Read The Living Room for Free Online Page A

sir.”
    She stated this as though it should have been easy to figure out based on a first glance of the map, even by a foreigner. After a second glance, she said she didn’t recognize the turnoff shown on the map shortly after leaving the city. “Must be an old service road to the tunnels. There are lots of those out in that area, or for a private residence, a few of those too.”
    He thanked her for the help and headed out toward his rusted chariot, hoping for enough luck to get it started and keep it running long enough for the trip there and back. Maybe tomorrow he would take the time to search the city for a more acceptable vehicle to use on his ventures.
    Leaving the city limits, he noticed a little hardware store on the corner—the last business he saw, and surely the first to visit on his journey back, once he knew how much was needed to fix up the old place. Was the house a total relic? Or had it already been restored, much like the many buildings he had noticed as he passed through town?
    His curiosity was piqued. He was glad it would finally be satisfied.
    The unmarked turnoff gave way to a peaceful winding road. It was tightly packed with gravel, even though there had been only the one traveler on it for many decades. The road was wide enough for two lanes, carving through the countryside with spectacular views of hillsides and tall grasses blowing in the wind. After fifteen minutes of pilgrimage and fresh air blowing through the car window, he knew he must be close. The smell of moisture in the breeze grew stronger, and his recollection of the pictures showing a body of water close to the home materialized into view.
    In the distance, he could see the marvelous house at the end of the dusty road. Daniel quickly reached into his pocket for the pictures to see if they matched his destination. Holding up one picture, he was certain that this was the right place and wondered how such a road could have been maintained so well, acting only as a five-mile driveway for a single residence. The unknown relative must have spent years packing and plowing it, only for himself.
    Daniel pulled up near the front stairs, shut off the fatigued little engine, and sat in the car for a moment. He paused and imagined what it might once have been like to see someone emerge from the door, having heard a visitor arrive. It was clear that there hadn’t been anyone around for a long time. Growing vines had overtaken the exterior.
    After getting out of the ramshackle car and staring at the front door for a few minutes, he shifted his attention to the top rear corner of the house. There appeared to be a large sitting room, surrounded by glass walls, overlooking the Channel. The house was built on the edge of a steep cliff. This room protruded out from the house but appeared to be part of the original construction.
    He realized that he had no key to the front door. Bringing a locksmith, as recommended by Mr. Stines, was a detail lost in his eagerness to arrive here. He walked the perimeter to see if there was a way to gain entrance. At the back of the house was a glorious view of the water. The glass room faced toward it. There was a pathway, aided by natural corrosion in the cliff, that appeared to lead down to the water’s edge. Though not a swimmer, he thought that a private beach could help escalate the offers, once he put the house on the market.
    To his surprise, the door at the back of the house was unlocked. He hoped this was simply an oversight on the part of the last one to leave and not the sign of a subsequent breakin. After shouting a few hellos with no response, Daniel walked inside and headed straight toward the stairs near the front door. He passed through a kitchen that appeared to have been cleaned spotless by someone, or some company, that the estate had surely hired. Only the counters were covered with a thick layer of dust. He made his first mental note for the hardware store: a broom, dustpan, and cleaning