The mysterious discovery
The Woman Behind the Keyhole
It wasn't a normal room. It wasn't a normal settee she rested on, and it was anything but a normal circumstance that brought Lindsay to this strange and forbidden place. She'd been told to enter the room by the woman who had just given her a simple palm reading. "Madam Selena-Fortunes Told" the sign said in bright pink neon-"$10" it flashed in blue. She drove past Madam Selena's taunting sign every morning on her way to work, and every evening on her way back home for years, never once thinking about stopping and going in to find out what the future held for her. She didn't think about such things. No one had to tell her how her life was going. She had a wonderful marriage, two great kids, and a career she loved. But things can change in an instant and in the case of Lindsay's instant, she found herself lying on a strange couch in a strange room, not of her own free will, waiting for whatever it was to happen.
It was about four weeks ago that she had taken a new job closer to home, in the same business, real estate. She was an agent and was considered successful by her peers. Even in the downturn, she'd managed to make just enough sales to keep her in the top ten percent of her group. She prided herself on her honesty, not a helpful quality in the real estate game, but even so, that's what she believes kept her in the money for so long when others had simply given up. She figured, "if I tell them up front what might happen down the road, they may just bring me some more business for saving them a few repair dollars." This strategy worked real well for Lindsay. And she loved meeting new people. That was the best part of her job.
It was late on Tuesday, and Lindsay was just getting ready to pack it in and go home to her family, when a middle-aged man came through the door. "Good Evening, Madam," he said, "I'd like to speak to someone about finding a home to lease in this area. Do you do that sort of thing?" Lindsay smiled. It wasn't something she was fond of doing, but something told her to help this gentleman. She held out her hand to shake his. "Certainly, sir, I'd be glad to help." His name was Carmine, Richard Carmine, and he was new in town. Lindsay already figured that out. He didn't have a southern accent. In fact, she couldn't figure out exactly what kind of accent he had-almost Italian, continental perhaps. That would make sense with a first name like Carmine, but last name? Possibly. Oh well, she'd have plenty of time to find out while she helped him look for something to rent. "There aren't too many places on the market right now, this being a small town and all, but there are a couple I think you might be interested in. Were you looking for a house or an apartment?" she asked. "Apartment, small-the smaller the better actually," he replied. "Well, have a seat, and let's look on the computer to see what we might have." Lindsay took a seat behind the desk and motioned Mr. Carmine toward a chair. "Please, sit down."
Lindsay pulled up the screen and saw that there we only a half dozen places to choose from, two of those being houses, leaving only four other maybes open. "Here's a condominium for rent in a nice adult community, with a swimming pool, tennis courts, game..." He cut her off. "No thanks, I'm pretty much looking for something very quiet, not too many neighbors. Do you have anything that would fit that description?" "Well, she said, hesitantly, there is a small apartment atop a garage going for $550 a month, including utilities. It doesn't have any bells or whistles, but it appears to be on a piece of property owned by a woman who runs a fortune telling business out of her home. Would you be interested in seeing it?" Mr. Carmine, stared straight into Lindsay's eyes, and with what could only be a mutual knowing, told her, "yes, that sounds perfect."
Lindsay picked up the phone and dialed the number on the listing. A woman, with a deep, sultry voice answered, "Madam Selena, my time is in your hands." "Yes, Miss Selena, uh Madam Selena, this is Lindsay Harper from Richmond Realty calling. I have a client in my office who is interested in leasing the apartment above your garage. When might be a good time to come see it?" There was a slight pause. In the background, Lindsay could hear papers rustling, and then "Tomorrow, 7 p.m.?" Lindsay asked Madam Selena to wait while she asked Mr. Carmine. He said that would be fine, and arrangements were made to meet at the office the next evening at 7 p.m. and they would ride together to Madam Selina's. Mr. Carmine shook Lindsay's hand, thanked her and left.
Once he was gone, Lindsay sat for a moment thinking about how strange it would be to visit a real fortune teller, one thing she had never done in her life. She had all the preconceived notions about the woman, from being dressed in a long flowing peasant skirt wearing dozens of bangles on her wrists and a kerchief tied about her head to having a gypsy heritage and a crystal ball. "Oh well," she thought, "tomorrow, I'm going to see what a real fortune teller looks like, and again that "knowing" feeling became almost palpable as she picked up her purse, clicked off the computer, and left for home. On the way, she passed Madam Selena's house, and for the first time, she caught a glimpse of a tiny sign in the front window, "Mystical Journeys-$100." Lindsay thought it odd that she had never noticed that particular sign before.
When Lindsay got home, she told her husband, Chris, about the stranger who came into her office at the last minute and how she was sure he'd be renting a garage apartment from the fortune telling lady on Broadway. Chris, half listening, half getting ready to go upstairs and change out of his suit, said "that's wonderful, honey. Good luck." And with that, he was out of earshot when she replied, "no pun intended, I suppose."
The next day, Lindsay could not think of much else but the upcoming trip to see Madam Selena. Even though this was business, she couldn't help wondering what it would be like to pay the $10 and get her palm read for the heck of it. As the day wore on, she convinced herself that her life was going just dandy without the aid of a mystic. Hmmm, there was that word popping up again.