Never Open That Door - The Strange and Slightly Creepy, Mr Underfield

This is part III of this story.

So far: Abused by her boyfriend and thrown out of her home, Gabby found solace in a motel run by Mrs Montgomery. She was a motherly, kind person. Her son, a police detective, helps Gabby find a new place to stay. Today, she meets her new landlord, the strange and slightly creepy Mr. Underfield.

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Parts I and II can be found here:

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“You’d better come in,” said the man. He stood in the doorway with only a pair of jeans on, naked from the waist up.

“I was ju—s-t—go---in-g to -ta-ke a sh -ower,” he said with a pronounced stutter as if trying to explain his appearance.

“I’m sorry, would you like me to come back at another time?” offered Gabby.

“No, comm—e in,” he said as he motioned her in with a concerned look on his face.

“Wh—a—t ha—eppe-nd to -yo---, to y---ou,” he inquired. “I don’----t wan---t any tro—trou---ble,” he added for clarification.

“I’d rather not talk about it; there won’t be any trouble.” The issue has been resolved,” replied Gabby. She wasn’t sure if the issue was resolved. Still, she felt Cary wouldn’t rent her the room without some reassurance.

Gabby’s inquisitive nature sensed there was something strange about this gut. He had been recommended by Daniel, who had so far been fantastic. “Proceed with caution,” she told herself.

“Co--m-e on, I’ll s—h---o---w you a—r---uond,” stuttered Cory.

The house was old and in need of some tender loving care, but it looked solid, and for the most part, it was clean. Cory showed her the different rooms. They walked past two doors.

“Th---ese- are- f---or the ---oth—er -g-irls.”

“Can I ask what the names of the two other girls are? I was Leslie who moved out, right?”

Cory seemed a little taken aback at how much Gabby knew. “Ye---s th—at-- -i—s -r-ight. O—n-e -is Br---il---ey, sh—e –is an a---ir -h—os—t-ess. Lu—ci-n—da is the-- -o---ther. Sh---e i---s ---ver s---eas f—or a m--o-nt—h,” replied Cory.

They came to the third door, which he opened. “Thii---s –wooould be y—ou -r---om,”

The room had a bed, a small desk, and a chair. A window overlooked the back garden. It was mostly overgrown, except for a small area that had been recently dug up. Gabby put her journalism to work.

“Are you growing some vegetables there?” she asked, pointing to the dug-up patch.

“No,” was all that Corey replied. No further explanation, as if to say, “Don’t go there!”

There were two more doors left in the long corridor. Gabby tried the handle on the one opposite her intended room. “Is this the bathroom?” she inquired as she tried to turn the handle.

Suddenly, Cory’s hand was on top of hers.

“Yo---u d—on’t e---ver g--o -in—t-o tha-t r---oo--m. D—o-n’t –ev---er o--pe-n –th--at -d-oor,” Cory snapped, squeezing Gabby's hand oof the handle.

He rubbed his head nervously as if he was upset by her attempt. “I’m so—ry,” he apologized. “This is the bathroom,” he said, pointing to the last door in the corridor.

As they moved back to the front of the house, there was a kitchen and a family room with a TV.

“Th—ese ar—e for y---ou and the-- -o---thers to -u—se. I d-n-o-t –use th—e-m, I ha—v-e all -I ne---ed upst—airs. Yo---u d—on’t e—v-er g-o --upsta—ir—s –ei---th—er.”

Gabby had the picture now, no going up the staircase and no opening the third door, which was locked anyway. What was it about that room? Her curiosity and inquisitive nature had been piqued.

They sat in the family room, Cory still without a shirt. He had sad-looking eyes as if he had once been hurt very badly. She did not feel comfortable around him, not because of his sister but because he was just creepy. Still, she had no other choice, so she agreed to take the room.

“O—ne –hundred and t---we—nty -dollar—s a week, one m—onth in- --a-dv-anvce.”

Gabby agreed and said that she would be back tomorrow to move in. Croy said he would be home after ten. “I al--ways -go ---o--ut fr--om eigh—t un-t-i-l –ten,” he offered.

Gabby noticed that his stutter seemed to be a little more relaxed. It was almost as if he were relieved to have gotten the whole exercise over with.

********

Gabby drove back to the motel. It was, as Daniel had said, not far, only about 5 kilometers. She was looking forward to some sleep; it had been an enormous day, and she was tired. She was glad that she had decided to move in there tonight.

She rang the reception bell, and Mrs. Montgomery opened the door with a big, warm smile. The sort your grandmother used to give you when you went to visit.

“How did you go, dear? Did you get the room? Come in and tell me all about it.”

“Let’s have something to eat while you tell me; I assume you are going to stay here tonight, and I bet you have not eaten all day. I made a lovely casserole, which you are more than welcome to share.”

It was true; Gabby had not thought about food, and with the mention of dinner, she was suddenly hungry. Gabby would have eaten a cardboard box as she realized she was so hungry!

The casserole was wonderful.

"I think he's okay, but he's a bit creepy," Gabby said when Mrs. Montgomery asked about him.

“He is very thin, about five feet eight or so. "He seemed fairly clean, but he didn’t wear a shirt the whole time. I found that a bit strange," Gabby said.

“Oh, and he has a bad stutter that seems to get worse when he's nervous.”

"A bad stutter, you say,” responded Mrs. Montgomery.

“Yes, when I tried to go into one of the rooms, he quickly stopped me and told me never to go into that room.” Gabby fiddled nervously with her bracelet

“Very strange,” added Mrs Montgomery. “I guess he has his reasons, dear. After all, it is his house, and you'd best leave that room alone. You are fiddling with your bracelet again, dear.”

“You are right. I'm sorry; I am probably just a bit overtired. I will get some sleep and then move in tomorrow. I will come and fix you up for the room and say goodbye in the morning. You have been wonderful, and I am very grateful.”

“See you in the morning, dear.”

Gabby went to sleep, procrastinating over the room. What could possibly be in there that he was so protective about?

Till next time,

Calvin