For the past several minutes, Martin has been sitting slightly hunched over his desk ... his elbow firmly resting upon its surface helping to support some of his upper bodyweight, while that arm's hand holds onto the phone receiver pressed up against his ear ... nervously bouncing his knees as he anxiously waits for someone to take him off of hold...
Martin isn't sure which he finds more disturbing ... those little girl's screams from last night ... or that instrumental, 'Michael Buble'-like' song track he's being subjected to listening to while stuck in 'hold purgatory'.
Finally ... someone picks up on the other end...
************
"Mr. Lazinski, hello, this is Saul Goldstein speaking; my apologies for the extended wait; our office has been extremely busy lately. How can I help?"
In truth, Martin is a bit surprised; he had initially asked to speak with the agent who had overseen the purchase of their new house, but here he was speaking directly to the owner of the agency.
"Mr. Goldstein...? I'm sorry, I had no intention of having them disturbing you and taking up your time; I asked them if they could connect me with Amy Valdez ... the agent who sold us our house."
"I'm afraid that Ms. Valdez no longer works for our company, so you wouldn't be able to speak with her. But it's really no problem, you aren't disturbing me; so, how is it I can help you?"
Martin reiterates in his mind, 'No longer works for the company?'' ... though finding it a bit odd that the person who he wanted to speak with is no longer there, it still wasn't the oddest thing that he's experienced over these past few weeks. So, Martin begins with the main reason behind the point of the call...
"Well, if that's the case ... if you're sure that I'm not bothering you, and you wouldn't mind ... I was wondering if you could possibly give me a little more information about the house we just bought."
"I don't understand, I was under the impression that you and Mrs. Lazinski have already purchased the house ... if I'm not mistaken, according to our records, all the paperwork involved with the purchase had been finalized about four months ago. So; exactly what more information do you need to know about the house ... haven't you moved into it yet?"
"Yes, we did; we've been here for nearly a month now."
"Then what more can I possibly tell you about it that you don't already know? ... Is there some sort of problem with the house?"
Martin first muses in his mind, 'Something wrong with the house? I'll say."; then he thinks to himself that Saul Goldstein is either truly oblivious to any knowledge of anything being wrong with that place, or he's one shrewd skilled liar attempting to convincingly play dumb. And then...
Martin once again thinks about how oddly convenient it is that Amy Valdez no longer works there ... especially so soon right after they purchased that house.
"Wrong...? Well, I suppose that all depends on your concept of what you mean by 'wrong'."
Saul inquires, "What I mean? I mean ... is there anything structurally wrong with the house, or the barn? Problems with the plumbing? Electrical issues? Leaky roof? ... Any infestations by bugs or vermin? ... We had all the required inspections done of the place before the final sale went through; and everything passed with flying colors. I believe you received copies of all those reports yourselves; didn't you?"
"Yes, we did. ... And no, the house and barn are both structurally sound and have no problems. And there are no infestations ... at least none that we've seen so far."
"Alright then; are there any issues with the property itself ... does it look like our agency tried to deceive you in any way with the survey of the property, or the details about it? Again, we sent you copies of all the documented land surveys conducted. Not to mention, you did have several live-feed video Zoom tours of the property on several occasions; and as far as I'm aware there were never concerns brought up."
"No ... it's nothing like that. Everything's fine in that regard."
"Okay then; I have to be honest then, Mr. Lazinski ... I'm afraid I'm a bit at a loss here ... what is the issue with the place? What is it you wanted to further find out about it?"
Martin isn't sure how to go about proceeding with their conversation; he doesn't want to just straight come out and say 'Hey; you sold us a haunted house, you jerk.' ... even though that's exactly what he now believes ... Martin realizes that would sound totally crazy; and Saul would probably think that he was some sort of a 'cracked-pot loon'...
After all, all this time, Martin had been dismissing everything Beth was saying about there being something wrong with that place; attributing it all to being paranoid delusions brought on by her anxiety disorder, having recently been under stress from the move. It was only just last night that he himself had become a 'believer'; realizing now that their new house may actually really be haunted.
So, after quickly mulling it over, Martin takes this approach...
"Mr. Goldstein; isn't there a law that states real estate agencies have to disclose any information that may be ... let's say for lack of a better word ... 'suspect' about a house or property before selling it to the prospective buyer?"
"'Suspect'? ... Pardon me, Mr. Lazinski ... if you wouldn't mind indulging me for just a moment ... but could you please explain to me what you mean by 'information that may be suspect'; I'm afraid I don't understand."
Martin takes in a quick breath before explaining, "I mean ... like if there were any serious crimes committed there ... like murders? Or suicide? Or any untimely or violent deaths occurring on the premises?"
There's a short moment of silence on the line at first; soon followed by a brief laugh let out by Saul...
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lazinski, I didn't mean to be rude and laugh; but ... and by all means, correct if I'm wrong ... it kind of sounds like you're alluding that you believe that house is haunted? Is that what you're asking me ... or am I being presumptuous?"
