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"THE COLD ROOM MYSTERY!"
Thursday, October 22, 2009
"THE MYSTERY OF THE COLD ROOM" PART 1
The old house looked stately as the Robinson's slowly drove down the long lane towards the main entrance to what was to be their new home. Bill and Kim weren't sure about taking-up residence in such a place, but since Bill's uncle Bob had left the big place to them after his passing; they seemed compelled to accept the old house, and move in; besides the home had been in Bill's family for several years, and it wouldn't seem right to allow the "Home" to leave the Robinson family, and since it had been a "Funeral Home" for about 125 years... no body else would probably want the old place anyway!
Mr. Benton from the First Union Bank was waiting for the Robinson's by the large double doors, as they pulled their car under the covered portico at the main entrance, and as Mr. Benton nervously looked at his watch... the Robinson's cautiously eased out of their car seats, and made their way up the marble steps towards the nervously smiling Doug Benton, who being the executor of Bob Robinson's estate was there to give Kim and Bill the keys to the family home, and alas business as well: "Hello" Bill said with a slight smile... "I see you remembered our appointment!" "Yes" chimed Mr. Benton... "I've been looking forward to turning the old place over to you... Been huh... allot of responsibility if you know what I mean?" As he turned the key in the lock to let the Robinson's enter their new home. Kim couldn't help but remember of the many times over the last three weeks she and Bill had discussed this moment (they actually moving into this place) since Bill's Uncle Bob's funeral; of how she really had hoped that matters would not have come to this; after all she'd hoped that Bill would have decided to just sell this old place, and (they) could have used the money to just buy some place allot smaller, and less... well, less colorful! No, Kim didn't believe the old stories; about the old place being haunted, but, she did know... that living in an old Funeral Home was not her idea of the perfect existence, but maybe it wouldn't be too hard to get used to... she thought as the three of them walked across the foyer of the large Victorian home: "This" thought Kim... "Might be alright after all!" "... this one room is bigger than our (entire) old house used to be: "No storage problems in this place," she murmured to herself. As she walked (heels tapping) between Bill and Mr. Benton upon the shining black and white tiles; she tried to put out of her mind the reason for the houses' spacious (and finely appointed) rooms in the first place... "this... after all she thought... had been a house of mourning for years... how could (would) she ever' be able to turn this "creepy" mausoleum into a (inviting) home?"
"THE COLD ROOM MYSTERY" PART 2
Kim felt a strange coolness to the air as she stopped to look at the massive portrait of a distinguished gentleman that hung over the marble mantled fire place at the entrance to the main room found to the left side of the cavernous foyer: Kim stared with astonishment at the life-sized portrait of the elderly gentleman; she couldn't believe the resemblance; except for the obvious age difference... the old gentleman was a virtual (identical) twin of her husband Bill! Kim gazed at the brass name plate at the portraits base, and as she moved her lips and read with a whisper... "Joshua William Robinson Th.D." "I see you found my Great Grandfather!" Bill said with a boast, nearly scaring the wits out-of his deeply in thought wife: "Notice the family resemblance?" he said with his hands folded crookedly across his chest. "Sure do" ... said Kim, slowly regaining her composure. Kim started to laugh nervously (shaking her head) as she pictured to her self how frightened and silly she must have looked when Bill startled her moments before. "Well Dr. Robinson" (speaking to Bill), Mr. Benton asked... "I see Doctors run in the family!" "Yes" said Bill, "but 'Grand- Pa' Robinson was a Theological Doctor, where as I'm an M.D." "He worked on the soul... I work on the body!" (laughed Bill). "Well" said Mr. Benton... "Your Grandfather worked on the 'Body' as well... didn't he?" "Yes" said Bill... "I guess he did... didn't he!" "Too bad you two didn't live during the same period" said Mr. Benton... "Why?" asked Bill... "Well" chuckled Mr. Benton... "You two would have made a wonderful team... you could operate on the living, and your Grandfather could cover-up your mistakes!" Bill chuckled softly giving the impression of joviality, but thought to himself of the (ironic) truth that Mr. Benton had accidentally struck upon... little did he know... Bill thought to himself... "cover-up my mistakes indeed!"
