October 11, 2023 – 3:47 PM
The realtor stepped outside to make the call.
Lin remained inside the empty storefront.
Lucas stood near the counter, looking over the space again.
Claire was upstairs with Jake, who had apparently decided that showing her the apartment was now his personal responsibility.
Lin watched Lucas inspect the walls.
He ran a hand along one of the old shelves.
"You really want this place."
Lin nodded.
"I do."
"Even with all the work?"
"Especially because of the work."
Lucas looked at her.
"That doesn't make sense."
"It does if you're me."
She walked toward the back of the store.
"The storefront can become a deli."
Lucas followed.
"A deli?"
"Grocery store with prepared food."
She pointed toward the kitchen.
"Chinese food. Dumplings. Noodles. Rice dishes. Things people can take home."
Then she gestured toward the front.
"Basic groceries. Farm goods. Canned food. Coffee. Eggs. Flour. Tools."
Lucas nodded slowly.
"That could work."
"Exactly."
Lin turned toward him.
"And I have another idea."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"That usually means I'm about to get more work."
"Probably."
He smiled.
"Go ahead."
Lin folded her arms.
"You're between jobs."
Lucas's expression became guarded.
"At the moment."
"You need something to do."
"I have plenty to do."
"That's not what I mean."
Lin paused.
"I'm offering you a partnership."
Lucas stared at her.
"For the store?"
"For the whole building."
He didn't answer.
Lin continued.
"I put in the cash."
"You put in the building, renovation money, inventory, equipment."
She pointed upstairs.
"Claire runs the front with you supervising her."
Lucas frowned.
"Claire?"
"She has restaurant experience."
"I know."
"You can be her boss."
Lucas gave her a look.
"You really want me managing a deli?"
Lin smiled.
"I want someone responsible managing the person who will actually run it."
"And you?"
"I'll handle purchasing, finances, suppliers, and the parts of the business I understand."
Lucas looked around.
"What's my share?"
Lin answered without hesitation.
"Fifty percent."
He looked at her.
"Of the store?"
"Of the profit."
"After wages."
"After wages."
He was quiet.
Lin leaned against the counter.
"But I'm not asking you to buy in."
"I'm putting in the money."
"You put in the hours."
Lucas studied her.
"Why?"
Lin shrugged.
"Because I trust you."
His expression changed.
Just slightly.
Lin noticed.
She continued before the silence became awkward.
"And because I have too many projects already."
Lucas smiled.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The real reason."
Lin rolled her eyes.
"Don't ruin the moment."
Lucas walked toward the back.
There was a narrow staircase leading down.
He opened the door.
Cold air rose from the basement.
He looked down.
"There's another floor."
"Exactly."
Lin followed him.
The basement was unfinished.
Concrete floor.
Exposed pipes.
Old shelving.
A single bare bulb.
Lucas looked around.
"What do you want down here?"
Lin smiled.
"You."
He looked at her.
"Me?"
"Your office."
He laughed.
"My office?"
"A detective office."
Lucas's smile disappeared.
"Lin."
"I'm serious."
She walked farther inside.
"Private investigator."
"Security consultant."
"Background checks."
"Missing-property work."
"Whatever you legally want to do."
Lucas stared at the empty basement.
Lin continued.
"You already know how to investigate people."
"You know security."
"You know how to talk to witnesses."
"You know how to find things."
She turned toward him.
"You could build something here."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"And who's going to hire me?"
Lin smiled.
"People."
"That's vague."
"It's a town."
She pointed upward.
"People have problems."
"Somebody loses livestock."
"Someone's property goes missing."
"A business owner thinks an employee is stealing."
"Someone needs a background check."
Lucas looked thoughtful.
Lin continued.
"You don't have to start big."
"One desk."
"One computer."
"A phone."
"A locked filing cabinet."
"You build it piece by piece."
Lucas looked around again.
"And you pay for it?"
"I'll put in the cash."
She held up one finger.
"You put in the hours."
Another finger.
"After wages, we split the profits fifty-fifty."
Lucas shook his head slightly.
"You're giving me half the business."
"I'm giving you an opportunity."
"There's a difference."
Lin smiled.
"Then take the opportunity."
Lucas walked back toward the stairs.
He stopped beside Lin.
"What about the attic?"
Lin looked up.
"There's an attic?"
"There was a ladder upstairs."
They climbed.
The attic was cramped and dusty.
Low ceiling.
Old insulation.
A small window.
Lucas looked around.
"Could be cleaned up."
Lin nodded.
"Eventually."
"Someone could sleep up here."
Lin looked at him.
"You?"
He shrugged.
"If I need somewhere to stay."
Lin considered it.
"Fine."
Lucas smiled.
"That's it?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"You don't mind?"
Lin shook her head.
"If you're working downstairs, sleeping upstairs makes sense."
She pointed toward the ceiling.
"But you're fixing it."
