Ghost of a Promise (24 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jackson ignored Sammy’
s glare and sat down in front of the monitor at the dining room table. On the feed, Ava sat on the couch, fingers linked tightly together. Tears tracked down her cheeks in tandem. His gut coiled, wanting to take her in his arms and apologize. Not for what he said
—
because, hell, he meant it
—
but for the harsh way he went about it. He wanted this, wanted her, for as long as she
’d have him.

And wasn’
t this ironic? She
’
d pushed him away.

“
Sarah?
”
Ava said.

He whipped his gaze over the monitor, checking the equipment in the room with Ava. Nothing indicated a spirit.

The yes/no box lit green. Yes, it was Sarah.

His skin prickled and his hairs rose. This was it.

“
Sarah Kerrick?
”
Ava clarified.

Green light.

He blew out a breath, silently coaching Ava.

Ava cleared her throat and swiped the tears from her cheeks.
“
I know it takes a lot of energy for you to stay. Forgive my rush. Do you understand I can lose the mansion?
”

Green light.

“
So you know I need answers. Were you murdered?
”

Green light.

Jackson stopped breathing.

“
Was it Peter who killed you?
”

Red light. Peter didn
’
t kill Sarah. At least there was confirmation to their suspicions.

“
Did your father do it, Sarah?
”

Green light.

His lungs burned from holding his breath. He sucked in some air and resisted touching Ava’s face on the screen.

“
Did it happen like in my dream? Were you pushed off the cliff?
”

Red light.

Jackson, Sammy and Ava all reared back in mutual confusion. All evidence pointed to the cliff. The fact that there was no body at the time and Ava
’
s dreams of John Kerrick near the ledge pointed straight to John tossing Sarah over the side in a fit of rage.

Ava prodded on before she lost the fragile connection, showing way more poise than Jackson ever could.
“
Was it an accident, Sarah?
”

Green light.

He trembled in his chair, needing to pace. Needing to be near her.

Ava blew out a breath.
“
So your father, John Kerrick, while you argued, accidently sent you over the edge of the cliff?
”

Bloody. Green. Light.

Sammy stood and laughed.
“
Holy mother of God. She did it. She got the truth!
”

Jackson was shaking so much he could barely swipe a hand down his face. Ava had done it. Emotion clogged his throat. Admiration swelled in his chest.

Through the feed, Ava continued as if she hadn
’
t just solved a two-century-old mystery.
“
Is Peter
’
s spirit here in the house too?
”

Green light, but it was taking longer to get answers. Sarah’s spirit was fading.

“
Can he see you?
”

Red light.

Ava stood and crossed her arms as he and Sammy watched. Ava began to pace the room, biting her lower lip and rubbing her arms. He could all but see the gears turning in her beautiful head.

Bloody hell. She was amazing.

“
Do you want him to find you?
”
Ava asked.

There was a long pause before the green light blinked.

“
Do you know how we can help?
”

They all stared at the yes/no box, but the silence dragged out. There were no further answers from Sarah.

Ava sighed and looked into the camera.
“
I can
’
t smell lavender anymore. I think she
’
s gone. I
’
m coming out.
”
She exited the library. A moment later, her form passed the camera on the landing upstairs and headed to her third floor apartment.

He sat back. The tension drained out of him.

“
Aren
’
t you going to go after her?
”

He stared blankly at the monitor where Ava was no longer in view.
“
Head on up to bed, Sammy. I
’
ll clean up.
”

Sammy stared at him, but he didn
’
t dare look her in the eye. He knew he
’
d see disappointment and pity. He felt enough of that on his own.

After a few moments, Sammy left without a word.

He closed his eyes and gave himself a moment before he stood to collect the equipment from the library. Once he had everything, he set the gear on the dining room table and leaned into his hands.

Relief mixed with grief as he stared at the monitor. Ava had her answers and would keep the mansion. But they only had tomorrow night before he and his crew left. He wanted to stay. He hadn
’
t lied to her earlier. He wanted to stay here and build a life together. The very thought of leaving tore panic through him. Something about Ava and this house made him want those things he
’
d never considered. And she didn
’
t believe him.

His mind reeled back to his earlier thoughts. Ever since they got here, he
’
d been a different man, wasn
’
t his usual self. This case was just atypical in the way it was tied to his family. More personal than even he
’
d realized. When they got back to New York the day after tomorrow, he
’
d feel better. More in control.

Sure of himself, he sat down to put the recent night
’
s events into Ava
’
s file and burned a disc for her attorney. While that was in motion, he typed up a formal letter assuring nothing had been doctored or altered for dramatic effect. He put his word and that of the show
’
s as credibility that the evidence they gathered was genuine.

Resolved that he
’d done everything he could, he headed upstairs to bed.

…

Ava was pulling the third batch of cranberry-walnut bread out of the oven when the team started working their way downstairs. Every time she’
d tried to close her eyes, her heart would start pounding. Elation over getting the evidence to keep the family mansion warred with the deep sadness the team would be leaving. Her brain wouldn
’t shut down either, trying to figure out a way to help Sarah and Peter find each other again.

