Ghost of a Promise (8 page)

“
Could be. Now, the desk is pretty standard. Simple, clean lines. Two drawers. The bottom drawer fits all the way to the rear of the piece. But this top one, the one that opened on Jackson, is strange.
”

“
How so?
”

Terrance climbed out and opened the drawer.
“
The dimensions don
’
t add up. See where the back of the drawer rests? There should be several more inches.
”

“
Okay.
”
She chewed that over.
“
So you think there
’
s a hidden chamber?
”

“
If there is, I can
’
t find how to access it. Not without pulling the whole thing apart. You have small hands and long arms. If I give you instructions, do you think you could try a few things?
”

“
Sure.
”

Terrance instructed her to slide her hand inside the drawer and feel the underside of the desktop. She could see now why he had trouble. The drawer was very shallow. She barely had room to maneuver.

“
I
’
m not feeling anything.
”

“
See if you can feel the back of the drawer. Front and rear facing.
”

She slid her fingers over the front-facing. Nothing. When she ran her fingers over the top lip to reach behind, she felt a bump.
“
I think there
’
s something here. Right side, top of the rear panel.
”

“
What is it?
”

“
Not sure.
”
She strained her arm to get in a better position.
“
It feels like a small thimble or something.
”

“
Push it down.
”

She did and shook her head. She tried to slide it left to right with no success. Ava pushed it backward and there was a small
click
. She gasped, staring at Terrance. She pulled her arm out.

“
Look out.
”
He peered inside.

Carefully, he pulled the drawer. Low and behold, the drawer slid out with ease. Wedged inside the drawer was a slat of wood, mimicking the rear plate. There were, in fact, several more inches beyond that. In that small space was a stack of aged papers bound by twine.

“
Oh my God. Are you kidding?
”
She reached for the papers, but Terrance shook his head.

“
We don
’
t know how old these are. We need to be careful.
”
He gingerly set the drawer on the desktop and reached for his walkie.
“
All hands on deck to Jackson
’
s bedroom. You won
’
t believe this.
”

The walkie crackled, emitting Jackson
’
s voice.
“
The back door just opened on its own. It smells like lavender in here too.
”

Terrance and Ava stared at each other. He lifted the walkie.
“
Get up here now.
”

…

They decided to break for lunch after Ava and Terrance’s discovery, before deciding how to handle the papers. Jackson trailed behind the pack, lost in thought as they walked along the cobblestone sidewalk in the town square.

They’
d gotten nothing in their investigation today besides the kitchen door opening. He couldn
’
t help the disappointment. The first few days after arrival were loaded with energy and activity. Today all that died away. Not even a solitary EVP. Then again, it had to be more than coincidence he smelled lavender and the door opened within minutes of Terrance and Ava finding those papers.

In the desk that opened by itself last night.

They crossed a quiet Trumble Street and headed into a family restaurant called Frank
’
s Diner near the library, the wind brisk against his cheeks.

“
Are you sure we
’
re not intruding?
”
Jackson held the door.

Ava was supposed to be meeting with her friend for lunch, but at the last minute she invited them along.

“
Not at all. Casey
’
s into all this, so she
’
ll talk your ear off.
”

A woman friend then. He
’
d been wondering. Wondering if she was dating anyone but didn
’
t have the guts to ask. Which said something in itself. It shouldn
’
t make any difference to him if she ran a brothel full of heady men, and he usually spoke his mind, not bit his tongue.

They walked inside a brightly lit diner bustling with activity. The white Formica counter along the right wall had several patrons. Neon signs displayed Coca-Cola and the diner
’
s name. The walls, probably intended to be a cheery yellow, only managed to give off a dingy feel. A waitress emerged from the back to deliver a tray of food to one of the booths splitting the center of the room. The place smelled like a rare mix of grease and home-cooking.

Ava waved to a woman sitting near the back under a picture of Elvis. She walked over, leaving the others to follow. By the time he reached them, Ava was making introductions. The rest of the crew scattered to open booths, so Sammy and Jackson sat with Ava and her friend.

“
Pleasure to meet you,
”
Jackson said.

“
Oh, I love your accent.”

He took in her hazel eyes and short, brown hair. She had a stain on the front of her shirt that looked suspiciously like grape juice. Or jelly.
“
How many kids?
”

“
That obvious, huh? I have three boys.
”

The poor woman.
“
Adventurous of you.
”

She laughed and dropped her chin in her palm.
“
Mildly put. How
’
s the investigation going?
”

Ava turned sideways in the booth.
“
I think we found Sarah
’
s journal.
”

“
No freakin
’
way!
”

“
Just now, before we arrived. In the desk in Peter
’
s room.
”

Sammy cleared her throat.
“
Kerry
’
s the best person to examine the papers. She has a sociology degree, but she studied to be an archeologist before changing majors.
”

He grinned as Ava
’
s mouth opened and closed.

