Read Online Watchdog by Laurien Berenson - Free Book Online Page B

recent experience, I’d have to say it was the only way.
    â€œActually,” said Frank. “I have a problem.”
    Everyone had problems, but he’d never figured that out. In Frank’s mind, other people’s worries were insignificant, while his own loomed large enough to require the assistance of everyone in the vicinity.
    I reached around him, opened the car door, and threw my things on the seat. “Yes?”
    â€œThere’s been an accident at the store.”
    â€œMore water?”
    â€œMel!” Frank was agitated enough to rake his fingers through his carefully styled hair. “This is serious.”
    I’d headed out a minute early, but now the school doors were open and kids had begun to pour out. Whatever my brother wanted, I had no desire to discuss it in front of my ever curious students. I had a half hour until Davey’s school got out, then another twenty minutes while he rode the bus. That should give me enough time to deal with Frank.
    â€œThe store’s on my way home,” I said. “I’ll meet you there.”
    Frank’s Eclipse hugged my bumper for the duration of the short drive. From the outside the store looked just the same as it had the week before. Before I was even out of my car, Frank had hopped up onto the porch and unlocked the door. Once again, there were no workmen in sight.
    I started to follow him into the store, then stopped abruptly. There was a gaping hole in the floor near the back counter.
    â€œIt’s all right,” said Frank. “As long as you don’t go too close, the floor’s sturdy enough.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œDamned if I know. Some of the guys were working earlier and the floor just gave out. One minute Andy was standing there drinking a cup of coffee. The next, he fell right through to the basement.”
    â€œWas he hurt?”
    â€œA broken leg and some cuts and bruises. Must have hurt like hell, though. He was swearing in three languages. The ambulance crew from the hospital responded right away and two of the other guys went with him. I checked with the emergency room before I went to meet you. Andy’s already been patched up and sent home.”
    I stepped forward gingerly and peered down into the dark opening. The basement floor was visible eight feet below. “You’re lucky it wasn’t a lot worse.”
    â€œTell me something I don’t know. I hope he’s not planning to sue.”
    â€œAre you covered?”
    â€œYou mean insurance? Yeah. Marcus took care of all that stuff. And of course we’ll pay Andy’s medical expenses. But the last thing I need is a claims adjuster hanging around asking what went wrong.”
    â€œWhat did go wrong?”
    Frank looked pained. “All I can think is that the water leak last week must have weakened the supports, and one of them gave out. The building was supposed to be structurally sound. Marcus had it checked out before we started construction.”
    I backed up, walked around the hole, and headed for the basement stairs. “Sounds to me like you rely on Rattigan for an awful lot.”
    â€œHe’s my partner, remember? Besides, he’s done plenty of conversions, all of them much bigger than this one. He knows what he’s doing.”
    Too bad the same couldn’t be said of my brother. If he knew what he was doing, I could be home right now changing into my jogging clothes so Faith and I could take a run. Instead, I was about to have a look in a musty, old cellar.
    The basement door was already open. The steps were narrow and dark. I gripped the spindly handrail and navigated my way down the stairs with care.
    Frowning, Frank followed. “What are you looking for?”
    â€œI don’t know.” I reached the bottom, found the string dangling from the lightbulb, and turned it on. “I’m just wondering why this place seems so accident prone.”
    â€œIt’s