It was unfortunate that he hadn’t been able to go with her. Aaron missed the man he’d known as a father. They’d shared so much while he was growing up. Although Gramps had wanted him to take over one of the wineries as an adult, Jethro acted as though he understood Aaron’s interest in magic. But, because of not being at the winery all day long, Aaron didn’t see Gramps as much as he should have. Now Aaron regretted that decision.
He regretted so many things now.
If only he could get a second chance to relive his life... He sighed. No amount of magic would be able to help him now.
A sound split through the silence of the house, bringing Aaron’s thoughts to a jerking halt. It had sounded like something was being dragged through the hallway. He listened closer, hearing the same sound again.
Someone was in his house. Beth couldn’t have been back yet. If it was Nolan, his friend would have announced himself, since he knew Aaron’s presence was there.
Aaron hurried to his secret wall and pressed the lever. The wall opened and he hurried inside, closing it behind him. As he crept through the tunnels and passed the rooms, he peeked through all of the hidden windows. The rooms were empty. And yet, the sound was still present.
Was there another ghost in here that Aaron didn’t know about?
He slipped quietly out of the passage and through the mirror into the game room. Moving quietly, he made his way to the spacious hallway on the main floor. He stopped in the doorway, peering out into the hallway. The sound had stopped. He wouldn’t move again until he heard it.
As he studied the pristinely polished floor of the entryway, he noticed darkened marks spreading from the kitchen area toward the front door. The marks of dirt were heaviest near the kitchen, growing lighter as they made it to the front door.
Aaron bunched his fists. What was going on? There must be a stranger in the house, and they would have arrived not long after Beth had left.
His mind spun with names and faces as if he was watching a game show with a large wheel. Finally, the wheel in his mind came to stop on one name with a face – Sam.
It made sense that the idiot would sneak back into the house after Beth was gone. The controlling man would stop at nothing to prove to Beth that there were no ghosts in the house. Men like Sam didn’t take rejection very well, either. Aaron didn’t doubt that he was back to claim Beth, once more.
Aaron gritted his teeth. He would do all he could to make sure that didn’t happen. She needed a man who would treat her like the special, wonderful woman she was – and not like a doormat.
The noise came again. Aaron’s gaze flew to the kitchen. Sam must be in there.
Aaron hurried back through the game room mirror, and back through the tunnels toward the kitchen. The faster he hurried, the more exhausted he felt. But he couldn’t lose his energy now. He needed to get rid of the intruder the only way he knew how.
Reaching the wall to the kitchen’s hidden door, he leaned against it, trying not to collapse. Oh, why did his energy have to run out so quickly? How was he supposed to get rid of this trespasser if he wasn’t strong enough to do it?
Aaron aligned his gaze in the spot that allowed him to see into the kitchen. At first, he didn’t see anything. Then out of the corner of his eye, a man was bent over and slowly dragging a box across the floor. The man wore black jeans, a black shirt, and had a dark ski mask over his head. Aaron couldn’t see the man’s face since he was bent over, but he spied a few tufts of brown hair extending out of the back of the mask. The man moved slowly backward as he dragged the box out of the kitchen.
Frowning, he studied the boxes. They weren’t new. In fact, they appeared to have been stored somewhere dank, which would explain why they were also dirty. The only place that would fit that description was... the cellar!
Anger jumped inside of Aaron. What was this man doing in the cellar? That was where Nolan had stored Aaron’s many props. Why did Sam want them? Probably to sell them... Beth’s ex was probably desperate for money and selling the illustrious dead magician’s props would come at a pretty high price.
Aaron had to distract the man. He shifted his focus to the kitchen’s lights, making them suddenly flicker. The intruder’s head snapped up as he looked at the lights. He quickly left the box and moved to the light switches on the wall, flipping them. But, realizing after a few seconds that he couldn’t control them, he grumbled and hurried back to the box. His movements were faster this time as he tugged and pulled, sliding the box slowly across the floor.
