pte

to day survival, carrying so much money made me feel like a target. Not wanting to just carry the envelope with the checks in it, I grabbed an old messenger bag from my closet. To make the bag look like it was carrying more than just an envelope of checks, I added a note book, a handful of

e and shake his head as he turned back to the sofa he was reupholstering. While everyone liked Gracie, she was often a source of amusement as all of us tended to be rather low

uffering from a potential host of unknown problems. Wanting to know what I might be in for, I spent the previous evening scanning some of the

id I would bolt at the last minute. Since this was the same maneuver she used to get me to go on blind double d

ne was saying I had to buy anything. Attending would be an experience, that's it. It would be an hour or so out of my lif

cie buying a fixer-upper would be tantamount to a suicide mission. I could see a million ways in which she wo

airily. Her bright smi

h?" I asked as she piloted us towards what I was

a spoil sport, t

sitting on a celestial couch while they watched the human race with amusement. I was fairly certain I co

y pass between them so all three fates can't watch a

themed. Instead we found ourselves in a warehouse-like building surrounded by various statuary, furniture, jewelry cases and other bits and pieces of other people's lives. The entire build

pped gray hair sat with a cash box. As Gracie stepped forward the woman picked up t

d as Gracie handed her an envelope. The woman che

the reserve from the envelope and placed it in the cash box. She wrote down Gracie's name, and gave her a bright pink piece of paper to serve as a bidding paddle. In a flash, she was registered. That apparently was

tor or something of that nature as it was nowhere near bright enough to need sunglasses in the indoor space. I wondered if they waited until they were in the auction space to put them on as walking through the auction house with the sunglasses on could cause

acie radiated enthusiastic good cheer at all of them, her attitude undimmed by their dispositions. The auctioneer joined us and Gracie and I were d

gan giving the address and the starting required bid. He let us

I found myself watching the people as the numbers escalated. Some had phones in their ears, clearly taking bids from someone not present. Some glared at the

but was relieved when she was quickly out bid and the property sold to a grim-faced man wearing mirrored sunglasses. He cracked

red, clearly wanting me to get in on the fun. She bid on every property but the first, and

ing located on a street a few blocks from where I lived, although I couldn't bring the building to mind. For some reason the regulations popped into my mind. As someone capable of creating shields, I could, in theory, buy an apartment building, shield it and rent it out

mber 138, " he said reading the number off of my bidding slip and acknowledging me. He called for other bids. There were no

th barely a breath between the sale of the apartment building to me and the next house up for auction. I stood dazed as the auction progre

elf, paying little attention to Gracie or the rest

on my purchase and took my money. I signed papers, she signed papers and in less time than I thought reasonable, Gracie and I w

gushed. "I can't believe you got a build

inst me, " I said. "I wonder w

an apartment building and they are house flippers, " she suggested.

through the front door lock and maybe a new lock to replace the one we'll have to take out." The foreclosure auction sold the

process, worry starting to nag at my belly as I wondered why no one else bid on the property. Did they know something I didn't? What on earth had I gotten myself into? A million thoughts swirled

e found a buyer for that Edwardian..." His voice trailed off as he got a look at my fac

" Gracie told him delightedly. "Alice bough

?" Sammy asked, puzzle

he corner of his mouth and I had the feeling he was thinking of

gs before we headed over. Do y

g replay of the auction. I picked up a large flashlight, a couple of screwdrivers, a drill and a new lo

s I thinking bidding on a property? I knew furniture, not buildings. Sure, I had picked up a few skills after spending so

nt. The thought gnawed at me. Sean decided to join us in our surveying excursion and Sammy wished

from the street with two giant oak trees shielding the facade from view. There was a drive to the left of the fa?ade. It was gated off and held a sign claiming the space the gate protected as parking for

oor. As we approached the front entrance, the building came into view. The sight was unimpressive. From the outside, it looked like a three story box covered with solidified m

with parking, "

he floor was some dark stone covered with dust and looked like it had been installed when the building was first erected. The walls were a yellow color that looked as though they might have started life white, and then spent a couple of decades living with a three pack a day smok

and in the center of it with my arms outstretched and not touch either wall. Despite the fact that the lights here had been removed as well, the hallway was bright. Not only was there a large window at the far end of the hallway, but each of the doors leading to each apartment on this floor had been removed allowing

ork and plastic plumbing pipes met my eyes. There was no plaster or drywall on either the walls or ceiling. It was as though the entire thing had been gutted and then abandoned. It felt a lot like the construction sites I visited. As I

an out of money?" Sean asked. "It certainl

dea if the plumbing and electric were done to code. I didn't know if they had bee

hallway at all, " Gracie said frowning at t

t least knew that much. "The hallway has floor

third and fourth apartments were likewise stripped to the bones. We finished the first floor inspection and I

asked when we stepp

gate, even without electricity. I could see wires sticking out from the walls where light fixtu

The four apartments on the first floor were all one-bedroom apartments; the second floor had three two-bedroom apartments. Afte

the apartments up in my head and came up with eight.

ere were a couple of small windows in the basement, over all it was a shadowy expanse an

of the basement was far from bare. Against one wall was a row of bathtubs. They were older cast iron and some of them looked as though with a bit of work, they could be cleaned up and re installed above. There were a few heavy porce

No toilets or kitchen appliances were in evidence although we did find the motherlode of doors, their brass doorknobs gleaming in the light from the

ne in particular as I saw my

took off the drilled out lock and installed a new one to discourage trespassers. W

inished my installation. We exited the building and I locked it up. I decided the inspection of the parking lot could wait

up. Then you could buy pretty things instead of furnaces and toilets." She shrugged.

cess this strange turn of events and resisting the urge to comment on t

nd good to be out of the office for a bit, even if it is cold. I'll

See you guys later and congrats on the

an apartment building. I mean I know from the rules and regulations booklet it is pretty much the only thing you could do that would make shielded apartments availa

that someone believed I bought the place on purpose with some sort of idea in mind rather than accidentally biddin

w, " Sean asked. Like Gracie, h

call someone who did. "I was thinking about getting in touch with Davis, " I told Sean. "I think he might be located somewhere in the area based on th

would trust his recommendation. I like that better than just the cold

ague terms when in public even if there were only a few people out walking at th

and told you to call him anytime you needed something?" Se

en the logo on his and his crews' shirts enough I could probably pick out the right Davis Company from their website." I thought about it for a moment and tried

" Sean said, echoing my t

here to look over the building, you will be nice. No

ed. "Would

without any form o

se if the hunky contractor comes within

the best I'm goin

rn to date better. If you weren't so dating-chall

f I were, isn't that one of those pot and kettle thing

s outranked the other in the world of dating. Once at the shop I made certain the large piece I was working on wa

and the three of us walked through the space, counting furniture. We each cam

dn't be able to keep my mind on work for what little remained of the day, I told Sammy I was taking off a little early. It wa