Free Cluttered Attic Secrets by Jan Christensen Page A

oiled. Interesting.”
    “Still,” Tina said. “No one could easily get inside, right?”
    “Not from that. But they could get out in a hurry if they weren’t worried about anyone noticing the blot was drawn. Let’s take a look at the windows.”
    The windows were in wells near the ceiling. Tina thought they were medium sized, not large, but not as tiny as some she’d seen, either. She considered one. Could a person climb in and out easily? How would they get to them? A ladder. And she saw one near the inside cellar door. Not an old rickety wooden one, but a new, aluminum one.
    “One of you guys want to use that ladder to check the locks on the windows, if they even open?”
    “I will.” Hank grabbed the ladder. “I expect they open.” He placed the ladder under the window closest to the walkout and climbed up. He raised the window with ease. “Again, interesting. Unlocked. The well is free of debris, too.”
    He climbed down and chose another window. “This one won’t budge. It’s locked, and there are leaves, some trash and sticks in the well.”
    “Well,” Tina said, grinning. “This is becoming suspicious, isn’t it?”
    “Sure is.” Hank climbed back down and checked all the other windows. Some opened with effort, but others didn’t.
    When he finished, Tina asked, “Do you think you could climb out of that window that was unlocked? Or is it too small?”
    Hank stood looking at the window a moment. He studied the wall underneath it, and then put the ladder back where he’d found it. He walked to the window, reached up, grabbed something Tina couldn’t see, and climbed up the wall with ease. Then he opened the window and wiggled himself outside.
    Laughing, he bent down and asked, “Does that answer your question?”
    “One of them,” Tina answered. “But it also leads to many more.”
    Hank got back into position with the hand and toe holds and stopped. “Leave it unlocked, or lock it, that is the most immediate question.”
    “Lock it.” Brandon’s voice was firm.
    “Right.” Hank did so, then came back down. He brushed off his hands and looked around. “We didn’t find any blueprints, so that was a wash. But we did learn a couple of interesting things. Tina, you look cold. Let’s go back upstairs.”
    “And get settled in the attic?” Tina walked toward the stairs and started up.
    “Yes,” both Hank and Brandon said.
    Tina fixed some snacks while the men got a quilt for her and pillows. They each picked out two books from the library. They also located three flashlights, in case the electricity went out. “You can have the chaise lounge, if you want,” Brandon said as they carried everything up to the attic.
    “Thanks. It all looks the same,” she said when she stepped into the attic and looked around.
    They stood, listening. Complete silence.
    Hank was carrying the tray with the coffee and snacks, and he put it on a table. Brandon placed the quilt, pillows, and flashlights on the chaise, and Tina set the copies of the genealogy and their books on the table.
    “I don’t think there’s enough light up here to read by,” Tina said.
    Hank walked over to a floor lamp. “Let’s see where the outlets are and move stuff around if we need to. I’m sure some of these lamps will still work. If not, we can use the flashlights.”
    After they placed everything to advantage, Tina smiled. “We’ll be as comfortable up here as anywhere.” She placed a mug of coffee on the table next to the chaise lounge. A lamp cast a soft glow over where her head would be when she sat down. Then she sneezed. “Except for the dust.” She sneezed again.
    “It will settle soon enough,” Hank told her. “At least we haven’t heard any more noises.”
    “Maybe the ghost is sleeping,” Tina said.
    “Do ghosts sleep?” Brandon asked.
    “Heavens, I don’t know.” Tina plopped herself down on the chaise and picked up one of the books she’d chosen from the table. The dust from the chaise