Page 3 of Vanish From Sight
That’s why this was baffling.
An upscale realtor called him out of the blue, presenting an unbelievable offer to live in a five-million-dollar waterfront property, completely free. He thought it was a prank, that Hugh or one of his siblings had staged it, but as he stood on the edge of the property on the north side of High Peaks Lake, he realized it was very real.
She was already there when he arrived, standing beside a sleek, fancy SUV that was a reflection of her taste for luxury and success as a broker. The realtor was the epitome of class and sophistication. She wore a navy-blue suit that fit her like a glove, paired with black heels that accentuated her long, slender legs. Her dark hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and her makeup was impeccable.
It was clear she took pride in her appearance and her vehicle, knowing that first impressions meant everything to clients.
A quick shake of the hand and she opened the mammoth door and led him in. As she turned on lights, one after another illuminated a magnificent abode.
“As mentioned before, my name is Suzanne Gilford, I’m a broker representing Harland and Stafford, one of the world’s leading real estate agencies specializing in the brokerage of premium residential and commercial properties. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.”
With that, she began the tour.
The house was breathtakingly beautiful, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the lake, hickory flooring and several cozy fireplaces throughout. There were three spacious bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and a fourth bathroom on the main floor. The master bedroom had an unobstructed view of the nearby mountains, a private balcony with a fire-pit, and a skylight above a queen bed for stargazing. The primary suite spanned the entire second level, offering a walk-in closet as well. “Who lives here at the moment?” he asked.
“No one. It’s been on the market for over a year. All the furniture you see comes with it. It’s brand-new. So, no need to buy anything. Did you have furniture?”
“Not much. A few things in storage. I sold most of it.”
She led him through a state-of-the-art kitchen, a stunningliving room, and then out to a private dock where there were three water bays with motorized boat lifts and two slips, along with a high-end Duffy 21 boat and a smaller one for fishing. “And these boats?”
“For your use.”
“And what’s that over there?”
“A sauna, a bathroom, a changing room and another covered dock.”
Noah had questions. Lots of them, but he could barely form words. His eyes widened; his jaw went even wider as he soaked in the view from the main deck. “You should know that it comes with a built-in sound system and a gas hookup to the grill for those nights you want to throw on a steak or entertain guests. And who can forget the 180-degree view of the lake and the Adirondack Mountains. Come along…” she said, leading him from one spectacular view to the next. “Not bad, right?”
“Stunning.”
“You get half an acre. The property has a guest house with two additional bedrooms, two baths, two kitchens and a single-car garage. So basically you are getting a lakeside house, a large cottage and… did I mention the boats too?”
“You did.”
The realtor smiled and led him back into the house over to a kitchen island where she had some paperwork. “Okay. All I need is a few signatures and the keys are yours.”
Noah scanned the paperwork. “Let me get this straight. I would own this place?”
“Not own. You would use it. Ownership still belongs to our client.”
“And this client. Who are they?”
“Client confidentiality. It’s an LLC. All I can tell you is the benefactor wishes to remain anonymous.”
He nodded slowly, puzzled. “May I ask, what is it they expect from me?’
“Nothing. No strings attached. Of course, like any rental property you would ensure it remains tidy and clean. Any repairs that are needed would be covered by management unless of course you wish to do them. You would pay for heating, water, electricity and so on but there would be no monthly rental charge. In the event our client wishes to change the agreement, you would be notified three months in advance by letter.”
Noah looked around the kitchen. It was astonishing. Considering some of the dives Kerri had walked him through, it would have been insane to turn down the offer, and yet he knew nothing was truly free.
“Did they give you any reason why they are offering this to me?”
She unbuckled a sleek briefcase and handed him an envelope. He opened it and pulled out a single sheet of paper. There was no official letterhead —it was typed — nothing to indicate who the writer was.
Mr. Sutherland,
I’m sure you are a little taken aback by the offer you’ve received today and we would be surprised if you didn’t need some time to think it over. So, please, take all the time you need. The keys are ready whenever you are. As for why? I would like to say that associates of mine were very pleased to learn of your involvement in the recent case that saw not only narcotics driven out of our county but also those who might wish to continue to taint the good name of this town. It came to our attention that you were in need of a place to stay while you establish yourself in the region again. We hope this property will suffice. If there is anything more you need, please feel free to get in touch with us through Harland and Stafford. They handle many ofour properties in the area and I’m sure they can find you something else if this place is not to your taste.
