Page 82 of Love, Legacy, and Little Green Aliens

“No offense,” Barry deadpanned, “but I never start a job without a fresh report by my own guy.”

Faking breezy confidence, Xander rubbed his palms together. “No problem. Shall we check it out?”

Oscar shot Barry a look Xander couldn’t decipher.

Barry shrugged. “Might as well.”

Xander gave them a quick walk-through, summarizing the work done so far. Right on cue, the plumbing shuddered and groaned as they passed the washroom.

Gus?

With a cluck of his tongue, Oscar pulled a stylus from his pocket and scribbled on his tablet.

So much for Zora’s magic. The pipes had been quiet since Tuesday’s seance, but now, only two days later, the building was grumbling again.

After a walk-through much too brief for Xander’s liking, the two workmen put their heads together and muttered in the corner. There was much gesticulating, scowling, and flipping through something on the inspector’s tablet.

Finally, Barry approached and heaved a sigh that raised prickles of foreboding on Xander’s skin.

“We’ve seen enough. Is there somewhere we can sit and talk?”

“I’ve got some chairs in my office.”

The two men exchanged a look of distaste.

“How about my buddy’s bakery next door? He makes great coffee.”

They adjourned to Garrett’s place and claimed a table near the window. Once equipped with extra-large mugs and an assortment of pastries, Monte dropped the bomb.

“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, son, but your building has catastrophic flaws. We got the previous inspector’s report, and now that we’ve seen it up close…” He shook his head. “To bring it up to code would cost an astronomical amount.”

Xander gulped. “How astronomical?”

Barry scribbled a figure on a paper napkin and slid it across the table.

Holy flaming shitballs.His stomach plummeted.

“I, uh, don’t think I can raise that sum on short notice,” he choked out.

“Doesn’t matter.” The contractor chugged his coffee. “We’re not taking the job. We take pride in our work.” He inclined his head toward what was left of Souvenir Planet. “And frankly, I can’t take on that mess good conscience. If you want my advice…” He cocked a bushy eyebrow.

Xander nodded his aching head.

“Sell it. We’ve done some work for the Borna Development Group. They’re hungry for coastal properties. Bet they’d make you a good offer.”

Devastated, Xander squeezed his mug in a white-knuckled grip. “If I sell the property, all the profits go to my uncle’s favorite charity.”

“Bummer,” Oscar said with a nod of sympathy. “Borna’s offering big bucks, and they’d love to get their hands on a lot this big. Probably put up luxury beach condos.” He turned to his colleague. “Didn’t they already do something like that in Trappers Cove?”

Barry shook his head. “Nah, just a crappy apartment building.”

An icy finger poked Xander’s gut. “Over on Narwhal Lane?”

Oscar consulted his tablet. “Yeah, that’s a Borna project.”

Remembering Hannah’s breakdown at the mere sight of the place, he shook his head vehemently. “No way will I do business with that company.” Hannah would never forgive him.

Barry squinted at Oscar’s tablet. “Nineteen ninety-nine. That was Old Man Borna’s work. His sons have taken over now. Built some real nice rentals up in Pacific Shores.”