‘Is there a problem?’ asked Robbie, putting on his hat as he came inside and shut the door.
‘Good grief, it’s PC Plod,’ said Lizzie.
‘Can you arrest her for calling you that?’ asked Effie.
Robbie shook his head.
‘Shame,’ said Effie.
The thud of footsteps announced Fraser’s arrival. He took in the crowded entrance.
‘You,’ said Lizzie stabbing a finger in his chest. ‘You can’t refuse an offer. That’s against the law in Scotland.’
‘I can and I did refuse your offer of a job. I was very clear about that,’ said Fraser.
Lizzie looked exasperated. ‘Not that. The offer to buy this place.’
‘That was you?’ asked Effie.
Lizzie preened herself. ‘It’s what the big corporates do. They buy up the competition.’
‘Just lately, women speak but I don’t understand them,’ said Fraser, looking around for some reassurance.
‘I’ll keep it simple for… all of you,’ said Lizzie. ‘I put in a pre-emptive offer on the hotel. But now Fraser’s trying to worm out of it, saying it’s not going up for sale but I will get my lawyer onto it.’
Fraser held his palms up in surrender. ‘I don’t know shit about an offer on this place.’
‘Liar,’ snapped Lizzie.
‘He’s not a liar,’ said Effie. ‘We didn’t know.’
‘Yes, well you not knowing something isn’t unusual.’ Lizzie rolled her eyes at Effie.
‘Hey, let’s keep things civil,’ said Robbie, stepping forward in Effie’s defence.
‘Are you all going to play dumb?’ Lizzie scanned the room of blank faces.
‘Still no idea what you’re on about,’ said Fraser.
‘Fine.’ Lizzie threw up her arms. ‘You’ll be hearing from my solicitor. See if a day in court makes you remember.’ She made for the door.
‘Actually I did remember something,’ said Effie and all eyes turned on her, Lizzie’s being the last set, and they looked at her with derision.
‘Was it to do with fairies or witches this time, Effie?’ asked Lizzie.
‘One witch in particular although I didn’t know that at the time.’
‘Ooh is it Janet?’ asked Liv.
‘No, I was trying to be sarcastic,’ whispered Effie. ‘It’s Lizzie.’
‘Ohhh,’ said Liv. ‘Carry on.’ And she indicated that people were waiting. Dolly gave her a nod of encouragement.
‘You see, we found a box in a cupboard and I started to go through it. There were some old paid invoices but there was other stuff including letters from the solicitor after Dad’s death.’ She took a moment to keep her composure. ‘I remember signing a few things but I wasn’t in a good place and couldn’t look at them, so I shoved it all in the cupboard – until now that is. I read things I should have read a long time ago.’
‘Like the Janet and John books?’ asked Lizzie, chortling at her own joke.
‘I don’t know about those but I do know who owns the hotel,’ said Effie.
