Rhayven House by Frank Bittinger Page B

liked those cucumber roll things they made,” Toby said. “And their fried rice didn't have scrambled eggs in it. You know how I hate that. You remember those sushi rolls they had?”
         Ian got in the car and put on his seat belt. “With rice on the outside and cucumber, avocado, and ginger on the inside.”
         Toby pondered and then asked, “Can you really consider it sushi without meat?”
         “Don't know.” Ian started the car and put it in gear. “But I'm not eating any animals from the ocean, raw or cooked.” He drove slowly, new white stones crunching beneath the tires. “Take a good, long look. The next time you see it, I should be moved in—barring an apocalypse of Biblical proportion.”
         “From your lips to the universe, dude,” Toby said.
         Ian winked. “ Bhajelo Ji Hanuman!”
     

 
     
     
    Six
     
     
     
     
     
     
         Sunshine really brightened the place up and chased away most of the eldritch atmosphere. Ian paused for a bit after he pulled in to contemplate what the house would look like once the old paint was scraped away and it was painted bright white. Getting out of the car, he gazed upon the façade of the house, his eyes moving from window to window—the replacements sparkling like diamond jewelry on an elderly dowager countess. They were making great progress and Ian hoped he might be able to move in sooner than expected.
         Jeff, the main contractor, walked outside and met Ian in the driveway.
         “Looks like you’re making serious progress. Sounds like it, I mean anyway,” Ian said as he stepped up to shake Jeff’s hand. “Impressive.”
         “Yes, it’s moving faster than we’d anticipated. Once the roof and the electric are completed, putting the flesh on the good bones is usually pretty straightforward. We’ve gotten a good bit done since the last time you were out to have a look two days ago. But the reason I called you out here…” He stopped and scratched his jaw, averting his eyes. Hesitating to buy time.
         “Not something with the house, at least that’s what you said on the phone.”
         “Well, it is and it isn’t.” Jeff looked back at Ian. “Nothing to impede the project, not like that. Or cost you more money, so put your mind at ease about it. Everything is coming along great.”
         “Very reassuring.” Ian shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. Jeff was beating around the bush about something. That made Ian nervous. “We can talk in private if you want.” The hammering and drilling from inside the house, presumably dry walling efforts, drifted out into the yard.
         “Let’s walk over here. I just don’t want you to think I’m a nut job for bringing this up,” Jeff said as they made their way over to the edge of the yard, “but I’m just going to blurt it out and you can take it for what it's worth, if it's worth anything to you.”
         Wishing he’d brought a pack of smokes with him, Ian braced himself and wished Jeff would indeed spit out whatever he wanted to say.
         “I know you haven’t actually lived here yet, but you’ve spent some time in the house, maybe just looking around and making notes and stuff like that. Don’t think I’m off my rocker; I’m a regular guy with a sound mind, but there have just been some…some odd things happening around here.” Jeff jerked his head towards the house. “Especially in your house.”
         Not knowing how to respond, all Ian could muster was, “Okay.”
         “Do you know anything about the history of this house?” Jeff asked, picking at his fingernail instead of looking at Ian.
         “Uh, no.”
         “Nothing at all?”
         “Nope.”
         “Okay. So you bought it with pretty much zero information. You'd be shocked at the number of people who buy houses and property online, sight unseen.”
         “I never knew it was here