That voice, she almost said. But that would have been silly. It was the wind, just as the attorney had said, rustling through the palms and blowing in through an open window somewhere in the house.
"Never mind," she said briskly. "Let's see the rest of the downstairs, shall we? Does the electricity work?"
"I assume so." Amos touched the light switch. A pair of wall sconces near the front door flickered, then blazed to life. "Yes, Miss Russell. It works."
"The heating?"
"I assume that works, as well."
"And the plumbing?"
"I assume—"
"Are we playing some sort of game here, Mr. Carter?"
"No game, Miss Russell. I offered to find out what needed doing at Charon's Crossing but you said you would see to it all yourself." He smiled coolly. "And so you shall."
Kathryn sighed. Enough was enough. "Mr. Carter," she said, "why don't you tell me the problem?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Come on, don't be coy. You don't like me and I'd like to know the reason."
Amos looked her straight in the eye. "I see no need for me to like you or for you to like me."
"You're right. But I'd still appreciate an answer."
"Very well, if you insist. I am accustomed to holding the trust of my clients."
"I've no idea what my father thought of you, one way or the other."
"I am not referring to him. I resent the way you reacted when I offered to determine the need for repairs here."
A lawyer with a tender ego. Just her luck.
"Fair enough. Is there anything else?"
Amos shrugged his shoulders. "I am not accustomed to taking orders from females."
Kathryn nodded. Somehow, that revelation came as no great surprise but that didn't make it any the less infuriating.
"Well, prepare yourself for more orders, Amos," Kathryn folded her arms. "I asked you to have this place cleaned in anticipation of my arrival but I don't see that it was done."
"On the contrary. One of the local women came in. She tidied up the kitchen and the West Wing. You'll find them acceptable, if not luxurious. Since there are numerous other rooms, and since you made it clear you wished to personally approve whatever was done in this house..."
"Touché." Kathryn smiled coolly. "One point for your side."
"Is there anything else before I go, Miss Russell?"
"Do I have a telephone?"
"You do."
"I suppose you assume it works?"
"On the contrary. I know that it does not. Telephone service is erratic at best on Elizabeth Island. And I'm afraid cell phones won't work, either. I tried to tell you, Miss Russell, we have limited—"
"Amenities. Yes, I know." Kathryn sighed. "All right, Amos. It would seem the contractor—Hiram, was it? It would seem his work's cut out for him. Please phone him and tell him to be sure and come by tomorrow."