“Bailey,” Nicole moved beside her cousin, putting her arm around her slender shoulders. “This is not a movie, and none of us will be that stupid.”
Bailey glared at Nicole. “It’s always the pretty one with no brain that gets killed first, and in that case, I’m the one who’ll die.”
Nicole didn’t dare laugh. Her cousin was serious. “What do we need to do to make you understand that you’re not goin’ to die?”
Folding her arms across her chest, Bailey lifted her chin, stubbornly. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t worry,” Nolan told Bailey. “You’ll be out here with me. Remember?”
Bailey blew out a shaky breath. “Fine.”
Victoria reappeared and motioned her hand to Nicole. “The kitchen is empty. Let’s hurry.”
Nicole glanced at Nolan and he gave her a reassuring nod. Seriously, if not for him, she would have been dead by now – twice, in fact. If anything, she hoped their experience at Hanover House brought them closer together by the time they left. Then, and only then, would all of this fear be worth it.
She met Victoria’s gaze. “Let’s go.”
THIRTY
Nicole stepped as quietly as she could into the employees only rooms. As they moved from one room to the next which led toward the cellar, Victoria explained what had been in that particular section of the house when she was alive. Although it was a nice tour, Nicole was anxious to get to the room that hid Missy’s journal – as long as it was still hidden.
As Nicole reached another room, voices were heard on the other side of the door. Victoria’s eyes widened and she placed her finger to her lips, looking at Nicole. Her heartbeat accelerated, and she glanced around for someplace to hide. What looked to be a broom closet was nearby, so she opened the door and squished inside. Slowly, she closed the door, and seconds later, men’s heavy footsteps moved past her. Their voices carried with them as they left the room.
“It’s clear now,” Victoria said.
Nicole left the closet and hurried into the next room with Victoria. This appeared to be the pantry. It was dank and not lit well. Many steel shelved-brackets lined the walls, not leaving much room in between them.
Once again, disappointment filled her. “Where was Matilda’s desk?”
Victoria moved to the outer wall. “It sat right here by the small window.”
Nicole searched the wall in between the shelves, and she wasn’t sure if they would be able to find anything without moving things around, and maybe tearing into the wall. “What are we goin’ to do?” She glanced at Victoria. “Can you see through walls?”
Victoria snorted a laugh. “What kind of ghost to you think I am? I’ve never even heard of such a thing.”
Laughing softly, Nicole shrugged. “Apparently, that’s just what movie-producers create, then.”
Something wasn’t quite right, though. When she had watched Missy at the desk writing, there wasn’t a window anywhere near her or she would have seen the morning brightness in the room. After all, she had been writing in the journal before Victoria’s wedding.
“It wasn’t down here.” Nicole turned to Victoria. “In my dream, there was no mornin’ light pourin’ in the room.” She pointed to the window. “And in the mornin’, there would have been some light.”
“True.”
“Instead, the room appeared to be shadowy as if it was evenin’, but it wasn’t.” She moved toward Victoria. “What other rooms in the house had desks and pictures on the walls?”
“Well, my father had a large oak desk. There was a picture hanging on the wall near his desk.”
Nicole returned to her memory and then shook her head. “The desk wasn’t large. It appeared to be new, not old, and it wasn’t oak.”
“My mother had a desk in her parlor. However, there was no painting on the wall, and her parlor was always bright because of the several windows in the room.”
“What about your brother?” Nicole prodded. “Did he have one?”
“Yes, but he never wanted pictures hanging on his wall. He said it made him feel less masculine.”
Blowing out a frustrated breath, Nicole pushed her fingers through her hair. “That just leaves you, Victoria. Did you have a desk?”
“Of course, I did. However, there was no way Missy was allowed in that room. That was my special room and nobody could occupy it but me. In fact, when it needed to be cleaned, I watched the maids clean it and then locked it when they left.”
Hope grew inside Nicole’s chest. “But Missy would have known where you kept the key, correct?”
