“That’s what I had thought too, but he was wearing a ski mask so I couldn’t see his face. I heard his voice though, and it didn’t sound like Sam. They were built similarly, but I think Sam was larger in stature. So no, I don’t think it was Sam.”
“What was he doing in your house?”
“Stealing from me. However, all he was taking were boxes from my cellar.”
“Your props?”
“Yes. I don’t know how much he took, but he at least made off with a couple of boxes.”
“Then I should contact Chad right away. This might be connected to your murder.” She made a move to leave.
“Wait! Don’t go yet. I still want to talk while I have the energy.”
She sighed. “I’ll stay here and talk as long as you’d like.”
“Or until Nolan comes.”
“Yeah, that too.”
“So, tell me how Gramps is doing. Is Connie still taking care of him?”
She nodded. “Connie was there. Your grandfather looks all right. Every time he talked about you, tears appeared in his eyes. He really misses you.”
“And I miss him. He was my mentor, friend, and father for most of my life. He always believed in me when nobody else would.”
“What about Thomas? Did he believe in you?”
“No. He was a little upset that I would rather do magic tricks than help him run the wineries.”
She shifted on the bed, facing him more. “Was he upset enough to kill you?”
“I don’t think so.” Aaron frowned, turning more toward her. “But we weren’t really that close.”
“Well, for now, we’re not going to take him off our suspect list.” She grasped at the sheet on his bed, desperately wanting to hold his hand. “Tell me about the entry in your journal regarding the food poisoning. Where were you when that happened?”
“Food was catered in on the set while we rehearsed that day. We had food brought in quite often up until that point. We had finger sandwiches, veggie and fruit trays, the whole setup.”
“Who was the caterer? Maybe they didn’t like your performance,” she joked.
He laughed. “Not likely. Everyone liked my shows.”
She nodded. “I’ve watched a few on the internet. You were very good.”
“It took many hours of practice and hard work to get where I was a few months ago,” he said in a sad voice.
“Then it probably wasn’t the caterer who gave you food poisoning.”
He shrugged. “I wish I knew.”
“Okay, so you explained last night about the time you were run off the road. Tell me about your faulty props. What happened with those?”
“Some trap doors were broken. Some of my special ropes were frayed. My chairs were loose so that when I sat on them, a leg busted, and I ended up on the floor. Even a set of movable stairs was misplaced which caused me to fall off the stage and twist my ankle.”
“Who had access to your props?”
“Anyone who was there watching the rehearsal.” He traced his fingers around hers, being careful not to touch her. “I’m not much help, am I?”
She sighed and frowned. “I feel that I’m the one who is not much help.”
“No, you really are. Not many people would believe they were talking to a ghost.”
The humor in his statement made her smile again. “During all of these so-called accidents, did you ever talk to your friend Chad?”
“Yes. In fact, we had planned to meet the night after my performance... the one where I was killed.”
“Then hopefully, your friend will want to hear about what’s been happening to Thomas, and what happened to me yesterday.”
“I’m sure he would.”
With what little energy he had, he lifted one of her hands to his mouth and brushed a quick, soft kiss across her knuckles. Butterflies danced in her stomach. His blue eyes changed to a lighter color and his pupils twinkled. Heavens, he was one handsome man.
Suddenly, he cringed as if in pain and dropped her hand.
“Are you okay?” she asked, panicked.
“Yes, it’s just... I’m still weak from our encounter yesterday.”
He held his hand close to his chest and they sat in silence for a moment.
“Aaron, would you mind telling me about one of your magic tricks?”
“What would you like to know?” He smiled.
“I want to know one of your signature secrets.”
He chuckled and lay back on the bed, resting on his side as he faced her leaning on his elbow. Not wanting to be the only one sitting on the edge of the bed, she joined him in that position, facing him as she leaned on her elbow.
“Let’s see... You obviously know the secret about the sword box trick. I guess I can tell you the secret about the crushing girl box.”
She arched an eyebrow. “You crush a girl? I don’t think I saw that act on the internet.”
He looked longingly at her hands. “There is a box just large enough to allow a woman to sit in with her legs gently folded underneath her. On the side of the box is a large mechanism called the crusher. It’s like a large vise.”
Her eyes widened and he chuckled. “Don’t worry, it’s completely safe.”
She laughed. “Go on.”
“First, I show the audience the empty box and how the front and back panels are open for them to see through. Then I invite one of my assistants to get inside the box.”
“Wait. Don’t you just have two assistants?”
“I have two main assistants, but sometimes the acts call for three.”
“Oh, I understand. Go on.” She grinned, loving how open and honest he was with her. Why couldn’t all men be like this? Why did he have to be dead?
“After the girl gets in the box, my other two assistants close the front and back panels. I give the girl in the box a red handkerchief to wave to let the audience know she’s still in there. Then I stand at the large, steel wheel on the side and start to spin it, closing the jaws of the vise and crushing the panels and the girl. I pause briefly when I’m three-quarters of the way there and her hand disappears into the box so that I can finish crushing her. I walk around to the back of the box and wave my hand around in the space where the box used to be so the audience can see it’s really gone. Then I return to the wheel and spin in backward, opening the jaws and replacing the panels. When my assistants open the front and back, the girl is there holding the red handkerchief, completely unharmed.”