Aaron shifted his focus to the kitchen sink, praying that he could pull his idea off. The faucet gurgled for a moment, and then began to spray water over the counter uncontrollably. The man jumped and rushed to the sink to turn the faucet knobs, but nothing he did could stop the water. He swore and moved back to the box, trying to lift it this time.
Again, Aaron changed tactics. Slowly, the four barstools under the counter started moving on their own, back away from the counter and then forward again. Their legs screeched along the linoleum floor.
This time, the man gasped and jumped to his feet. His head turned as if he was scanning the kitchen, looking for the person responsible.
“Who is there?” the man asked with a shaky voice.
Aaron frowned. That didn’t really sound like Sam. Then again, because of the tone of the man’s voice, Aaron could tell he was frightened. But when he continued to stand there, Aaron knew he must do more.
Aaron closed his eyes and softly cleared his throat. Focusing all his energy into making sure his voice would be heard, he took a deep breath in and shouted, “GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!”
A tight scream ripped from the man’s voice and he scurried out of the room – leaving the box there. Aaron knew he should have followed him, just to see if it really was Sam, but he felt too drained from the encounter to pursue him. As the front door slammed behind the thief, Aaron determined he would just have to watch carefully to make sure the man never returned, especially when Beth was there.
MAYBE SHE SHOULD HAVE gone home.
Driving off the road at a high speed and hitting her head was quite traumatic, but Elizabeth insisted on continuing with her plans for today. Besides, Nolan was with her, which meant she was going to get into Mr. Powers’ estate. Nolan would have connections, she was sure of it. She didn’t want to question why Nolan had been so conveniently nearby when the accident happened. She just prayed it was her luck in that she’d needed him so badly at that time.
She touched her tender forehead. The ambulance had arrived shortly before the police had. The EMT’s had checked her forehead and taped it up with a bandage. She gave the police the description of the truck that had followed her, and she hoped they’d find the person responsible.
Thankfully, Nolan called a tow truck to have Aaron’s car towed back to the estate. Of course, now the silence between her and Nolan was growing thicker by the second. She had to give him some kind of explanation about why she was driving one of Aaron’s vehicles... and how she was able to get the keys.
“How much farther?” she asked.
“Approximately ten minutes,” he answered, glancing at her. “How do you feel?”
“I have a slight headache, but I’m fine.” She adjusted her wavy hair over her forehead, hoping to cover the bandage.
He sighed heavily and shifted on the seat. His fingers loosened on the steering wheel. “Are you going to tell me why you were driving one of Aaron’s cars?”
“Because he can’t?” After she had said it, she inwardly cringed. Now was not the time for jokes.
He looked at her again, this time she noticed the arched eyebrow.
“Really, Elizabeth? That’s all you have to say?”
She expelled a breath. “I’m sorry.” She swallowed. “The truth is, my tires were flat. I think my ex-boyfriend was behind that. But well... I needed to get something to Jethro Powers, and I needed a vehicle.”
“And you just decided to take one from the estate without ask
ing?”
Her chest tightened. She didn’t like his sharp, accusing tone of voice, and she definitely didn’t like being called a thief. True, he hadn’t actually said the words, but it sure sounded like it. Either that, or she felt guilty.
“Actually, I was told I could take the car. I was even told what the combination to the safe was in order to take one of the cars.”
Nolan’s curious stare pinned on her. His eyes widened, but he didn’t speak. Even though she wasn’t a mind reader, she could tell by his expression that she could tell him about talking to a ghost.
She wrung her hands in her lap. “Nolan, you’re probably not surprised to hear this, but I’ve been communicating with Aaron’s spirit.”
He didn’t look at her this time, as she thought he would. Instead, he pulled off the highway on the next exit. When he reached a spot in the road to turn off by a field, he stopped the car. He unlatched his seatbelt before maneuvering toward her. His expression was serious, but his eyes were still wide.
“You really talked to Aaron?”
Slowly, she nodded. “Yes, I really did. He wanted me to take something to his grandfather.”
