Chapter Four

Chase reached the top step of the third floor and stopped. He motioned to Jess to stay back behind him.  He slowly moved to the top landing, and surveyed the area carefully.  There were six rooms in total, each one had a closed door.  Whatever or whoever was in the house, could be in any of the rooms.  He didn't want Jess to know it, but he was scared.  Thoughts of "what if they have a knife?  What if they have a gun?" ran through his mind.  He worried that he would not be able to protect Jess if anything should happen.  What if he got shot first?  "Man, where is my mind going"?.. Chase whispered to himself.  He took a few steps and then slowly opened the door to the first room directly to his right.  Stepping inside he saw nothing inside but an old dresser, some old clothes in the closet, a trunk, dust and cobwebs.

Jess moved into the room with Chase.  "These were the servants quarters when the family owned the house" she said.  "I wonder if this are the families belongings or the servants"? "I don't know.. and right now, we don't have time to find out.. C'mon let's keep looking" Chase chided. Chase came out of the room slowly, peeking his head out carefully then his body followed behind.  He went into the room directly adjacent to their present location.. Again they found nothing but webs and dust..  Room number three was much like one and two.. Chase looked to Jess with a stupefied expression.. "What on earth is making the noise we heard"? he wondered.

Just then they heard what sounded like the shuffling of feet and objects hitting the floor above them..  They each stopped mid step to listen.  Chase whispered in Jess's ear.. "Do you have an attic?".. "I'm not sure.. I've never been up here? Jess replied.  Just then Jess noticed above them a plank of wood  in the ceiling that was painted to match the ceiling was slightly askew.  "Look" she said as she pointed up to the plank.  "I see it" Chase responded.. "How do you think you get up there?" Chase questioned.  "I have no idea".. Just as they were searching for how to obtain entry to the attic, the plank of wood moved and folding wooden stairs were lowered to the floor.  Chase motioned for Jess to stand behind him.. "this is it" he thought.. He stood as tall and straight as he could, hoping to make his 5'11 frame seem like 6'4.

They watched as a man came down the stairs, first the shiny leather shoes, suit pants, jacket.. all were covered in dust and cobwebs.. The man was tall, well built with crimson hair, from what you could tell from under the dust.. He apparently had no idea there were standing right behind them.  Chase didn't want to risk scaring the man, who knew what he would do if he should be startled.  Chase decided to wait .. but he sure wished this was over.  The man gently lifted the folding stairs back up into the attic space and stretched to reach up and moved the painted plank to cover the hole.  He began to brush himself off when as he turned around.. Chase waited for him to make the first move, but it was Jess who popped up from behind him to face the intruder..

"Who are you, and what are you doing in my house" Jess yelled.  Hands on her hips and her head cocked to the right. Chase had to laugh inwardly.. this guy was in for it now.. He knew this look.. oh too well.  The man looked at Jess and yelled back at her, "I know who I am.. but who are you and what are you doing in MY house? The man continued to clean the webs from his jacket, hair and arms, but never took his eyes off of Jess. To Chase, this did not seem like a man who was easily threatened or manipulated.

Jess was taken aback but refused to stand down, I'm Jessica Renee Jacques, that's who I am, and I am the rightful owner of this residence.. Now! Who are you?  Jess could feel her heart pounding like a big bass drum in her chest.  She had never before been so angry and afraid all at the same time.  She refused to avert her eyes from this tall strangers, she had to purposely keep them pinned on him, she was afraid that if she didn't she just may faint.. "Keep your cool girl, don't let him rattle you.. this is YOUR house..not his!!  Keep cool.. keep cool". Jess kept this mantra going in her mind while the man just continued to stare back at her.  Neither of them saying a word, their eyes locked in a ferocious staring contest, neither one giving in.. A battle of the wills was at hand and from the looks of it, neither hand any plans of conceding.

When the silence became more than he could bear, Chase stepped forward and did the only thing he could think to do.. He reached out his hand and greeted the intruder.  "I'm Chase Baxter, and you've already met the home owner".. James looked down at the hand that was offered and up at the man extending it.  James looked at Chase as if he was as insignificant as the dust and webs he was cleaning from his clothing, in fact that is exactly what he thought of the man.  James redirected his attention to the lady in front of him.  Her face was covered in dust and cobwebs and other various debris, but at the same time James thought her to be quite pretty. James quickly dismissed those thoughts.. this was not the time.. he had a situation on his hands, and if he didn't play his cards just right, he could lose it all.

