Incest Justin Thyme by Callicious

[Ramesh_Rocky]

"He said they were in a strange place for sconces, that they wouldn't light much, but that we could probably get a good price from an antiques dealer. He was holding the one by the bookcase and it twisted in his hand, and the bookcase came loose. There is a small room there, with a small desk, but there is also a vertical ladder affixed to the wall. We didn't have any lights with us, so we ran to the store and bought a couple of flashlights and then went down the ladder. There are entrances to the 2nd and 1st floors, but it also goes down to a stone room basement."

Mom and Rosemary were both leaning forward in their chairs listening to my account. "The reason I need Grandpa to go with me is I believe we found Samuel Johnson, the original owner of the house. There was a skeleton of a man sitting slumped over in the chair behind a desk. He had a revolver in his hand, and across the room in the corner was the skeleton of another man with a gun. It looks like they shot each other." Mom's face blanched, and Rosemary gasped.

"So what do you need Rosemary to go with you for tomorrow?"

"Grandpa and I both think it would be better to find the first floor entrance, and not take the Sheriff through the upper entrance if we can help it. There are other entrances also in the basement, but Michael and I were already way late getting out of there, and we didn't take the time to check them out. I thought it would be better to have someone on the outside with a cell phone and someone on the inside knocking on the wall to make it easier to find. Besides, I really don't want Grandpa to have to climb to the garret and then down the ladder to the basement. If we don't find the entrance he would have to climb back out the same way."

Mom nodded her understanding. "I wish I could go with you, but I promised to help out with an open house tomorrow, and after I had a big deal fall through today because one of my people didn't do the paperwork right I'd better be there." At least that explained a big part of Mom's bad mood. She couldn't stand slipshod work!

Mom looked at me with a gimlet eye. "OK, there's more. Grandpa wouldn't call a meeting of all of us just for this. That could be handled with a phone call. What gives?"

I sighed. I knew I should have known I couldn't slip it past her. Mom is just too sharp for that. "I'm not trying to hide anything from you. We were going to talk about it Wednesday, and Grandpa didn't think I should say anything just yet if I didn't have to. This must be kept totally quiet. Not even Steph or Susie, Rosemary. Just the four of us, Grandpa, and probably Grandma, and Michael. There was a leather poke on the desk that had at least two pounds of raw gold in it, and a railroad map with a notation of 'oro' at a particular location. We didn't examine any of the paperwork or maps on the desk, but got out of there right away and hurried back to see Grandpa. I brought the gold back with me, and Grandpa has it in his safe."

"The law is clear on the gold and whatever we find down there. Michael and I, as finders own it. Michael said he doesn't want any of the gold or anything. He said he has all he needs and doesn't need anything more. What he did ask for is if we would fix up an apartment in the old servant's quarters in the carriage house for him." I didn't think it was my place to say why. I told him I could see no reason we wouldn't, but I would have to run it by you and Dad. He had broached the subject earlier, offering to pay for the renovations in lieu of rental for four years, which would have been a great deal, but now it would be using a portion of what would have been his share of the gold instead."

"I got to thinking also that it might be a good idea to fix up another smaller apartment or two up there and use it for parents of our tenants if they want to come visit their daughters. It's just something to think of."

"Anyway, that's what is going on. Grandpa thought you should at least know about the passageways, and I need Rosemary's help in finding entrances."

Mom sat in her seat with her wine glass half-way to her lips, but didn't move. Seeing she was thinking I didn't say anything, but waited for her. Slowly she let the glass back down to the table, a very pensive look on her face. "Wait here." She got up and walked over to the wall phone and dialed a number. "Cheryl? Look, I'm really sorry to call so late, but I have a family situation that just came up. Is there any chance you could help Amy with the open-house tomorrow? . . . That's right, one to six. . . . Thanks so much! I really hate to ask, but it's Amy's first, and I had promised I'd be there to help her out. She can handle it, but she feels nervous. . . . Great, I owe you a big one!"

Mom hanged the phone back on the receiver and came back over to the table and seated herself. "I am probably over-reacting, but I really think it would be better if I went along with Daddy tomorrow. Did you leave the lights you bought up there at the house?"

"Yes. They are up in my room. What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking it would probably be a good idea if you and Rosemary went on up there tonight. It's only a quarter after nine, so you should be there just after eleven. If I know you two you wouldn't be going to bed before then anyway." Rosemary's foot found my leg again. "You could get a head start if you get up early in the morning so we don't waste your Grandfather's time waiting for you to find the entrances. I really think you are right that he should not climb a four story ladder in either direction. Like I said, I'm probably over-reacting, but I really think either your Dad or I need to be there for something as serious as this. You both have good heads on your shoulders, but I think a little more maturity and experience would be good. If nothing else, I haven't spent much time with Daddy lately, and it will do me good, too. And, I'll get to see what you two have accomplished." She gave us a smile and picked up her wine glass to polish off the remainder. "I feel almost like a kid playing hooky!"