Page 23 of Ghost

“W hat is it? What’s wrong?” Mitch asked, running from the bathroom.

Mason looked up towards his friend. “This.” He pointed to the strongbox sitting in the sink.

When Mitch came towards him, only then did Mason notice the ghost standing off to the side. He was now dressed in much nicer clothes, however. His shirt was clean and pressed as were his pants, and his hair was neatly combed, but he looked sad.

“What the...?” Mitch looked at Mason and then back to the contents of the box. “Is that cash?”

“I think so,” Mason picked up the bundles of money wrapped in rubber bands that were disintegrating as they handled the wads of money.

“Look.” Mitch pointed into the box. “What’s all that?”

“Bearer bonds,” the ghost said.

Mason looked up. The man’s voice sounded resigned, as if he’d given up.

“What are these?” Mitch asked, holding the certificates up. “What’s American Telephone and Telegraph?”

“I think that is AT&T.” Mason looked at the ghost who was nodding his head in agreement.

“Holy shit,” Mitch said. “These could be worth a fortune.

“I think I said the exact same thing.” Mason looked at the ghost again. “Could you run down and get Patty and/or Nick? These belong to them now.” Mason looked at Mitch who looked at him like he was crazy. “It’s the right thing to do, Mitch. Don’t even think about keeping this. It isn’t ours.”

Mitch sighed heavily. “You’re right, of course. I’ll be right back. Damn.”

Mason watched Mitch go down the stairs before turning to the ghost. “What’s your name?

“Owen. Owen Higgins. I own this place.” He looked at Mason sadly. “Or I did.”

“It’s okay, Mr. Higgins. Patty and Nick are really good people.”

“Yes, I know. They have done wonders with my old store.” He looked at the box again.

“That was my life’s savings and my uncle’s.

It was everything I had. I should have shut the store long before I died and spent it on myself.

” He looked at Mason again. “I thought I’d have more time.

” He looked down at himself, then looked up at Mason.

“I... guess it’s my time now. I’m all done here. ”

“I understand, Mr. Higgins. I’m sorry.”

Owen Higgins shrugged his shoulders. “I am sorry that I came at you. I’ve been so worried that someone would find my hiding place that I never.... Well, I have been hanging around trying to protect it. Don’t know why exactly. I guess that sounds stupid to you.”

“No, Mr. Higgins, it doesn’t sound stupid.” Mason felt bad for the old guy. “Mind if I ask you a quick few questions?” Mason took a few steps closer. “Do you know when you died?”

Mr. Higgins thought for a moment. “I think it was in 1972 or thereabouts.”

“And how long did you own the store?”

“Let’s see.” Owen rubbed his chin. “I moved into the store with my uncle in 1916, I wasn’t even eighteen yet.

He raised me you see. My mother died shortly after I was born, and my father died at sea when I was eleven.

I came to live with him then. My uncle never married. The store was his life and then mine.”

“Did you know the Watsons?” Mason asked gently.

“Pfft, that old witch, Mrs. Imogene Watson? Sure, I knew her. She was about as mean as a rattlesnake, that one was. Hateful old woman.”

“Do you remember when she died?”

Owen nodded. “Yes, I most certainly do. They found her in the basement of that old house. They couldn’t be sure how long she’d been dead. She must have been down there a while though, from what I gather. The whole house stunk from what they said. The police, that is.”

“I see. Thank you, Mr. Higgins.”

“Was that all you wanted to know?”

Mason smiled at the man. “Yes, sir, that was all.”

“I remember all the rumors about her. Some claimed that she killed her husband and then her own son. No one that I knew of liked her. There was that priest who used to come around and see her, but even he was put off by her.” Owen narrowed his eyes. “Why the interest?”

“No particular reason. I bought the Watson house and I’m restoring it, is all. Thought I’d find out some of the history of the place.”

Owen Higgins eyes got as big as saucers. “You saw her. Saw her in that house, didn’t you? Just like you can see me when no one else can.”

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you, but yes, I did.”

Owen leaned in close. “Did she do it?”

“Do what, Mr. Higgins?”

“Did she kill ‘em?”

Mason sighed. “Yes, she killed her son, Francis. I don’t know about the husband.”

Own snapped his fingers. “I knew it. She was a devil, that one.”

“What in tarnation is so important that we had to close the store up?” Nick was asking as he came up the stairs.

“You’ll see, Nick,” Mitch said.

“Is there a hole under that ol’ tub?” Paul asked.

“Oh lordy, I knew that there’d be something,” Patty complained. “You never know what you’re going to find in some of these old places.”

“Well, what is it?” Nick asked as he walked towards Mason.

Mason held the old strongbox out to Nick. “I believe this belongs to you now.”

Mr. Higgins stepped close so he could see inside the box as Nick opened it.

“Oh! Oh! My goodness.” Nick picked up the bundles of money and Patty took out the bonds.

Patty opened the certificates and read them. “Are these real?”

“Yep, they’re real alright,” Owen said.

“I do believe that they are,” Mason added since no one could hear or see Owen.

“There’s got to be at least twenty-thousand dollars here,” Nick said, quickly calculating the amount in each bundle.

“These bonds are dated 1901!” Patty exclaimed. “If they are real, they could be worth who knows how much!”

“I’d suggest that you put those in a safe somewhere until you can find out more about them,” Mason said.

