Super Sleuth
December 3, 2009 at 9:01 am | Posted in the super | 25 CommentsThe Music Man insists that someone has been going into the vacant apartment above him in the middle of the night. This has been going on for weeks- his rambling messages that detail when he heard the sound, the voices, the foot steps. I really wish I could post an audio of these voicemails because I can’t capture his special brand of woo hoo in the written word. They are a zig zag of thought with very little cohesion. Often they involve passive aggressive jabs towards me depending on his mental state. One day I am the nicest manager on the planet, the next I am lying to him and calling him a liar.
For the record, I have never called him a liar. I do believe that he believes he is hearing someone above him. Does this make it true? I have no proof.
Once I checked on the empty apartment and found the door ajar. The repairmen had been in there earlier installing new cabinets so I assumed they were the culprit, locked the door behind me and carried on. But The Music Man keeps calling insisting that someone is up there in the middle of the night. The landlords do not change the locks on the apartments when someone moves out. This is a secure building and we all use a key to get in the main entrances and then have individual apartment keys. I collected both sets of keys when these tenants moved out but who is to say if they illegally copied a set?
I called the landlords to ask if I can get the apartment rekeyed to nip this situation in the bud. I’m growing tired of the calls and the underhanded accusations that I am allowing someone to squat in a vacant apartment or am lying about it. You know how I feel about lying. I don’t have time for such bullshit. But the landlords don’t want me to rekey it just yet but instead boobie-trap the door with tape so that if someone does try to get in I will see. Now I am no detective and barely a MacGyver but I set up the trap and am keeping an eye on it. Honestly, if it was any other tenant without a history of hysterics and paranoia I bet the landlords would have gone ahead and changed the lock but with this one we have to tread lightly.
My guess? It’s a ghost.
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How exciting – a mystery to solve, put on your red wig and knee boots and you could be Daphne! Ruh roh!!
Comment by beth— December 3, 2009 #
The landlords want you to booby-trap the door? For serious? That is… well, it doesn’t sound incredibly professional. I’m sure this guy is hearing someone nearby but not directly above. But good luck!
Comment by Jess— December 3, 2009 #
Go MacGyver! How did you set the trap? Did you use bubble gum and duct tape? This is awesome!
Comment by simpleink— December 3, 2009 #
I love that you set a trap, you super sleuth you.
Comment by Angella— December 3, 2009 #
If it is a ghost, are you obligated to tell new tenants before they sign the lease?
Maybe you can buy a cheap motion detector, attached to a cheap radio with the volume turn to max. that way the whole complex will know when someone goes in to the apt.
Comment by robert dean— December 3, 2009 #
Maybe it’s 3 ghosts – you know the one from Christmases Past, Present, and Future? Tell the Music Man that and maybe he’ll stop being such a crazy scrooge.
Comment by Mel Heth— December 3, 2009 #
I say, in your most serious tone, tell the Music Man that you’ve spent countless hours investigating the noise and you’ve come up with one solution. The only solution. It is in fact a ghost. But, assure him it’s a friendly ghost who likes a little night cap here and there. And consider the matter closed.
He just might believe you.
Comment by SoMi's Nilsa— December 3, 2009 #
You might want to let the landlords know that they may be required to re-key the apartments when someone moves out.
http://www.seattle.gov/dclu/Publications/cam/infofortenants.pdf
Comment by ChiaLynn— December 3, 2009 #
I feel like Music Man used to live beneath me. One weekend I was out of town and only Gelsey (THE CAT) was home. My landlord called me on Sunday evening to ask if I had people over that weekend because there was loud stomping and laughter heard from my unit.
Um…now, my cat is fat, but I’m pretty sure she can’t stomp and I sure as hell know she can’t laugh.
Comment by Rhi— December 3, 2009 #
Hmmm… is there a ghost trap you could set, too? That way you’d know for certain.
Comment by Christina— December 3, 2009 #
You will have to let us know … how intriguing…
Comment by Nat— December 3, 2009 #
I too have been accused of creating mysterious noises by a crazy downstairs neighbor. He was all “Someone was walking around and singing at 4am.” RIGHT. Exhibit: the drunk person no doubt stumbling home right outside his window, and mine.
Comment by Kerri Anne— December 3, 2009 #
That is crazy! I can’t wait to hear what your boobie trapping reveals.
Comment by Pants— December 3, 2009 #
I think you may be on to something :-).
Comment by Annie— December 3, 2009 #
yup, yay, Sizz has a ghost in her building. So fun!
Comment by Sigh— December 3, 2009 #
I’m with Nilsa. Then come back and tell us what he says.
Comment by Marie— December 3, 2009 #
I can not wait to hear the results of this! I love mysteries and a real life one with a potential for ghosts sounds fun.
(Sorry you have to deal with this though!)
Comment by radioactive tori— December 4, 2009 #
You’d think that ghost would have a little more empathy for you with the crazy dude.
Comment by justrun— December 4, 2009 #
I was just about to guess the same thing. Ghost, for sure! :)
Comment by Jen— December 4, 2009 #
Obviously!!!
Comment by Aimee Greeblemonkey— December 6, 2009 #
[...] for some follow up- there is no one squatting in the vacant apartment despite the Music Man’s pronouncement as suc…I used paper clips to boobie trap the door and the one time they had fallen it turned out the [...]
Pingback by Super Sonic « Sizzle Says— December 7, 2009 #
[...] The Music Man and I have successfully avoided one another since the landlords told him he was not allowed to contact me unless it was an emergency (meaning, there is a flood or there is a fire). On Saturday as Finn and I were putting the ladder away in the storage room across from his apartment, he opened his door to take his dog out for a walk, took one look at me, startled and alarmed and backed into the apartment and closed the door. I said hi and tried to be nice. At least I had a Finn buffer. Phew! I was anxious to have to go to his apartment with the walk thru but tackled that floor first to get it over with. He was in his darkened bedroom with his dog who now barks at me when before would run up and lick me. I am no longer a safe person to the dog. I get it. It’s a crappy situation all around and yet I am grateful for the distance. Not having threatening calls on my voice mail is my preference. [...]
Pingback by Behind Closed Doors « Sizzle Says— March 1, 2010 #
[...] 6:30 am | In everyday frustrations, the super | Leave a Comment I’ve had a few run ins with the Music Man in that last couple weeks. None to the level from before like where he’d leave multiple [...]
Pingback by This Conversation Is Being Recorded « Sizzle Says— April 21, 2010 #
Go go gadget tape!
Comment by SlypigJeff— April 21, 2010 #
[...] You are mentally ill?! I never noticed! Not when you claimed someone was squatting in the upstairs apartment. Not when you claimed someone broke into your apartment and stole a battery. Not when you claimed [...]
Pingback by Scenes from the Building « Sizzle Says— May 18, 2010 #