Chapter Three

James knew what he had to do, he had to get to that house before anyone else.  He grabbed his keys and ran to his car.  He barely noticed that he almost ran into woman and her children as he peeled out from his office.  His mind was set on one thing, and one thing only.. "I have to get to that house"..

James was in a tail spin, everything he had worked for all these years was crashing in around him.  Investments he thought were secure were gone.  Properties he owned were in foreclosure, his assets were  next to zero.. If he didn't find what he was looking for, he would lose everything.

James thought about how he would get into the house.  His mother had thrown him out with only the clothes on his back when he was 20 years old.  How was he to get back in?  Then he remembered.. "Mother always kept an extra key in the safety deposit box at the bank.  I wonder if I still have the key for the box?" he thought.  James slammed on the brakes and pulled his car to the side of the road. He opened his briefcase that was on the seat next to him and began his search.  "I might have it here in the secret compartment.. maybe"?  He reached into the bottom of the briefcase looking for the small compartment that he had specially built in.  His finger found the latch and the door popped open.  He looked inside, a few old coins, a crinkled note from his mother and laying on the very bottom, a key.. "Yes"!

James was again on his way without haste to the North Avenue Bank and Trust in the middle of town.  He quickly parked his car and walked in through the front doors.  A very nicely dressed young woman met him at the door and asked if she could assist him.  James gave her a cursory nod and kept walking, nothing and no one would distract him.  He knew where he was going, he knew what he had to do.  He had come to the bank with his father many times as a child.  His father, now there was someone he had not thought of in many years.. "This all started with you father, all with you.. Now, maybe it will end here"?

Making his way downstairs, he stopped only long enough to have the gentleman at the desk sign him in.  He was only feet away from what he had hoped would be an end to all his troubles.  Once in the vault he looked around the room. So many boxes, how could he remember which was his?  On his key there was no inscription, no numbers.. He had stolen his father's key and made his own copy, for such an occasion as this, but now he wished he had thought of marking it with the box number.  "Which box is mine!?"  He tried to remember, his father had told him years ago about how they choose their safety deposit box number.. It was a special date.. Was it an anniversary.. no.. that didn't seem right.. A house number, no too easy.. His heart stopped in mid beat.. He remembered.. "Its my birthday! Father said he and mother chose that date because it was the most important date of their lives... Ha.. Sentimental old fools"!

He began looking in the 1100's..  The box would be 11667.. his birthday date.  "11642... 11659... 11665.. There.. there it is!!  11667!"  James took his key and opened the door.. His heart was pounding so hard he could barely breathe. He reached in and pulled out the long metal box.. It was much lighter than he remembered, but then again, he was only a child the last time he was here.. "The box must have seemed heavier because I was only a boy" he thought to himself.  He walked to the middle of the room and placed the box on the table.  He flipped the lid and was shocked by its contents...

"WHAT?  Where is it?  The documents.. the bonds, the certificates.. The key.. all of it.. gone?! Who.. How... I'll...!!"... He reached in and pulled out the only item in the box.  A small white envelope with his name James Marshall White.  He tore the envelope open and found only a letter from his mother:..

     Dearest James, On the day of our last meeting, I sent you with a note.  You never responded, so I assumed that you wanted to cut all ties with me and your family.  I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am for all that was said during our last day.  I want you to know that I have loved you and prayed every day that you would come back to me.  That you would be a changed man.  I have prayed that God would guide your footsteps and that you would come to know Him as I have.  

James, what you are looking for is not here.  You will not find what you need in money, or power or fame.  Darling boy, what you need is Christ and His forgiveness.. as we all do.  I can only assume that you are reading this after my death.  Please son, don't let your heart be hard any longer.. Give your life to Christ.. That is where the true treasure lies..  

