Page 6 of Right Place, Right Time
‘I sold a Rolling Stones album once,’ I say, assuming he will like this reference. ‘Not through my shop, but at auction. It was signed by Mick Jagger.’
‘Nice. Made a fair bit, I bet.’
‘Yeah, it was a good little profit.’
‘So, what do you think about my grandfather’s stuff,’ Adam says, looking around the drawing room. ‘Do you see a good little profit in this house?’
‘Some of it.’ Even though I need to make a profit from house clearances, I’m always honest about valuations. ‘It’s a little larger a project than I’m used to, to be completely honest. I usually take on much smaller clearances.’
‘Yeah, that’s what I thought when I looked you up. But my grandfather was insistent in his requests that you do the clearance and sell the contents of his house.’
‘I’ve been wondering about that – do you know why?’ I ask, closing up my notebook.
‘I’ve no idea. I only arrived here earlier today myself. I’ve been dealing with all the paperwork and stuff from London. He just said it must be Rainy Day Antiques in Clockmaker Court in Cambridge.’
‘Perhaps he used to visit the shop when my grandparents were alive? They owned the shop before me.’
‘Perhaps. I really don’t know. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee maybe?’ Adam says, looking around, andI wonder if he even knows where the kitchen is. ‘Sorry, I should have offered you one when you arrived.’
‘I’d say yes, but if you only arrived today is there actually anything in the kitchen?’
‘Another very astute and likely correct observation!’ Adam says, grinning. ‘What about a birthday drink, then? We can hash out the finer points of how this all works. There’s a couple of good pubs here, that I do know.’
‘Erm … shall we finish looking around the house first?’ I don’t want to offend him by declining his offer, but I know time is ticking away.
‘Yes, of course. You lead the way.’
‘So, give it to me. What’s your expert opinion?’ Adam asks as we finish our tour of the house in a room that’s a cross between a library and a study. The walls are lined with shelves of books and there’s a large walnut writing desk at one end of the room. ‘Has my grandfather left me a pile of gold within this house or a crock of shi … sorry, rubbish?’
‘There are definitely some items that I’d be happy to take off your hands and some items that might have more sentimental value, but which I could still sell if you’d like me to take them too. Your grandfather had a good eye and there’s some very interesting pieces here.’
‘Interesting and valuable?’
‘They’re only valuable if someone else wants to buy them,’ I reply carefully. ‘It’s very subjective.’
‘True … again, a good comparison between our two worlds. Music is only profitable if people want to buy your records and pay to watch you in concert.’
‘Indeed.’ I look around the room. ‘Take for instance that grandfather clock over there. I think it’s beautiful – thecarving on the door in particular is very well done and also very unusual. But grandfather clocks are really difficult to sell these days, because most people don’t have houses big enough to put them in. That doesn’t mean I won’t try to sell it, though. You just never know when the right buyer might pop their head around the shop door looking for exactly what you have. And that cabinet on the wall by the window. It’s filled with all sorts of action figures and stuff from comics. Not exactly antiques, and I have to admit I don’t know all that much about that kind of thing. But I know it’s becoming more collectable all the time.’
I turn back to Adam and find that he’s silently watching me.
‘Is everything all right?’ I ask, wondering if he’s OK.
‘Yes, I was just thinking about that cabinet. I always wanted to play with some of those figures when I was a child, but I was never allowed to. They were my grandfather’s pride and joy.’
‘I can leave them if you like? If they have sentimental value?’
‘No, take them,’ he says abruptly. ‘It’s fine.’
‘Would you like me to take all these books too?’ I ask quickly, hoping I’ve not upset him. ‘I can’t house them in my shop, but I know a dealer who could probably sell them on. It’s a shame – we used to have a lovely second-hand bookshop next door to my antiques shop. But they closed down last year and no one has taken on the shop since.’
‘No,’ Adam says sharply again. His manner has been so relaxed until now that I wonder what’s made it change. ‘I’d like to keep them.’
‘Sure, not a problem. There’s quite a lot, isn’t there? Do you have room for—’
‘I’ll make room if I have to,’ Adam says shortly.
‘Like I said, not a problem.’ I glance down at my notebook.
