips curved in a faint smile. The maneuver was one that was used by speculators, designers, and other players who were peripheral to the main construction on a project. It was intended to put tradesmen on the defensive and drive down their prices-suggesting that they were dogging it, doing unnecessary work, and/or overcharging-while at the same time demonstrating that the questioner knew all about such shenanigans and would fiercely defend the clients' best interests.

I had developed a number of responses, including some rude ones if the individuals really irritated me. But usually, I just let them know that unless they were signing my paychecks, I was going to tell them zip minus shit.

"That's up to the lady who hired us," I said. "What-all she wants done, and if she wants us to do it."

I could just about see Evvie trying to decide whether I'd sidestepped her on purpose or out of sheer dumb misunderstanding.

"I've hardly been able to think about it," Renee said. "I've been so overwhelmed."

"Of course you have, hon," Evvie said, stepping to her and giving her arm a comforting pat. "Has anybody else looked at the place? An appraiser?"

Renee shook her head. "I haven't even gotten that far."

"Good. A little word of advice-don't talk to a soul until the rat mess is all taken care of. Maybe nobody will ever need to know." Evvie winked slyly.

Renee looked doubtful. "Really? Aren't those kinds of problems supposed to be disclosed?"

"It's like a lot of other things-there's wiggle room. If the repairs turn out okay"-Evvie glanced meaningfully at Madbird and me-"I don't see why it should matter."

Right off the top, it would matter because cleaning out the pack rats' digs wasn't going to get rid of them. As long as Madbird and I were working in the carriage house, they'd hole up in their outside dens, but they'd be back as soon as we left. We could try to protect against them, but once they moved into a place, it was extremely tough to keep them out.

Evvie might not have known that, but as a licensed Realtor, she'd sure know that failure to disclose such a problem wasn't only unethical, it could leave the homeowner open to lawsuits. "Wiggle room" wasn't much of a defense.

"We better be going, Ev," Lon Jessup said. I wondered if he was embarrassed by her and wanted to hustle her away before she went further. Maybe he was used to it.

"We'll see you tomorrow at the ceremony, dear," Evvie said to Renee-the Professor's funeral, which was shaping up to be a big deal, with a lot of the prominent local community and various other dignitaries slated to attend. "I know how hard it must be, but you'll feel so much better when it's over." We all told each other that it had been nice to meet, and Renee walked them to their car.

"This isn't exactly my business," I said when she came back. "But that riff about hiding the rat damage-you could get sued for that."

Her mouth twisted unhappily. "Don't worry, I'll make sure everything's straight up. I don't want her in on this. But she caught me flatfooted-called and said they'd like to drop by, and a few minutes later, she came barreling in and acted like it was a done deal. Gave me that coat to nail it down."

"Yeah, I caught that."

"She's not bad, she just sees everything in terms of what she wants and how to get it." Renee's voice dropped confidingly. "They're not really old family friends, she just wants to think that. She and Astrid knew each other growing up, and then Lon met Astrid and Daddy somehow-I'm pretty sure it was Astrid who introduced him to Evvie, that's how they got together. But they were never around when I was growing up, even though she acts like I'm her long-lost daughter."

"Can't say I envy you there."

Renee sighed. "Anyway, I'm going to keep putting her off, and hope she'll get the message."

She walked on into the main house, and I went back to join Madbird.

"Starting to seem like a lot of people got their eye on this place," he said.

There was more of that to come.