Chisholm by Jo Jones

Author:Jo Jones [Jones, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-27T05:00:00+00:00

Disgusted with her self-indulgence, Tess threw herself into the task of determining if this old relic would make a suitable home for Emily and herself. Nothing else mattered. Nothing else could matter! She wouldn’t let it.

So far, they’d discovered a few small, cramped rooms at the back of the house that might have once belonged to a housekeeper or cook. They also found two decent sized rooms they could claim as bedrooms, along with a couple of antiquated bathrooms.

All in all, it seemed to come down to her available funds versus the cost of renovations. Though the structure of the house appeared sound beneath her small flashlight beam, she’d need the opinion of an inspector before making a final call. Toss in a contractor, landscaper and furnishings and the bottom line looked big. Perhaps too big.

The crash of more boards coming down outside, echoed in the dark hallway they’d entered. “Sounds like Darach is making progress. Do you think this hall connects to the kitchen from this side?” she asked Emily. “It would be nice not to have to go clear around. I’m kind of anxious to see the kitchen in daylight.”

“Me too,” Em replied, reaching toward yet another door that opened off the hall. “What do you think this is?”

“I don’t know,” Tess laughed. “I’m so lost now, I have no idea what backs up to what, or what to expect next.”

“Let’s play a game,” Em urged with a grin. “I’ll peek around the door, and you guess what’s inside.”

“Okay, you’re on.” Tess stood back wondering what kind of room would be logical in this spot.

Emily turned the knob, pulled, and peeked around the edge of the door. Her flashlight crashed to the floor and rolled in a half-circle. “Oh. Hi.” She giggled. “You surprised me.”

Tessa bolted forward, heart in her throat, and yanked Emily behind her. If Darach was trying to scare them, it was in very poor taste. “What the—”

Another crash from falling boards echoed from outside, as the bottom of Tessa’s stomach pitched and rolled.

Emily leaned around her. “Where’d he go?”

“W…who?” Tessa breathed, staring at the single candle on the floor of an empty storage room, it’s flickering flame casting eerie shadows in the tiny enclosure.

“Jack. He was hiding, I guess. Maybe he thinks Darach will be mad that he came back inside.”

“That’s not funny, Em.” Tessa swallowed and stepped inside the cramped space, scanning every nook and cranny, looking for a trick door, or any kind of escape route. She wished it really had been Darach playing a dirty trick, but she could hear him outside, hammering and noisily prying on the boards.

However, knowing they were exploring all the rooms, he could have slipped inside and set up this candle to scare them. But why? Retaliation for telling him to back off with Emily? No, he wouldn’t do such a thing, especially if it might frighten Emily.

She studied the dusty floor. The only visible footprints were her own. She swallowed. There had to be a reasonable explanation.

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