From the library they went into the dining room, and then the kitchen, and to the parlor. When they returned to the entry hall, Walt asked if they would like to see the basement, and since they had read about the tunnel that ran under the street from the Marlows’ basement to a neighbor’s house, they all wanted to see—even Birdie who told them it might take her a little longer to get down the stairs, but she could do it. Ten minutes later, the group stood in the basement.
“So where is this tunnel?” Phoebe asked.
“You can’t see it now,” Danielle explained. She then removed a key from a hook on the wall and used it to unlock a padlock on what appeared to be a low-hanging cabinet door. After removing the padlock, she swung open the door, revealing a dark, damp enclosure.
“This is where the access used to be,” Danielle explained. “We replaced the original panel with this door, but we had considered just closing up the wall after we sealed off the tunnel.”
The three guests peeked into the dark enclosure.
“But where is the tunnel?” Birdie asked.
“Technically speaking, it’s still there,” Danielle said. “But it’s been sealed off from both sides.”
Removing her cellphone from a pocket, Phoebe turned on the flashlight app and used it to illuminate the opening. She looked inside. On its far wall was another door, and like the one Danielle had just opened, it was padlocked. “So this is like a little mini tunnel leading to the main one?”
“I suppose you could describe it that way,” Walt said.
“That is so creepy,” Seraphina said, stepping back from the opening.
“Can we see inside the main tunnel?” Phoebe asked.
“Honestly, there’s not much to see. It’s pitch dark,” Walt explained. “Even with the light from your phone, you won’t see anything.”
“Does that key open both padlocks?” Phoebe asked.
“Yes,” Walt said.
“Oh, stop, Phoebe.” Seraphina laughed. “You’re trying to get them to open up the other door so you can see inside the main tunnel.”
“Which I can’t do,” Walt said. “I’m sorry. But it’s not safe; plus the door is difficult to open.”
“You’re never going to open it again?” Phoebe asked.
“No,” Walt said. “Not worth the risk. We don’t want the tunnel falling down on us.”
“YOU ARE SUCH A LIAR,” Danielle teased Walt fifteen minutes later. They stood at the first-floor landing while their guests followed Chris to the second floor.
“It’s a pain to unlock that door,” Walt whispered.
Danielle chuckled. “Well, I did wonder why you admitted the key fit. Once you said it, I thought, no, Walt, now she’s gonna wanna see inside.”
“I realized that once I said yes. But then I caught myself,” Walt said.
“Good save.” Danielle stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Quite creative.”
“I’ve been around you long enough, picked up a few tricks on how to spin a believable lie at a moment’s notice.”
Danielle giggled and said, “Glad I could help.”
Walt and Danielle made their way up the stairs to give the rest of the tour, but Chris was already showing them the other bedrooms, which would be occupied when the remaining guests arrived.
Marlow House, which had been built in 1871 by Walt’s grandfather, Frederick Marlow, founder of Frederickport, had changed very little since Walt’s death in 1925. The Victorian, a Second Empire with mansard rooflines, boasted wood floors and dark paneled walls. Even most of the furniture had been in the house at the time of Walt’s death. The most notable change was the remodeling of the attic into a master bedroom suite for Walt—which Walt and Danielle now used as a master bedroom. Another notable addition were the flat-screen televisions hanging in various rooms, the computer sitting in the library, the modern kitchen appliances, and washer and dryer.
After inspecting the rooms on the second floor, the group made their way up the second flight of stairs to the attic bedroom suite. Walt and Danielle waited patiently for Birdie to make her way up, her one hand clutching the oak rail while the other held onto her cane. Worried about Birdie’s safety, Seraphina trailed behind the older woman, Chris by her side. Phoebe was already in the bedroom, having arrived first.
Once they were all in the room, Danielle said, “Perhaps we couldn’t show you the tunnel, but would you like to see our secret staircase?”
“A secret staircase? Seriously?” Seraphina asked.
With a grin, Danielle opened the panel leading to the staircase. She flipped on its overhead light and stepped aside so her guests could see. Phoebe walked right into the stairwell, standing on the upper landing. She looked down. Seraphina followed her in, and Birdie stood outside looking in.
“Where does it go?” Seraphina asked.
“The bedroom that used to be mine,” Danielle said. “The stairwell goes to its closet. But we also have it locked on both sides, so our guests won’t feel someone is going to pop in on them.”
“That’s the room you’re giving to Jackie and Julius?” Phoebe asked.
“Yes,” Danielle said, standing next to Birdie, looking into the stairwell.
“I can think of some great practical jokes you could do with something like this,” Phoebe said.
Walt walked over to Chris, who sat quietly on the edge of Walt and Danielle’s bed, listening to the women discuss the hidden staircase. Walt sat down next to him.
“I remember a time you wouldn’t tell anyone about that staircase,” Chris said.
Walt shrugged. “After the tunnel was discovered, it was rather difficult to keep a secret, with all that went on. So now, it’s an interesting novelty for our guests.”
“Do you miss the B and B?” Chris asked, the chatter of the women in the background.
Walt shrugged. “Danielle misses it more than I do. To be honest, I rather enjoy our privacy.”
Chris nodded. “Totally get you there.”
AN HOUR later Seraphina and Phoebe were back in Seraphina’s room. Yet they weren’t alone. Marie had just popped in and was curious to get a closer look at the celebrity houseguest.
“You are a pretty thing,” Marie said to Seraphina as she watched the young woman take a seat along the edge of the bed. She looked to Phoebe and said, “You’re quite attractive yourself. Are you an actress too?” Of course, neither guest could see or hear the curious ghost.
“That friend of theirs was quite attractive,” Seraphina noted.
“Yes, and the way he was drooling over you, obviously another fan. I hope they don’t allow their friends to keep tromping through while we’re here. You certainly don’t need to be bothered by them,” Phoebe said.
“Come on now, considering how he looks—and he seemed pretty nice—I can’t imagine it would be much of a bother to be around him.”
Phoebe laughed. “Come on, Sera, men with looks like his are a dime a dozen in our world. And the guy’s the housekeeper’s son. Seriously, after Barry, didn’t you learn?”
“How do you know he’s the housekeeper’s son? I didn’t hear him say that.”