Man Rented His Apartment to a Sweet Old Couple – When They Moved Out, He Was Shocked By What He Found Inside

Hans smiled. “Ah, yes. Fine Dutch craftsmanship.

We know because we are from the Netherlands ourselves. This is very rare, very valuable timber.”

“How much are you asking?” my friend inquired.

“For you, a special price,” Hans replied, naming a figure that made my P.I. friend’s eyes widen in surprise.

As the transaction was about to go through, police officers moved in, as coordinated, surrounding the stall.

“Hands up!

You’re under arrest for theft and fraud,” one officer barked.

Hans and Greta looked shocked but didn’t resist as they were handcuffed and led away. I watched from a distance, feeling satisfied, but also sorrowful. How could I have misjudged the character of these people so spectacularly?

The floorboards were recovered, and they turned out to be imported wood worth a fortune.

In the weeks that followed, I had the floor replaced, and life returned to normal. But I often thought about Hans and Greta, the weird, invented tradition they had conned me with, and also their seemingly unwavering kindness.

A month later, I received a letter.

It was from the real Hans and Greta in the Netherlands. They had had their identities stolen by the criminal gang, who had hired imposters to pose as them. They had been contacted by Interpol and made aware of the crime.

They invited me to visit the Netherlands and experience their genuine hospitality. “Dear Mark, we are so sorry for what happened. We hope you can find it in your heart to visit us and see the real Netherlands and meet its true people.

With love, Hans and Greta.”

I sat back, letter in hand, contemplating the experience. Trust is a fragile thing, I thought, but also incredibly powerful when placed in the right people. Maybe one day, I would visit the real Hans and Greta and rebuild my faith in trust and humanity.