Life Eludes Him by Jennifer Suits Read Free Book Online Page A

outside is absolute beauty. With some fixing up, this place could be livable.
    Nodding in agreement, I rounded the back and came to the front right side. The sun was about to set, so when I climbed in my car I took final notes, recorded my thoughts and explained my future plans and quietly stared in awe at the mysterious abode before me. The sunrays beat on the stone walls and radiated the warmth toward me.
    I sighed and started for town. I had to admit, the place grew on me with every mile I drove away from it. I was clearly anxious to see what the inside had in store. Tomorrow would not come fast enough, for curiosity had settled deep into my very core.
    As I returned to the apartment, I saw a tall, thin man standing in my doorway. He balanced Chinese food in his hands and forearms. Turning when he heard me approaching, he smiled.
    “Greetings,” he said, as he stepped to the side of the entryway. “I don’t mean to startle you, but I brought you dinner. I heard about your outing today and thought you would like something to eat.”
    “Thank you,” I said, a little cautious in the presence of a strange man, “But I’ve already eaten on the way back to town.” I reached in my pocket for my door key, but seeing his smile fall to a slight frown of disappointment, I returned his friendliness with a smile of my own. “Please, though I’ve eaten already, come inside. I could use some companionship.” Accepting my invitation with a slight, tilted nod, he followed.
    Setting the food down at the small, round table by the door, he held out his hand. “I’m Steven Davis Renshaw. I have some information that you might find interesting concerning the property you investigated today.” Sitting when I sat, he continued once my full attention was on him. “My great-grandfather owned that property. It was in our family for generations. I researched the historical value of that place until I came across its constructor.”
    “Yes? Would you like tea with this Chinese you brought?” I stood, started for the kitchen, grabbed the tea pitcher with two glasses and pocketed my voice recorder. I hastily returned, sat and waited for him to continue. I was fully interested in what this man had to say about the place I was falling for by the minute. Never, in my five years working as an assessor did a single property intrigue me as much as this place had.
    He sipped his tea, dished out equal portions of fried rice and noodles and waited for me to take the first bite. Once I started eating, he continued his story. “His name was Chesley Davis Renshaw the third. From what I can gather, he was a learned man, very capable with numbers and had a knack for courtly chivalry.”
    I was further intrigued with the mysteriousness of the West Creek Manor and everything regarding it. “What brings you to me?”
    He shifted in his chair. “I’ve heard that the place is haunted with his specter.” He went on to explain that he never had the guts to go there alone, even if he was family. “I know, it seems rather silly of a grown man like me to be scared of ghosts and goblins, but I came from a long line of believers and therefore, I suppose, it was ingrained into me ever since I was a youth.” A nervous grin crept over his face.
    Not sure how I should reply, I waited what seemed like an eternity. “I have to go there, you know. I’ll tell you, I was in love with it from the moment I caught my first glimpse of the tower from the road.” I shifted my gaze to the food that I was pushing around on my plate. My stomach reminded me that I really didn’t eat on the way home. My thoughts were still with that unwarrantedly neglected, desolate, empty mansion.
    “I hear that’s one effect on people,” he explained with a slight warning tone. “And that’s why I’m here. You can evaluate the property, but be forewarned of its magic .” Evidently embarrassed with the way he sounded, he lowered his head.
    “If you’re concerned that I’ll