Chapter Seven #2
After Lara had left, he spoke to them as a group, briefing them on what needed to be achieved. He also intended to speak to everyone individually over the course of the next day or two.
There were ten staff in total, covering all aspects of building services, including a painter and decorator, plumber, and two general handymen, all of them men older than Flynn, as well as two apprentices in plumbing and electrical work, both of whom were women.
Carlos was the most experienced, and had been acting as deputy to Gerald.
A sharp-featured skinny guy around Flynn’s own age, he sprawled over an old armchair in the corner, one leg crossed over the other, scrolling through his phone.
Flynn thought he was letting Flynn – and everybody – know that this was his domain and he didn’t like being usurped by some bloke with a country bumpkin accent.
‘So, I know how well thought of Gerald was and is. I’m sorry he’s had to leave but I’m ready to work with you and learn from you.’
Carlos snorted. ‘I doubt you’ll have anything to learn, boss.’ There was an unmistakeable emphasis on the ‘boss’.
‘Flynn will do,’ said Flynn coolly. ‘This isn’t CID.’
One of the apprentices, Holly, sniggered.
Carlos glared at her.
‘Anyone else have any questions?’ Flynn waited purely for effect, because he was damn sure no one would have any questions while Carlos was watching over everyone like a Rottweiler.
‘OK? Great to hear you all know everything, then. But if you do want to ask me anything, you can come to me anytime.’ He grinned. ‘Send me an anonymous text if you need to.’
The junior electrician smirked and Holly gave Carlos a death glare. There was no love lost there.
Carlos huffed and went back to his phone.
After the meeting, Flynn was left alone in the office, mulling over the scale of his task. He’d already realised Ravendale came with a unique set of challenges: as a Grade I-listed historic building, sourcing materials and planning any kind of work would take far longer and be more involved.
Gerald had planned to move the fire alarm control room from a damp former dungeon to a purpose-built building.
There were other urgent jobs on the list too: the replacement of the antiquated lift used to convey supplies and equipment to the upper floors, for example.
The fire safety system itself also needed an upgrade.
All of those would have to wait until New Year.
His immediate concern was the Spectacular, which was due to start in less than a week.
At lunchtime, Flynn walked out of his office while munching a bacon roll from a paper bag when he bumped into Lara.
‘Lara. H-hello.’
‘Hi there. Working lunch?’ She had an amused glint in her eye, which heartened him, although it quickly faded.
‘Literally. I’m taking it with me to the Ice House. The contractors have come to fix up the reindeer display on the roof. I might have been quite firm with them.’
‘That’s a relief!’ Lara replied. ‘I can’t wait to see it up and running. We have so many bookings for the grotto already. It’s my worst nightmare that it goes wrong and the children are disappointed – let alone the parents.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ve made it a priority.’ He dropped the remains of the roll back in the paper bag and grinned, then became more serious. ‘How’s Henry – any updates?’
‘Fiona says he’s not in pain now, but he is being kept in for more tests and monitoring.’
‘He’ll hate that, surely?’
‘Oh, he will, but Fiona is just relieved he’s being treated. She also insisted the “show has to go on” and asked me to pass on her thanks to you and everyone for managing everything while she and Henry are away.’
‘No need. The last thing they need is to worry about the Winter Spectacular not going ahead or some maintenance issue. It’s the job I’ve been hired to do and I am going to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
’ Tendrils of her hair had escaped its ponytail and she was pink-cheeked, as if she’d been hurrying.
‘But you must be even busier now that Fiona and Henry aren’t around. ’
‘You could say that …’ Lara said. ‘The group tours are in full swing from now until Christmas, and there are a string of corporate events. For the next few days, it’s just me in charge.’
‘Not alone?’
‘No. There are four permanent guides plus half a dozen seasonal ones, and we’ve taken on a team of temporary stewards for the Winter Spectacular. How did you get on with Carlos and your new team?’
He thought before answering, picturing the dubious-looking faces when Lara had left him alone. ‘They were polite – perhaps too polite, and a bit quiet.’
‘They were probably scared of you.’
He chuckled. ‘Carlos wasn’t.’
‘I think it’s possible,’ Lara said cautiously, ‘that he feels a bit put out.’
‘Ah, so he’s upset that I took Gerald’s job? Or the job he’d hoped to have?’
‘Both, probably. He can be a spiky customer, but he’s actually quite insecure.’
‘Insecure? That’s one word for it. I’m going to have my work cut out winning him over.’
‘You’re more experienced than them. You’re used to a bigger set-up and you’re the one with the degree in live event tech.’
Flynn frowned in surprise. ‘Has someone shared my CV?’
‘I went on LinkedIn as soon as I heard you got the job. Impressive.’
He wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic or not. It was sometimes hard to tell with Lara.
‘Most of what I learned came on the job. I had a screwdriver in my hand from the age of four.’
She smiled. ‘I can actually picture that.’
‘My parents ran a hotel in Newquay until they retired a couple of years ago. I grew up learning to be a jack of all trades, helping them fix the endless stream of maintenance problems that used to crop up on an almost daily basis.’ He folded his arms. ‘What else does my CV say? Or did you get bored and nod off?’
‘Not at all. I know that you trained as an electrician after you left school and did the part-time degree. Then you worked at various places in the south-west and London and eventually you ended up as technical manager of Kernow Park.’
He mimed applause. ‘Well done.’
‘So, you were born and brought up in Cornwall – but you have connections up here?’
‘Yeah. My mum’s parents lived in Whitehaven.
Sadly, they’ve both passed away. I have a mate who lives near Keswick too – he’s the one I stayed over with the night before I arrived here to start the job.
’ He broke off when his phone buzzed with a message.
‘It’s Carlos. He needs me to OK a decision on something that I know he’s been managing perfectly well up until now. ’
‘Like I said, he can be tricky to deal with at the best of times, let alone now that his mentor has quit and a strange southern bloke they’re in awe of is in charge.’
‘You’re not in awe of me,’ he said with a grin.
‘Ah, but I know you better than them.’
There was a teasing gleam in her eyes that made Flynn’s pulse flutter. Her eyes reminded him of the sea in a Cornish cove on a perfect summer’s day.
‘Do you?’ he asked, revelling in the pleasure of being able to look directly into her gaze, which held a hint of mischief – maybe desire, if he were being fanciful. ‘Even though, technically, we’ve barely got to know each other?’
‘Perhaps. It just feels like much longer,’ she said, then glanced away, speaking briskly as if she regretted their flirtatious moment.
‘So Fiona’s home and getting some sleep, but she’s going back to the hospital when Henry has more tests, and Belle is coming over tomorrow morning while they’re out. ’
‘That’s good to hear. Let’s hope she can help.’
She nodded – with very little enthusiasm, Flynn thought.
He switched to a topic he guessed she would be more comfortable with.
‘By the way, Carlos was persuaded to walk the light trail with me earlier and we’re doing the snagging now.
I thought we’d have a dummy run at dusk after Belle has gone and wondered if you’d like to join me later to make sure you’re happy with everything before we go live?
We could meet here at the maintenance office. How does four-thirty sound?’
‘That’s good for me,’ Lara said, and sighed. ‘It’ll be a relief to see something going well for the castle after the past few days.’