The Talking House's Deadly Secret

Rupert scrambled to dig the contract out of his bag. "That's great, ma'am! Sign today and we can process the paperwork tomorrow!"

The words had barely left his mouth when knocking rattled the door.

Rupert went to answer it.

Standing outside was a woman in her thirties, dressed in loud colors, her face caked with makeup, two runny-nosed kids trailing beside her.

"Sylvia Jennings? What are you doing here today?" Rupert blinked.

Sylvia pushed a step inside, her eyes sweeping over me and Percy. "The kids wanted to see the new place first. Didn't want to leave it too late tomorrow. The apartment isn't sold yet, is it?"

Rupert looked a little awkward. "Well... Ms. Dickerson here is in the middle of negotiating. She's quite serious about it."

"Don't waste time," Sylvia cut in flatly. "I'll add fifty thousand. Eight hundred fifty thousand, cash, I can wire it today."

That aged voice went frantic all at once.

"What did I say! Sylvia, that shrew! Years ago she hounded Bill Donaldson to death trying to marry in with those two kids of hers, and Bill wanted nothing to do with her. Now that Bill's barely gone, she's got her eye on this apartment. Don't tell me she knows about the little stash Bill hid in here?"

My head went hot. "I'll add two hundred thousand!"

The room went silent. Percy stared at me. Rupert's mouth hung open and stayed that way.

Sylvia gave a cold laugh, her face full of scorn. "You can put down a million?"

Rupert was caught in the middle. "Sylvia, Ms. Dickerson was here first—"

Sylvia patted her pocket. "I've got eight hundred fifty thousand on my card, ready to swipe any time. I just worry the one who got here first can't back it up. All bark, no bite."

I clenched my fists.

Percy and I had five hundred thousand in savings, total. The rest I'd have to borrow.

But the moment I thought of the gold in the wall and the cash above the ceiling...

"I'll have the full amount together within three days. Let me sign the contract today."

Sylvia looked at me coldly. "Don't say I didn't warn you. You sign and then can't come up with the money, the deposit isn't refundable."

Rupert jumped in. "There really is a rule about that. Ma'am, maybe you want to think it over a little more?"

Percy couldn't hold it anymore. He dragged me out into the stairwell and shouted through gritted teeth. "Lydia, have you lost your mind? A million for this dump? Where are the two of us supposed to find a million? Did that agent slip you something?"

Watching him panic, my mind raced.

Tell him the truth? Would he even believe it?

"Percy, trust me just this once. This apartment really has—"

"Has what?" Percy's eyes were red with anger. "Six years together, I handed you my paycheck and every cent I earn, and now you want to take our money and buy some run-down shoebox? How am I supposed to face my buddies? You dare sign that, and we're finished for good!"

He turned and ran down the stairs.

When the contract came at me, my hand shook a little.

Once I'd signed and pressed my thumbprint, Rupert tucked the contract away, grinning ear to ear. "Ma'am, you're a real decisive one! We'll do the paperwork tomorrow, just pay in full within three days."

Sylvia sneered. "You'd rather blow up your relationship than let this dump go. Did you find something in here?"

My chest tightened.

That aged voice gloated right along with her. "This wench has a sharp nose. Don't tell me she's guessed there's gold in the wall..."

I stepped forward and pointed at the old carved bed in the bedroom.

"Fine, I won't hide it from you. I've got my eye on this bed."

"This bed's an antique." I patted the frame like I knew my stuff. "If it's the real thing, it's worth more than the apartment."

The corner of Rupert's mouth twitched. "Ma'am, are you sure?"

"The contract says it anyway, everything in the apartment comes with it, right? So this bed's mine too. Nobody's taking it."

Sylvia's eyes flickered twice. She stepped closer to size up the bed, reached out and ran her fingers over the carving on the rail, her brows drawing together, then glanced at me again.

I didn't give her another chance to dig. I herded her and Rupert out the door. "All right, I'm off. Paperwork first thing tomorrow."

I rode the scooter two streets over before pulling to the curb to call Percy.

Seven calls in, he finally picked up. "You signed it?"

"Yeah."

Three seconds of silence, then he laughed. "Lydia, we're done."

"My half of the money for that apartment? Consider it charity all these years, thrown to the dogs!"

"Percy, listen to me! Last night I had a dream. I dreamed about my grandmother, and she told me there's something in the wall of this apartment—"

Before I could finish, the call cut off.

I let out a sigh.

If he didn't believe me, fine. Once I dug out that gold and dropped the cash in front of his face, he'd believe me soon enough.