The Ghostly Affair

Chapter 2

    Elizabeth blinked, adjusting her vision to the spacious entryway. It was obvious that someone cleaned this place on a regular basis. The brass mirrors hanging on the walls, along with the other pictures and ornaments hanging on the walls were polished to perfection. The hardwood floor had a freshly cleaned shine to it. The paneling was dark colors – blue, brown, black, and mauve. Obviously, a man occupied this house for several years. So far, she couldn’t see one flower or girlish item.

    The temperature in the house was cool. Their central air was working properly, thank goodness. She’d heard how dry and hot Arizona was during the summer.

    “The caretaker,” Thomas said, moving through the entryway toward the grand staircase,” is Nolan. He’ll be off and on throughout your stay.”

    “That’s good to know,” she muttered. Perhaps she should pay more attention to Thomas, but she couldn’t help but study each room as they passed.

    The first room to the right was a sitting room with fancy, old-fashioned couches and chairs, but a modern-day min-bar. Across the hall looked to be someone’s office since there was a large dark-oak desk and file cabinets. Another room close by could be the family room because the heavily cushioned couches were placed around the largest fireplace she’d ever seen. Hanging on the wall was a theater-screen sized television. As she passed the connecting room, she noticed two pool tables, an air-hockey table, and a ping-pong table.

    “Just so you know,” Thomas said as he began his climb up the stairs, “Nolan was Aaron’s best friend. They met in their young teenage years in school, and they bonded like brothers. If there is anything you’ll need to know about Aaron, Nolan will be the man to ask.”

    “Oh, good. I’m sure I’ll have many questions.” She glanced up the stairs. “Where are you taking me?”

    “To your bedroom. There are six bedrooms on the second floor. I’ve had Nolan prepare one especially for your stay here.”

    “That was nice of you, but I could have just slept on the couch. From the ones I glimpsed at, they looked more comfortable than my bed at home.”

    He chuckled. “Aaron did like nice things. Of course, growing up as Gramps as his guardian, I’m sure Gramps’ expectation for the getting only best had rubbed off on Aaron.”

    The tone in Thomas’ voice shifted slightly and she studied his profile. Had the cousin, and second to inherit Gramps’ billions, been jealous of the golden-child, Aaron? She couldn’t help but suspect that’s what had happened.

    “Will I get to meet your grandfather?”

    Thomas shrugged. “I don’t know. Gramps has been quite depressed since Aaron’s death.”

    “I can imagine.”

    We reached the second floor. The hallway was long and wide, with three doors on each side of the house. She could only wonder about the size of each bedroom. From what she could see of some of the pictures hanging on the wall, they were photos taken of him during his shows.

    “So, if Aaron wasn’t married and didn’t have children, why would he want to live in such a large house with so many bedrooms? I would think he’d be lonely living in such a place by himself.”

    “Aaron wasn’t married to a woman, but he was married to his magic. Most of these rooms were used for his experiments as he mastered them. But he wasn’t alone very often. He held private showings and had gatherings for his closest friends. He kept three of the bedrooms empty for if one of his friends wanted to crash for the night.” Thomas stopped at the first door on the right and rested his hand on the knob, sighing. “I wasn’t close to Aaron as an adult, but from what I’d heard about his life, he had a kind heart. This place was rarely empty.”

    He opened the door to the bedroom and motioned for Elizabeth to enter. She walked inside and a gasped stopped in her throat, and she nearly choked. This one room was as large as her whole apartment.

    A king-size bed and the wooden frame with four posts sat in the middle of the room, against a wall. From where she stood, she could tell there were mirrors on the ceiling above the bed. The rest of the room was taken up by historic looking furniture; couches, loveseats, heavily cushioned chairs… not to mention the fireplace across the room that looked like a kitchen table that seated ten would fit inside. Two walk-in closets were farther back in the room, and a door that led into an adjoining bathroom. When she walked inside, she gasped loudly. A sunken jetted tub big enough for someone to swim inside, sat near the window.  She might emerge herself in this and not come up for at least a whole day.        

    “Is the room to your liking?” Thomas asked.

    She walked back toward him. “Liking? I think the word I’m thinking of goes much deeper than that. In fact, you might have a difficult time getting me to leave this place.”