"THE COLD ROOM MYSTERY" PART 3
Bill was still contemplating Mr. Benton's sarcastic (attempt at humor) jab concerning his Great Grandfathers surmised ability to cover-up his "medical" mistakes; when Kim standing at the base of the massive stair-case called to them... "Well you two... let's go take a look up-stairs and see if there's a couple of suitable bedrooms for us to stay in tonight!" Mr. Benton looked puzzled as he turned towards Kim, and after clearing his throat, and giving a short shake of his head, spoke-out apologetically, "I'm sorry if you got the wrong impression, because of the lateness of the hour Mrs. Robinson, but I will 'Not' be spending the night... I have an important appointment with one of the Bank's board members first thing in the morning, so I'll be driving back to town tonight!" Kim trying to look as convincing as possible said, "Oh, we understand Mr. Benton... we have some coffee in a thermos bottle in the car, if you'd like to have some before you leave?" "No," snipped Mr. Benton... "I'll be fine, besides... it's only a half-hour drive!" "Half an hour!" Bill said... "It took Kim and me about three times that long to get here from town!" "Well" said Mr. Benton... "We locals know quite a short cut... "I'll have to show it to you someday."
So, after a quick tour... Mr. Benton dove back to town; Kim and Bill had picked-out the smallest bedroom up-stairs, as the master bedroom would take (quite) some getting used to: Kim thought to herself as she turned down the bed in the small guest room they'd picked-out for the night; which, by the way, was huge in its own right, of why the master bedroom had been so large... when Mr. Benton showed them the cavernous room; he seemed extremely anxious to hurry the tour, and even (politely) ignored Kim's question in regards to why the room was shaped like a pentagon, and not rectangular like all the other rooms in the home, or for that matter... in every other house she'd ever been in!
The next morning Kim awoke to find that Bill had already gotten dressed and headed down stairs... funny thing was she thought to herself... this never had never happened before; she always had been the early riser of the two! Kim looked at the muted grandfather clock and was surprised to see that it was almost 10 A.M., why did she sleep so late? Tired from the trip she thought as she headed down the hall towards one of the many upstairs baths. Well a quick shower will help to wake me up, and then I'll head down stairs and see what Bill has found for breakfast.
Kim swung the door opened to the surprisingly modern bath room, and as the door opened she couldn’t believe her eyes... there was Bill... sitting on the floor beside the tub... still dressed for bed, and looking out of the window, or rather [at] the window, as it was made from frosted glass to provide the needed privacy for such a place. "What in the world are you doing?" Quipped Kim... "Just thinking," said Bill without even altering his gaze. "How'd you sleep?" Bill asked... Looking worried Kim said, "Fine," but before she could finish her sentence Bill said, "Well... that makes one of us!"
"THE MYSTERY OF THE COLD ROOM" PART 1
The old house looked stately as the Robinson's slowly drove down the long lane towards the main entrance to what was to be their new home. Bill and Kim weren't sure about taking-up residence in such a place, but since Bill's uncle Bob had left the big place to them after his passing; they seemed compelled to accept the old house, and move in; besides the home had been in Bill's family for several years, and it wouldn't seem right to allow the "Home" to leave the Robinson family, and since it had been a "Funeral Home" for about 125 years... no body else would probably want the old place anyway!
Mr. Benton from the First Union Bank was waiting for the Robinson's by the large double doors, as they pulled their car under the covered portico at the main entrance, and as Mr. Benton nervously looked at his watch... the Robinson's cautiously eased out of their car seats, and made their way up the marble steps towards the nervously smiling Doug Benton, who being the executor of Bob Robinson's estate was there to give Kim and Bill the keys to the family home, and alas business as well: "Hello" Bill said with a slight smile... "I see you remembered our appointment!" "Yes" chimed Mr. Benton... "I've been looking forward to turning the old place over to you... Been huh... allot of responsibility if you know what I mean?" As he turned the key in the lock to let the Robinson's enter their new home. Kim couldn't help but remember of the many times over the last three weeks she and Bill had discussed this moment (they actually moving into this place) since Bill's Uncle Bob's funeral; of how she really had hoped that matters would not have come to this; after all she'd hoped that Bill would have decided to just sell this old place, and (they) could have used the money to just buy some place allot smaller, and less... well, less colorful! No, Kim didn't believe the old stories; about the old place being haunted, but, she did know... that living in an old Funeral Home was not her idea of the perfect existence, but maybe it wouldn't be too hard to get used to... she thought as the three of them walked across the foyer of the large Victorian home: "This" thought Kim... "Might be alright after all!" "... this one room is bigger than our (entire) old house used to be: "No storage problems in this place," she murmured to herself. As she walked (heels tapping) between Bill and Mr. Benton upon the shining black and white tiles; she tried to put out of her mind the reason for the houses' spacious (and finely appointed) rooms in the first place... "this... after all she thought... had been a house of mourning for years... how could (would) she ever' be able to turn this "creepy" mausoleum into a (inviting) home?"
