Page 71 of Threads of Kindness
“No,” Sam said. “They won’t exceed the estimate.” He paused. “I’m calling about something we found—literally, a few minutes ago. You know we got the water out of the basement yesterday and planned to remove the damaged wooden planks from the walls today.”
“Yes,” Anita said. “What’s happened?”
Sam hesitated long enough to make it clear he was enjoying the suspense. “It turns out the basement we’ve seen isnotthe entire basement.”
“What do you mean?” Anita asked, straightening in her seat.
“The wall where the crates were stacked was a false wall. There’s a separate room behind it.”
“No kidding!” Gordon said. “Have you been back there?”
“We sure have. And I think there’s something Anita needs to see—as soon as she returns from the airport.”
“I won’t get back until almost seven,” Anita said. “Don’t you want to go home? We’ll pick this up in the morning.”
“You need to see it tonight,” Sam said, his voice firm. “We’ll wait for you.”
“Are you going to give me a hint?” she asked, half laughing.
“Not a chance,” Sam said. “You’ve got to see this. Drive safely. We’ll wait—no matter how long it takes.” He ended the call.
“Oh my gosh,” Anita said, her voice tight with anticipation. “He sounded excited—not upset—so I don’t think it’s bad news.”
“They must’ve found the still,” Gordon said. “Or other pieces of the bootlegging operation. In any case, I want to be there for the great reveal.” He reached for his phone. “Turn around at the next exit. I’m headed back to Westbury with you.”
“But you have meetings in New York tomorrow.”
“Nothing I can’t reschedule,” he said, already tapping on his phone. “I’m canceling my flight right now.”
She stole a glance at him, then turned her eyes back to the road, a smile springing to her lips.
“No way I’m letting you do this alone,” Gordon said. “To quote a certain Broadway play—I want to be in the room where it happens.”
CHAPTER 36
“We just pulled into a parking spot at the curb,” Gordon said into the phone. “We’ll be at the front door in under a minute.”
Sam disconnected the call and stepped out onto the sidewalk, holding the door.
Gordon and Anita raced up the sidewalk. Without breaking stride, they slipped through the open door.
Jeff was waiting inside and handed each of them a flashlight.
Sam stepped in behind them. “That was a quick trip,” he said, raising an eyebrow at Anita. “If you were almost at the airport, you must’ve driven like a bat out of hell to get back here.”
Gordon and Anita exchanged a glance.
“Let’s just say we’re thankful the highway patrol wasn’t out tonight,” Gordon said. “Anita has a lead foot when she’s in a hurry.”
“Enough conversation,” Anita said, her impatience clear. “Show us what you found.”
Sam switched on his flashlight and led them down the steep basement stairs.
“Oh my gosh,” Anita whispered, casting her beam over the wall with the newly cut opening. “There’s a big room back there.”
“Yep,” Sam said. “Jeff and one of the workers found it. I’ll let Jeff tell you.”
“We uncovered this hidden room when we removed the wooden planks on the wall. Follow me,” Jeff said, stepping through the jagged opening into the space. “This is where the bootleg operation took place.”