“Okay,” she scooted a little closer. “What is your secret?”
She loved the way his eyes sparkled like gems when he talked about his magic. It was so refreshing to meet a man whose main interests weren’t playing video games, playing laser tag, or watching sports on the television.
“There is a secret floor to the box. Once the panels are closed, she lifts one end of the secret floor and slides her legs inside. She then presses her back and arms against the wall made of spandex. The side wall that appears to crush her is also made of spandex. From the audience’s perspective it looks like I’m crushing her, but from inside the box, she feels a little squished, but she’s fine. When I start pulling back the side wall, she moves her legs out of the secret floor and resumes her position so that when the front and back panels are opened, she’s in the same position as when the audience last saw her.”
As he described it to her, she pictured it so perfectly in her mind. Not only that, she could see him as she’d seen him on videos on the internet, so sexy as he charmed the audience with his looks and movements.
“You’re absolutely amazing,” she whispered in awe.
“No, you are.”
“I wish we would have met before you were killed.”
“Me, too,” he whispered brokenly. “Beth, you are one in a billion.”
She couldn’t stop her heart aching from his sweetness, but she really didn’t want to either. No man had ever treated her with such respect and kindness. No man had ever made her heart pitter-patt
er as if his touch or kiss had been her first time.
“Would you have even noticed me?” she spoke her thoughts without realizing it.
“Oh, yes. You’re beautiful, Beth, and while I would have been pulled in by your amazing hazel eyes, it would have been your genuine heart that kept me by your side.” His gaze lingered on her lips. “Your passionate kisses would have kept me coming back for more and I never would have let you go.”
“I wouldn’t have let you go either.”
Her heart was in her throat and she wanted to tell him what had been on her mind so much lately, but she didn’t dare. How could someone love a ghost? It was impossible. It was a relationship that wouldn’t last.
Her chest tightened. Why was she doing this to herself, knowing the outcome? Had the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson been right in saying it was better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all?
She’d have to ask her broken heart that question once Aaron finally moved into the light and out of her world.
SEVENTEEN
ELIZABETH SAT CALMLY on the love-seat in the sitting room as Nolan and Chad Howell walked in. Chad appeared around the same age as Aaron, but he wasn’t as muscular through the shoulders or the thighs as her ghost. Chad’s chestnut-colored hair was chopped short, almost like a military cut. His oblong face and square jaw gave him a commanding type aura. Of course, his Police Officer badge made a bigger impact than his looks.
“Elizabeth,” Nolan said motioning toward the other man, “this is Chad Howell. He and Aaron were good friends growing up.” Nolan turned to Chad. “This is Elizabeth Martin. Jethro hired her law firm to help with getting the house ready to sell.”
Chad reached out to shake her hand, so she quickly stood.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he said.
“You, too.” Elizabeth nodded.
They all sat at the same time. Nolan took the space next to her and Chad picked the recliner next to them.
“Nolan tells me,” Chad began, “that you were run off the road yesterday.”
“I was.”
“I’m very relieved that you’re all right, but I’m sure you’re aware that there’s nothing I can do because the accident happened out of my jurisdiction.”
“I understand, but I don’t believe this was a one-time incident.”
“Why do you think that?”
She glanced at Nolan, and he gave her an encouraging nod. Inhaling slowly, she met Chad’s curious gaze again. “Well, you see... the truck that ran me off the road was the same truck that ran Aaron off the road.”
He blinked as a blank look crossed his face. “Aaron?”
“Yes, Aaron. Aaron Powers.”
“How do you know a truck had run Aaron off the road?”
She knew this question would pop up, and frankly, she was more nervous than she wanted to be right now. She clenched her hands in her lap, trying to stay calm.
“I read Aaron’s journal – the journal he started right after he and Thomas signed their grandfather’s will on February 1st.”
Chad’s expression changed again. He was wary of her, and she was certain her words weren’t helping him believe in ghosts.
“Miss Martin? How long have you known Aaron?”
“Oh, that’s a good question. Let’s see...” She tapped her finger on her chin. “I don’t think it’s been quite a week yet.”
A small laugh burst from his throat, almost sounding like a gasp. But it was the humor in his brown eyes that let her know he probably thought she was crazy.
“Miss Martin, I don’t know if you realize this, but it’s the end of June. Aaron was killed on March –”
“Tenth,” she quickly supplied. “Yes, I know when he was killed.”
“And yet, you say you’ve known him for about a week?”
“Exactly.”
Groaning, Nolan rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes.
You’re sinking Elizabeth! She swished her hand through the air. “Detective, the point is, a truck ran me off the road, and also had run Thomas off the road... the same truck Aaron had written about in his journal.” She took a quick breath. “Aaron told you about the incidents happening to him. He was going to let you read his journal the night he was killed.”
