The Somnibus: Book I - Finding the Mark (A Paranormal Thriller) Read Free Page B

had
an appointment at eight to see an apartment. My eyes shut as soon as my head
hit the pillow.

-Chapter 5-
     
    I spent the morning touring apartments only to find
something wrong with each one. Having no luck, I headed home to have lunch
before Barnes came over with Mr. Bell.
    My mind wandered, wondering why Mr. Bell wanted
our house so badly. With the real estate market still in the tank, I expected
to get less than the appraisal, but to get a hundred grand more was insane. The
house hadn’t been foreclosed on yet, but it was still an auction, and I
prepared for a lowball offer.
    My eyes kept finding their way back to the clock,
time seemed to crawl along that afternoon. Two o’clock finally came, and it
brought Barnes and Mr. Bell with it.
    The doorbell rang and I paused before opening the
door, not wanting to appear too eager.
    The rug caught on the corner of the door as I
greeted them.
    “Michael, how are you?” Barnes said.
    “Good, just let me get this,” I looked down at the
rug.
    “I’d like you to meet Mr. Mort Bell.”
    My foot struggled to pull the rug from under the
door. It finally broke free and I greeted Barnes and Mr. Bell.
    “Hello. I’m….” The words caught in my throat and
my ears pounded at the sight of the visitor. As if transported by magic from
the photographs, the creepy guy stood before me
holding out his right hand, the marked palm presented for me to shake.
    “Michael. You okay?” Barnes asked.
    “It’s good to meet you Mr. Black.” The stranger
tipped his chin.
    “Yes. Um, glad to meet you. I’m sorry. I’ve had a rough
couple days.” I reached to shake Bell’s hand. I half expected a jolt, or flash,
a spark, something when our palms met, but it wasn’t that dramatic. The
lackluster shake left me feeling somewhat disappointed.
    “Come on in.” I stepped aside to allow the two men
through the door. Bell removed his hat and unbuttoned his sport coat. He walked
through the foyer and into the living area. Sitting on the couch, his head
swiveled side-to-side, surveying the room.
    “Would you like to check out the rest of the house
Mr. Bell?” I asked.
    “Please call me Mort. I’ll have plenty of time. I
won’t stay long, I’m sure you have plenty to do before the move.”
    “Well, yeah. There’s still a lot to do before the
end of the week.”
    “Well, you can take your time. There’s no rush as far
as I’m concerned.”
    Barnes leaned forward and jumped in on the
conversation. “Let’s not forget, Mr. Bell, the contract states payment is due
in full by the end of the week.”
    That struck good old Mort the wrong way. Mort
didn’t acknowledge Barnes, but snapped back. “Don’t lose your trousers. I have
the bank’s check in my pocket. You’ll have it before we leave today.”
    Embarrassed, Barnes settled back in his seat.
    “As I was saying, Mr. Black,”
    “Please, it’s Michael.”
    “Fair enough. My point was, if you need more
time, just name it and we’ll come to some sort of resolution. I do have
some work to do, but I only need a small space for my computer, and an area for
a few books. I’ll need a bed of course, but any of the four bedrooms will do.”
    “I don’t understand, Mr. Bell,” I caught myself.
“I mean Mort. You mean like a roommate?”
    He laughed, and my cheeks warmed.
    “What I mean is that you can take a little longer
to clear out your things. I think I’m past the point in my life where I would
have a roommate, a male one at least.”
    The corners of my mouth rose. Barnes kept checking
his watch every few minutes. The next time he checked the time, it prompted a
response from Mort.
    “Do you have somewhere better to be?”
    Barnes lowered his wrist. “No, Mort. I….”
    “It’s Mr. Bell, and I would appreciate if you
stopped putting the rush on me. I’m paying the bank good money, so I would like
at least 15 minutes of your undivided attention.”
    Barnes straightened his back and pushed his plump
chest out just a