House of Evil

House of Evil

By: Robert Cottom

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2018

We open up in a little old bar in New York named, Bill’s bar. A lady comes in and sits in the corner booth. She does this every day. She’s dressed in old torn clothes and wears a hat that looks to be made from bird feathers. One day while she was sitting there, a man in a suit walked up to her and asked if he could sit down. He had a hard day at work and just needed to take a breather. The lady looked up at him and smiled and then with the wave of her hand he sat down. She looked up at him and asked him if he would like to hear a story. The man didn’t come there to hear any story; he just wanted to sit down for a minute or two to catch his breath. The lady reached across the table and took his hand and asked him again. The man looked around the bar to see if there were any other tables he could sit at; seeing they were all full he looked back at the lady and told her sure.

The lady pulled out a book she had in her bag and laid it on the table. Opening it, she started to read about a man that was out looking for wealth and fame and another man who lived a simple life. The man looking for wealth and fame was about to get his big break but it would come at a cost.

What kind of story is this? the man asked.

It’s a story of two brothers, one should have been happy with what he had and the other one, well, should have been more opened minded.

Who are you? the man asked.

I’m but an old lady who comes here to watch and listen to others. I do mind my own business but sometimes I have to step in and let that person know that they are making a big mistake. she told him.

The man was now more confused than ever, he stood up and walked over to the bar and asked for a drink. When the bar tender came back the man asked him about the old lady in the corner. The bar tender looked over but he didn’t see anyone there. The man turned around and saw that she was gone.

Finishing his beer he left the bar wondering what she was talking about. What two men? He knew she wasn’t talking about him. He stopped and flagged down a cab and then headed home.

The next day the man got off from work and headed to the bar. When he walked in he looked towards the corner booth and there sat the old lady. He walked over and sat down.

Come back for another story? she asked.

No, I would like to know of which two men were you talking about.

The two men in the story are just the beginning. There will be others.

Will you give me a straight answer for once. he demanded.

I will tell you the whole story if you stay to listen and not leave again. she told him.

Let me get a beer and then you can begin your story.

The man stood up and walked over to the bar to order a beer. When the bar tender came back the man asked him if he knew the lady in the corner booth. The bar tender looked over and smiled, Yes, she comes in here every day looking for someone to tell a story too.

Who is she? the man asked.

I think her name is Maggie, but don’t hold me to that.

The man walked back over and sat down. Taking a drink from his bottle, he asked her name. The old lady smiled and then she told him her name.

I’m Maggie Jane; I’m eighty-seven years young. I live just down the street from here and I come here to listen and watch.

Well, Maggie, I’m Josh Turner, it’s nice to meet you.

Let’s begin; it all started back in 1987 in Dulac, Louisiana. Dean and Linda Waterstone and their two children, Lyle and Lily moved into their new house. Oh they loved that house; it was much bigger than the one they lived in before. The house was big enough for three families but the Waterstone’s love having the space. There’s a big yard and a chain link fence that runs around the whole house. At the front, there’s a huge iron gate that opens. Oh I wish I could see that house now.

So they moved into a house that was way too big for their family. How could Dean afford such a huge house? Josh asked.

I think he was a construction worker, yes, that’s it.

How old were the children? he asked.

Lyle’s ten and Lily is nine. she told him.

Josh saw that it was getting late and asked if they could continue the story tomorrow. Maggie smiled and then she nodded. As he got up and walked over to the bar to pay his tab he looked back and once again she was gone.

How does she do that? he wondered.

Josh headed out and waved down a cab. The traffic was really bad that night. Josh knew it was going to take longer to get home. Josh sat in the back thinking about the story Maggie was telling him. He wondered if something happened to the family that she hasn’t got too yet. Then he started thinking about the two brothers that she told him about the first time. He wondered if the one brother as able to get his wealth and fame and if the second one was still living his simple life. He had so many questions and then he thought why he is listening to the stories at all.

The cab finally arrived at this street and get paid the man and got out. As the cab drove off, Josh stood there looking up at the night sky. He stood there for a moment and then headed inside.

That night as Josh slept he started dreaming about the man and his family.

The next morning Josh was sitting in his kitchen eating his breakfast when his phone rang.

Hello? Mom how are you doing? That’s great to hear; hey I'm going to come see you next week if that’s alright. Good, so anything new to tell me about? He did, what did you do? Mom you have to give him a chance, maybe he likes you. I know you like being hard to get. Well mom I have got things to do, will call you later alright? Yes mom I’m doing good and yes I’m still working. Alright, have a good day.

Josh hung up the phone and grabbed his keys and headed out to the street. He waited for the next cab to pass. He wondered if Maggie will be at the bar waiting for him to show up. Once a cab pulled over he got in and told him where to go. He knew that the bar would be open for a few hours that maybe she would like to go to the park and sit.

The cab pulled up to the bar and Josh got out, paid the man and then walked up to the bar’s door. The sign said that they open at eleven. Josh looked around to see if Maggie was around there somewhere. Not seeing her he decided to head down the same way she did. While he was walking, he looked in every window as he passed by. While he was walking he heard someone call out his name. He stopped and looked and saw that it was Maggie that called out to him.

Hey, I was looking for you. he said.

Really? Why? she answered back.

I was hoping that I would run into you and I was going to ask if you would like to go to the park and sit for a while.

That would be nice; I haven’t been to the park in a long time.

Josh reached out and took her hand and they walked down the street heading for the park. They talked all the way there. Finding a bench down next to the water, they sat down.

I use to love coming to the park. Watching the birds and listening to the people. she told him.

I don’t think I have ever been to the park. I guess I was just too busy.

What kind of work do you do? she asked.

I work at a law firm down town. Hey, I was wondering about the brothers you were telling me about. Whatever happened to them? he asked.

Oh, them. Well if you would like I will tell you their story. You know their story goes right along with the house I told you about.

Did you know them? he asked.

No, not really.

Josh saw a man selling food and asked her if she would like something to eat. Maggie nodded and Josh got up and walked over to him. Maggie sat there watching the birds and the ducks. Then she got up and walked down to the water’s edge and reaching into her bag she pulled out some bread. Breaking it into pieces she through it out to them. Josh walked up next to her and handed her a sandwich. They walked back to the bench and sat down.

Do you have any family around here? he asked.

No, my family is far away. I never get to see them anymore. she answered back.

Why is that? Don’t they come to see you?

A few years back they came but no more. I’ve been alone here for a long time now.

That’s sad. I try to see my mother at least twice a week.

That’s good you should all ways make time for your love ones.

Josh sat there looking at her clothes and hat and wonder if she didn’t have any other clothes to wear. He wanted to ask her but couldn’t bring himself to say anything. She looked over at him and told him not to worry about her clothes that she had others and that she liked wearing what she had on. Josh, with a surprised look on his face asked her how she knew that’s what he was thinking.

I know a lot of things and for you if you would like to know about the brothers and the house, then I will tell you. This story is not for the faint of heart you know.

You know when we first met I thought you were crazy or something but now that I have gotten to know you, I see that you are a very sweet woman. he said with a smile.

Maggie moved closer to him and leaned over. She thanked him and then she started to tell the story.

Chapter One:

Ben Larson one of those types of guys that thinks he should have it all. Ben is a journalist always looking for the next big story. He would sit for hours looking on the web for some story that would shoot him to the top. One day while he was searching the web he got a phone call from The New York Times office. He had put in an application weeks ago and never heard from them until now. He now had the interview he has always wanted and got up to get