The Old Victorian by Allan Ansorge

Chapter 1 - Things Are Seldom As They Appear

Lawrence  Berger was almost glad that his Aunt Eunice had called and invited him to dinner at the old Victorian house his aunts occupied. His Monday night poker games had lost their charm for the last month or so. Normally he would have dinner at their home every other Thursday; but Eunice said that she and Mavis had something that they would like to discuss with him as soon as possible.

Little did he know that the headlights shinning the way on the rain covered road ahead of him were leading him to a meeting that was far more than the usual roast beef and potatoes.

He parked the car as near the leaded glass front door as he could. This left him the shortest exposure to the rain as possible for his entrance and exit, of the old Victorian house his two aunts called home. As usual, in spite of his years of admonitions they had left the front door unlocked again.
He attempted to shake the rain from his coat outside on the porch before he hung it on the coat tree in the foyer. Straightening his tie before tapping gently on the inside door so as not to startle the old dears.

As they had for as long as he could remember, both of them came to the door to greet him. Lawrence being their last living relative, who they treasured above anyone or anything on earth.

The customary three drinks were sitting on a silver tray that seemed to live on the six-legged table just inside the parlor door. As was Lawrence's custom he brought the tray to the two ladies who had assumed their regular positions in the matching Louie the 14th chairs on each side of the fireplace. Mavis nodded her thanks for her sherry; Lawrence placed his sherry on the end table next to his customary chaise, after serving Eunice her gin double no ice.
For the past 3 years Lawrence had taken a great deal of comfort from the consistency of these evenings he spent at 904 Madison. He knew what to expect here and it seldom varied. It was different when his wife Joyce was alive and she came with him. Since she was gone, the cards, and laughter had given way to habit and consistency. Yes a good word consistency.

Although tonight something was different, the electrically converted candelabra that dominated the ceiling in the middle of the room was not lit, instead there were several candles burning throughout the house.

The dancing flames cast shadows then light over the room, drawing Lawrence’s attention to things he had quit noticing years ago.  The heavy maroon velvet drapes that framed all the windows, with white lace sheers that peeked out from their edges. The large gilt edge mirror that reflected the candle light from the top of the fireplace across the coved ceiling.

With little light making it to the floor the gold brocade of the two chairs and the chaise made them appear to float above the floor rather than resting on their delicate legs. The black ebony case that surrounded the silver face of the mantel clock disappeared into shadow so the dial seemed to be levitated as it struck the seven o’clock call to the table.

Lawrence was slightly confused, he didn’t know which of the ladies he should escort to the table and which would head to the kitchen to serve. They had alternated for years on Thursdays, but this wasn’t Thursday. This was not the consistency that they and he had embraced for years. He seemed to be the only one who it upset, or even noticed for that matter.

As his hand reached out for an arm to lead to the dining room it was alone in mid air, the pair had deserted him for the kitchen. They returned in a few moments with trays of serving dishes distributing them about the candle lit hutch that was to serve for the first time that Lawrence could remember as a buffet.
Eunice removed the covers on the Royal Dalton serving china to reveal almost every thing edible one could imagine with the exception of roast beef. She reached in front of Lawrence to take his plate, overloading it with more than he normally ate in two days let alone one meal.

When they were all seated the ladies exchanged glances, Eunice taking the hint from her sister cleared her throat. “Larry we wouldn’t want you to think that we were trying to bribe you with dinner dear, but I do admit we wanted you to feel comfortable when we asked you for a rather large favor.”

“I wouldn’t want you to think you would have to bribe me either Aunt Eunice. I would hope that the both of you would understand that I am willing to do anything at all that you would ask of me.”

“Yes we thought you might if it were something normal dear, this favor is rather exceptional I’m afraid. We would like you to not say yes or no immediately but consider it for a day or two before you make a decision. Although due to circumstances, time is somewhat of an issue.”

“I’m sure I can give you an answer right now, what would you like me to do?”

“We would like you to quit your job dear, and come to work for us on a sort of quest we intend to undertake.”

Lawrence was certain that he had misunderstood Eunice, perhaps he had been eating to much or to fast, maybe it was the whole dark room candlelight thing.
“Are you all right Larry, you don’t look as if you are breathing?” asked Mavis.

“I’m not certain Aunt Mavis, I thought I just heard your sister ask me to quit my job….”

“Yes dear she did.”

“For some sort of quest….”

“Yes dear she did.”

“Good then I guess I’m all right.”

“Fine Larry, I’m glad.”

“I understood you to say that time is somewhat important Aunt Eunice, I don’t know if I have told you but it looks like the bank is going to be approached by someone to buy it out. It may not be the best time for me to leave.”

“Oh I’m sorry we thought that if we bought the bank it would make it easier for you to leave.”