    He laughed. “Well, if you’re afraid of ghosts, then I think after one night, you’ll want to leave.”

    She stopped near the window and glanced down at the well-kept, manicured lawns on one side, and the enormous swimming pool and covered Jacuzzi on the other side. Even if Aaron’s ghost did preside here, she would just have to make friends with it. Staying here one week – or however long it took to get the place ready to sell – would be so much more relaxing than any vacation she’d ever taken. And oh… the inspiration for stories that she’d receive here was just the icing on the cake.

    She turned and leaned against the window. Thomas’ stare was still on her and she smiled. Was he married? Would he be interested in dating someone like her?

    Shaking the thought from her head, she sighed. If she was even thinking of dating other guys, she’d have to get Sam out of her life, first. Thankfully, the love she thought she had for him had disappeared over time.    

    “So… what do you want me to do first?” she asked.

    “For today, you can relax and get to know the house. I want you to wander around and familiarize yourself with the layout. There are many tunnels in this place, and so you’ll need to find those, too.”    

    Tunnels? He couldn’t be serious… “Why are there tunnels?”

    “Are you forgetting what kind of man Aaron was?” Thomas shook his head. “His heart and mind were constantly in his magic.”

    She nodded. “Understandable.”

    “The only place in this house that you’ll need to stay away from is the basement.”

    “Basement?” She blinked as surprise washed over her. “Why does this place have a basement?”

     “There are actually two parts to the basement. There is the wine cellar, of course, but the other room is where Aaron had hidden his props. After all, it wouldn’t be smart to have them out for all of his guests to see them.” Thomas chuckled. “But they have been securely locked away and they won’t be brought back out until the auction. So please, don’t try to get down there.”

    “Hey, I’m here to do whatever Mr. Powers needs help with, so if you tell me no, then I won’t do it.”

    He walked to her and handed her a ring of keys. “These are to the house.” He handed her a business card. “And this is my phone number. Call me if you need anything.”

    “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

    “I expect Nolan will be by shortly to give you more instructions.”

    “I can’t wait to meet him.”

    “I wish you luck, Elizabeth Martin. You’re going to need it.” He winked, turned, and left the bedroom.

    She ran her fingers softly across the keys. Luck? Nah, she didn’t need luck – not when she was in such a grand place such as this.

    After a few minutes, she heard him leave the house. Silence became unsettling, and she’d have to bring some kind of noise to the place before her mind played tricks on her.

    She hurried back down the stairs and outside to retrieve her luggage, laptop, and briefcase holding all the legal documents Todd had given her to complete the firm’s transaction with Mr. Powers.

    Once the trunk of her car was shut and doors were locked, she looked up at the mansion. This time, she studied each window carefully. Was she really by herself now? Or would Aaron’s ghost try to haunt her?

    Whatever happened, she prayed she’d have the strength and courage to overcome this obstacle. “Aaron,” she whispered, “if you’re really here, I’m not going to let you chase me away.”

    Suddenly, she saw movement in the second-floor window. If she wasn’t mistaken, that was her room. Her heartbeat quickened. Were her eyes playing tricks on her, or did she really see something?

    Elizabeth kept her eyes on the window, and seconds later, she witnessed the same movement again. A lump of fear formed in her throat. Apparently… the haunting had started.

* * * *

    The kitchen was amazing!

    Elizabeth didn’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen in her small apartment, but if she had something remotely similar to the one in the mansion, she’d definitely consider becoming a cook. Although the cupboards and counters appeared to have an old-fashioned look – staying with the theme of the house so far – she was sure the nineteenth century people would have adored the silver double ovens right next to each other, and the polished island in the middle of the room with many more drawers, and the dishwasher underneath. Of course, she saw two more dishwashers, along with a trash compactor, and other little gadgets that she had no idea what they were. The built-in china hutch on one side wall made her green with envy, and well as the two chandeliers hanging above the island, and the three very large refrigerators.

    She could definitely get used to something like this.

    The ding of the microwave against the far corner of the long counter, jerked her out of her dreams and she withdrew the cup of hot water. She dipped a tea-bag inside and took the cup and spoon to the twelve-chair table in the dining area located in the next room.

