Page 49 of Ghost

Ellen retired to her room after the viewing in the parlor, as she’d said she would. She said she would rejoin the others for drinks on the veranda an hour before dinner.

Sharon changed and announced that she was going to go for a long walk, since she didn’t have to cook dinner. She was glad to have a chance to stretch her legs after the drive up.

Francis was itching to show Mason around his family home. He had the energy of a small child ready to open their presents on Christmas Day.

“If you do not stop popping in and out all over the place, I’m going to go and take a nap,” Mason declared, standing on the landing of the stairwell.

“I am sorry, Mason.” Francis called down from the top step to the second floor. “It is only because there are so many things to show you and... we do not have much time.”

Mason nodded, trying to smile and match Francis’ enthusiasm. “I know. Just understand that I can’t just jump around like you can.”

Francis nodded, still smiling.

They walked down the broad hall towards the back of the house where large windows looked out over the formal rose garden and fountain.

Mason didn’t notice that there was a door to the side.

The only indication that there was even a door at all was a small thumb latch.

Francis indicated for him to open it. It was a little stiff, but Mason got it open.

“That’s not been opened in a while, I’d say. Needs a bit of oil,” Mason commented as he lifted the latch a few times, trying to loosen it up.

“Could you please not bother with that at the moment?” Francis asked, clearly frustrated with Mason’s actions.

Mason chuckled. “Sorry. I always want to fix things, I guess. ”

“Come up the stairs.” Francis was already at the top of a very steep, narrow staircase. There was no carpet or banister. It was also very dark, with only a slight glimmer of light that was behind Francis.

Mason climbed the stairs, feeling his way, treading lightly, not sure how solid the steps would be. He’d already experienced falling off a broken step once and didn’t want to repeat it.

“Over here,” Francis called to Mason. “Behind the chimney.”

Mason looked around. There were six dormer windows across the front of the house, letting in some light.

They were so covered with dust on the inside, they didn’t let in much light.

He noticed that there were four chimneys, but Francis was standing in front of the one towards the back of the house, to the left.

“Okay, now what?” Mason asked.

“There, between the outside wall and the chimney. See the darkest plank? ”

Mason knelt down and ran his hand along the wooden floor plank.

“Yes, that is the one.” Francis was kneeling opposite Mason. “Feel between the brick of the chimney and the plank closest to me.”

Mason did as he said and felt something metal. He looked into Francis’ eyes.

“Push it towards me. Use the tip of your finger.”

Mason had to really jam his forefinger into the small crack and he could feel it try to give, but was pretty well stuck. “It won’t move.”

Francis scowled.

Mason held up one finger. “Hold on a minute.”

He looked around the attic, which was full of boxes of all sizes, many of them wooden. Mason rummaged around until he found an old knitting needle. “This should do the trick.”

Mason pushed the tip of the old needle into the crack, and using some force, was able to push the small piece of metal until it gave way. He heard a small click and the center board lifted a fraction of an inch.

“Pull the board up towards the outside wall,” Francis instructed. Mason did so. “Now feel underneath, towards yourself. You will find a wooden lever.”

“Got it.”

“Pull it back towards yourself,” Francis whispered.

It took a bit of force, but Mason managed to get it to move.

“There is another one further down. Do the same only push it in the opposite direction.”

Mason did as he was told.

Francis took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I had always feared that it would be found, especially if the house had burned down.”

Mason had to chuckle. “I doubt anyone could have randomly found this until they were repairing the roof for a leak.”

“I had not thought of that.” Francis frowned for a moment. “Pull the boards towards yourself, then you can lift the two remaining boards away."

Mason gave a good tug, and the old flooring lifted away quite easily. So easily in fact that Mason fell over backwards onto his butt.

Francis laughed as Mason sat there with the two joined boards in his hands.

“I don’t see what’s so funny.” Mason scowled at him. “Now what?”

Francis only pointed to the space under the flooring.

Mason got to his knees and looked into the hole that was there. Inside was on old lockbox. He glanced up at Francis, who nodded. He pulled the box from its hidey-hole.

Mason frowned when he saw a small lock on the box. “Where’s the key?”

Francis smiled. “Here,” he answered, crooking his finger. He took a step backwards.

Mason followed.

Francis pointed to a brick that was slightly above Mason’s head. “That brick is loose,” Francis explained.

Mason reached up with both hands and with a little work pulled the brick away. He felt around and found a small key. They smiled at each other.

Mason picked up the box and struggled to get the lock undone. “Must be some good stuff in here if you went to all this trouble to hide it.

“You shall see, my love. You shall see.”

Mason lifted the lid and found a stack of papers, all tied up in a disintegrating blue ribbon. He carefully lifted the bundle out of the metal box. When he went to pull the bow of the ribbon, it did fall apart, bits falling to the floor while most of it drifted away like dust particles.

“That ribbon used to belong to my cousin Ellen,” Francis smiled. “She had left it behind during one of her visits to Hobonny.”

Mason opened the first document that had been on top. When he saw what it was his eyes opened wide, as did his mouth. “This is a property deed for a place in London!”

“In...deed it is!” Francis laughed at his own pun. “You will find several there.”

“London. As in London, England?”

Francis laughed even more. “I do know where London is, Mason. I have been there.”

Mason looked further into the stack. There were more property deeds for houses in England, one in Paris, France and a few in New York City. Each time he opened one, he looked at Francis.

“I am a very good businessman. Or I was,” Francis stated. “I cannot take all the credit however. My father had started when I was a mere child. I only continued to do so as he taught me.”

“What am I supposed to do with these?” Mason asked, his mouth suddenly very dry.

“There is a letter on the very bottom that will help explain things.” Francis took a step forward to stand right in front of Mason all but touching. “It is my wish that you have everything that is in that box.”

“How do you even know if these properties are... well, still yours?”

“Did you not hear me when I said I was a very good businessman?”

Mason could only nod. “What does the letter say?”

Francis continued to smile, though not as brightly.

“Whomever holds those deeds, and other documents, will be entitled to keep them. All of them. It is my last will and testament.” Francis looked down at the hole in the floor.

He looked up into Mason’s eyes. “It is my wish that you have everything in that box.”

Mason’s mouth once again fell open.

“Gerald, where are you?” Francis called out.

Within a few seconds, Gerald had joined them.

“I am not used to being summoned,” Gerald grouched. “Especially by you!”