Page 178 of The Seven Rings
“It’s the first step of successful time management. And… there are some pieces in the attic that come in here. Also some from the basement level that come up here.”
She tried a winning smile. “Apologies in advance.”
“You’re sure about it, right?” Trey gave her a long look. “What goes down, over, up, wherever, stays where it’s put.”
“I can guarantee ninety percent sure.”
On a wince, Owen rolled his shoulders. “That ten percent gives me a dull ache in the lower back.”
“Well.” John Dee took another look around. “Seems to me the best way is to take the blue stuff to the attic first. Clear the way some.”
After the first few trips, Bree shook her head. “Did these people ever get rid of anything? Ever?”
“I think that’s a no,” Sonya told her. “I’m working on making use of what makes sense, and we talked Owen into taking a couple pieces, but…”
She noted John Dee eyeballing, for the second time, a small, single-door cabinet with curved legs and curved top.
“Pretty, isn’t it?”
“Sure is. Kevin would be all over it.”
“It’s yours.”
He waved one of his big hands in the air. “Ah, come on.”
“I mean it. Take it. Move it out! Load it up!”
“Now, Sonya, I can’t be doing that. Now, if you really can’t use it, I’ll maybe buy it.”
“Okay. One dollar.”
This time he snickered when he waved again. “That won’t work for me. I appreciate it, though.”
“Okay, let’s try this. Hey, Owen.”
A warning in his eyes, he glanced over. “If you’re going to say you want me to move something back I just moved over here, I may have to hurt you.”
“Not that. Take a look at this cabinet, tell me what you figure it’s worth. John Dee’s interested.”
He knew her well enough, caught the look that clearly said: Lowball it big-time. But he made a show of carefully examining the piece.
“Nice. Mahogany. Solid.” He opened the door, crouched. “Top shelf inside’s a little bowed, but not bad.” With a shrug, he straightened. “I’d call it about five hundred.”
“Great. With the friends-and-family discount, that’s two-fifty.”
“That’s not right, Sonya.”
Her face showed hurt and surprise, and she loaded her voice with both. “Are you saying you’re not friends and family with me?”
His eyes widened; his feet shuffled. “Well now, sure I am. But… I just don’t want to… It’s not right for me to… Three-fifty, okay? Let’s say three-fifty. I wouldn’t feel right about it otherwise.”
“Deal.” She stuck out a hand.
He shook, smiled. “Kevin’s going to be all over it, even more since it comes from the manor. I’ll just move it out there, so it’s out of the way.”
Hands in pockets, Owen waited until John Dee was out of earshot. “Nice work. More like fifteen, maybe sixteen hundred, by the way.”
“Then nice work back at you.”
