by Rimmy London
She swallowed and turned the page over, continuing to read.
Chase sat next to her, scanning the pages quietly. But as Abby read, she started to hear the voice through the words. An aunt who had seen the turmoil of her niece's life and had gone to great lengths to craft a future for her. Each challenge had been specifically thought out and arranged as part of a bigger picture. A delicate balance of healing and hope that would allow something miraculous to happen.
Abby flipped to the last page.
I have lived a long life with many regrets. But one thing I know for certain was that fear prevented me from taking those big risks. Risks that I can see now, years later, would have been the very best part of my life. And instead, they are regrets. Things that could have been but never will be.
In putting you through these challenges, and giving you the absolute freedom to dream without limits, I wanted to create an environment where you would achieve the most possible with your capabilities—which are great—and live to enjoy the product of something most people never even try for.
Live this dream. Forge ahead without fear. And there will be no regrets.
All my love,
Aunt Sharalyn
She sat back in her seat with the words still echoing in her mind, strong and vibrant, as if shouted from the world beyond. A voice she’d heard before when she first set foot in the house. It spoke to her. Deep inside, in a language richer than words. And little by little, she let go of the discouragement she was clinging to. An excuse she had eagerly pulled to her heart. But now it was weak and trembling and vanished the second she released it.
In its place was an energy for life she’d never felt before. It surged through her bones and swelled in her chest. A promise in the future she only had to see first, bright and clear, and now it radiated through her body.
When she looked back at Chase, his grin had settled into something content and solid. A calm peace that showed in the strength of his gaze and softness on his lips.
“You’re right,” Abby said softly, “we have to do this.”
A police siren chirped in the background, and their heads turned together. Lights flashed through the window, rotating across the property.
A policeman and policewoman stepped from the vehicle with stern faces, and Abby and Chase hurried to meet them.
“Hello, officers,” Abby began, but the woman held her hand up quickly.
“What’s going on here?” she demanded, not waiting for a response. “How are we supposed to assess the vandalism when it’s been removed?”
“Oh, no,” Abby assured her, “it’s this way.” She walked ahead of them. “We’ve only been cleaning up damaged areas—”
“You mean areas that could be used as evidence and proof of a crime?” the officer asked, sounding more furious by the second.
Abby stumbled a bit, surprised at the woman’s tone. “Well, no. We didn’t think…”
The officer flicked a hand across the air, and Abby’s explanation faded away. She entered through the back patio with the two officers behind her, followed by Chase.
“We’ve had dead animals left on the property pretty regularly,” she explained, although she was sure this had to be a running joke at the station by now. “They’ve never been brought inside, though. This time was very different from anything else. There was lots of damage.” She pointed to the broken staircase and markings on the walls. “The large master windows upstairs have been broken, and this was left in the kitchen.”
They’d reached the gruesome scene of the decapitated rabbit, and she backed away to let them investigate. Chase joined her, standing so close she could feel his strong arm against hers. It was a relief to have him there.
The officers discussed amongst themselves before turning to Chase and Abby.
“Do you have any idea who would be doing this?” the policeman asked.
Abby shrugged. “I have no idea. It’s been happening long before I ever knew the place existed.”
“Yes, it has.” The officer glanced back at the rabbit. “But since you’ve been here, you’ve met the neighbors, correct? Has anyone caught your attention?”
Abby’s eyebrows pressed together. “No, not at all. They’re all very good neighbors.”
Chase cleared his throat, and every eye turned to his hesitant face. He fidgeted with his hands and finally glanced back at Abby, keeping his gaze on her as he spoke. “I was a little suspicious of her realtor, and it would explain why the animals were left here for so long prior. If perhaps he was hoping to snag the property in the future, but wasn’t in quite the position to buy just yet?”
Abby shook her head. “Wait, Vance?” It sounded ridiculous. “He’s the one who told me about the property in the first place, remember?”
“Yes,” Chase agreed, “but that was when you were just a curious customer in a bread store. Most people don’t have a couple million to spend on a house.”
The policewoman had stayed quiet since they’d entered the kitchen, but now her eyes bored into Abby’s. “So, I take it your realtor’s name is Vance?”
Abby stiffened but nodded her head. “Yeah, he worked with me on the loan and even helped manage the remodel for the first couple weeks.” Her cheeks were feeling warm, and she hoped it didn’t show… and that the conversation would change topics soon.
The policewoman’s eyebrows rose. “Ah, so he was hired to help you?” she asked, looking like she already knew the answer to her question was no.
Abby shook her head again. “He was helping as a friend only.”
“Uh-huh,” the officer tightened her lips. It was the closest thing to a smile Abby had seen on her yet. “And were you two romantically involved? Did he ever stay the night here on the property… with you?”
“What?” Abby gasped, “No! Of course not.” She tried not to look at Chase, but her eyes flickered up to see the hint of shock on his face. “I mean, he wanted to form a relationship, but I told him I wasn’t interested.”
“And that’s it?” she pressed. “Why hasn’t he continued helping with the remodel?”
