Ghost Memory by Maer Wilson Page B

guest
expectantly.
    “Well, I wrote a will a few years
ago, making sure I left everything to my husband. I’ve also been
saving cash over the years and stashing it in our house. It was to
be a surprise for him. Something to see us through our old
age.”
    I raised my eyebrows at him and he
gave a rueful smile in return.
    “Now, don’t chastise me for not
putting it in the bank,” he said with a smile. “I know I was
foolish, but when I started keeping it, I did so to make it easier
for my husband to get the money, in case anything happened to me. I
left him a letter telling him there was a will and cash, but I
didn’t tell him where the letter was.
    “In the beginning, I kept adding
new hiding places. And as the amount grew, I pictured his
pleasantly surprised look when he realized he’d never have to worry
about money. So, I kept putting off telling him it existed at all.
I’d like to hire you and your fiancé to find the will, the letter
and the money and make sure that he gets all of it.”
    “That sounds easy enough,” I said,
as I went over to retrieve my backpack. I pulled out my electronic
tablet and turned it on.
    “I’ll need your name and address
and your husband’s name.”
    “Certainly, I’m Peter Swanson.” He
then gave me the address, which was across the city from our
apartment. I opened a document and noted his info.
    “My husband’s name is Donovan
Quinn.” He paused and gave me a slightly embarrassed smile.
“There’s only one problem.”
    I didn’t bother to brace myself.
There was always “only one problem.” It pretty much went with the
territory when dealing with the dead or supernatural.
    “I don’t remember where the will,
the letter or the money is. Before I died, I had Alzheimer’s and it
was getting pretty bad. I stashed the money in various places
throughout the house. I think I also moved the will and the letter
because they aren’t where I thought they were. I remember some of
the locations, but instead of leaving it all in one place, I moved
it around for safekeeping. I’ve looked throughout the house and
could only find a portion of the money. Not nearly as much as I had
hidden originally.” He shook his head, obviously irritated with
himself.
    That was strange. Usually whatever
ailed the person in life didn’t carry over once they were dead. I
was surprised he couldn’t remember, but since I didn’t know
everything about being dead, I shrugged and accepted it. I was also
surprised that he wasn’t able to find all of the money on his own.
He should have been able to get to places in the house that we
never would.
    I asked him about that.
    “Yes, you’re right, of course. I
haven’t tried very hard, I suppose. Especially since there’s no way
I can get Don the money. I need you and your fiancé for that part.
I do hope you don’t mind.” His smile was charming.
    “Besides, I keep getting
sidetracked when I’m in the house. I start to look, but then just
sit in the room with Don. We were together for fifty years and just
being in his company is soothing to me.”
    I nodded in understanding.
    “Anyway, we’ve recently been doing
a lot of work on the house. It’s an old Victorian and we’ve lived
there for forty years. I’m concerned that some of the workmen might
have found the money and stolen it. Who knows exactly how much is
missing at this point. We replaced the plumbing and electrical and
had some minor foundation work done. So there were a lot of people
in and out of the house.”
    It sounded like he had given a lot
of thought to his problem, and I was willing to bet he was on the
right track.
    “Thulu should be able to trace the
missing money, as well as find what’s in the house.”
    “Oh really?” Mr. Swanson’s eyebrows
rose appreciatively. “If we can find the rest of the money, Don
should be able to live there comfortably for the rest of his life.
But he’s older than I am and not in the best of health. He will
need care before