The next few days went by without much of note. I started evaluating the mall's units. We had 6 empty storefronts, 6 empty offices, 6 empty apartments, and each had a single unisex restroom. All of them in various states of disrepair. I’m not including the former video store, I’m going to keep that vacant and mine for as long as possible. Also not including the 8th office space, as it’s the main office for mall management.

  It was going to take months to get everything fixed up. I also wanted to start setting up new tenant appointments so I can set up the storefronts for the specific business. I had a binder on the shelf in my office with a dozen different ways to configure the storefronts. They were designed so that they could be used for any kind of store, from an internet cafe, to a grocery store and everything in between. I’m not quite sure how a movie theater would work, but the binder says that shops can accommodate 2 screens, if configured correctly.

  In the storage space behind the laundromat I found some old “For Lease” signs. I found one that could go out on the marquee at the corner of the parking lot.

  I put the sign up, it read, “Available Units, Inquire at Business Office.” I also put up some old red arrows that matched some small hooks that were on the wall in the hallway and a vinyl sticker on the outer door. With that done I began prepping the units.

  About a week into renovations a couple of older ladies came to see me.

  “Hi, I’m Mary and this is Molly. We’re the Thornberry sisters and we’d like to open up a shop at your little mall.”

  I blinked, I was in the middle of moving supplies to fix the plumbing in storefront 7.

  “Well, hi there. My name’s Kit Walker and I’d be happy to help you both. Let me lock this,” I gestured to the supplies, “up and we can look at the lease agreement, but first,” I questioned, “what kind of shop do you want to open?”

  The Thornberry sisters had been living in Grimwood Springs for at least 60 years, and their family had been here since before Colorado was a state. They were expert herbalists and knew how to fix anything with a tea or salve. Evidently they also knew how to grow just about everything that could grow. Mary was the outgoing one of the two. Molly just quietly watched everything we did.

  I asked if they had a unit in mind, and they said they just needed a good supply of water and an easy space to accept deliveries. The storefront I was working on was perfect for their needs, especially since I could customize it to their specifications. I printed out the lease agreement. They had a few questions about it, since it was different, to say the least. It had a few conditions, such as a requirement to help the management in cases of “paranormal activity, supernatural phenomena, or dimensional incursions.” Also if there is some kind of “apocalypse or revelation of the veil.”

  They both smiled, Molly touched the clause and Mary said, “oh, yes, that’s why we came here, we always prefer management that plans ahead.”

  Mary gave me a big smile, and Molly smiled knowingly. “We would like to invoke the alternate coinage provision within the lease and prepay for the year with this.”

  She gave me a very heavy pouch of what felt like coins. I bounced it in my hands and opened up the pouch. Gold coins, I’m not even sure how much this is worth, but it was in the lease agreement.

  “I don’t know how much gold is, can I get a ballpark amount for this?”

  Mary smiled, “five of the lions should cover the lease until next year this time. The rest is for your help in setting up the shop, and pulling your focus from your other work.”

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  I smiled and we shook hands and made our agreements. I put the coin pouch in my desk and locked it. We then headed over to the storefront to start going over how they’d like it set up. I got a rough idea of what they wanted and started working on the water system. I’d have to install a bunch of specialized equipment, but they certainly paid well for it.

  After they left I went and looked at the gold coins again. They had a lion’s head stamped on them. I’d never seen coins like them before. They looked very old. I noticed a slip of paper inside, it suggested an antique coin shop in town where I could sell them. It also suggested eBay. I think I’ll give the shop first dib, unless there was something else I was supposed to do with them.

  I took a quick glance through the manager's book, it said I should deposit them into the Grimwood Plaza’s security box in the bank and that I should get an email with the lease holder's receipt sometime in the next week. I guess they had someone come by and check it every now and then. Okay, so 5 coins for the lease, and 5 for me to sell. I told myself I was keeping them because gold is useful. That was mostly true.

  The next month flew by. I got used to the routine, plus no nightmares or other weird things happening. Spoke to Ezra and Betty a few times. They were excited to have new neighbors.

  Got paid, not that I needed it, since I live on the premises and was told by Home Office to put all my costs on the Plaza’s account. I just put it all into savings, maybe I'll get a truck that isn't half rust and made this century.

  We had a pretty bad snow storm that dumped a couple feet on us. I paid a couple local kids to shovel the parking lot for me while I got the sidewalks. Salted everything down and put out non-slip mats.

  Finally the day the Thornberry sisters opened their shop, Thornberry’s Garden, arrived. I was happy that they had a steady stream of customers and more than a few people looked at the sign for leasing a unit. A distinguished gentleman that had purchased a plant with little purple berries had seen me watching.

  “Excuse me, are you Mr. Walker?” he asked.

  “I am,” I smiled.

  “My name is Alistair Blackstone, and I would like to discuss opening an antique shop in your mall. Would that be possible?” he asked in a very dignified way.

  “Yes, sir, it would, we’d be glad to have you. Any ideas which storefront you’d like?” I asked.

  “I think the one next to the sisters, we’ve known each other forever, it just feels right to open there.”

  “That sounds fantastic, it will take a bit to get ready, do you need any modifications?” I asked.

  “Oh, no, that won’t be necessary, I have my own workmen for the job, just let me know when I can sign the papers and I’ll get them started as soon as possible,” he smiled, steepled his fingers and awaited my response.

  “We can get you in right now, if you don’t mind?”

  His smile somehow made him look even more distinguished, “Excellent, let us do the paperwork and shake hands, I’d like to pay for the first three months in cash,” he patted his briefcase.

  As we walked to the office I had realized he’d made his purchase at the sisters place vanish, I didn’t even notice when he did it. Come to think of it, I didn’t remember him having a briefcase either. Weird.

  We made it to the office and I offered him a seat, and we discussed his shop. A simple antique shop, probably the easiest thing from my end. He’d take care of furnishing, all I had to do was take payment.

  He pulled out two stacks of 100 dollar bills, each worth $10,000.

  “That would certainly be enough for the first 3 months, actually it was enough for the 4th month too.”

  He smiled, “then I will prepay for the first 4 months, I would like our arrangement to start on the next new moon. Which is this Sunday.”

  He signed the paperwork, we shook hands and he handed me the money. As he turned to leave I asked him about his opinion on the special conditions of the lease.

  “I would never have signed without them. I see what this place is, and who you are, or rather who you could be. If you need assistance with any of the other worldly things that happen around here, I’m at your service,” he bowed and left the office.

  Fantastic, I now have 2 tenants. This job isn’t so tough. He said with the self awareness of a golden retriever.