Page 77 of Finding Forever

Hank looked at him.

Dave ignored the warning in his friend’s expression. “Get the work started. I’ll sort out the payment.”

The plumber nodded and returned to his van.

Hank waited until they were alone. “You might want to talk to Beth before you do that.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. The pipe needs fixing.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Dave frowned. “Then what did you mean?”

Hank glanced toward the front doors. “She’s been going through the accounts.”

Something in his tone made Dave uneasy. “All of them?”

“As far as I can tell.”

Dave looked at the building. That wasn’t good. He’d was going to tell Beth about the orders he’d changed. Preferably when the center was open, everything was running smoothly, and she was too pleased with the finished building to object too strongly. But that time had arrived early.

He walked inside with Hank.

The unpleasant smell was still noticeable, although someone had opened the windows. They’d only made it halfway across the room when Beth appeared at the entrance to her office.

She was holding a sheet of paper in her hand. “Hi, Dave.”

“Hi.” Beth’s expression was calm. Too calm.

“Could I speak to you for a minute?” she asked.

Dave glanced at Hank. His friend suddenly found something fascinating on the opposite side of the room. “Of course.”

Beth stepped back into her office, and Dave followed. Papers covered almost every available surface. Several invoices were arranged beside her laptop, and a spreadsheet filled the screen.

Beth closed the door.

Dave slipped his hands into his pockets. “Hank told me about the sewer.”

“I know. That’s not what I wanted to talk about.”

He looked at the paperwork again.

Beth sat behind her desk but didn’t invite him to do the same. “I’ve been checking the renovation accounts to see whether we can save enough money to help pay for the sewer repair.”

“That makes sense.”

Beth frowned. “Except the accounts don’t make sense.”

There it was. Dave pulled out the chair opposite her and sat.

Beth picked up an invoice. “The shelving in the storeroom isn’t what I ordered. They’re much better.”

Dave said nothing.

“The hinges are different, too. And the acoustic battens in the music room aren’t the product on the original quote.” Beth placed the invoice on the desk. “Did you change the orders?”

Dave nodded. “I did.”