Fallen Hero (A New Adventure Begins - Star Elite 3)

Aaron pointed to one of the pictures and accurately named the unfortunate victim.

Sir Hugo silently turned the paper over, so they could all read the name written on the back of the drawing.

“Good God,” Niall whispered.

“What does it mean? Surely Horvat isn’t working with Frederick and Voss? I don’t believe it,” Jasper scoffed.

“No, he isn’t. But Horvat has been seen in this area, only last week as a matter of fact. I am afraid, Elspeth, that you are in considerable danger. However, the risk you are in doesn’t come from either Frederick or Voss but a more sinister threat; Horvat.”

“The kidnapper,” Oliver whispered.

“While I have no reason to believe Horvat is still here, much less has ever seen Elspeth, having you men in this house will help. It is clear to anybody with eyes in their head that Elspeth is hauntingly similar to the victims who have already been taken. We cannot and will not take any risks. Elspeth, you must stay inside where it is safe. Do not go near the windows, and do not venture outside unless one of the men is with you. Aaron, you are to stay with her. Men, I want you to take turns to keep watch; morning, noon and, night.”

“What are you going to do?” Aaron asked as he slid a possessive arm around Elspeth.

“I am going to get that coffin dug back up. If it contains three thousand pounds, we are going to take it back to the bank, but we are not going to deposit it back into Thomas’s account. As far as the bank are concerned Thomas is dead, and the solicitor might demand the lot is handed over to Frederick. We are going to deposit it into Elspeth’s bank account, and there it shall stay until Elspeth decides otherwise.” There was such a firm finality to Sir Hugo’s voice that the men knew that was exactly what would happen.

Aaron pursed his lips but nodded his agreement.

“But what about Thomas?” she whispered.

“He will have to make his presence known when he is ready. Until he does, the money isn’t his because he is believed dead. Deciding ownership of the money won’t hinder us doing what we need to do to resolve matters around here,” Sir Hugo said with arrogant determination.

“What about Voss and Frederick?” Oliver asked. “Do we flush them out?”

“We watch and wait. We have to catch them red-handed as it were, preferably with one foot inside this house,” Sir Hugo warned. “That means we have to play a few games of our own. They know you are here, do they not?”

Aaron nodded. “We have already caught Frederick trying to break in.”

“Because they thought Elspeth was on her own,” Sir Hugo said. It wasn’t a question.

“I suggest that once the money has been banked, we all supposedly leave her, an eligible, vulnerable, wealthy young woman all alone in a huge house like this,” Aaron murmured after several moments of thoughtful consideration.

“Please don’t leave,” Elspeth pleaded. She felt sick at the thought of being left to sit in the house all alone and wait for it to be invaded by a night-time intruder.

“We aren’t all going to go,” Aaron warned. “I am staying in here. The men will go and watch the house from the outside. Once they have watched either Voss or Frederick enter the property they can be arrested and will face time behind bars. You, meantime, will be safe in here with me.”

Sir Hugo agreed. “Firstly, we will deal with the money in the coffin, then will go to the local group and find out what they have uncovered about Voss et al, and Horvat. Then we can make our departure clear.”

“Let the games begin,” Aaron murmured.

Elspeth felt physically so drained by it all she wasn’t at all sure what she should think anymore. Her head ached. She was starting to wonder what else everyone knew that they weren’t telling her about. Her life was, once again, being thrown into turmoil by the foolish behaviour of others and there wasn’t a damned thing she could do about it.

“One thing I would like to just say before we all have a rest,” Sir Hugo interrupted as the men began to pack away the various letters and drawings.

Everyone froze.

Elspeth jerked when she realised Sir Hugo was looking directly at her.

“It wouldn’t be wise to get your hopes up about Thomas still being alive. While I know you said you saw him looking through the window, it might not have been him. God only knows whether he was in a carriage accident or not. Nobody has any idea what has happened to him. So, until we dig that coffin up and find money inside it not a body, please remember that Thomas must be considered dead. We have no proof that he isn’t.”

“I understand,” Elspeth whispered miserably.

“Try not to mull it over too much because it will drive you to distraction. Best to work on facts, eh?” Oliver murmured with an encouraging smile.

Elspeth smiled her thanks. Her gaze was drawn to Aaron, who was the one solid, reassuring presence in her life right now. He steadied her world. Aaron was a man who could be relied upon, trusted, and would never let her down, of that she could be sure. Aaron had proven his dependability. As a result, Elspeth was aware that she had a growing admiration, love even, that she struggled to find the right words to describe, mostly because they didn’t seem adequate given the depth of her adoration of him.

Aaron was handsome, charming, solid, reliable, trustworthy, funny, caring, and more important than anything else, someone she could turn to. She cared about him - deeply. In fact, the more she contemplated the strengthening emotions that continued to grow deep within her, the more she could confidently name it as love. It wasn’t shallow affection for someone one cared about through friendship, but a deep, abiding love that came straight from her soul.