    She’d not even been here two hours, and already she was lonely. How could anyone want to live in a place like this without having a family? Thomas mentioned that Aaron had his friends over quite frequently, so perhaps that was why he was never lonely.

    The sound of the front door opening and closing made her jump. But when footsteps thudded on the floor, her heartbeat accelerated. She tried to convince herself it wasn’t Aaron’s ghost. Why would we come in through the front door?

    On unsteady legs, she rose from the table and walked toward the hallway. A man wearing a short-sleeved, green polo shirt, and khaki shorts, with black flip-flops on his feet, didn’t have his attention on her, but on the mail in his hands and he scanned the envelopes, placing one behind the other. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. His blonde hair was longer than she liked, barely brushing his shoulders, but at least it wasn’t long enough to put up in a man bun.

    Finally, he lifted his gaze, and when he noticed her, he stopped and smiled.

    “You must be Elizabeth Martin.”

    “I am.” She walked toward him.

    “I’m Nolan Ricks, the caretaker of the estate.”    

    She shook hands with him. “And, you were best friends with the deceased.”

    His smile disappeared and he nodded. “That, too.”

    “Please accept my deepest condolences.”

    “Thank you.” He nodded and took a deep breath. “Thomas sent me a text to let me know you are all settled.”

    “I am, thank you.” She pointed to the dining room. “I was just having some herb-tea. Would you like some?”

    “Herb-tea? I’m sure there is some iced-tea in the fridge.”

    “I’m an herbal woman.”

    “I don’t need anything now, but let’s go in so you can finish your drink.”

    He followed her into the dining room and sat beside her. Nolan was a nice-looking man. Not as handsome as Thomas, and of course, nowhere near as handsome as Aaron’s many pictures that she’d seen since she first heard about him.

    She drank the last of her tea and leaned back in her chair, looking at Nolan. “What exactly does Mr. Powers need me to do in order to get the estate ready to be sold?” She glanced toward the window before looking back at him. “From what I’ve seen of the inside, and the outside, the place looks ready to me. So now I think I’m missing a piece of the puzzle – something neither you nor Thomas has told me.”

    Nolan’s light brown eyebrow rose slightly. “What do you think that is? Thomas did tell you about Aaron’s ghost, right?”

    “He mentioned the ghost.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “But I can’t help but doubt his stories.”

    Nolan linked his fingers on the table and leaned forward toward her. “You’re not a ghost believer?”

    “No, not entirely.”

    “I’m sure within the next twenty-four hours you’ll change your mind.”

    Elizabeth couldn’t stop being suspicious of Nolan. And even Thomas. But Nolan was the one who looked as if he knew something more.

    “Nolan? Have you personally seen Aaron’s ghost?”

    Sighing, his gaze dropped to his hands. He was silent for a few moments. “Although Aaron and I were best friends, I haven’t seen him.” He lifted his gaze to her. “I’ve felt him here. I’ve heard noises in his room when nobody else is in there. And… I’ve smelled him.”

    “Smelled him?”

    Nolan nodded. “Aaron’s favorite cologne was a fragrance by Giorgio Armani. It’s an unmistakable scent. Whenever I know Aaron’s spirit is nearby, I can smell his cologne.”

    Elizabeth honestly didn’t know what to believe. Nolan looked so sincere – so trustworthy, and remarkable enough, he didn’t look crazy. Of course, neither did Thomas, although she felt the cousin had a bad case of jealousy.

    “Nolan? Do you think Aaron’s death was an accident as the articles I’ve read have described.”

    His mouth tightened and his forehead creased. “I’d bet all the money I have that my best friend was murdered.”

    She held her breath. If she had been watching all of this on the movie screen, this would be the part where she’d hear the music – dun, dun, duuuun… Yet, this was not a movie. This was really happening, and she was now involved.

    And this would definitely make a great book once it was over.

    “Tell me, Nolan. If you were the police investigator for this case, who would you suspect of killing Aaron?”

    His face hardened and his brown eyes turned so dark, she thought they were black.

    “ZoAnn, his assistant.”

    Sucking in a quick breath, Elizabeth knew her work was cut out for her, and she couldn’t wait to start poking her nose into things that weren’t her business. If anyway, maybe she’d be able to solve his murder, which would help him cross over… As long as he was really a ghost, of course.