“So... I’m not crazy?” The hint of a smile touched his face. “I mean, I’ve felt that Aaron’s spirit was there at the house, but...” He sighed. “Don’t joke with me, Elizabeth.”
She reached across the console and grasped his hands. Immediately, he linked their fingers together. Her heartbeat quickened.
“Nolan, I’m not joking. I really talked with Aaron. I even saw him.” She stopped, not wanting to let Nolan know that she was also held by the ghost, too.
“You saw his face?”
She nodded. “Yes, in the mirrors.”
He stared at her as silence grew between them again. His thumbs rubbed gently over her fingers.
“And Aaron told you to take his car?”
“Yes. That’s how I knew the combination to the safe to get the keys.”
“What did he want you to take to Jethro?”
“His journal.”
“Aaron’s journal?”
She nodded.
“Did you read the journal?” Nolan’s eyes grew wide again.
“Yes.”
“What does it say?” he asked.
“Aaron wrote down everything that happened to him – the accidents, the break-up with ZoAnn... everything. He even wrote down the argument he had with you.”
Nolan’s slight smile weakened. “That’s a time in my life I’d rather not think about.”
“Yes, but Nolan,” she squeezed his hands, “I think someone tampered with Aaron’s prop for the illusion that night he died. I really think he was murdered.”
He frowned and nodded. “I think he was, too.”
“I’m assuming that Aaron wants me to take his journal to Jethro to convince his grandfather that he was murdered. With his help, maybe, just maybe, we’ll be able to figure out who did this.”
“Does Aaron think it was Thomas?”
She shrugged. “I think he suspects a few people. Why? Do you think it was Thomas?”
“Yes, and no. Thomas is smart, so he wouldn’t do anything to have the evidence pointed back to him. If Thomas killed his cousin, he would make it so that he wasn’t the main suspect.”
“Then I think we need to talk to Jethro. He might have a better insight on Thomas. Maybe that’s why Aaron wants us to go there.”
He nodded and lifted her hands to his mouth, placing a tender kiss on her knuckles. “Thank you for telling me. I’m very relieved that I’m not the only one who felt Aaron’s spirit there. I’m happy to know I’m not crazy.”
She chuckled. “How do you know I’m not the one who is crazy?”
“Good question.” He released her and pulled his seatbelt back on. “I guess I’ll figure that out later. Right now, let’s do whatever Aaron wants us to do.”
“I agree.”
She rested her hands back in her lap as Nolan pulled back out onto the road. Although emptiness filled her from the loss of Nolan’s touch, she felt more at ease now, knowing he was on her side. She just prayed they could get Jethro to believe, too.
Elizabeth reached down to her handbag and pulled out the journal, flipping it open. She scanned over the dates again and what had happened. Strange to think that the tires to Aaron’s car had been flattened... just like hers had, and Aaron had been run off the road too. A chill passed through her. Were these just coincidences? Or was someone out to get her as well?
THIRTEEN
ELIZABETH HAD THOUGHT Aaron’s estate was amazing, but as Nolan drove them through the gates of Jethro’s Manor – after being approved by the security guard in the gatehouse, of course – she couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful two-story mansion. It had to be wider than a football field and the windows were like none she’d ever seen before, almost like stained glass. They were all securely tucked inside alcove-like frames, and perfectly complimented the luxurious architecture. What completed the experience was the spectacular wrap around porch, sprinkled with white wicker patio furniture.
Nolan parked at the top of the driveway and they climbed out of the car. As they walked up the three cement steps and onto the patio, the unsteady rhythm of her heart made her nervous. They stopped in front of the door, and she could feel her anxiety making her palms moist. What if Jethro didn’t want to hear what she had to say? What if he didn’t want to read Aaron’s journal?
Nolan pushed the doorbell, and a deep, echoing chime sounded through the door. She scooted closer to Nolan, suddenly feeling a need for his support. After all, he knew the billionaire. She didn’t.
The door opened and a servant wearing a white uniform stood in front of them.
“Hello, Fortner,” Nolan greeted the middle-aged man.