“You bought the bank...”

“Yes we’ve made an offer dear.”

“The bank I am president of.”

“Well yes dear, your bank. Mavis and I have long thought it was time for you to leave there and do something different with your life. As they say break out.”

 Lawrence’s appetite had faded, he felt a slight constriction of his throat, perhaps Mavis was right, maybe he wasn’t breathing.

“If you ladies don’t mind could we turn on the lights to discuss this?”

“We could light more candles if you wish, we have several of them in the cellar,” said Eunice.

“No you needn’t bother, I guess this will be all right.”

Mavis went to the credenza in the far corner of the room withdrew a few sheets of paper from the center drawer and took her place again at the table.

“We have put together this proposal for you to study that pretty well outlines our intentions. As Eunice has said you don’t have to make a decision immediately but we have little time left and quite a bit to accomplish.”

“I’m sure you’ll be around for a good long while, your both in excellent health,” said Lawrence as he wondered about the sound mind portion of their lives.

Lawrence noticed Mavis started to twist the hanky she pull from her left cuff and stared at the edge of the table in front of her. Eunice laid her fork on the edge of her plate and appeared to be fiddling with her skirt to straighten it.

"All right Ladies what is it that you are not telling me that I should know."

“Well Dear we preferred not to share this with you until you had made your choice to join us or not. It seems that I do have some health issues that are somewhat serious, but we don’t want that to sway your decision at all,” said Eunice.

“How serious are we talking? Why hasn’t Doctor Skier called and told me about this.”

Mavis had tears welling up in her gray blue eyes and the hanky was close to disintegrating in her hands by now. “Eunice hasn’t talked to Doctor Skier about it cause she knew he would call you as soon as he found out.”

“What is wrong Eunice? What has this new Doctor told you?”

“I wouldn’t consider going to any one other than Doctor Skier. Mark Skier has been our Doctor since he moved here and that isn’t going to change. I’ve been working with the visiting nurse who helps monitor Mavis’ insulin.”

“What has this nurse told you?” asked Lawrence.

“She’s been very helpful, she has offered to help me get my things in order so that most of what I have won’t be lost to taxes and things of that sort.”

Lawrence’s head was swimming with information overload, he didn’t know what he wanted to ask next, his breath was coming in short pants.

“What type of test has this nurse had you take Eunice what were their names?”

“She is not this Nurse dear, her name is Catherine, and she didn’t see the need for me to go to a hospital for test that would cost a fortune and only prove what she already knew.”

“Has she given you any pills Eunice, have you taken any pills she gave you?”

“Of course Dear they help me sleep, although each day I seem to have a little less energy just as Catherine said I would. That’s why we feel that we must begin our project as soon as possible."

Head in hands, elbows on table, Mavis was sobbing so hard there were ripples forming in the water glasses. Lawrence was starting to doubt whether he was here at all, hearing what he preferred to believe must be his imagination at work.

“Aunt Mavis where is the phone?”

“I believe I put it in the piano seat Dear.”

Lawrence’s nerves were wearing thin, “Why would you do that Mavis?”

“To remind us not to make any calls after sun down when the extra fee goes into effect.”

“What extra fee is that Mavis?”

“Martin, Catherine’s brother told us about it, he has been coming by fixing this and that for us, like a handy man. He also told us about the surcharge for electricity that’s why we decided to use up the candles we had accumulated in the cellar dear.”

“Did Martin get you a good deal on the candles Mavis?”

“Oh yes he has a friend in the business who doesn’t report them somehow so we only pay half of the normal surcharge.”

Lawrence had heard about things like this happening to older people but he had always assumed that his Aunts would never be taken advantage of like this. They were smart ladies, they obviously had run into some one equally  smart or perhaps cunning was the word.

Now that all the pieces of the puzzle were laid out in front of him, he knew exactly what had happened here. This Catherine and her helper had managed to cut his Aunts off from the outside, by controlling who they talked to, when and probably were feeding them enough drugs to keep them in line. The candles would easily explain the accidental fire that would wipe out any traces that the two of them left as they robbed them blind. He didn’t even want to ask if the two of them had included their nurse and handyman in a new will. 

He excused himself from the table and walked thru a downpour to his car to get his cell phone.

“Dr. Mark, Larry we have a situation that has too be dealt with right away. I want you to push yourself away from that bowl of potato chips on my poker table; come over to Mavis and Eunice’s house. Bring your Doctor toys and that ugly Lawyer who always sits to your right so he can peek at your cards.

No don’t order an ambulance. No one is dieing. After you get here you may consider killing a couple of people, for what they were doing to two of your favorite patients. Thanks Mark see you in a couple of minutes.”

Lawrence didn’t bother to hurry to the house he was so angry, the rain pelting him didn’t even get noticed.