Aunt Bessie Finds (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page B

think
to give you the number yesterday,” Bahey said.
    “It’s no problem,” Bessie assured her.   After a few minutes of idle
conversation, Bessie hung up and rang the number Bahey had given her.   The phone rang many times and Bessie was
about to hang up when an answering machine suddenly picked up.
    “You’ve reached Island Choice Properties and IC Mortgage
Services.   Please leave a message
after the tone and someone will ring you back.”
    Bessie sighed deeply and then complied.
    “My name is Miss Elizabeth Cubbon , and
I’m interested in seeing the flat you have listed in Douglas on Seaview Terrace.”   She left her phone number and hung up feeling annoyed.   Surely an estate agency should have office
staff available at half nine on a Wednesday morning?   And what was IC Mortgage Services?
    She did a few little chores around the house, starting a load of
laundry and tidying the downstairs.   It was more than an hour later when her phone finally rang.
    “Mrs. Cubbon ?   This is Alan Collins from Island Choice
Properties, returning your call.”
    Bessie bristled instantly at the oily salesman’s voice that came
down the phone to her ear.   Even
though he’d only introduced himself, Bessie felt an irrational dislike for the
man.
    “It’s Miss Cubbon , actually.   I’m interested in the flat on Seaview Terrace in Douglas,” Bessie replied.   “I’d like to arrange to have a look at
it, please.”
    “Certainly, Mrs. Cubbon .   I’d be happy to arrange that for
you.   Let me get a few details from
you before we make that appointment.   If I could just get your address, please?”
    “Why?”
    “I’d like to put a brochure in the post to you with some of the
particulars of the building and the flat.   I’ve found, in the past, that some clients discover that they are no longer
interested in a given property once they’ve seen the particulars.”
    “I have a friend who lives in the building,” Bessie told him.   “I already have a pretty good idea of
what to expect.”
    “Oh, excellent,” the man said with what sounded like fake
enthusiasm.   “That certainly makes
my job a good deal easier.   Of
course, I’d also like to send you the details for a few other flats in the
Douglas area.   It’s always best to
have something to compare a property with, I find.   Your address?”
    Bessie just barely held back a sigh.   The man’s argument seemed perfectly
logical and it really wasn’t his fault she’d already decided that she didn’t
like him.   He was probably a
perfectly nice person, simply trying to do his job.
    “ Treoghe Bwaaue , Laxey ,” Bessie told him, reciting the postal code
slowly.  
    “And do you rent or own that property?” Alan asked.
    “I own it,” Bessie said sharply.   “If it’s any of your business.”
    The man chuckled annoyingly.   “I am sorry,” he said, sounding anything but contrite.   “I love my job, but it is sometimes
frustrating to show multiple properties to people only to discover that they
are merely renting their current homes and simply don’t have the resources to
purchase anything.   The property
market on the island is getting increasingly challenging for first-time buyers,
so I’ve taken to asking people about their current status in an effort to help
me prepare them for the harsh realities of the seller’s market we’re
experiencing.”
    “I see,” Bessie said.
    “With that in mind,” the man continued, “I hope you’ll understand
if I ask you for a reference?   Just
a friend or family member who can verify your existence.”
    “My existence?” Bessie asked.
    Alan chuckled again.   “You’d be amazed at how many people think it’s quite fun to go around
and see dozens of houses or flats with no intention of buying anything.   I’ve wasted many, many hours of my time
showing flats to nosy neighbours who just want to see
how exactly Mildred rearranged the furniture or what that extension Mark