Duncan stared at the folded paper his dad had handed him. He noticed it looked like the page of an old Bible torn out. He curiously unfolded it to read what Tom had read.

He who finds this note

Must look under the hoof of goat.

Follow directions to

Find the key

Heavy with sin;

With my memory.

“Damn, a voice from beyond.” Duncan softly spoke as John yanked it from his hand.

“You people ain’t getting’ me involved in this shit. Huh-uh! I’m leavin’ man. Let’s get that van unloaded and get the hell outa here.” John said matter-of-factly. He walked out of the house and Duncan walked over to look at the painting of the woman with the goat and stood by Tom.

“Good job dad, I don’t think I would have figured that one out.” Duncan told Tom.

“Sure you woulda Duncan. It was the only goat near and why not hide it under another painting? I think the old guy wants us to release his sins somehow, or him. I don’t know what to think, but these two notes are both torn from an old Bible.” Tom answered him. “Now all I need to do is go to the Title Office and find the right book that has these coordinates on a plat map, then I can figure out this clue.”

“Oh no you don’t Mr. Cornett.” Olivia said excitedly. “All you needs to do is follow me.” With that she almost ran to the ballroom in the center of the house and to the steps with the rest in tow behind her. Dust was falling from her duster as she ran up the grand staircase with her broad ass jiggling and skirt flying high as she held it up in the front the way women do to keep it from catching on her knees. The house shook from the running up the stairs and the chandelier took to shaking slightly jingling with its crystal tears seemingly singing of the joyous occasion.

Olivia led them to the master bedroom and walked over to another portrait, this one a risque portrait of John Thompson’s wife Zella. Olivia stood holding onto a stand under the picture while holding her upper chest with her left hand panting, trying to catch her breath. “R-r-right h-here.” She pointed to the picture. She pulled the left side of the frame and it swung open like a cabinet door to reveal a large circular wall safe.

“Well, well. How convenient. Just like in the movies.” Tammy said laughing wide-eyed. “Olivia, you can’t ever leave us you know.”

“How do we get it open?” Tom asked her.

Olivia breathing better now quickly said, “The key ring Mr. O’Connor gave you is the combination and there is a little key for the lock box inside.”

“How do you know all that Olivia?” Tom asked surprised.

“Well, I made it my business to know, so you just never mind all that and just listen to me while I tell ya how ta open the damn thing.” Olivia abruptly told him with her eyes wide too. “Now, Mrs. Cornett all you need to do is look at them numbers right to left, they’re imbedded into the top of each key, follow the directions and it should open.”

Tammy was shaking too much with the excitement and handed the keys over to Tom. He studied them a bit and turned his attention to the knob on the safe. After a few seconds of clicking he tried the handle to no avail.

“Get back outa my way man!” Olivia said as she shoved Tom so hard he fell on his ass in surprise. “Let someone who knows a little somethin’ do it.” In just a few seconds the safe was open. “There, if I’d have waited on y’all we be here all day an’ night.”

Tom jumped to his feet rubbing his ass as Duncan and Tammy laughed at him. “Way to go Girl! You rock.” Duncan said laughingly.

“Like I said, you ain’t never leaving me Olivia.” Tammy said with a hearty laugh with her hand over her mouth trying not to laugh harder. Tom just scowled at them and then gave out a hearty bellow as he gave Olivia a bear hug and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“Now Mr. Tom I ain’t puttin’ up with no foolishness from you. I’ll let you slide this one time but don’t you never kiss me like that again with out givin’ a girl fair warnin.” She chuckled with slight embarrassment glowing on her cheeks. “Next time you just might get more than you bargained for.” She teasingly rapped him on his forehead with the handle of her duster.

A gust of wind blew through the room then, cold October weather seemed to have arrived. “Alright Mr. Thompson. We’ll get it done now, you been waitin’ all these long years a few more minutes ain’t gonna hurt you none.” Olivia said looking to the door. “As y’all can tell he is an impatient man, er ghost.” She smiled at them and winked.

“OK, let’s see what we have in here.” Tammy said as she reached in and pulled out a stack of folders and a large book.

A noise was heard downstairs and Duncan investigated to find his friend John had been carrying in Clothes from the van and dumping them on the furniture. He went out with him and started helping him. “John. I sure thank you man. And I’ll see that your friendship will be repaid man.” He said to him reassuringly.

“Man, don’t talk that shit to me. You know I ain’t like that. But I ain’t goin’ ta stick around here with that spook even if I do have some mojo now. We get this done and I want to get home.” He spoke fervently as he carried another bundle of clothing.

“Alright. When we get this done and tell mom and dad bye, we’ll leave.” Duncan promised. As they walked up the steps into the house a loud whump was heard behind them. Turning, they dropped their charge on the entranceway as they witnessed the front right wheel drop into a hole on the driveway to its bumper.

“Fuck!” They said in unison.

Don't worry about bitin' off more'n you can chew; your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger'n you think, someone once told me. But I think this time he was wrong. I don't think I can finish this. What do you think?

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