“
Not to be rude, but what is she doing researching
…
ghosts, then?
”

He wanted to be the one to knock her down a peg. Though she
’
d been respectful and friendly to the crew, all but himself anyway, he often caught her looking at them as if wondering what planet they came from.
“
The entire crew has secondary careers. We all have higher education with bachelors or Master
’
s degrees.
”

“
Huh.
”
said Casey.
“
So, like Ava said, why do this?
”

Sammy crossed her arms over the table.
“
You mean subject ourselves to ridicule? Become a laughing stock?
”
She shrugged.
“
All of us, at one time or another, has had a paranormal experience. We get to travel, get paid for it and maybe seek answers. Besides, our paychecks the first year paid off our student loans. There
’
s always time to use our degrees later.
”

“
What was your paranormal experience?
”
Ava turned her gaze to him.

Again, he rarely talked about his personal life on a case, but he was drawn to Ava. Her warmth and openness said,
come in and chat. Stay a while
. At least to his crew. “
My grandfather had this old cottage in the English countryside, near Cornwall. I
’
d stay a night or two with him as a boy in the summer. I had what most call an imaginary friend. Except, he wasn
’
t imaginary. I only saw or spoke to him at the cottage. His real name was Jacob Peasley, and he died of pneumatic fever when he was eight. In the cottage, a hundred years ago.
”

Her fascinating grayish-blue eyes studied him and, for the first time, with what looked like interest instead of irritation.
“
Who said he was an imaginary friend?
”

“
My father. He doesn
’
t believe in the paranormal.
”
Didn
’
t believe in his son
’
s career choice either, but he left that part out.

Her all-knowing gaze seemed to notice.
“
What did you study in college?
”

“
I
’
m an architect.
”

He barely had time to register her surprise as the waitress came to take their orders, so he perused the menu briefly and settled on a turkey club.

Casey sipped her coffee.
“
How long do you guys plan on doing the show?
”

He subtly shook his head for Sammy
’
s benefit, and she picked up on it right away.
“
We all got locked into a five-year contract, which is up this year. We
’
re mulling over our options.
”

“
Well, if that
is
Sarah Kerrick’
s journal you found, Ava can keep the house.
”

Ava blew out a breath.
“
God, I hope it
’
s enough for Drop Dead Fred.
”
She looked at him and acknowledged his confusion.
“
My great-aunt
’
s attorney. Whatever our findings, I have to present them to him. He determines if the evidence is enough to keep the deed in my name.
”

They ate in compatible silence, with the occasional story from Ava or Casey about the town. His turkey club was quite good, but Ava hardly touched her Caesar salad. As they were getting ready to leave, Casey turned to Ava.

“
I have an hour before I have to pick up the demons. Do you mind if I watch you guys for a bit up at the house?
”

Ava turned to him, and he shrugged.

“
Aren
’
t you afraid of the spirits?
”
He liked Ava
’
s friend. It was refreshing to be around normal people.

Casey made a sound of dismissal.
“
Please. I have three sons. Nothing fazes me.
”

Chapter Eight

With most of the crew scattered throughout the house finishing the day’
s investigation, Ava, Casey, and Jackson stood in the library waiting on Kerry. Ava was beginning to find everything the crew did fascinating.

“
God, I hope this isn
’
t a mistake.
”
Kerry scanned yet another page from the stack they found in the desk.

Casey was ever vigilant in her questions.
“
Why would it be a mistake?
”

Kerry tapped a few keys on Ava
’
s computer.
“
These pages are in remarkable shape, considering their age. Assuming they
’
re Sarah
’
s, that would make them two centuries old. We can attribute their good condition to low moisture and no light in the desk, but exposing them like this could damage them.
”

Ava crossed her arms, noting the white gloves Kerry wore while handling the papers. Each page was maneuvered with care before being scanned and labeled. Once scanned, Kerry could adjust the image to better read the documents. Or so she said.

Casey sighed.
“
I have to go, hon. Walk me out?
”

“
Sure.
”

Casey gave her a brief hug at the front door before releasing her.
“
We need to talk about Captain Sexypants later.
”

“
What?
”

“
Don
’
t even try. He looks at you like you
’
re
crème brûlée
. And you haven’
t gotten some in
—”
Casey cut herself off and looked skyward as if seeking the answer.