In the lonely dark hours until dawn, her mind went over the mansion’
s history. All the suicides and accidents and death. All the women who felt obligated and determined to stay, as if by no power of their own. Ava wondered if it all tied back to Sarah and Peter themselves. All these years had they been trying to get someone to notice, to figure out what happened and release them? And if the
Phantoms
crew somehow found a way and succeeded in reuniting them, would the darkness and grief lift from the mansion?

The crew entered the kitchen and found a place to sit. Jackson sat as far from her as possible at the table on the other side of the kitchen. She pushed down the bitterness and served them before taking a sip of coffee. She told them her thoughts on reuniting Sarah and Peter and what might happen if they did. It was strange how close she’
d grown to the team, how much she valued their opinions.

Before anyone could respond to her inquiry, Jackson stood without having eaten anything.
“
I
’
ll head over to your attorney
’
s office with you. Afterward, we can get everyone together and share ideas.
”

The crew stared at them.

She nodded and left the room to retrieve her coat by the front door. In seconds, Jackson joined her.

He handed her a large envelope.
“
Your evidence.
”

“
Thanks,
”
she mumbled. His detached, dry tone made her want to cry again.

Through a biting, bitter wind off the Atlantic, they made their way down Main to Fred
’
s office. As they grew closer, her stomach clenched. There was still a possibility that Fred would throw the evidence out. After all, it wasn
’
t clear proof. All they had were some EVPs and general responses through electronics. There was a lot of skepticism that these investigations of paranormal incidents were fraudulent. She could only hope Fred wasn
’
t one of those people.

Fred looked up from his computer when she knocked.
“
Ava, come in. You sounded excited in your message.
”

She took a seat and handed him the envelope.
“
You remember Jackson Granger?
”

They shook hands and Jackson sat next to her. Fred pulled the contents of the envelope out and examined a letter. Ava didn
’
t know where it came from, but for once, she was too nervous to speak.

Eventually, Fred nodded and held up the disc.
“
Let
’
s go to the conference room so we can watch this.
”

They settled in, and as the DVD played, Jackson gave narrative when necessary. The disc was obviously not a final cut and only included scenes dependent in regards to Great-aunt Lois
’
s will. When it concluded, Ava bit her lip in the ensuing silence. Her breakfast threatened to revolt in her stomach.

Finally, Fred looked at her with raised brows.
“
Bravo, Ava.
”

“
What?
”

He stood and removed the disc from the DVD player.
“
I mean, wow. Sure, people will question the certainty of this when it airs, but this is enough for me.
”

Her gaze jerked to his.
“
What are you saying?
”

Fred grinned, the smarmy little jerk.
“
The mansion is yours. If you
’
ll follow me back into my office, we can get the papers in order.
”

She stared at him, dangerously close to tears.

Jackson cleared his throat.
“
Why don
’
t you give her a minute? We
’
ll be in shortly.
”

She barely heard the door close behind Fred when Jackson wrapped her in his arms, lifting her from her seat and swinging them in a wide circle.

“
Congratulations. You okay, luv?
”

She laughed.
“
Yes. Thanks to you and
Phantoms
.”

He set her on her feet and stepped away.

“
I can
’
t ever repay you for this, Jackson. This was an impossible task
…”
Damn it. Her voice cracked.

“
Hey,
”
he said, his voice soft.
“
No tears. This is a happy turnout. I
’
m glad we could help.
”

She nodded and swiped at the tears, some of which were due to him being on the first flight out tomorrow morning. For good. She
’
d never see him again unless she turned on the TV. God! What was wrong with her? It wasn
’
t as if she didn
’
t know she couldn
’
t keep him.

“
Still, Jackson. Thank you.
”

She signed the papers in Fred
’
s office and they made their way back to the mansion. She had the strong urge to call her parents, but they wouldn
’
t exactly be elated at the news. There was Casey, but she
’
d be trying to put her youngest son down for a nap right about now. There was no one to call. No one to share her joy.

When she and Jackson stepped in the front door, the entire crew was in the foyer waiting to hear what happened. Tears sprang behind her lids again. These virtual strangers cared, were as interested in the outcome as she
’
d been.

And God, she couldn
’
t speak. The thought of waking up and not having them here, of not having Jackson by her side, tore her in half.

“
She
’
s keeping the mansion!
”
Jackson wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side.

Cheers erupted as she smiled through a sob. They rushed her, hugging and congratulating and taking away the emptiness. In the chaos, she found herself pulled from Jackson
’
s warmth and into the kitchen where champagne flutes were already waiting.

Terrance shrugged.
“
We were optimistic.
”

She laughed. “
Thank you, guys. This was really nice of you.
”
She reached for a glass and lifted it.
“
To
Phantoms
.”

“
To
Phantoms
,”
they repeated, clinking glasses and drinking.

“
To Trumble Bed & Breakfast,
”
Sammy toasted with a wink.
“
Name pending, of course.
”

She nodded.
“
Of course. Thank you.
”
She laughed again.
“
I keep saying that, don
’
t I?
”