Until we meet again, 

Your loving mother,

Margaret

James crumpled the note and slumped to the floor.. "That's it mother?.. after 25 years?.. that's all you have to say to me?.. the same old lines as before I left home?.. "Give you life to Christ daring boy"? that's it.. really mother?.. what have you done?.. Mother..what have you done"?

Chapter two

"McReynolds Realty, this is Patrick, can I help you?"  "The old Victorian on Spruce, yes.. I am familiar with it. See it?  No sir, I'm sorry I can't show it to you.. Why?..  It was sold.. in fact the sale was finalized today.. To whom?  I'm sorry sir I cannot divulge that information.. Who?  You're who?  Sir, again.. I cannot.. Sir.. Hello?"  Patrick set down the phone.. "I think this may get ugly" he said to himself..

James White slammed down his phone yelling expletives to no one.  "Who does he think he is? Sold!.. Sold!.. How dare he sell my family home with not so much as a notice to me!"  James paced the floor, his face as red as the scarlet window treatments in his office.  "I must get it back.. everything.. everything.. relies on this..  I'm sure my mother had something to do with this".. James pulled out his address book and began searching through its contents.  "I know everyone mother knew, I'm sure she would have used father's attorney for the sale".  Flipping through the pages James finally spotted the one name he was searching for "Arthur J. Greeley, Attorney at Law".. James quickly walked to the phone and dialed "Well, Mr. Greeley, we are going to have a little chat you and I.. Hello? Yes, I would like to speak with Attorney Greeley.. Out?  Where??  When will he be back.. No!!  I do not wish to leave my name and number.. I'll call back".

James was not a man who was used to being told no.  In fact, in his entire 45 years of life the only person to ever get away with telling him no was his mother.  James had not thought of his mother in many years.  At the age of 20 his mother had disowned him and demanded he leave his family home on Spruce Street.  The home had belonged to the White family since his great grandfather Jeremiah built it in 1889.  No one has ever lived in that home who was not a member of the White family and if James had his way, no one other than he ever would.

Patrick McReynolds wasted no time after his call with James White.  He had placed a similar call to Mr. Greeley only to be told the same information about the attorney, he was out of town for a family function and would not be back till the following Monday.  "Today's only Thursday, can this wait till Monday?" he thought.. Patrick looked out his window across the town of Greenville.  It was an old New England town, full of history and families who had been here since almost as long as the Pilgrims.  In fact, he was pretty sure that if you looked deep enough into some of the families lineage you would find direct connections to some of those who came over on the Mayflower.  Until today, this town seemed as it always had, a quiet old seaside village.. Somehow, that quiet was shattered with one simple phone call.

 Patrick remember James White.  In fact, they were schoolmates at the private preparatory school St. Anthony's.  Patrick's one recollection of James was that he had a terrible temper.  On more than one occasion the school master had to discipline James due to his temper.  James never seemed bothered by being disciplined, it was almost as if that was what he wanted.  Patrick always wondered why, but never dared to ask.  "If James White is angry, he will be on he warpath.. I need to be prepared.. but who can I call, what can I do?"  Patrick's head began to swim and he could feel the ground beneath him begin to give way.. He grabbed a hold of the corner of his desk, he reached in his pocket for his blood pressure pills.. He gently eased himself over to the water cooler and grabbed a cup and quickly took his medication.. "I can't do this alone.. I know who I have to call.. I can only hope that they are willing to assist me.. I don't have any other options"..

 Patrick sat at his desk and went to his address book.."Never thought I'd be calling you again" he said looking down at the name.. Patrick dialed and waited.. One ring.. Two rings.. Three rings.. "Maybe I should hang up" he thought just as the phone was answered "Phillips residence, may I help you"?  Patrick swollowed hard... "Barston, is that you?  This is Patrick, Patrick McReynolds.. I need to speak with Ms. Phillips.. Yes.. it's quite important Barston.. thank you, I'll wait".. With that Barston was off to find Ms. Phillips, Ms. Samantha (McReynolds) Phillips, Patrick's ex-wife.  "McReynolds.. I sure hope you know what  you're doing.." he thought.. "Hello? Patrick?  Is that really you?  What on earth could you be calling me for"?