“We could retire. Sell the store,” Patty all but squealed.

“I don’t know about all that now,” Nick hurriedly said. “They might not be worth the paper they’re written on, they’re so old.”

“We could travel!” Patty was dancing around the room.

Nick rolled his eyes. “Let’s not go counting chickens that we don’t even have, Patty.” Nick rolled his eyes. “You men about ready for some lunch?”

“I’m starving,” Mitch said.

“I could eat and sure could use something cold to drink,” Paul added.

“Why don’t y’all go on down and I’ll be there in a second,” Mason said.

He waited until everyone was down the stairs and heard the door close. “Mr. Higgins?”

Owen looked around the apartment. “I lived here almost my entire life.” He looked at Mason. “I hope them folks get to do something nice for themselves. I wish I had. Oh well.” He shrugged.

“Now what?” Mason asked.

“I’ve seen the bright light before, but I always turned away from it. Afraid someone was going to steal my money. Stupid me. I guess I’ll go into it now. There’s nothin’ left for me here anymore.”

Mason watched as he turned slightly to his right and walked a few steps and then he faded away, leaving only a few wisps of smoke.

* * * * *

“Y ou get the first go , Mas. It’s your house.” Paul pushed Mason towards the bathroom.

Mason smiled. “Hell, yeah!”

After his shower, Mason dried himself off, admiring his new bathroom as he did so. It was more upscale than any bathroom he’d ever been in, and it was his. He looked at the old pedestal sink and frowned. You’re not staying long.

“Hurry up in there,” Paul commanded. “I need a shower too.”

“Me too,” Mitch added.

“I’m coming.” Mason pulled on a pair of cutoff jeans and opened the door. “Next!”

Paul hurried in carrying his towel and toiletries as Mitch huffed.

“Come outside with me for a minute, Mitch.” Mason went and hung his towel up on a nail on the outside wall since they hadn’t put up any towel racks yet.

“What’s up, Mason?” Mitch leaned against the wall, one foot flat on the wall behind him. “We need more beer by the way.”

Mason rolled his eyes. “Listen, Mitch, I’ve got more work lined up that I can possibly do by myself. What’d’ya think about moving down here and us going into business together?”

Mitch’s eyes got wide. “Really? You’d go into business with me?”

“Sure, I would. You’re my best friend.” Mason patted Mitch on the chest with the back of his hand. “You’re buying your own damn beer, though. You just about broke me with what you can drink!”

“And I can live with you too?”

“Oh no. I was dead serious about that.” Mason shook his head no as he spoke.

“You gonna have to find your own place. The apartment down yonder still has a couple of weeks already paid and the deposit is paid. I can ask Mr. Stockbridge if he’d let me sub-lease it to you.

He might even give us a discount. He wants me to work on his other house. ”

Mitch frowned for a minute. “I can’t believe you wouldn’t want to live with me.”

“You want to walk into the kitchen and see a naked man, other than me, in there?” Mason asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.

Mitch’s face screwed up like he just smelled something nasty. “Hell no.”

“And I don’t want to walk into the bathroom with some chick in there, either,” Mason laughed.

“Okay. I get what you’re saying’.”

“Well, what’cha think?” Mason smiled.

Mitch thought for a moment. “I’d have to do this last job up in Atlanta first. That’ll take me at least a solid week. Then I’d have to pack.”

“I can come up and help you move,” Mason volunteered.

“As you should! I helped you!”

“Let me know when and I’ll be there.” Mason held his hand out.

Mitch took it and shook it vigorously. “You’re the best, Mason.

“What you two grinning’ about?” Paul asked as he stepped outside. Taking a hint from Mason, he hung his towel up on another nail.

“Mason and I are going into business together,” Mitch said as he threw his arm around Masons’ shoulders. “I’m gonna move down here.”

Paul scowled at Mason. “I ain’t good enough?”

“Oh, no, Paul. You’re more than welcome to join us. I’d love that,” Mason quickly said. “I just didn’t think you’d want to, with the kids and all. Changing schools and such.”

“Deb has been going on about how bad the schools are becoming and she’s hating all the traffic now, and all the crime.” Paul scratched his head. “I think she’d go for it.”

“Really?” Mason sounded excited.

“We all work really well together and between us, we can do just about anything,” Mitch added. “It’d be great. We’d be working for ourselves. Hell, there’s enough work already to keep us busy for at least six to nine months!”

Paul smiled. “I’m liking this idea. Of course, I have to finish this next job and that’ll take me at least three weeks.”

“Maybe I can ask Mr. Stockbridge if he’d rent you out the top part of that house,” Mason added quickly.

Paul frowned a bit. “It might take some convincing to get Deb to move into that. It’s a dump.”

“Maybe we could work something out with Mr. Stockbridge about fixing it up a bit in exchange for rent? What’cha think?” Mason suggested.

“That could work.” Paul thought a minute. “I’ll bring it up to Deb as soon as I get home and let you know. If she says yes, then I’m all in.” Paul smiled. “This sounds great!”

“Let’s have a beer,” Mason said.

“We need more beer. Remember? I told ya.” Mitch smirked.

“Then you go and get us some... partner,” Mason grinned.

Mitch’s face fell. “Damn. I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

“Yep, you sure ‘nough did.” Mason laughed.