I spoke up. "If you were so excited about the rain, why didn't you look inside yesterday?"
It was a valid question. Yesterday, she'd shown up at this very house, only to spend all of her time griping about the lawn. To the best of my knowledge, she hadn't even bothered to open the front door.
With a sound of annoyance, she turned to face me. "Because I didn'tknowit rained until I saw last night's news coverage." Under her breath she added, "And besides, I didn't have a key."
I said, "But that didn't stop you today."
Her mouth tightened. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, just now, you opened the door without one."
"Right, becausetodayit was unlocked." She threw up her hands. "And why am I explaining myself toyou?" She turned to Brody. "Did you know it was unlocked?"
"Yeah," he said. "Because I unlocked it."
"Oh." She perked up. "So? Was there rain damage?"
He gave a half-shrug. "Some."
With obvious disappointment, she said, "Just some?"
"Well, it's not like the ceiling caved in," he said.
She was frowning now. "Oh."
Brody glanced toward the house. "But we've got major damage on the third floor."
At this, she brightened considerably. "Really?"
"Yeah. The way it looks, the damage has been there a while."
"Thank God," she breathed. Turning to Roy, she said, "Go ahead and start setting up. Remember, we've got only two days to get the 'before' footage."
I asked, "What happens in two days?"
"Isn't it obvious?" she said, turning once again to beam at Brody. "Weget straight to work."
Chapter 22
Brody
We.There was that word again. I gave Waverly a long, penetrating look. "So, you're gonna help?"
The question made her pause. "Excuse me?"
"You said we'd get straight to work. You mean fixing the house?"
She smiled. "Right."
I didn't smile back. "So, what areyougonna do?"
"Me?" she said. "I was thinking I'd help supervise."
It was time to set her straight. "Nope."
Her smile faltered. "What?"
"That's not gonna happen."