Chapter One

Today was finally it, they day Jess had been waiting for.  "Six months.. six long months ago who would have thought I would finally be on my way" she thought to herself..  Jess drove down the maple strewn lane, the same street she drove several times a week. The tree-lined trail seemed to beckon her forward, like a gentle hand nudging her to continue her journey.  "How many times I have driven this way?"

Jess turned the corner on Maple and Spruce Street toward her destination. "Almost there".. She reached over to the radio to turn up the song that was playing.. Humming along, and rapping her fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the music, she couldn't help but smile broadly.. "If anyone sees me, they're going to think I'm nuts!!"  Jess laughed out loud.. truth was, she didn't care who saw her today, or what they thought.. "Today is the day... Today is the day!"

At the end of Spruce, past the old cemetery and just before Grove Street there it stood.. What she had been working so hard for, sweated for, prayed many hours over.. The old Victorian!  She pulled her Mini-Van over and parked in front of the property.  She sat just staring.. hardly believing this was it.. She reached for her bag and opened the van door.  The first thing she noticed was that it was such a quiet neighborhood.  Large, old family homes as far as the eye could see.. Trees, flowers, perfectly landscaped yards everywhere.. "I'm so glad the old owners kept up the landscaping, but I'm going to need to get a lawn mower quick" Jess thought.

The porch filled the front of the house. "Just waiting for some lovely white wicker furniture and some tables and maybe some hanging pots of flowers".. Jess said out-loud to herself.  Jess had dreamed so many times of how it would look.. She closed her eyes and could see all that she had been dreaming.. She opened her eyes and reality hit her hard.  "This is going to take some work, but I'm ready".

Jess pulled open the old screened door, which promptly fell at her feet.  "Ok, well.. new door it is" she said as she lay the door on the porch.  Jess reached into her bag and pulled out the old key.  She reached for the door and slowly put the key into the lock.  She closed her eyes and turned the handle.  She had waited so long, she wanted this moment to last, to be in her memory forever.. She stopped, lowered her head and prayed "Lord, thank you, thank you".. Tears began to run down her cheeks as she prayed.  "Lord, only you could have accomplished all of this.. I only have you to thank.. and thank you seems so small".. She turned the handle all the way and began to open the door..and took one step forward..

"Hey there!"  Jess spun and ran directly into Chase Baxter.  "You scared the life out of me! What are you doing here?"  "You didn't think I would miss this, did you?" Chase said with his crooked smile.  "Look, if your here to make fun"... Chase put his fingers to Jess's lips.. "No, honestly I'm not here to make fun, but I couldn't miss this.. Suddenly there was a large thud.. Both Jess and Chase turned and looked in the direction of the sound.  "Are you here alone?" Chase asked.  "Yes, I came by myself.. who do you think...?"  Chase moved in front of Jess and made his way past the door.  Standing in the grand entry he looked up the large stair case.  "You stay here and I'll check it out" he said as he began to move toward the stairs.  "No way, who or whatever is up there can just as easily run down here, then I would be by myself.. I'm going with you" Jess said as she walked up and stood next to Chase.. "Fine, but stay behind me".. They began their slow ascension up the stairs. each step creaked and cracked.. Chase leaned over and whispered, "quiet stairs you've got here".  Jess just rolled her eyes, for a long as she could remember, Chase was always teasing her about one thing or another.  "Keep moving" she said as she poked him in the back.

The arrived at the first landing where they heard the same thud again.. "Sounds like it's on the third floor" Chase said.  "Yes, I think you're right".. Chase and Jess finished the climb to the second level and walked down the short hall that overlooked the grand entry.  Jess looked down at the black and white marble floors below.. "Isn't it lovely?" she said as they continued to walk.. "Lovely?" Chase questioned as he began to brush cob webs and dust from his face, "if you say so, personally I think you would have been better if you leveled the place and started over".. "Chase! How can you say such a thing?!..."  THUD!!.. There it was again.

Chase looked worried, and that made Jess worried.  "Look, you stay here.. If anything happens, you can duck into one of these rooms" Chase put out his hand and pointed to one of the bedrooms.. "No way, this is my house, and I'm going with you".. "You never did listen to me". Chase said as he shrugged his shoulders and continued to move forward.