“Well…” Abby felt completely embarrassed but knew she had to tell them everything. “He was pretty upset about it. I guess he thought I’d led him on, but I’d been trying to keep my distance. He was a little forceful about it, but then he left and I haven’t seen him since.”
“Uh-huh.” The officer dipped her head, looking incredulous. “And you didn’t find any of that suspicious at the time?”
Abby’s embarrassment boiled over into anger, and she glared back. “No.”
The policeman stepped forward. “So, when you say he helped with the remodel, what did he do exactly?” His voice was kind and calm, and Abby was finally able to think clearly.
“He just oversaw deconstruction and—” Abby paused, remembering something she suddenly realized would sound even more suspicious. “He put up the trail cam.”
Eyes widened all around her, and she wondered if she’d been as naïve as their expressions said.
They returned to her trailer, and she played the small bit of video she had. But the officers didn’t seem very interested in the footage of an arm. Instead, they asked her the same question a few times over.
“How could he be so terrible at placing a trail cam?” the policewoman asked again. “If you ask me, he purposely pointed it away from the yard.”
“Was there anything else?” Chase spoke up for the first time since they’d left the house, and Abby watched his expression. It was hardened and serious, and he stared down the officers. “I assume you’ll want to question the crew here, and the neighbors as well? That’s a lot to get done. We’d better let you to it.” He pulled the door open and stepped aside.
“Yes,” the policeman finally replied. “We’ll keep you informed of any developments. It might be best to stay the night in town tonight, just until we can get everything figured out.”.
Abby let her breath out as the officers walked away, imagining Vance
and what his reaction might be when he learned everything she’d told them. But when Chase closed the door, she could see him watching her out of the corner of her eye. She hesitated to look back at him, not until he’d walked slowly closer and stood directly in front of her. Then, she lifted her gaze to his face.
“Chase, nothing happened,” she began, but he silenced her with a lifted hand and a shake of his head.
“You don’t have to explain,” he began. But he watched her face for a moment longer. “Just tell me one thing,” he said.
“Okay.” Abby’s heart was beating, and she waited through a minute of silence that seemed to last forever, straining her brain to guess what he was going to ask.
“Define… forceful… for me,” he said quietly, his gaze deep and unmoving.
“Oh.” She was quickly thrown back into the memory of Vance’s arms around her, locking her to him and refusing to budge when she tried to shake him off. “It could’ve been worse if you hadn’t gotten here so quick that morning I called.”
Chase’s head tilted and his eyes narrowed, and Abby was sure he was recalling Vance’s manners and expression when he’d sped away from the property that morning.
“He just wasn’t taking no for an answer. Not until you showed up.” Her voice quieted to a whisper, and she rested her hands on his sides. “So, thank you.”
She didn’t have to pull him closer, he kissed her easily. “You should have told me,” he whispered, touching her face softly. “He’d better not come around again.”
Abby frowned. “I don’t think he will.” She hesitated, battling with her intuition. “Chase, I don’t think he’s the one behind this.” She looked out the window and noticed one of the upstairs glass panels had already been replaced.
“Hmm…” Chase looked like he was considering her words, while at the same time not changing his opinion of Vance in the least. “Let’s hope those police officers stumble across the person responsible. It’s a completely different game now that they’re breaking and entering.”
“I know.” Abby felt like lead had settled in her stomach, and as much as she tried to think it away, it remained.
“Should we run to Le Coin and pick up some decor? I know it’s your favorite interior design shop in the state.” He winked with a smile that invited back the energy Abby had been swimming in an hour earlier. Up until those officers stopped by.
“Sure.” Abby smiled. “Let’s do it.”
Chapter 20
The afternoon was waning when they loaded Abby’s car up with decor that she felt easily defined her soul. Everything was neutral modern, with a slight industrial flair, and above all it was rustic. The perfect marriage of past and future. It would fit the property beautifully.
“Should we meet back in a couple of hours?” Chase offered. “I’ve only got one patient, so it won’t take long. Might need to schedule a couple meetings.”
“Okay.” Abby squeezed into the driver’s seat. It had been moved forward to fit the pileup of everything from metal vases to throw pillows. “I’ll see you in a few!” She waved at Chase, loving the way his cheeks turned a slight pink in the crisp autumn air.
All the way back, she thought of him. The way he spoke to her, looked at her, held her… even the threat he’d breathed against Vance was incredible. Because it was for her.
When she arrived back at the house, the sky was just beginning to dim, and lights were being set up around the property. Abby wondered what Chase had said to them. Obviously, it was something amazing to have them working around the clock the way they were.
She began loading bags into her trailer, one after the other. It almost filled up the small space. On the last trip, she glanced into the dark trees and stopped in her tracks.
Champ wasn’t on his chain. She hurried and tossed the last bag inside before whistling for him and waiting with one ear turned to the wind.
Nothing.
“Champ!” she shouted, clapping her hands until they echoed through the trees. She held perfectly still, listening. But there was no sound besides the occasional hoot of an owl. Her heart liked to overreact, and it raced away, giving her permission to imagine every horrible thing that could have happened.