“Nobody knew.”
“Unless she had been spyin’ on you and watched you put it away... or, she could have accidentally found it one day while cleanin’ your room.” Nicole recalled one of her dreams. “After all, she had taken your locket necklace with William’s picture in it. In one of my dreams, she had it and was dreamily gazin’ at William’s picture.”
“Ohhh,” Victoria growled. “That little thief!”
“So, now tell me,” Nicole said slowly and meaningfully, “where was your desk? Was there a paintin’ of a field of flowers on the wall?”
“Oh, dear.” Victoria gasped. “You didn’t mention what the painting looked like, but yes, the painting was from William. He knew I loved roses.”
Relief swept over Nicole, and if Victoria wasn’t a ghost, she would hug her ancestor right now. “So, the next question is... where was your desk? Where is that room now that this manor is a bed and breakfast?”
Victoria smiled. “It’s in your room.”
Nicole really didn’t want to have to return to that room, only because that’s where Missy had been in order to crawl inside Nicole’s head, which nearly had her falling down the stairs. She calmed her quickened breaths and nodded. This had to be done. She was tired of ghosts, especially the mean ones.
“Then what are we waitin’ for?” Nicole sighed. “Let’s get the others and go there.”
NOLAN PACED THE FLOOR while Bailey pretended to look at the paintings in the hallway. Thankfully, there hadn’t been a reason to make a scene in order to distract the people who worked here. Hanover House seemed to be quiet this afternoon.
Bailey moved in front of him as he passed her, so he stopped. She wore a different expression – one that he hadn’t ever seen on her. Dare he give it a name like regret?
“Nolan, I feel I must apologize.” She expelled a heavy breath. “It was I who put the idea into Nicole’s head that you were Aaron Powers.” She shrugged. “I have an over-active imagination, and well... when we noticed the name Powers Enterprises, I jumped to conclusions.”
It actually surprised him that she would admit she was wrong. From what he gathered about her, Bailey was a woman who never took responsibility for anything.
“Thank you,” he told her. “I accept your apology.”
“Then if you accept mine, why don’t you accept Nicole’s?” She touched his arm. “I’ve never seen her fall so hard for a man before, and I haven’t seen her as crushed as when you rejected her apology. My cousin really likes you, Nolan. She doesn’t care if you’re the richest man in the world or the poorest, because you’ve already proven your worth to her.”
His heart twisted. Ever since Nicole’s kiss earlier in his room, he hadn’t stopped thinking about her confession of love – as short as it was. His mind spun with the possibility that he had been wrong about her, just like she and Bailey had been wrong to judge him unfairly. If she had truly been repulsed by his low bank account, then why had she told him she loved him? He knew she was grateful for his help, but that didn’t mean she had to love him.
“I...” He swallowed hard since a lump of emotion had knotted in his throat. “I’ve dated a few wealthy women in my life, but once they discovered what I did for a living, they quickly found another man who made more money. It became a habit to harden my heart against wealthy women.”
“I understand,” Bailey nodded, “but Nicole isn’t like that. She�
�ll never be like that because that’s happened to her before, too... just differently. The men she has dated have never loved her. Nolan,” she caressed his arm, “I can tell you are in love with my cousin. So please, don’t give up on her. Put your trust in her and let your love grow together, and you’ll see—”
Just then, the large picture hanging on the wall tipped, and fell toward Bailey. Nolan caught the quick movement out of the corner of his eye, and yanked Bailey away from the picture before it struck her head. When the frame hit the floor, it broke into several pieces.
Protectively, he wrapped an arm around Bailey’s trembling shoulders as she touched her head. Her face had lost color.
“Did it hit you?” he asked.
“No... But it was so close. I... felt it whip by my head.”
Nolan took a moment to feel the air around him. It had turned chilly, and his chest had tightened. This was how he’d felt last night when Missy was around.
