“Really?” says Zoey. “Did you decide that before or after someone stole the sawzall from your pole barn?”
Ash opens his mouth but no words come out.
“Why did you give the saw to Teddy?” says Clay. “What are you two up to?”
Ash says nothing.
“Maybe,” says Zoey, “we should go down to the station and have a chat.”
“Am I under arrest?” says Ash.
“You will be if you don’t cooperate. Come on. Let’s go. I’ll drive you home after.”
“No,” says Ash with panic in his voice. “Not the station. Let’s talk here. Please…”
Ash hasn’t updated the house since he inherited it from his grandmother. There’s a lot of honey-colored oak and floral print on everything that can have floral print. The wallpaper, the upholstery, rugs, and, in some rooms, the ceilings.
“Teddy needed money,” says Ash. “He came to me and asked for a loan.”
“How much money?” says Zoey.
“Ten grand. He told me he’d gotten himself in over his head on something and was in a real jam.”
They sit around a kitchen table that looks like it might have been in a Cracker Barrel at one time. It features intricate chisel work and spindly legs.
“Did you lend him the money?” says Clay.
“Yes,” Ash says. “Because he’s family… and he promised he’d pay it back in a month.”
“You’ve known Teddy your entire life and you lent him money based on a promise to pay it back?”
“Yeah…” says Ash, his voice rising and fading in a lack of confidence.
“When did you lend Teddy the ten grand?” says Zoey.
“A little less than a year ago, I think.”
“Did Teddy ever pay back the loan?”
“No,” says Ash. “He keeps saying he’ll pay me back, but whenever I see him, he has an excuse. You know Teddy.”
“Yeah,” says Clay. “I do. Just like you do. Which brings us back to why would you lend him money.”
“He’s family,” says Ash. “And a neighbor. What else could I do?”
“Say no,” says Clay.
“What kind of interest are you charging him?” says Zoey.
“Excuse me?” says Ash.
“How much interest are you charging Teddy on the loan?” says Clay. “You know, the loan you agreed to because Teddy is family?”
Ash looks up at a cuckoo clock hanging on the wall next to a framed needlepoint that reads:PEARLS GO WITH EVERYTHING.
“Is that a hard question to answer?” says Zoey.
Ash sighs. “He’s supposed to pay me back fifteen.”