Martin's starting to feel a bit foolish now ... momentarily thinking that he must kind of sound like a 'cracked-pot loon' ... but he tries to shake it off...
"No ... that's not exactly what I..." Martin pauses a brief moment to quickly recompose himself, "All I'm saying is, aren't you required by law to provide us with that type of information before we purchase the property?"
"Well, Mr. Lazinski, to begin with, I believe what you're referring to is the pre-purchase full disclosure clause; and I should point out that there are several varying versions of those types of statutes. ..."
There's a momentary pause of silence over the line before Saul continues...
"Just to clarify ... our agency falls under and adheres to the version of a statute which requires us to fully disclose, before the completion of the sale, that type of information pertaining to a property ... only if ... the prospective buyers specifically ask about it ... which neither you nor Mrs. Lazinski did."
Martin, suddenly feeling like he was somehow deceived with the purchase, instantly rebuts in a slightly defensive tone...
"With all due respect, Mr. Goldstein, if you ask me; it sounds like your agency is blatantly hiding behind a technicality. Any respectable company with even half a shred of integrity would come forward with that type of information beforehand and let the buyers know what they were about to get themselves into before purchasing a property."
Feeling slightly offended by Martin's remarks, Saul retorts in a defensive tone of his own...
"And with all due respect to you ... Mr. Lazinski ... you and I both know that you two got one heck of a deal on that property ... honestly, I personally would have snatched it up myself if I were planning on moving out to that area ... and we didn't hear any peep of a complaint coming from your mouths when you jumped at the chance to buy it. Not one."
Having a moment to get past that feeling of being slighted, Martin apologizes, "I'm sorry, Mr. Goldstein, I really didn't mean to come off like that; it's just that I feel that if your agency knew that there was something wrong with the property, you should have told us about it."
Saul is still feeling a bit miffed with Martin, and replies with an evident crossed, short-tempered underlying tone...
"Again, Mr. Lazinski, we were only required to disclose anything that was specifically asked by you or Mrs. Lazinski ... and, at the risk of sounding completely blunt, now that the sale has been done and over with for the past four months; we don't have to disclose anything to you, even if you ask."
There's another brief moment of silence over the phone line, which Saul uses to calm himself down a little before continuing the conversation...
"But I'll tell you what, Mr. Lazinski ... since I like to think that I run a 'respectable company with at least half a shred of decency' ... allow me to disclose to you all the 'suspect information' that I know about that property."
There's another moment of silence on the phone line. And after not hearing him for a while, Martin speaks up...
"Hello, Mr. Goldstein...? Are you still there; I don't hear you saying anything."
Saul breaks his silence...
"Exactly..." He declares while trying to drive home his point, "I didn't say anything because I have nothing to say. I don't know anything else about that property ... 'suspect' or otherwise. You know everything that I know; and probably more ... seeing how you actually live there."
Martin now feels that perhaps Saul is being truthful about not having any knowledge about anything being wrong with the house ... and by wrong, meaning haunted ... and is satisfied enough, though not too happy, with the answer.
Martin now moves on to the other topic of the conversation he was planning on having during the call...
"I understand, Mr. Goldstein; thank you for your candor. And again, I apologize for any rudeness on my part. ... But while I still have you on the line ... if you don't mind ... if I may ask, Mr. Goldstein; what are the chances of us putting the place back on the market for a quick sale and purchasing another house through your agency?"
There's a moment of silence before Saul responds...
"Well, Mr. Lazinski, although you did insult me before when you insinuated that we were being dishonest with you and Mrs. Lazinski about the property we sold you; I wouldn't be a very good businessman if I couldn't get pass my personal feelings and refused doing business with people every time I was offended, now would I? Of course, I wouldn't have a problem taking you on as a client again and assisting you with selling and purchasing properties. I run a real estate agency, after all; that's how I make my living."
There's another moment of silence on the line before...
"That said ... in all honesty, Mr. Lazinski ... I couldn't in good faith guarantee you that it would be a quick re-sale of that property."
Martin asks, "What do you mean?"
Saul answers, "Well, despite how great of a deal it was ... like I said, even I would have taken advantage of it if I had intentions of moving out there ... that property was on the market at that price for the past two years. ... Three years before that with the previous transaction."
Martin's a bit confounded. "I don't understand, if it's always been offered at that much of a bargain; why is it out on the market for so long?"
Saul admittedly concedes, "I have no idea; your guess is as good as mine. ... For that, you may have to ask the previous party owning the property directly yourself. We're just the 'middleman' responsible for overseeing the sale's transaction."
"Okay..." Martin inquires, "and who would that be? Would you possibly be able to provide me with that information?"
Saul answers, "Sure ... that's no big secret ... the property's ownership was entrusted to the main bank branch in Beaver Ridge and the town council."