To make a distance from James, Claire did not visit Arrow Hall for three days. Work was proceeding but slowly and being uncertain of her ongoing commitment to the place she found made the drive to London more tedious than usual. Inside Rick’s apartment, she felt hot and uncomfortable.
Flooding the place with light she hoped would make the emptiness of the large, minimalist rooms easier. In the bathroom she dabbed her face with cool water; she ordered a crab salad to be delivered from the fish restaurant two roads away; and for the next half an hour she sat in the spacious lounge sipping a glass of wine.
On her own in Rick’s penthouse, Claire knew this was not the place she wanted to be anymore. Rick was becoming even more distant. But moving on, her lifestyle would change to a small flat; finding paid employment would alter how she spent every day. Claire was going to get this moving – she had to talk to Rick. Later that evening, she called him.
‘Claire, you sound very faint. Can you hear me?’ Rick asked. The line was indistinct and had an echo on it.
‘Yes, just. But no better than the last time we spoke. Where are you?’
‘In the middle of North Island, a place called Rotorua. It’s very warm and early in the morning. But I’ve got a full day ahead. I’m seeing a top winery and a hundred-acre vineyard.’
‘You haven’t called me, so I’ve decided to call you. This is the first time in eight days that we’ve talked together so you must listen as there are a lot of things I need to tell you about Arrow Hall. It’s not easy over the phone, so do you have a time when you’ll be coming back?’ Claire asked.
‘No. I’ve got to see this business through. I’m looking for someone to run the place if I buy it, and that’s going to take time. So don’t expect me for a while longer yet.’
‘I’ve got a lot to say, but you’ve got to know first that James and Arrow Hall are not working. We’re soon to run out of money.’
‘I had hoped you would have sorted that. Just tell me quickly. My driver is already waiting.’
‘James is up to something. It’s getting serious. Money is draining away fast. And we’re going to run over the budget by a lot before it’s all finished,’ Claire said.
‘How much?’ Rick’s question was sharp.
‘Don’t know yet but completion date will get pushed back at least three months. It’s not even half built and we’re already spending nearly up to the top figure. That’s where we are.’
‘What’s going on? What’s causing this overspend?’
‘It’s James making mistakes, like signing off the same bill twice for payment. And something more sinister. There’s a strange piece of paper I’ve found. Cleared for payment by James but it looks just as if it was written up in some scam. And the £15,000 cash James had at the start has disappeared into thin air. He’s slinking away; he won’t tell me where it’s gone. And now he wants another £2,000 to clear the place up.’
‘Don’t let him have it, Claire. You control the money; you surely know how to do that.’
‘That’s just what I am doing. But James is flitting around, still arguing with everyone – he’s evasive; he’s slippery.’
‘Sounds like you’ve lost control of the rebuild. If it goes on like this, I’ll call a property agent on site to see what it’s all going to be worth when it’s finished,’ Rick said.
‘If you’re that worried, I suggest you stop work now. I’ll sack James; I’ll pull everybody off-site; and you relook at the rebuild without me.’
‘No. I want you there. I’m not ready for that. I want the place finished and quickly.’
‘I’m tracking and checking everything. James’s mouth closes when I talk money; he’s hiding from it like a frightened rabbit down its hole. His attitude and arrogance make him dangerous to have around.’
‘Push James for a new top spend and completion date. The money’s not there for a cost overrun. It can’t cost far more to finish than it’s worth. Get that for me, then I’ll decide what to do with the place.’
‘What about your promise that Arrow Hall was to be our country home, a house to have weekends out of London, with parties, dinners, barbecues? We’ve never talked about it being a property to quickly sell on. What’s changed?’ Claire asked.
‘You sound harassed, Claire. What’s the matter? Tell me, but be quick,’ Rick said.
Claire hesitated. It was getting late. Her eyes were feeling tired, and Rick was not taking the time to listen.
‘I’m feeling uncomfortable on the site. The place is being watched; there’s shouting over debts not paid; and James is walking straight into fights that will end nastily,’ Claire replied.
‘You’re painting James in a black colour – are you sure you’re right?’
‘I don’t know what you see in James that I don’t, so I took your advice and spent time out with him. We went to the theatre and had dinner last week. That was okay but then on the site it all changes. I need your support, Rick, to see this through.’
‘I left you to deal with it all, so try to get it worked out with James, and have something better to tell me by the next time we talk,’ Rick said.
‘You’re still too busy to listen. And please understand I am no longer interested in rebuilding Arrow Hall unless I can live there. So you make time to call me so we can talk properly, and soon,’ Claire said.
The line was becoming very faint and making conversation difficult. Claire closed the call abruptly. It left the lingering dream of resurrecting the place, and even living there sometime, draining from her.
Claire shivered, suddenly feeling cold – she nibbled at the crab salad that had been delivered. Her decision had been taken. Money was being syphoned off – she was going to search for exactly where it was going, and then she would clear James from the site.
Claire expected Rick to call back, but it was silent.