He didn’t dare tell Bailey and frighten her any more than she already was. “I’ll let the caretaker know what happened. I’m sure the nail was rusted which made the picture fall.”
“Nolan, I don’t ever want to come back to this place again. We really need to convince Nicole to leave. This is not a safe place to stay.”
He nodded. “Especially if you are related to the Carrigans who used to own this manor.”
Footsteps on the tiled floor alerted him to someone hurrying down the hall. When Nicole appeared, he breathed a sigh of relief. She stopped before stepping on the debris from the crumbled picture frame.
“Do I need to ask what happened?” She met Nolan’s gaze.
He tried shrugging it off as if it was nothing, even though his heartbeat still hammered. “The picture fell and almost hit your cousin.”
“I’m fine, though.” Bailey moved to Nicole and hooked their arms together. “But I really want to leave here. Tonight.”
Nicole’s wide grin was aimed toward Nolan and warmth spread through him. No longer was the air chilly and suffocating, which meant Missy had left.
“Did you find anything?” he asked Nicole.
“No, but we will find somethin’ today. I promise.” She looked at her cousin. “And we will definitely leave this place.”
THIRTY-ONE
With Victoria’s assistance, Nicole found the place on the wall where the painting of flowers had been. She stood back, wringing her hands as she watched Nolan knock on the wall, trying to find the hollow spot. When the knock sounded differently, he stopped and his gaze locked with hers.
“I think we found it.” He grinned.
“I don’t care what it takes to break down the wall,” Victoria said breathlessly, “but do it! I want to know what’s in that journal.”
Thankfully, Nolan’s room had a kitchenette, so he found a few knives and returned quickly. Although it really didn’t take long to cut through the drywall, it seemed like hours. Nicole could hardly stand the wait.
Finally, Nolan made contact with the original wall and turned on the light on his phone as he shone it inside the hole. The bricks were separated and in the space was a book.
Nicole sighed heavily. “It’s still there!”
Nolan reached inside, but his fingers were too large. He turned to Nicole and motioned her over. Her hand shook as she slid her hand inside and clasped the tattered pages. Carefully, she pulled it out. She blew the dust coating the faded brown leather cover.
Making sure to be careful, Nicole slowly opened the book. Immediately, she recognized Missy’s handwriting. At first, it was hard to read, but it was because the ink was faded.
June 1925. I was hired to work at the Carrigan’s mansion. Upon Dr. Carrigan’s death, he left his home and fortune to his family, mainly his only daughter, Victoria. I am her personal maid. Victoria is cruel to everyone around her. She irritates me constantly, but I will do as she says because the pay is good.
July 1925. Victoria cannot stop talking about the gentleman she met. She says his name is William. I’m shocked that any man would fall in love with a woman with such a rotten attitude. When I first looked at William, my heart melted and I fell instantly in love. It’s my goal to get him to notice me, because when he does, he’ll see that I’m so much better than Victoria.
August 1925. I talked with William while he waited to take Victoria to the opera. I’m shocked that the woman he thinks he loves will even go. Victoria has told me several times how much she loathes the opera. I told him how much I enjoy the opera. I hope he will think twice next time of taking the whiny Victoria Carrigan.
I watched and waited for them to return, and when they did, William kissed her. Oh, my wrenching heart! I thought it was going to break. William deserves much better. He deserves... me.
September 1925. All Victoria does is complain about everything I do. I put on one of her hats today and she yelled at me. I wish she would die. Later today, she announced that William has proposed and she’s accepted. Victoria flaunted the ring in front of all her maids. Personally, I’m shocked that Victoria didn’t complain about how small the diamond was. I would make him a better wife. Now I want to kill the woman who every day breaks my heart that much more.
October 1925. I’m getting tired of her. If I had a better offer to go somewhere else I would, but if I did, I wouldn’t get to see my William. Every day I see him, my love grows stronger for the man who has yet to notice me. He will be mine, some day. I’ll make sure of it. Maybe I can push her down the stairs or trip her or something. I wish I knew how to get rid of her.