“
More than two years. And it
’
s not gonna happen.
”

“
Why the hell not?
Crème. Brûlée
.”

She laughed and darted a glance over her shoulder to make sure they were still alone.
“
He’s annoying. And in case you haven
’
t noticed, we
’
re never alone. Besides, there
’
s no future with him.
”

Casey rolled her eyes.
“
What difference does that make? Have fun while he
’
s here.
”
Her friend
’
s eyes glazed.
“
He. Is.
Hawt
.”

“
Yeah, okay. Bye now. I
’
ll call you later.
”

She closed the door, shaking her head. Trying to keep images of Casey
’
s suggestion out of her head, she made her way back to the library. Jackson waited outside the door.

God, he
was
hot. Annoying and arrogant and hot.

“
Wanted to talk to you about something.
”
His hands were deep in the pockets of his jeans and he rocked back on his heels, as if trying to seem casual. The tension in his shoulders belied the attempt. His gaze drifted over her throat, to her chest, but his eyes were distant and glazed.

“
Lay it on me.
”

Damn. Bad word choice. Especially when, after only a second of hesitation, his gaze darted to her mouth and lingered, no longer remote but focused. His full lips parted, and his shallow intake of air floated over her skin and filled her ears. Her face heated, imagining what his mouth would feel like when they kissed. His hard body pressed to hers. Those large hands exploring
…

He cleared his throat and darted his gaze up to hers.
“
Right, um
…
So I saw your mother in town yesterday. She mentioned some concerns.
”

Trying not to get whiplash from the change of subject, she blinked.
“
Concerns?
”

“
Yes. About you and the house. Now that we
’
ve found something, and it
’
s possible you
’
ll get to keep the estate, I thought I should mention
—”

How dare he?
“
Don
’
t bother.
”

“
Ava, she
’
s worried
—”

“
Let me guess. I
’
ll end up crazy and alone with twelve cats and only the dead for company? Save it, Jackson. I
’
ve heard it before.
”

He stared at her with measured patience, as if trying to put the puzzle of her together. She had a suspicion he
’
d be the one to figure her out too, so she carefully skilled her face blank. Gone was his usual banter and amusement. She much preferred that to how he looked at her now. With concern. She didn
’
t need his pity or concern or
…
anything else.

“
Ava, she
’
s got a point.
”

Any residual trace of heat between them fizzled. Ice water on her brain.
“
I know my family history.
”

Aw hell. The jerk actually looked like he gave a damn about her.
“
Then perhaps you should reconsider. If there
’
s any merit
…”

Kerry chose then to emerge from the library, which was for the best as Ava was about to launch into a snappy mind-your-own-damn-business comeback.

“
All scanned,
”
Kerry said.
“
I placed the originals in one of your empty file drawers, wrapped in a dry linen towel. You should get a glass case for them. Something that keeps out moisture.
”

Not a bad idea. She could display them in the parlor, as that was the only room she planned to keep off-limits for future guests when she opened the B&B.
“
Thanks. Are the papers readable?
”

“
Yes. Let
’
s get Tom in here to film and we can read through the printouts.
”

Jackson spoke into his walkie. When Tom appeared with a camera on his shoulder, the four of them entered the library. They sat on the couch with Kerry in the middle.

“
There were thirty pages total, with writing on one side of the paper. That
’
s pretty typical for the time. Quill ink bled through or smeared.
”

Jackson rubbed his chin, looking in Kerry
’
s lap.
“
No dates.
”

“
No,
”
Kerry sighed.
“
But look.
”

After each page, the initials
S.K.
were scrawled on the bottom. “
They
are
Sarah’
s.
”
Ava
’
s heart tripped rapidly.

Kerry divided the pages, keeping the first ten for her, the next for Jackson, and the last ten for Ava, with the understanding they
’
d alert each other to points of interest then swap.

Ava dug into hers.

The first few pages mentioned Sarah
’
s father, John Kerrick, meeting in secret at night with a man Sarah didn
’
t know. She caught him sneaking off and returning hours later. Sarah wrote about her deep love for Peter and how she couldn
’
t wait to wed in the spring. Her mother was making her a dress of the finest lace and silk.

The last page had the smile falling from her face. Sarah wrote how she confronted her father about the mysterious man, and he confessed they
’
d be returning to their true homeland of England. He forbade her to marry Peter Trumble, and forbade her to speak to him about the matter or it would out the family. Sarah planned to go against her father
’
s orders, tell Peter, and run away with him. Her betrayal and hurt leaked through every word.

