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Pls call me. ASAP.
Problem in the office. I need to spk to you.
Caitlin, pls pick up yr phone.
Really urgent. Really REALLY need to spk to you.
The feeling of doom multiplied, and I reached for the nearest chair while dialing my voicemail. The first message was from Deanna.
“Caitlin.” Her voice was high and stressed. “I know it’s Saturday, but you need to come in. The council is going to close us, and we’ve got—like—a couple of hours to move all the stuff. Please call me right back. Thank you.”
—the fuck? Closing my business? I stabbed the phone, to pick up the second message, and it was Deanna again.
“Caitlin. The guy here says he can’t wait any longer if he doesn’t hear back from you. Please call me.”
The building was filled with guys in fluorescent jackets yesterday. Why would they close us down? I had all the health and environment certifications, and even if I’d messed up somewhere, we wouldn’t have to move everything. We’d just be barred from trading until the paperwork was resolved.
“Problem?”
I looked up to see Jasper, concern clear on his face. I’d forgotten he was here. “Not sure yet. Give me a minute.” I dialed Deanna’s number, and she picked up on the second ring.
“Thank God. How soon can you get here?” There was a rustling noise, as though she covered the phone with her hand, and a muffled conversation filtered down the line.
I strained to hear but couldn’t make it out.
“Is that Caitlin Mortimer?” said an unfamiliar male voice.
“Yes. Can you please tell me what’s happening to my business?”
A tiny part of me hoped that Deanna misunderstood things. That was dashed by his next words.
“You can have an hour to remove your possessions.”
“An hour?” I swallowed past the fear in my throat. “I’m up on the Kapiti Coast at the moment. It’ll take me an hour just to get there. Can you tell me what the problem is?”
He grunted. “Hour and a half then, but be quick.”
I clung to the phone. If I could keep him talking, I could find out what was wrong. “Why are you closing my business? Are you from Environmental Health?”
“It’s not just you, it’s the building. Cracks have been found on the upper floors, and I have an emergency closure order for earthquake checking.”
“But.” It came out as a squeak, and I moderated my tone. “There’s always been a crack in the stairwell. It was there before the November quake. It’s the plaster.”
He clicked his tongue. “I assure you, Ms. Mortimer, this isn’t only a crack in the plaster. You have ninety minutes to remove your stuff.”
“But...” God alone knew what objection I was about to raise. He hung up, and silence echoed in my ear. “Shit,” I whispered. “Shit.”
“Caitlin? What’s the matter? Can I help?”
I gazed at Jasper, but in my head I saw my kitchen unit. “I... No. I don’t know.”
“Talk to me.”
I blinked back the tears that pressed at the backs of my eyes. “You’re very kind, but unless you have somewhere I can store all my equipment and catering supplies, there’s nothing you can do.” I called Deanna again, and spoke as soon as she answered. “I’m leaving now. Box up as much as you can, and we’ll shove it in my car while I figure out where to go.”
I could store some things in my shoebox of an apartment, but after that, I was screwed. I needed new premises immediately, or at the very least, temporary storage space.
Wellington’s storage facilities were bursting at the seams, and I needed a place with a working kitchen, otherwise I’d be out of business. No work—no income. Panic was a heartbeat away.
“Yes,” said Jasper. He sounded calm.
“Yes, what?” Was he even listening to me?
“Yes, I have space. I’ve tons of room. How much do you need?”
I gave him the dimensions. “If you could help, it would be beyond amazing. At least, until I figure out where to go next. Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I have a truck as well, if you need help to transport everything.”
“You do?” I must have sounded like an idiot, but I operated on instinct. I hadn’t begun processing the details.
“Yep. I need to get Hol to drive. Hang on a sec.” He lifted his phone to his ear. “Sis, you got plans for this morning? Could you drive me into Wellington and back? We need to go right away.” He paused, and then nodded to me. “You’re the best, Hol. I’ll see you in five.”
It was a thousand miles from a solution, but it might buy me breathing space. Without thinking, I hugged him, tight. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”
He stiffened in my arms, and then gave an awkward laugh. “No worries.”
His voice sounded rougher than usual, and I groaned inside. Talk about overstepping boundaries. He was—again—being nice. My night-time fantasy couldn’t be anything more, and I had to remember that.