She walked forward until she passed the first row of trees and was covered by a blanket of quiet. Even the workers behind her seemed to be whispering. “Champ?” she called.
Suddenly, out of the silence, a noise echoed through the trees. Quick and sharp, and then it was gone. Like a pained yelp.
She listened more intently, waiting for another signal of where he might be, or if it was even him. “Champ!” She had tried to yell, but her voice came out in a raspy whisper. Another yelp followed, more clear this time.
It was Champ. And he’d heard her.
She dashed into the trees, running as softly as she could in case he made another noise. The forest floor was damp and cold, quieting her steps. The pepper spray back in her cabin came to her mind, but she heard a high-pitched whine and kept running. Whatever was hurting him, she’d find it.
Chase felt bad about lying, but he knew he couldn’t tell Abigail where he was headed. He stood outside Vance’s office and tried to control his anger. It surged through him, threatening to scatter his thoughts and blur his decisions. He took another breath, attempting to clear his head.
“Right this way, sir.” A cheerful secretary led him to an open office door, and he stepped inside to see Vance seated at his desk, looking down at his computer screen. He imagined Vance’s hands on Abigail and his own hands clenched into fists.
Vance finally looked up. He rolled his chair back in surprise, and after a moment, he gestured to the chair across from him. “Please, have a seat.”
Chase sat, keeping his eyes glued to Vance for any signs of guilt. He couldn’t help but think his realtor job and abundant knowledge of the house pointed a pretty accusing finger at him. And then to hear he’d been the one to place the trail cam. It was completely condemning in Chase’s mind.
“What can I do for you?” Vance asked.
Chase thought he could see a tremor in the calm lines of Vance’s face, but overall, he seemed incredibly good at smoothing over any visible emotion… which made Chase suspect him even more.
He cleared his throat. “I’m going to be very direct here,” he warned, working to keep the anger in his chest from spreading to his voice. “Someone broke into the Poppyridge house last night, leaving it vandalized. There was also a dead rabbit deposited in the kitchen and warnings written on the walls.”
But the guilt Chase hoped to glimpse never came, and instead, Vance gripped the desk with both hands.
“What?” His mouth was slack and utterly shocked. “Is Ms. Tanner okay?”
Chase wanted to punch him in his bewildered face, but he swallowed back the irrational thought. “She’s fine,” he shifted in his seat, suddenly eager to get back to Abigail. He hadn’t meant to take so long, and judging by what he perceived as fake innocence radiating from Vance, it was going to take a while.
He squared his shoulders and leaned forward, glaring. “Did you have anything to do with it?” he asked, not caring if it sounded like a threat. He had to know.
One of Vance’s eyebrows rose dramatically, but gradually he appeared to recover. “You’re seriously asking me this?” He looked back long enough to see Chase nod. “Me? The one who showed her the house. The one who negotiated the sale. You think I’m now trying to drive her away?” He laughed suddenly in a quick, angry burst. “And why would I do that? I’ve been protecting her this whole time—she doesn’t even know the half of it.” He stood from his chair and turned to the window, crossing his arms in front of him. “I don’t owe you an explanation. This isn’t an interrogation.”
Chase stood as well. “No, it isn’t. Would you like it to be?”
This time when Vance turned, there was a break in his calmness. His eyes flickered to Chase’s arms, and the way his T-shirt strained when he crossed them in front of his ch
est.
“Look,” he said angrily, “I’ve admired the house for a long time, but it’s not in my means to buy the thing. You come across stuff like this every day in my line of work. There’s a dream home around every corner, you just learn to go about your day.”
“Hmm…” Chase’s eyes narrowed as he studied the expression on Vance’s face. “So, what have you been protecting her from, then?”
Vance threw his hands in the air. “From theories. History. Stuff you come across when you dig in and research a property. And since this one was a gold mine sitting on the market for years on end, I did my homework.” He cast a wary eye at Chase and sat down again. “Turns out the place used to be haunted.”
Chase’s breath escaped in a hmph. “Right,” he said, feeling like he’d wasted his time.
“I’m not saying it was, but people seemed to believe it. Here—” He opened a desk drawer and pulled a thick file from it. “See for yourself. Go ahead… and show Abbs. It’s all there. It explains why it never sold.”
“So, why didn’t you tell her this?” Chase asked, opening the file and glancing down at a newspaper article.
Vance shrugged. “I didn’t want it clouding her judgment. She fell completely in love with the place. And ghost stories are kind of a downer.”
Chase tucked the file under his arm and nodded back at Vance. “Thanks,” he mumbled, heading back through the building and to his car.
After he’d closed the doors and started the engine, he opened the folder again. There was a bundle of papers, and he flipped through them quickly. Most were police transcriptions of buyer's testimonies about the property, which he didn’t find particularly helpful. Some of them sounded anxious to cause a stir, like they were only after attention. He rifled back to the first page, a newspaper article. It was nearly forty years old, stained and faded. A large picture was set into the story, and Chase scanned over the words quickly.