FanStory.com - The Unwilling Heir - Chap 34by Begin Again

ENDING OF CHAPTER 33
Frankie thought for a moment, then leaned forward. "Alright, let's find out who these guys are and what they're planning. If there's a treasure in that mansion, we can't afford to let anyone else get their hands on it."

Louie nodded at his boss and then gave Marco instructions. "Get a crew together, and we'll go up there and scope out the place. We'll use the limos and meet in the cemetery. We can make it look like a funeral."

"Got it!" Marco stood and grinned at Frankie. "Consider that treasure already in your hands, boss." He turned to Louie. "See ya in the morning. Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

Frankie watched Marco walk away before turning back to Louie. "He's too cocky. Keep an eye on him because if something better comes along, he's liable to take it."

Frankie signaled the waitress for another round of drinks, a determined look on his face. "Time to get to work. If a fortune is hidden in that mansion, it will be ours."

Louie lifted his glass and drank, but his mind was mulling over Frankie's remark about Marco. Frank had a good feel for people and if he thought Marco might jump the fence, he knew he had better keep a close eye on the guy. He looked across the table at his boss and said, "To tomorrow!"
*****

CHAPTER 34
Madeline, tormented by a sleepless night of regret and longing for Noah, had slipped out of the house unnoticed. The weather mirrored her mood, with overcast skies that threatened rain, even a distant rumble of thunder now and then. Her aimless wandering had led her to Noah's gravestone, a stark reminder of the void in her heart.

Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered the day they'd laid Noah's body to rest. She felt consumed by a deep shame and remorse for the spiteful things she had done, cheating on Noah and publicly defaming him and Sandra in front of their friends.

"Oh, Noah, I made so many mistakes," she whispered softly. "Why couldn't I see how much you loved me? And Sandra — that poor girl must have thought I was a lunatic attacking her, accusing her of being your mistress."

Her voice cracked, and she reached out, tracing the letters of his name etched into the stone. "I know you aren't here, but I hope you can hear me. I miss you so much."

Her thoughts drifted to what she thought was a frightful dream when Noah's spirit visited her. "I can't stop thinking about how you held me so close, if only in my dreams. I was terrified, but in those few moments, I felt safe again."

Unable to hold back her tears, she cried, "Noah, please forgive me. I need you beside me. I want you to hold me again and tell me everything will be okay."

*****

On the far hill, closer to the mansion, Esther, searching for her friend, watched a hearse followed by several black limos slowly enter the cemetery gates and wind their way up the hill. She watched as a group of men in dark suits exited the vehicles and carried a casket toward a freshly dug grave. She'd witnessed this scene unfolding many times, but these men seemed different, too deliberate and mechanical in their actions.

Knowing they could not see her, she stealthily stepped from behind the bushes and moved closer as the procession stopped and lowered the casket to the ground. Much to her horror, her eyes widened as she stared at the open casket. Instead of a body, it held an array of dangerous weapons — guns, explosives, ammunition, and shovels."

Louis, being the man in charge, held up a rolled paper. "Compliments of the Judge and my late-night visit to his offices, we are privy to the original architectural plans for the mansion. His endeavors in life, much like ours, prompted him to build secret passageways and tunnels into the mansion. Passageways that he used to smuggle millions of dollars of stolen goods, I might add. Today, gentlemen, we reclaim what's rightfully ours. I'm told two women currently occupy the house, so our task shouldn't be too difficult."

Esther stepped back as she realized the man was talking about William. Then she gasped as she also realized Madeline and Sandra were in danger. She did not know if the men could fend off these thugs. She needed to warn them, but she couldn't leave Madeline out here alone. Frantically, she scanned the cemetery, spotting her friend at Noah's gravesite.

In seconds, she stood beside Madeline, keeping her eyes on the men in the distance. "Madeline, you are in danger."

Her voice startled her friend, who bolted off the ground, gasping when she realized it was Esther. "Esther, that's not funny." Madeline wiped her face, brushing away the telltale tears. "I was trying to reach Noah."

Esther's body shimmered as she pointed across the grassy hill. "See those men. They aren't here for a burial."

Madeline looked toward where Esther was pointing. "Looks like a funeral to me."

"The casket is filled with guns. I heard them talking. They have plans to sneak into the mansion through secret tunnels and steal the treasure.

"We've got to warn the others."

"You, my friend, are in danger. You need to get out of here before they see you."

"Who you talking to, lady?" The gangster growled as he stepped from behind the cluster of trees.

Madeline stammered, "My — my husband." She pointed at Noah's headstone. "Who — are you?" Terrified, Madeline's eyes darted to Esther and then back to the man.

"Sounds like you wanted to warn someone about something. Sorry, but I think that's going to have to wait."

Esther screamed, "Run, Madeline."

The man heard her voice but couldn't see anyone. "What the heck?" Confused, he looked for the person it belonged to, but no one was there.

Madeline took the opportunity and turned to run, her heart racing inside her chest. She didn't get far before muscular hands pulled her back.

"Where do you think you're going, lady?" The gangster growled as his grip tightened on her arm.