"THE COLD ROOM MYSTERY" PART 2
Kim felt a strange coolness to the air as she stopped to look at the massive portrait of a distinguished gentleman that hung over the marble mantled fire place at the entrance to the main room found to the left side of the cavernous foyer: Kim stared with astonishment at the life-sized portrait of the elderly gentleman; she couldn't believe the resemblance; except for the obvious age difference... the old gentleman was a virtual (identical) twin of her husband Bill! Kim gazed at the brass name plate at the portraits base, and as she moved her lips and read with a whisper... "Joshua William Robinson Th.D." "I see you found my Great Grandfather!" Bill said with a boast, nearly scaring the wits out-of his deeply in thought wife: "Notice the family resemblance?" he said with his hands folded crookedly across his chest. "Sure do" ... said Kim, slowly regaining her composure. Kim started to laugh nervously (shaking her head) as she pictured to her self how frightened and silly she must have looked when Bill startled her moments before. "Well Dr. Robinson" (speaking to Bill), Mr. Benton asked... "I see Doctors run in the family!" "Yes" said Bill, "but 'Grand- Pa' Robinson was a Theological Doctor, where as I'm an M.D." "He worked on the soul... I work on the body!" (laughed Bill). "Well" said Mr. Benton... "Your Grandfather worked on the 'Body' as well... didn't he?" "Yes" said Bill... "I guess he did... didn't he!" "Too bad you two didn't live during the same period" said Mr. Benton... "Why?" asked Bill... "Well" chuckled Mr. Benton... "You two would have made a wonderful team... you could operate on the living, and your Grandfather could cover-up your mistakes!" Bill chuckled softly giving the impression of joviality, but thought to himself of the (ironic) truth that Mr. Benton had accidentally struck upon... little did he know... Bill thought to himself... "cover-up my mistakes indeed!"
"THE COLD ROOM MYSTERY" PART 3
Bill was still contemplating Mr. Benton's sarcastic (attempt at humor) jab concerning his Great Grandfathers surmised ability to cover-up his "medical" mistakes; when Kim standing at the base of the massive stair-case called to them... "Well you two... let's go take a look up-stairs and see if there's a couple of suitable bedrooms for us to stay in tonight!" Mr. Benton looked puzzled as he turned towards Kim, and after clearing his throat, and giving a short shake of his head, spoke-out apologetically, "I'm sorry if you got the wrong impression, because of the lateness of the hour Mrs. Robinson, but I will 'Not' be spending the night... I have an important appointment with one of the Bank's board members first thing in the morning, so I'll be driving back to town tonight!" Kim trying to look as convincing as possible said, "Oh, we understand Mr. Benton... we have some coffee in a thermos bottle in the car, if you'd like to have some before you leave?" "No," snipped Mr. Benton... "I'll be fine, besides... it's only a half-hour drive!" "Half an hour!" Bill said... "It took Kim and me about three times that long to get here from town!" "Well" said Mr. Benton... "We locals know quite a short cut... "I'll have to show it to you someday."
So, after a quick tour... Mr. Benton dove back to town; Kim and Bill had picked-out the smallest bedroom up-stairs, as the master bedroom would take (quite) some getting used to: Kim thought to herself as she turned down the bed in the small guest room they'd picked-out for the night; which, by the way, was huge in its own right, of why the master bedroom had been so large... when Mr. Benton showed them the cavernous room; he seemed extremely anxious to hurry the tour, and even (politely) ignored Kim's question in regards to why the room was shaped like a pentagon, and not rectangular like all the other rooms in the home, or for that matter... in every other house she'd ever been in!
The next morning Kim awoke to find that Bill had already gotten dressed and headed down stairs... funny thing was she thought to herself... this never had never happened before; she always had been the early riser of the two! Kim looked at the muted grandfather clock and was surprised to see that it was almost 10 A.M., why did she sleep so late? Tired from the trip she thought as she headed down the hall towards one of the many upstairs baths. Well a quick shower will help to wake me up, and then I'll head down stairs and see what Bill has found for breakfast.
Kim swung the door opened to the surprisingly modern bath room, and as the door opened she couldn’t believe her eyes... there was Bill... sitting on the floor beside the tub... still dressed for bed, and looking out of the window, or rather [at] the window, as it was made from frosted glass to provide the needed privacy for such a place. "What in the world are you doing?" Quipped Kim... "Just thinking," said Bill without even altering his gaze. "How'd you sleep?" Bill asked... Looking worried Kim said, "Fine," but before she could finish her sentence Bill said, "Well... that makes one of us!"
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