IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED:   Father was buried August 8, 1997.  On the next day I began digging—without success.  Had a long phone conversation with the lawyer, Mr. Caballero, who advised me to sell the worthless desert property as soon as I could and put the house on the market, too. 

When I went to visit Mother, the Director at Paradise HomeName=Paradise Home; HotwordStyle=Frame;  suggested I might want to be on the Patient's Council.  Thought maybe this would be good if I were to be unable to pay the bill come September.

By the following day, CalvinName=Calvin2; HotwordStyle=BookDefault;  had offered his services—he maintained that Father's death was suspicious.  (The police found nothing.  Coroner says natural causes.  Lawyer says not likely.)  Calvin is convinced that a giant conspiracy lurks just under the surface of these events.

The gold stash in the backyard, though, might be a fragment of some larger enterprise.  This suggestion came from two sources:  first, the Milton Kramer or Kramer Milton from WindPower who took up residence on the answering machine.  Second, the arrival of Kaye Beveridge,HotwordStyle=BookDefault;  who descended, with grace.