A Flicker of Doubt - Tim Myers [9]
It was the longest speech I’d ever heard Markum make since I’d known him.
“I am,” I said.
Markum smiled. “Why do you think I brought you with me? Now let’s go see if we can find out what Cyrus Walters is up to.”
I pulled up in front of the huge house, but it had changed somehow since I’d been there last. The place was starting to look ratty around the edges, with weeds growing in the front yard and one section of the porch rail gone.
“You’d better let me tackle him alone,” I said. “He’s a little uncomfortable around visitors.”
Markum said, “I understand. Just yell if you need me.”
“I’m sure it’s not as bad as it looks,” I said. Even though I’d been there before, I felt my pulse quicken as I approached the front door. What was I going to find inside?
Chapter 3
I knew enough not to bother with the doorbell. It had broken long ago, and Cyrus wasn’t a big fan of visitors anyway, so he had made a conscious decision not to have it repaired. I was expecting the door to be locked, but when I rapped loudly on it, it swung open, revealing a dark interior, though the day was quite sunny.
“Hello? Cyrus? Is anyone there?”
No reply. I glanced bade at Markum, who was lost in something he was reading. No help there.
I stepped inside, a knot growing in the pit of my stomach with every step I took. I was in the grand foyer, a marble staircase in front of me and parlors to the left and right “Cyrus?”
“Go away,” a voice called from the left
“It’s me, Harrison Black.”
Harrison? What are you doing here?” There was still no sign of the man. .
“Can I come in?” I asked, a ridiculous question since I was already standing inside his home.
“Stay right where you are. I can hear you from there,” he said.
“Come on, Cyrus, this will just take a second. We need to talk.”
There was a long pause, then Cyrus said, “If you - can’t abide by my wishes, then I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I mean it, Harrison.”
I worried about the eccentric old man, but I couldn’t afford to be thrown out before I had the chance to ask him my questions. “This is fine,” I said. “Can I ask you something, Cyrus?”
“You may, if you stay in the entry,” he said.
“I had a strange visit from a developer named Runion. Have you been talking to him about selling your land near River’s Edge?”
“I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to go.” His voice was flat and tired, and the dismissal in his tone was readily apparent.
I couldn’t just give up without a fight, though. “Cyrus, I need to talk to you.”
“No,” he said, more emphatically this time.
I hated being someplace where I wasn’t welcome, but I had no choice. “Can I at least come back later?”
There was no answer, so I added, “I’m going to take that as a yes. Cyrus, can I bring you anything? I’m worried about you, my friend.”
There was still no response, so I finally left. As I stood on the stoop outside, the door, I wondered if I should lock the place up behind me. But then I realized that Cyrus had most likely left it unlocked himself, no doubt hoping for someone more welcome than I was. I ended up settling for pulling the door shut again as I left
Markum looked up as I walked to the truck. “Did you have any luck?” he asked.
“No, he won’t talk to me.” I brought him up-to-date on what had happened inside. Markum thought about it a moment then said, “And you say he’s never acted this way toward you before?”
“I don’t understand it It’s not like we were best friends, but this is ridiculous. We’ve had a hundred conversations, and it’s always been face-to-face.”
Markum said, “I’m afraid it can’t