Madeline struggled, fear coursing through her. "Let me go! I need to warn my friends."

He chuckled, almost amused by her efforts to get away. "We can't have you doing that."

From the shadows, Esther watched the scene unfold, her ghostly form blending into the hazy mist. Her heart ached for Madeline, but her spectral nature rendered her powerless to intervene directly.

As Marcos dragged Madeline, kicking and screaming, up the hill toward the others, Esther drifted closer, her ghostly presence invisible. Madeline, tears streaming down her face, looked back toward Noah's grave, silently pleading for his help.

Esther's form flickered as she concentrated, sending a chill through the air, momentarily startling the gangsters.

Louie shouted to Marcos. "Who you got there?"

"She's the owner's mistress. Found her at his grave, telling him she had to warn the others. Do you think there might be more than the women in the house?"

Suddenly, the sky opened up with a loud clap of thunder. A heavy downpour and powerful gusts of wind whipped across the cemetery, drenching the men.

Louie snapped out orders, "Shove her in the car and follow me to the tunnels. We can sort this out better inside."

Marcos pushed Madeline into the back seat while the others scrambled into the cars.

As they sped away, Esther realized she'd had some powerful help in her failed attempt to stop the gangsters. She felt his presence before he appeared. "Sebastian!"

"No time to talk, Esther. We need to get back to the mansion to warn them."

"What about Madeline? They took her."

"I know. Let's deal with one thing at a time. They won't harm her if they think they can use her as leverage to get what they want."

"I can't leave her, Sebastian. We don't even know where they are going."

"Okay, you go to the house and tell the others. I will see where they went. Now go!"

Esther's shadow faded as Sebastian's light disappeared. *******

As the limos sped down the winding gravel road leading toward the back of the mansion, Madeline cowered in the backseat, her eyes darting between the two burly men sitting on each side of her.

"You don't have to do this, you know? Whatever it is you want, just take it?" Madeline hoped to discover if they, too, were searching for William's treasure and she needed a way to escape.

The guy to her right leaned toward her, squeezing her face with his hand. "Listen up! Either shut your mouth, or you're going to find yourself on the side of the road." He paused, and as his face moved closer to hers, he growled, "Dead!"

The other men in the car laughed, and Madeline shivered, praying Esther would warn the men, and somehow, they would save her.
*****

The tension inside the mansion was already high as they scoured every book in the library, brushing off layers of dust as they searched for the next clue. James, his mind racing, paced around the room while Lorrie and Sandra prepared tea and breakfast pastries, trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

Suddenly, the temperature plummeted, and a chilling gust of wind swept through the room. Benny, hanging from a library ladder, looked down at the others and asked, "Did anyone else feel that?"

Ryan answered, "Yeah, it's colder than it was. Someone's joined us."

James stopped pacing and spun around, checking out the entire room. "Who's there?" he demanded, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow.

Esther struggled to materialize. Her fear for Madeline had drained her to the point it was an effort to speak. Her form was dim, barely shimmering in the shadows of the library.

Benny spotted her shadow first, yelling, "Over there — by the window."

James rushed toward the figure, recognizing the cross Sebastian had given her. "It's Esther. I think something has traumatized her."

Lorrie and Sandra entered the room, carrying the trays of tea and pastries. Lorrie set her tray on the table and rushed to James's side. "Esther, it's okay. We're all here. Try to calm yourself."

As Esther's faint outline took shape, she whispered, her voice barely audible, "Madeline — danger — taken." Her few words hung in the air.

Sandra's eyes widened in alarm. "Esther, is Madeline in trouble?"

Growing stronger, she nodded as James questioned her. "Where is she? The garden? Or in the wildflowers?"

Esther nodded and pointed toward the cemetery, muttering, "Noah."

Sandra gasped, "I think she is trying to tell us that Madeline was at Noah's grave."

Talk of Noah's grave caught Tim's attention, and he quickly added, "I saw a small funeral over there this morning. Maybe they saw something. Billy and I can go ask."

With every strength she could muster, Esther wailed, "Nooooo!"

At that moment, Sebastian appeared in the center of the room, moving quickly to Esther's side. A wave of his hand over Esther's barely visible shadow brought light to it, and she materialized fully.

Trembling, she tried to speak. "They took her."

Realizing something terrible was happening, James shouted, "Who took her?"

Sebastian touched Esther's arm. "It's okay, Esther." Then he turned to face the group. "For the time being, Madeline is alright. It appears serious trouble is looming for the mansion and all of you."

Billy stepped forward. "What's going on, Sebastian? Can you tell us?"

"Yes, I can tell you, though I have limited powers to provide much help." He turned to check on Esther before continuing. "Frankie Saladino, the man who serves in the same position that William once held, has heard rumors about the treasure and has come to claim it. His associate, Louie Frisella, has found the original plans of the mansion and has learned of underground tunnels and passageways."

James glanced at Sandra and muttered, "The outside knows." Her eyes flared with terror as she realized what that meant for her, the mansion, and everyone inside.

Billy stormed out of the room, shouting, "I've got to talk to Grandfather."