[ WP ] You are a realtor showing a house to a young couple . They love the house , but you have something to disclose , and no its not a murder .

`` Look at this kitchen!'' Carole exclaimed. `` It's perfect! I even love the color!'' 
 
 `` The house is great,'' Todd admitted. `` How long did you say it's been on the market again?'' 
 
 `` Four years,'' I replied. 
 
 `` Four years? In this area? What's wrong with it?'' Todd's eyes had narrowed to slits. 
 
 `` As you've seen, the last owners did a lot of upgrades -- all-new appliances, refinished the hardwood floors, rewired the house to accommodate multiple computers and gaming systems, replaced the roof and gutters, total kitchen overhaul, the works.'' 
 
 `` No, Todd's right, if this house has n't sold, there's something more going on.'' Carole's manicured fingernails tapped out a staccato rhythm on the granite countertop. 
 
 I hesitated. This part always sucked. `` Actually, the issue's in the basement.'' 
 
 `` The basement?'' The tap-tap-tap-tap abruptly halted. `` We have n't seen the basement.'' 
 
 `` I have n't even seen a door to the basement,'' Todd said. `` Is it only accessible from the outside?'' 
 
 `` It's... not accessible at all, actually.'' 
 
 `` Why not? Mold? Foundation problems? Is it unfinished?'' Carole asked. 
 
 `` No, no mold, and the foundation's fine. The basement is partially finished, but mostly the issue is Melvin.'' 
 
 `` What's a Melvin?'' Todd asked. 
 
 `` Melvin is a person. Who lives in the basement.'' 
 
 Carole looked down at the heated slate floor. `` There's someone living in the basement? Like, a renter? This was n't advertised as a rental property.'' 
 
 `` Yeah, we're not interested in a tenant.'' 
 
 `` He's not a renter per se,'' I explained. `` He will give you money for bills, though. Melvin's the son of the original owners of the house. After an accident, he developed severe agoraphobia, and refused to leave the house. It got worse and worse, and eventually he settled in a couple of rooms in the basement. His parents died a few years ago and they left the house to his brother in the will. His brother travels for work, does n't want the responsibility of the house. Melvin asked for the basement door to be drywalled over, and his brother agreed and then put the house on the market, with Melvin inside. Melvin earns money over the internet, and gets takeout a couple of times a day. The delivery guys all know which basement window to come to. He pays them and they throw the trash out in the bin on their way past. He'll leave money for bills and such under the rock outside the window, and you can leave his mail there. He's very quiet; you'll never even know he's there.'' 
 
 `` Yeah, I think we're gon na pass on this one,'' Todd said. 
 
 `` It is a really great house,'' Carole said, wrinkling her nose. `` But I do n't think we're ready for a crazy person in the basement.'' 
 
 The click of the front door latch echoed in the empty foyer. 
 
 `` Sorry,'' came a faint, tinny voice from the heat vent in the floor at my feet. 
 
 I sighed. `` Not your fault, Melvin.''
