Chapter 1. No One Lives Here

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 I opened the creaking, rusted iron gate that led into the backyard. The statue-lined backyard and pool were in a sad state of disrepair. Apart from some general debris lying in the waterless pool, there appeared to be what looked like an old-style broken wooden wheelchair. Weed-infested gardens and wild ivory grew up the mansion’s walls, encroaching on the roof. Like a classic book with yellow pages and missing pages or an abandoned puppy without love, this property sadly said, "No one lives here anymore." 

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 Needless to say, this once grand property must have been a gem in the heydays of the roaring twenties and beyond. I noticed that the side door of the abandoned mansion looked slightly ajar. I approached with caution. Releasing the safety on my Baretta handgun, it was time to enter and perform my duties. The only sound I heard was the eerie movement of the wind flapping a curtain within one of the darkened rooms. A sudden crash of what sounded like glass or a lamp hitting the floor sent shivers throughout my body! To my relief, the sound of a flapping bird veering from room to room was the cause. I entered the main foyer with Baretta raised. My pace was slow and sure, not wishing to make my presence known to anyone who may be hiding within the premises. Aside from the sound of curtains flapping against broken windows, the only other sound I heard was the creaking of the wooden stairway as I ascended to the second floor.

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 I continued to ascend the grand stairway with my Baretta raised above my right shoulder. Each time my shoes touched a step, I could hear the movement of someone else walking as if in unison with me. Upon reaching the top of the stairway, I moved in the direction of a room to my left. As I lightly kicked open the door with my foot, I felt a bang on my head and fell to the floor. My hand hit the floor, causing my gun to become loose from my grip and slide away. I went into semi-consciousness. Before falling into total unconsciousness, I could hear what sounded like someone walking about the room. The slow, rhythmic walk sounded as if someone was shuffling with a limp. I continued to drift in and out of unconsciousness for the rest of the evening.

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Every now and then, the faint sounds of rain dripping through leaks in the roof grew louder and louder. I found myself lying on my back and unable to move. Small drips of water began dripping on my forehead. The methodical drips came from a leak in the ceiling next to a large chandelier. “At that point, I fell into a state of total unconsciousness!” Upon waking in the morning, I could feel the presence of someone staring at me. Much to my surprise, it was a stray cat sitting and motionlessly staring at me from about one foot away. I felt a bit of relief that my handgun was still lying on the floor about five feet from my position on the floor. A burst of sunlight broke through a large window, and after a silent prayer, I was able to get up and leave the premises. "What did I get myself involved with?" My investigative instincts sent a red flag that there was much more involved in this case than I expected!   

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Chapter 2. Personal Insight

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 Before going forward with this ongoing investigation, I feel that it is fair and proper to provide those who are continuing with this story with the following…

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​ ​My name is J. Alan Velbrin, and I am a seasoned private investigator specializing in unsolved cases. About a week before I decided to take this case, a package was delivered to my office by a Canadian postmark. It contained the following: "Twelve one-hundred-dollar bills and a handwritten letter. The bills were in perfect condition as if they had never been used, but they predated 1948.

 

The handwritten letter stated the following:

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AND NOW THE CONTINUING THRILLING MYSTERY WILL UNFOLD!  CONTINUE HERE...​

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