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Melanie looked confused. ‘Here,’ she said grabbing some and passing them to Paige.
‘I need tape too.’
Melanie opened and closed a few drawers until she handed her some packing tape. Paige quickly grabbed a chair and reached up to cover the sensors, while Melanie grabbed a tea towel and appeared to dance around the room with it.
Paige kept her smile to herself. Once she was happy the sensors were covered, she slowly opened up the oven door. There was nothing in there to have caused any immediate damage. She’d been expecting to see some sort of food. Then she spotted the bottom of the eye-level oven and the back of the door.
‘Melanie, when did you last use this oven?’
‘Why?’ she asked out of breath as she continued to ballet around trying to direct smoke to the balcony.
‘When did you move in?’ Paige tried a different take.
‘Erm probably coming up to a year, why?’
This was getting them nowhere.
‘Be honest, have you used the oven since you’ve moved in?’ Paige asked.
‘Well, erm no, actually.’
Paige had suspected as much. It looked like the previous tenants had used it a lot but never actually cleaned it. Ever.
They’d have to wait for it to cool down and then scrub it. Well more than scrub it — this was probably at RIP level. Melanie appeared next to her.
‘That’s gross. I swear I’m not that bad.’
Paige looked around, glad the alarms weren’t going off. ‘You’ve been here a year?’ There were boxes in every corner, and against some of the walls.
‘Yeah, I’ve not had chance to get everything out and sorted.’
Paige raised an eyebrow, there must be more to it. ‘And?’
Melanie hesitated, dropping the towel until she could wring it through her hands. ‘There was an ex.’
‘Ah,’ Paige said.
‘How long will it take to cool down?’ Melanie asked, whether to change the subject or not Paige couldn’t be sure, but she went with it.
‘Who knows. Why don’t we go and sit on the balcony while it cools down?’
‘Sure,’ Melanie said finally relinquishing her tea towel. ‘Oh hang on, I have beers in the fridge, you want one?’
‘Sure, thanks,’ Paige said. She’d have one but then they needed a conversation.
The balcony contained an outside sofa and coffee table on matting. The sky still held on to the last of its light as Melanie sat down beside Paige and put two craft beer bottles on the table in front of them.
‘I haven’t unpacked the glasses yet, sorry.’
Paige shrugged; it didn’t matter to her. ‘Out of curiosity what were you planning on cooking?’
‘I didn’t have time to shop properly, so I was just going to do a carbonara.’
‘Do you need an oven for that?’ Paige pointed out.
‘Garlic bread.’
Paige nodded and took a drink; it was good beer. She couldn’t help herself from looking at the label.