Lucas laughed.
"Of course."
Lin started down the ladder.
"And you're not putting a bed in here until we've dealt with the insulation."
"Yes, boss."
She stopped.
Looked back.
"I told you not to call me that."
Lucas grinned.
"Right."
They returned to the storefront.
Claire was coming downstairs with Jake.
Jake was carrying a toy truck.
"Lin!"
"What?"
"Claire likes the upstairs."
Claire smiled.
"It's actually nice."
Lin nodded.
"Good."
Lucas looked at Claire.
"Lin offered you the job."
Claire nodded.
"She did."
Lucas looked at her.
"Then I guess I'm your boss."
Claire laughed.
"Apparently."
Jake looked between them.
"Does that mean Daddy works here?"
Lin answered.
"Maybe."
Jake's face lit up.
"Good."
Lucas looked at Lin.
"You planned that."
"No."
"You absolutely planned that."
Lin smiled.
"I planned the business."
The realtor walked back inside.
"Good news."
Everyone turned.
The realtor held up her phone.
"The owner accepted sixty thousand."
Lin smiled.
"Good."
The realtor continued.
"Cash. No repairs. As-is."
Lin nodded.
"Perfect."
Lucas looked at Lin.
She looked at him.
Neither said anything.
But both knew the empty building had just become something much bigger than a store.
And, for Lucas, perhaps the beginning of a second career.
October 11, 2023 – 3:55 PM
The realtor slipped her phone back into her purse.
"There's one more thing."
Lin looked at her.
"What?"
"The owner is actually in town."
Lin blinked.
"Today?"
"Today."
The realtor smiled.
"He came back this morning to deal with a few things."
Lin glanced at the battered storefront.
Then at Lucas.
Then at Claire.
"How soon can we close?"
The realtor checked her phone.
"If you have the money ready, we can do the transfer in about an hour."
Lin didn't hesitate.
"Done."
Lucas looked at her.
"You already have sixty thousand in cash?"
Lin gave him a look.
"Not literally in my pocket."
"I was wondering."
"I don't carry sixty thousand dollars around in a purse."
Claire smiled.
"I was picturing it."
Lin looked at her.
"Don't."
The realtor pulled out her phone again.
"I'll arrange for the owner to meet us at the title office."
Lin nodded.
"What do we need?"
"Identification."
"Proof of funds."
"Cashier's check or wire confirmation."
Lin nodded.
"I'll handle it."
The realtor hesitated.
"You're really doing this today?"
Lin looked around the building.
"Why wait?"
The realtor laughed.
"Most people take a few days to think about it."
Lin pointed toward the cracked window.
"If I spend three days thinking about this place, I might develop common sense."
Lucas laughed.
Claire covered her mouth.
Even the realtor smiled.
"Fair enough."
Lin pulled out her phone.
She stepped aside and made a quick call to her bank.
Lucas watched her.
Claire stood beside him.
Jake had wandered toward the front window.
"Daddy."
"Yeah?"
"We're buying it?"
Lucas glanced at Lin.
"Looks like it."
Jake looked at Claire.
"You get to live upstairs."
Claire smiled.
"Apparently."
Jake nodded.
"Then I can visit."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"We'll see."
Jake frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you're four."
"I'm almost five."
Lucas smiled.
"That changes everything."
Jake nodded seriously.
"It does."
Claire laughed.
Lin returned.
"The funds can be transferred."
The realtor nodded.
"Good."
Lin looked at the clock.
"We have fifty-two minutes."
Lucas smiled.
"You're timing the purchase?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"Because I have a store to renovate."
She turned toward Claire.
"And you have an apartment to inspect."
Claire smiled.
"Yes, boss."
Lin froze.
Lucas immediately started laughing.
Claire realized what she'd done.
"Sorry."
Lin pointed at both of them.
"I'm surrounded by comedians."
Jake raised his hand.
"I'm funny."
Lin looked at him.
"You are."
Jake smiled.
They stepped outside.
The afternoon traffic moved slowly down Main Street.
Across the road, children played on the swings.
A few locals walked past the storefront.
Nobody paid much attention to the group standing outside the old building.
Lin looked at the sign.
It was faded almost beyond recognition.
Soon, it would have a new name.
New shelves.
New lights.
Food in the windows.
People coming through the door.
She glanced at Lucas.
"You ready?"
He nodded.
"Ready."
Claire looked between them.
"What happens after we sign?"
Lin smiled.
"We own a disaster."
Lucas corrected her.
"A business."
Lin looked at the building.
"Same thing for the first month."
Claire laughed.
The realtor unlocked her car.
"Come on. We have an appointment to keep."
Lin opened the passenger door.
Then stopped.
She looked back at the old storefront one last time.
Sixty thousand dollars.
No repairs.
No guarantees.
Just a building with a cracked window, a bad roof, and an address five minutes from home.