Nicole looked up at Nolan. “Missy really is quite stupid. If she was seriously thinkin’ of killin’ Victoria, why had she written it in a journal? Didn’t she think the police would find it and it would be held against her as evidence?”
Nicole carefully flipped a few more pages and skimmed through the entries. “She continues to talk about being in love with William and hating Victoria.”
“Victoria?” Nolan asked. “How did you act around William? Did he ever see your mean side?”
Frowning, she sat on the chair and shook her head. “I wondered if he loved me for my money, but then I really made sure he saw the part of me that nobody else saw. I showed him the kind of woman I knew he wanted.”
“From my dreams,” Nicole said, “I could see the love for you in his eyes. If he fell for you because of your money, he eventually fell in love with you.”
“I could only hope so, because I know he made me a better person.” Victoria took a shaky breath as her eyes filled with tears. “When I was around him, he made me happy, and happy people aren’t rude or criticize others.”
Nicole smiled and glanced at Nolan. That was exactly how she felt around him. When they were alone next, she’d make sure to tell him that.
She looked back at the journal entries. She gasped. “Here is the one I saw her write the morning of Victoria’s wedding day.”
“Is that where she wrote that she put the poison in Victoria’s drink?” Bailey asked.
Nicole nodded as she continued to read. “And here is one she’d written after the funeral.”
“What does it say?” Victoria asked in a shaky voice.
Nicole swallowed to moisten her dry throat.
November 1925. Victoria’s funeral was in one word – pathetic. I couldn’t believe how two-faced the other servants have been. They all cried and acted as if it was the end of the world to have the snotty rich-girl gone. And William... my poor William. He was very distraught. It was all I could do not to go to him and wrap him in my arms. I want so badly to make him love me. But because he’s grieving, I need to give him time. Hopefully, one month will be enough time for him to recover, because I’m anxious to become the next...
Nicole stopped reading aloud, but her gaze moved over the next entry. She gasped and swung her gaze to Nolan before switching to look at Victoria. “What was William’s last name?”
“Ricks.” Victoria sighed wistfully. “William Marcus Ricks.”
Other gasps ricocheted in the room, but Nicole and Nolan only stared at each other. She slowly moved to him and touched his chest.
“But...” Shock still held his expression. “I don’t think my ancestors came from Colorado.”
“He has to be related.” Nicole touched his cool cheek. “You have the same eyes as William.”
“Can you believe it?” Bailey laughed. “If Victoria hadn’t died, we would be related.”
Nolan blew out a heavy breath. “Is there anymore in the journal?”
Nicole started reading silently to see if anything else stood out. When a passage made chills rush over her body, she knew it must be important. “Missy writes – One day William will be mine. We are friends and talk quite often now. It eases my conscience to know that no other Carrigan woman will marry a Ricks’ man.”
Silence filled the room. Eerie chills continued to give Nicole goosebumps. Had they just found what Missy was so upset about? Nicole didn’t want to voice it aloud, but... Was Missy trying to keep Nicole and Nolan apart?
Could this be why the ghost was vengeful? Deep down in Nicole’s heart, she knew that was the missing piece of the confused puzzle.
Now the unanswered question was... what would stop Missy from trying to harm another Carrigan woman?
THIRTY-TWO
Nolan took Bailey and Nicole away from Hanover House and checked them into another bed and breakfast inn across town. They had packed their clothes and left them in the new inn, but they hadn’t checked out of Hanover House yet. There was still one more day to figure out how to get Missy and Victoria to crossover before they all went their separate ways.
After they were settled in to their new rooms, which were close together just as in the other B&B, Nolan took the women out to an early dinner. Nicole offered to pay, but he told her no. He wanted to let her see that her money didn’t matter to him. He just prayed she never looked down on him for not being wealthy.
The Billionaire's Setup Page 20
