****
Ever since she’d moved in to the small cottage, which she’d inherited from an elderly aunt recently declared legally dead, having vanished some seven years before, Scarlet had been uneasy. It wasn’t just that she felt she was an intruder, but what if her Aunt wasn’t dead, what if she returned to claim her cottage and her belongings, all of which were now legally Scarlet’s? The feeling had increased with every week she remained in the house. About two weeks after she moved in things got a bit weird at night. At first just flashing lights in the garden, and upon checking Scarlet was convinced there wasn’t anyone outside. Later her mobile phone would turn itself on and off and play the ring tone; but no-one had called. When she’d mentioned all this to her Aunt’s solicitor he’d taken a deep breath and shook his head, opened his mouth as if to say something and then shut it again, smiling ruefully at her. He wouldn’t be pushed.
Things quietened down a little after a while and Scarlet began to think she’d imagined it all and put it down to the excitement of owning her own property and the fact that it was nearing the anniversary of her Aunt’s disappearance. She’d been stressed out for months, following the collapse of the company she’d worked for since leaving school. The Bank had pulled the plug and they’d all lost their jobs. She’d been struggling with unemployment and was only a month away from eviction when the letter had come requesting her presence at the legal firm’s offices where she was to hear something to her advantage. She’d never heard of her Aunt before, but that wasn’t surprising since Scarlet had been orphaned at a very young age and knew little about her own parents let alone any other relatives.
Apparently a Private Investigator had been employed to track her down. The loner had never really thought about having relatives, but now she imagined she might even have some still alive, contrary to what her Aunt’s solicitor had told her. Perhaps when she’d settled down more she might look into her family history, starting with her Aunt. Scarlet wondered why her Aunt hadn’t tried to contact her when she was alive, because it was obvious she must have been aware of her niece’s existence.
Agatha Merrick had never married. She was her mother’s only sister apparently. Scarlet had no recollection of her at all. Any memories of her life before the accident which claimed her parents were murky and muddled. More like impressions and blurred images than anything tangible. ‘Your Aunt left everything she had to you, do check the list I’ve given you, and that includes her home, her possessions inside and outside the home, all her stocks and shares, savings, and all other items as per the itemized list you have in your hand.’ Mr. Rance the solicitor had told the shocked young woman at their first meeting following the successful application to the High Court, they’d advised her to undertake, in order to be declared the beneficiary of her Aunt’s estate, and following the Court judgement in her favour once the legalities of declaring someone dead had been successful.
Scarlet glanced at the list, unable to take in everything he was saying. ‘Yes, well, thanks. I don’t know what to say,’ she said. ‘It’s all been a bit of a shock. Is there anything you can tell me about my family, anything at all?’
The solicitor shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. ‘Before my time I’m afraid. Nothing’s here in the notes to shed any light. Take my advice and just go and enjoy your new good fortune,’ was all he’d say.
‘But how did she know about me?’ Scarlet pressed him.
‘I’ve no idea. I just carry out my client’s instructions and hers were very clear,’ he said. ‘She hadn’t been a client for long, I gather previously she was with a big London company but her solicitor had died a little while before your Aunt disappeared, so she’d left the company and came to us, leaving her instructions with her Will in the event of her death.’ He added, ‘And here you are.’ He smiled broadly. ‘Your Aunt’s been declared legally dead and you are her beneficiary.’
Scarlet had left his office in a dream. She was rich and had a home of her own, well almost her own, to live in. She didn’t have to worry about eviction, debts or anything else. Life was turning around for her and she was happy. Please don’t let anything ruin it, she thought as she jingled the keys to the cottage in her pocket.