That was it. All she wrote.

She told the others what her entries said, even reading a few passages aloud.

“
So we still don
’
t know if she met Peter or not,
”
Jackson said.
“
Maybe Peter saw this as a betrayal and killed her. Or maybe John Kerrick learned about the plan and killed his daughter.
”

She rubbed her forehead.
“
Or she killed herself.
”

A forceful tug on the pages jerked her hand, as if someone made an attempt to take them from her hold. That’s when she noticed the scent of lavender lingering in the cold air of the room. Her skin chilled. She shivered and glanced around, sensing anger and grief. Nothing was there.

With sudden force, the papers flew from her hand, rose up in the air and drifted down like confetti.

They gaped at the pages on the floor before she got up the courage to speak, her voice weak.
“
I think we can assume she didn
’
t kill herself.
”

The library door opened and closed.

Stunned silence ensued. Several ticks of the grandfather clock passed.

“
Bloody hell. Did you get that, Tom?
”

“
Yep.
”
The camera was still trained on the door.

She bent to retrieve the papers, taking a few moments to put them in order and calm her thumping heart. It was useless.
“
Maybe her death was an accident. If not, who killed her? Peter? Her father?
”

Kerry shook her head.
“
It could have been the mysterious man. One of the other settlers. Anyone, really. If word got out John Kerrick was part of the British Navy, the Patriots could have retaliated.
”

“
God, I was hoping these would give us more answers,
”
Ava said, disappointment clogging her throat.

“
It
’
s a start,
”
Jackson’s tone was distracted, his gaze scanning the paper he held.
“
My pages describe Sarah meeting with Peter, taking walks and that sort of thing.
”

“
Mine describe the voyage over and building the two houses. Written after the fact, by her wording.
”

“
I
’
m going to print out a copy of these and head over to Fred Sawyer
’
s office.
”
For the first time since they read Aunt Lois
’
s will, she held a shred of hope, however false it seemed.
“
Cross your fingers that it
’
s enough.
”

“Would you like company, luv?”

Ava looked at him, a retort on the tip of her tongue, but all she saw was concern in his eyes and in the twist of his mouth. It had been a while since anyone, especially a man, had been worried about her.

She cleared her throat. “No, but thank you.”

…

Ava strummed her fingers on her knee in Fred’
s office as he read through the printouts of Sarah
’
s journal. He
’d been at it for twenty minutes.

He set the pages down and stared at her. “
Where did you find them?
”

“
In the desk in Peter Trumble
’
s old bedroom.
”

He shook his head.
“
That
’
s incredible. What a find. I mean, there are no dates, and just initials on the pages, but you can tell they
’
re from her.
”

Yep.
“
When can I sign the deed?
”

“
Ava.
”
His tone was one used to berate a child, raising her hackles.
“
This isn
’
t enough, I
’
m afraid. It doesn
’
t say anything about her death. It doesn
’
t even imply
—”

“
It gives two people motive for murder.
”
She barely resisted the urge to throttle him.
“
Is she supposed to come back from the dead to write down who offed her?
”

“
No need to be sarcastic.
”

“
There
’
s always room for sarcasm. What, exactly, do you want? You
’
re holding copies of a two-hundred-year-old journal, for christsakes.
”

He sighed heavily and leaned back, steepling his fingers.
“
Despite what you think, I want you to keep the house. You need better evidence than this. If I sign off now, it gives the Hansens room to contest the will.
”

Damn it, he was right. The last thing she needed was to be held up in court for the next three years. She had the county people coming out next week to assess the property for an occupancy permit, and the fire marshal was due the same day for whatever mandates they had. That allowed her the rest of the winter to get the mansion up to code to hopefully open Easter weekend.

She stood and began to pace, but she still felt trapped. Closed in. No one supported her decision to keep the mansion. Her parents wanted her out of that house. Casey, though she stood by her, thought she was crazy. Now Jackson, someone she hardly knew, tried changing her mind. Even Aunt Lois seemed to be sending her a message from beyond by what she stated in her will. She had plans, a dream, and she
’
d see this through, whatever it took. Even if she had to go it alone, which was how this was turning out.

She grabbed her purse and coat, hating the tears threatening to come.
“
I
’
ll be back, Fred.
”

The cool autumn breeze refreshed her as she walked down the street to her mother
’
s store, deflated and alone. The
Phantoms
crew was already on to something with their investigations. Heck, they’
d found Sarah Kerrick
’
s journal. They would help her. She could do this. She just had to remain focused.