The man nodded. “Ricks.”
Nolan pointed to Elizabeth. “This is Elizabeth Martin. She works for the law firm hired by Mr. Powers to get Aaron’s estate ready for purchase.” Nolan smiled at her. “This is Mr. Powers’ butler, Joel Fortner.”
A butler? This was insane! She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Mr. Fortner’s gaze narrowed on her. “Do you have an appointment, Miss Martin?”
“No, but—” she swung her gaze to Nolan and silently pleaded with him.
“Fortner, Miss Martin would like to talk to Mr. Powers. She has encountered an issue at the estate that will hold up the sale. I feel Mr. Powers will want to hear what she has to say.”
The middle-aged man with dusty brown hair flipped his attention between her and Nolan. Finally, the man nodded and motioned for them to enter.
Elizabeth released a relieved sigh, but she didn’t dare get too confident that everything would work out. After all, they still had the task of convincing Aaron’s grandfather.
As she and Nolan walked through the grand hallway that reminded her of Aaron’s, a woman who looked to be in her late fifties walked out of one of the rooms. She wasn’t very tall, maybe just over five feet. However, she had a sweet face, and curly auburn hair sprinkled with white strands. She saw them and stopped. Her bushy brown eyebrows lifted.
“Nolan? What are you doing here?”
“Hi, Connie. This is Elizabeth Martin. She works for the law firm that Jethro hired to help him get Aaron’s estate ready for sale.”
The other woman’s eyes sparkled when she smiled. “Oh, it’s so nice to meet you.”
She stretched out a hand to shake, so Elizabeth shook it. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
“This is Connie Swanson,” Nolan told Elizabeth. “She is Jethro’s personal secretary.” He looked back at Connie. “I was hoping Jethro had a few minutes to talk to Elizabeth. She’s discovered something in Aaron’s estate that she feels might keep the place from being sold.”
“Oh, my. Then, for heaven’s sake, let’s not keep Mr. Powers waiting.” Connie motioned toward one of the rooms. “Nolan, you and Elizabeth wait in there and I’ll bring Jethro out immediately.”
As Connie bustled toward the back of the hallway, Nolan turned to Elizabeth and grinned, waggling his eyebrows.
“Didn’t I tell you we’d get in?”
Elizabeth laughed lightly and bumped her elbow against Nolan’s arm. “I think you lied to them,” she said in a low voice.
“I didn’t lie.” He slid his hand on her lower back as they entered the sitting room. “Because you did find something that could halt the sale of the estate.”
“And what is that?”
“A ghost.”
She shook her head. “Aren’t you funny.”
He leaned closer as his mouth stopped by her ear. Warmth spread over her as goosebumps trickled over her skin.
“Yes. I’m very funny,” he whispered
Elizabeth released an uncomfortable laugh and moved away from him. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was interested in her – or was he normally this flirty? As much as she liked him, she almost felt guilty for flirting with him, especially when she was attracted to Aaron.
And yet, Nolan was alive – Aaron wasn’t.
For some reason, knowing that didn’t make much of a difference. Not yet, anyway.
The sound of something knocking against the wooden floor caught Elizabeth’s attention and she turned toward the door. An older man who resembled both Thomas and Aaron quite a bit, hobbled inside the room, using his cane to assist him. The man once had wide shoulders, but now they seemed to have sagged, as the rest of his body had. He had probably once stood as tall as Aaron, but now his crippled body had bent him over, making him appear much smaller.
The older man lifted his gaze to look at Nolan. Jethro smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Ricks.”
Nolan moved toward Jethro and shook his hand. “It’s good to see you, too.”
Jethro turned his attention to Elizabeth. “And who is this lovely lady?”
Warmth crept to her cheeks. Jethro was just as charming as his grandson. “Hello, Mr. Powers. I’m Elizabeth Martin. I work for Taylor, Baker, and Swift, the law firm you hired to help with your estate in Surprise, Arizona.”
The Magic of a Billionaire Page 10