I am a new RI contractor starting and took on a very small patio and fire pit. I was almost completed when I had an unexpected family emergency that would interfere with the completion for several weeks. My girlfriend who assists me,offered for me to complete the job in the next few weeks or obtain another contractor she could assist and complete the job herself. I should also note this is documented via text. It was also documented that I would be responsible out of pocket to pay roughly $2-300 for a laborer to help finish. The job only needed one full day or a day and one half at best weather and heat permitting. The customer had not specific date, but would like to enjoy her space during part of the summer- fall. My gf interviewed one contractor who met her at the project but miss read his text and thought he was going to bid out the job. That bid was around 3k, $1800 more than she was going to pay. She thought that was an outrageous cost considering she owed us roughly $1500. My assistant discussed with her that she would connect with another contractor we work with to see if we could schedule it to be completed in a timely fashion. The customer decided to connected with the individual that my assistant interviewed at the job site had him complete basically the same job I had started but with the expectation that I pay $1000 towards her extra cost to have it done that weekend I was detained on top of holding all of my tools until I do so. I was paid $500, $120, $120, $300. ( $1040 ) Out of that I paid cash $426.20 for materials leaving about $613 that was paid for my labor for half of the project. Is it legal for her to hold my tools until I pay her $1000. As a result I almost defaulted on my car payments. I left my job pre covid to start my business and have been unable to collect unemployment as a result and even though this is not a high paying job it made a financial impact on my family who had to go with out. With out my tools I can not work. We attempted to resolve the work in a professional manner and they chose to not follow through and expect us to pay.