“Miss Martin,” Chad shook his head, “why do you keep referring to Aaron’s death that way? He wasn’t killed. He died because of an accident –”
She huffed and jumped to her feet. “Then you, Detective Howell, aren’t a very good police detective at all. Someone tried to poison Aaron’s food, which left him sick for several days. Someone flattened his tires and ran him off the road. Someone tampered with his props several times. Someone sneaked in his home and moved stuff around. The last week or so of his life, he felt as though someone was watching – and following – him. And then, when I was visiting Jethro, someone broke into the house and stole some of Aaron’s props.” She took another deep breath. “Now tell me, Detective Howell, how can you still believe Aaron’s death was an accident after what I explained to you that he’d written in his journal?”
Chad stared at her sternly. “Do you have his journal?”
“No. I gave it to his grandfather yesterday, which was why I was driving that way and was run off the road.”
Standing in front of her, Chad folded his arms. “Miss Martin, if you are staying here to help with the sale of the house, then why do you know so much about a man who has been dead for over three months?”
Elizabeth glanced at Nolan again. He gave her the same nod he did before. Taking a deep breath, she faced Chad. “Because... I’ve been talking to Aaron since I arrived.”
His disbelieving expression made her feel stupid... and insane. But she wasn’t. She must make him trust her – and help her find Aaron’s killer.
Chad’s mouth tightened. “You want me to believe,” he said slowly, “that you have been conversing with a... ghost?”
“Yes, that’s what I want you to believe.”
A grin broke out on Chad’s face and he started laughing. He paced the floor, threading his fingers through his hair. “In all the years I’ve been a policeman, I’ve never...” His laughter grew.
The longer he laughed, the more annoyed Elizabeth became. Inwardly, she growled. She didn’t have time for this – for Chad’s attitude. She wanted to slap some sense into him, and she wasn’t a violent person, but this man grated on her already frazzled nerves.
Chad stopped his pacing in front of Nolan still sitting on the couch. Chad arched an eyebrow. “Did you know about this?”
Nolan nodded, but didn’t say any words... which of course, made her that much more upset. Why wasn’t he defending her?
Her cell phone vibrated in the pocket of her jeans. She ignored it. She didn’t have time to text right now.
“Detective Howell, this is not a laughing matter. I’m very serious.”
Chad’s laughter grew. She bunched her hands into fists and gritted her teeth. How could she make him believe?
Her cell phone vibrated again. She yanked it out of her pocket and glanced at the screen.
Tell him about how I got rid of Sam! Chad will believe.
She sucked in a quick breath. Aaron? How did he get her number? But this wasn’t the time to ask questions.
“Detective,” she said, lifting her voice to get his attention. “When I arrived here, my boyfriend showed up uninvited. I wanted him to leave, but I was waiting to break up with him first.”
“What does this have to do with Aaron?” Chad asked with humor in his voice.
She held up her hand in front of him and continued. “That’s when I started talking to Aaron. He didn’t like my boyfriend, Sam, either. I tried to break up with Sam, but he wouldn’t leave. That’s when Aaron decided to make him leave.” She clutched her hands and pressed them against her middle. “Aaron – the ghost – caused a few things to happen in the house and outside, which made Sam’s hands dirty. I told him to wash up in the bathroom. While he was in ther
e, I heard Aaron’s loud voice telling Sam to get out of my house – and then Sam screamed and ran out of the bathroom with bloody hands. He said the blood came out of the faucet. Aaron had scared him away.” She paused briefly. “Aaron wanted me to tell you that.”
Color left the detective’s face and his jaw dropped, leaving his mouth agape. “Blood... from the bathroom faucet?”
“Yes. I assume you’ve heard of that trick before.”
His Adam’s apple bounced once in Chad’s throat. “In high school when we were on the football team, some of the guys used to tease Aaron because he liked messing with magic. I was his best friend, so it didn’t bother me, but some jocks just couldn’t understand Aaron’s obsession. A few times in the locker room when we were showering, Aaron rigged up the showers and faucets to pour out red water that looked like blood. Scared the guys so much they thought the locker room was haunted and wouldn’t set foot in it.” A small chuckle released from his chest. “It took the coach to have a priest come and bless the room before the guys would come back inside the room.”
She expelled a relieved sigh. “Do you believe me now?”
Chad nodded as his gaze moved around the room. “Is Aaron here now?”
“He must be.” She held up her cell phone. His gaze moved to the text, so she continued. “Because Aaron wanted me to tell you that.”
Chad swallowed noisily. “Aaron? Can you hear me?”
Seconds later, her phone vibrated as another text came through.
Yes, Chad. It’s me, Aaron.
Chad blinked the tears filling his eyes and he gave a small laugh. “So, you’re a ghost, huh?”
Yeah, apparently... This sucks!
Chad smiled. “I bet it does.”
Will you help Beth and Nolan to find my killer?
Chad wiped the moisture from his eyes. “You really think someone killed you?”
Someone tampered with the table, which is why it didn’t move before the swords came through the box. Yes, I think someone killed me.
Chad inhaled a deep breath and lifted his gaze to Elizabeth. He nodded. “I’ll help you find Aaron’s killer.”
A sob of relief burst from her throat as she threw her arms around the detective’s neck, hugging him. Maybe now they could get some work done.
The Magic of a Billionaire Page 13
