Chapter 30
Tobias decides to drive up to the property this morning.
It’s just too damn hot to walk and he is finding the uphill climb more and more of a killer each time he attempts it.
Besides, it’s his house. He has every right to park outside it.
And he is not in any mood for another run-in with his neighbours.
His stomach is giving him hell this morning.
It must have been all the burgers and beer recently.
Either that or he has had a dodgy mussel somewhere along the line.
He rubs a hand across his chest as though to massage the heartburn away and wishes he’d asked Olivia for a Rennie before he set off for the day.
Walking onto the site he is pleased to find that considerable progress can be seen in the garden area.
The sunken stone firepit has been completed with new steps and seating built in, while the rest of the decking area is coming along nicely.
However, he joins Bill to witness him officiating over some dispute or other between one or two of the men.
‘What’s going on?’ he calls as he approaches the group.
Bill’s shoulders sag at the sound of Tobias’s voice but he turns towards him nevertheless.
‘Nothing to worry about, boss. We’re just trying to work out what’s happened to some missing tools.’
‘Oh,’ says Tobias with a note of dismay. ‘Not a problem, I hope?’
‘No, no. Just a spanner and a couple of other bits and pieces.’
‘Not expensive, I trust?’
Bill sighs.
‘Well, they’re worth a bit to the guy who owned them,’ he says looking towards one of the younger men on site. ‘Reckon our new recruit might know something about it,’ he adds, nodding towards Petras who stands further on, looking pained.
‘Look,’ says Tobias. ‘No need to let this slow things down. I’m sure they’ll turn up and I’m guessing they’re not that essential to the build.
’ He is smugly thinking of the hidden camera.
An efficient same day delivery from had meant that he was able to instal it first thing yesterday morning.
He will take a look at the footage later and catch the culprit red-handed.
But for now he wants all hands on deck. Plenty of time to give someone their marching orders once the job is finished.
Bill rolls his eyes wearily and lifts his hands up in a ‘what can you do?’ gesture as the men grumble and curse but return to their tasks.
‘Right, good. Back to it then. I take it the plaster’s on inside. Should be drying nice and quickly in this heat. Which means we can start decorating soon. New kitchen all safely stored indoors, yes?’
He winces every time he brings to mind the invoice from Tavistock the one who dresses in traditional fisherman’s garb.
A real old sea dog if ever he saw one. The man wears a permanent scowl on his face, as though he has been leaning into the sun or wind his whole life. Which he probably has, reflects Tobias.
‘You do go by the name of Woolf?’ shouts the man and Tobias frowns at his manner. These locals can certainly be bluff old coves, that’s for sure. ‘I’m looking for your wife.’
‘Olivia? he asks in surprise. ‘Whatever could you want with her?’
‘She promised me the first month’s rent on the shop up front,’ he says. ‘In cash!’ he adds, leaning on the gate.
‘What?’
‘The fishmonger’s shop, as was. Premises on Quay Lane.’ He hooks a thumb over his shoulder, in the general direction of the town. ‘She’s agreed to let the place. Signed a contract. I’m the owner and I want my money. Soon as.’
Tobias is speechless, his mouth opening and closing like a caught fish, a large vein bulging in his forehead as he tries to make sense of this information.
‘Well, this is news to me, I must say,’ he responds eventually. He feels a stab of betrayal, swiftly followed by anger, run through him like a knife, threatening to wind him.
The man raises a bushy, overgrown eyebrow at this but he continues to lean on the gate ominously.
‘That’s your business. Don’t change the fact I’m owed.’ The old man casts a dark look upwards and over the renovation property. ‘This your place, I take it? Another business venture?’
His voice is dripping with contempt now, his lip curling under the grizzly white stubble.
Tobias rallies and straightens his spine.
‘It is, yes. My wife and I have bought the place to be a second home as a matter of fact. Good job as well. The old place was in danger of crumbling to its knees.’
The man grunts, unimpressed.
‘I used to know the family who lived here once upon a time; three generations, going way before. Back when these houses were for local people. Not just holidaymakers down for a few weeks of the year.’
Tobias feels himself bridle. It is an argument he has heard cast about by the media endlessly but he has no truck with it.
It’s all commerce at the end of the day and fair play.
After all, he’s investing in the place when local people clearly couldn’t afford to.
This town needs families like his or it wouldn’t survive.
‘Yes, well, I suppose we all have to move with the times. I see it hasn’t stopped you wishing to rent your old premises to my wife. Happy to take our money there, eh?’
The man’s face is a black thunder cloud and Tobias takes an involuntary step back, wondering if this brewing storm is about to break. Perhaps he’s pushed the old boy a step too far. But instead the man just glowers at him for a moment.
‘I want my money! Soon as. Or the deal’s off.’ He points a gnarly index finger in Tobias’s general direction. ‘You tell her that from me.’
And with that he turns and begins to stumble back down the hill, away from the property, taking his own weather system with him.