Underneath

By Pier Maria Colombo

Old houses hide many mysteries inside attics and musty basements, under the stairs, behind long-locked doors. When William's father was declared legally dead and he inherited his father's old home, he expected to find his fair share of secrets. But what he finds underneath the remote house is far beyond what he could prepare himself for. What was his father doing there before he vanished? And what had his grandfather been working on when he had bought the house all those decades ago? What is the true legacy that the two men bequeathed to William?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seagull Editions
• Release date: May 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223526476

Book preview

Prologue: A Father's Bequest

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William got out of his car and looked up at the old building. He didn’t like being in the city, there were too many people and too much noise. He locked his car and crossed the road carefully, then entered the building. There was an empty reception desk, dusty and unused for years, and a large sign with names and floors. He knew where he was supposed to be going, he had a little piece of paper in his pocket with the lawyer’s name and office number, but he approached the sign to make sure.

‘James Rogers, Attorney at Law: Office 4C’ the sign listed his family lawyer’s name among other lawyers, consultants, firms, and other professionals. William walked to the elevator and called it to the lobby, then rode it to the fourth floor. He took a left, then found ‘Office 4C’ quickly enough. When he entered, he saw that his brothers had already arrived. They were sitting in the waiting room, staring at their phones, the lawyer’s assistant silently clicking away at her computer. William took a seat near them, not wanting to disturb them.

A few moments later, his oldest brother Oliver looked up from his phone. He looked at William curiously. How long have you been here?

Just arrived, William said, his voice making his other brother look up from his phone as well.

Why didn’t you speak up? Henry, the middle brother, asked. William simply shrugged.

You looked absorbed, I didn’t want to disturb you.

Oliver shook his head, then stood. Mr. Rogers is waiting for us. Come on, he gestured, and William and Henry stood and followed their older brother to their family lawyer’s office. William noticed that the assistant didn’t look up from her computer. He wondered how long his brothers had been waiting for him, and when had they been given the all-clear to enter the lawyer’s office. As he passed next to her, her pose said ‘assistant’ very strikingly, and he tried to capture the image in his mind. An idea formed for a character, an assistant that only communicated through written messages, but he didn’t have time to further develop her as they had already entered the lawyer’s office.

Hello, Carters, the lawyer greeted them and gestured at the three chairs in front of him. The three brothers sat, instinctively by age; Oliver on the left, Henry in the middle, and William on the right. I hope you had a good trip here, he said. How are your children, Oliver, Henry?

Good enough, sir, thank you, Henry said quickly.

They’re good, Mr. Rogers, thank you, Oliver added respectfully. I hope your family is well, too.

My grandson was born last fall, Mr. Rogers said. He gestured at a picture on his desk, where a happy-looking woman was holding a bundled baby. She looked tired to William, with dark circles under her eyes, but he guessed most first-time mothers were, at least for the half year after their kid was born. He’s healthy, he was a good eight pounds. The lawyer then carefully picked up a few pieces of paper from the desk.

As I told you over the phone, the government has finally declared your father legally dead, Mr. Rogers started, his tone turning professional, most of the warmth it held vanishing into a cold and calculating tone William always associated with lawyers. As such, we’ll read his will.

The man read through the legalese and William tuned him out. He paid most of his attention to the lawyer’s office, barely keeping an ear on what he was saying.

The room was full of books on all walls. There were no windows, but the light was perfectly adequate. An impressive chandelier hung from the ceiling, even though it was covered in dust, lighting the well-used book covers William could see. It was obvious the office was loved and utilized fully, each surface bearing documents, folders, old computers, or writing utensils. He liked this office, he decided. It was comfortable and warm.

Henry and Oliver signed a few documents, and William followed their example, and then they stood, shaking Mr. Roger’s hand. William did so, as well. Oliver received a thick folder and walked out, and the other two brothers followed. As they waited in the hallway for the elevator, Oliver flipped through the folder.

Henry, were you thinking of moving to Dad’s old house? Oliver muttered.

No, man. It’s way too far away from the kids’ school, or my and Janice’s job, Henry replied. What about you?

No, for precisely the same reasons. He looked up and right to William. What about you, William? Would you live there?

William stared at them for a long moment. The one out in the forest? he asked. His two brothers nodded. William thought about it. I work from home already, and I would prefer not having many people around, he muttered. Then, he nodded. Sure.

The other two men nodded, smiling. I didn’t want the house for myself, but I didn’t want to sell it, Oliver said as they entered the elevator. In the end, it’s the house our grandfather and father lived. It has some emotional value, even if we didn’t really get to know them.

Yeah, Henry nodded. I’m glad we’ll get some use out of it.

So, Oliver said, looking over the documents again, there’s some money in the bank which we’ll split three ways, and some gold nuggets that I’ll sell and wire you guys your part, he added, unless someone else wants to do it?

I have a jeweler friend, Henry said. I might be able to get a better price.

Good, then you do that, Oliver said. They left the elevator and stood in the lobby. Oliver fingered through the papers and gave Henry a few. Here are the safety deposit box details for you to withdraw the nuggets. I’ll deal with the cash. Then, he gave William some other papers, and a key. And here are the papers of the house and the key.

William took them hesitantly. Are you sure Uncle Jim or Aunt Ella don’t need these? he asked.

Jim wasn’t really their uncle nor was Ella their aunt, but they raised Henry and Oliver. After their mother died and their father disappeared, the three brothers had been split to different distant relatives by the state.

Oliver and Henry shook their heads. Uncle Jim wants nothing to do with Dad, Henry said.

Nor does Ella. I didn’t even tell her that today was the opening of the will, Oliver added. Dad’s name is always a trigger for her.

The three brothers then stood awkwardly for a long moment, though William wasn’t all that awkward. He tried to recall when he had last seen them, and it had been quite a while.

So, your kids are alright? William asked, looking at his two brothers.

Yes, Oliver piped up, having something to discuss. I should bring them over someday. You haven’t seen Mia yet, I think, and Lucas has been growing explosively. He started school, too.

How did you choose his school? Henry asked. Bella will start this fall, and I have trouble deciding.

William stared at the deed as his brothers talked about their families. His father’s house. He hadn’t been there since... well, since he had been sent to Uncle Bill and Aunt Maria. It had been years since then, decades. He didn’t want to calculate, as it made him depressed remembering how young he had been when his mother died and his father left. The only reason he remembered their faces was the photographs he had of them. His own memories were fuzzy. Maybe moving into his father’s house would jolt it some, even if they had barely stayed there.

William? Oliver asked. William raised his eyes, finding his brothers quiet. Had they asked him something? Everything alright?

Sure, William said. I was just thinking about Dad.

You probably don’t remember much from that time, do you? Oliver asked. You were so little when we left. William shook his head.

Well, we should probably get going, Henry said after a moment of silence. Send me your bank account details so I can wire you guys your portions.

I’ll need these, too, Oliver added. They pulled out their phones and made sure their numbers and email addresses were up to date. They hugged each other, and while William put his heart behind his embrace, his brothers were more awkward.

See you around, guys, William said, waving at them as he entered his car.

***

He drove quietly through the busy streets of the city and out into the less densely populated area, to his apartment. He would have to break the leash soon, he’d need to call the landlord. He liked the man, but there was no reason to keep paying for the apartment if he wasn’t going to use it.

The inside of the apartment building felt cool. William checked his letterbox for anything important but found only advertisements, then took the elevator to his floor. There