That guy, John, has hired others to come here and search for the gold, but I managed to scare them away with my ghost act.  Didn’t work with you and your cat though.  Just look at this evidence.  Hmm, and old family Bible.  Okay, it mentions everyone up to Mrs. Baker’s grandchildren, so that doesn’t help.  Both you and John claim to be great grandchildren.  Sure it helps, look here, one grandson is named John, but he died as a baby.  But, as I mentioned, John claims to be a great grandson.  But there’s only one other grandchild, Lydia explains, and that’s Joan, my mother, and I’m her only child.

Both my parents died 2 years ago in a car accident.  I think John was behind that, but I have no proof.  Hmm, if he killed off the living relatives, then he could move in and claim the estate, and the gold.  That’s why I have been hiding here, looking for the gold and scaring others away, said Lydia.  John said that 2 relatives died while looking for the gold, so that would likely be your parents.  Yes, said Lydia, they had been looking for the gold too.  I tried to keep everything neat, but covered with dust so people wouldn’t know where I had been looking.  And I kept my great grandmother’s favorite things dust free to help establish my ghost image.

That reminds me, how did you make yourself glow like that?  I found a jar of phosphorescent powder in the basement and I just sprinkle that on myself, she explained.  Hmm, you better be telling the truth, remember, Muffin still has her eyes on your feet.  Meow, Meow!!  Muffin said “tell the truth or I go chomp!”  I am telling the truth, but how else can I prove it?  Okay, in the morning we go to town and check the birth records.  Meow.  Oh, right, someone burned my car.  Sorry, that was me, said Lydia.  Why do that if you wanted us to leave?  I didn’t think about that until afterward.

But we can use my car, I keep it hidden behind an old shed out back.  And when we find the gold I will buy you a new car, I promise.  Meow.  What did she say? She said “if” you find the gold.  Muffin doesn’t think you will.  I’m beginning to think so too, sighed Lydia. Lydia changed her clothes and I left Muffin in the room with her so she wouldn’t disappear again.  Muffin and I were not sure we should trust her just yet, she could be working with John hoping we would find the gold for them.  Then Lydia took us to her basement kitchen and made us breakfast.

On the way to town Lydia talked about her parents and her dream of opening her own art gallery, but she didn’t say anything that would help us.  Her story matched what we found out at the records office, but she could have been there before to check these details to help her story.  Lydia and Muffin went back to the car while I stayed behind for a few minutes.  What else did you check, asked Lydia?  Just an added detail, I’ll tell you later.  Meow? (was she there before?).  No Muffin.  Meow? (and the police?)  All taken care of.  How do you know what Muffin is saying?  Practice, was all I said.

On the way back Lydia asked me if I had a gun.  Nope, don’t carry one, I said.  By the way, I called John to meet us at the house.  What??!!, screamed Lydia.  Meow!! (we are going to die now!!).  Look out!!  Noooo!!!  Meow!!!

To be continued.

Steve and Muffin.

© 2020 Steve McLeod. (all pictures from my vacation in June 2019 to Nice, France)