Esmerelda Sleuth: The Magic Box (Book 2)

As I eased my late model Chevy Malibu through the oversized ornate iron gate and drove it up the tree lined driveway, I took a long look at the house.   It was in just as beautiful condition as it was in the eighteen hundreds; if not more so.  The way that the sunshine blended with its soft, pale yellow exterior and the pristine condition of its white trim and array of columns holding up the imposing portico made me realize that Nora was correct in labeling it majestic.  It had to be the most spectacular house that I’d ever had the opportunity to view and walk through -let alone own and live in-, but it emitted a sad and lonely vibe. I pushed aside the memories of Jason’s horrific sneakiness and vile treatment of me and the fact that I’d been poisoned while in that house and allowed myself to remember the long walks with Lance in the elaborate gardens and the beauty of our wedding night.  Perhaps Nora was right.  The house

“Are you sure that you want to live in that big house?” I asked as I helped Nora tape up the last of her boxes for moving.“It’s a bit big,” she said, “but that’s part of the thrill.  I’ll be living in a mansion.  How many can say that?”“It’s a centuries old house.  What about the noises?”  I asked.  “Won’t you get creeped out?”She lifted the box and placed it on top of another one that awaited the moving men.  “What’s this all about?  Why are you suddenly asking me this?  Wouldn’t these have been better questions before I gave notice to the landlord?”“You’re right,” I agreed.  “I’m sorry.  I just worry about you feeling comfortable there.  That’s all.”“Because of ghosts?” she asked.  “I thought that you didn&rsquo

The room was so dark that I couldn’t see my hand as I held it only inches from my face.  I felt confined and stifled to the point that I found it difficult to breathe.  I threw my covers off to free my naked body from their confines.  It not only released me from the constricting covers, but it staved off the claustrophobia that was threatening to take charge. I enjoyed sleeping naked.  The feel of the sheets against my bare skin was only surpassed by the refreshing night air caressing my flesh.The moment was made perfect when his strong hands began needing my firm and generous breasts while teasing my nipples.   I sucked in air in appreciation of the sensation.  My back arched in response to his taking my nipple into his mouth and suckling so hard that it almost hurt.  I found the sensation overwhelmingly arousing.  I discarded modesty as I searched the darkness for his hand and moved it b

We spent the next few days resting and recovering from the chain of dramatic events that led up to the life altering decision of our quitting our jobs.  Fortunately, there were no more incidents such as transparent men wandering about or unknown sex partners in the middle of the night.Admittedly, we were nervous and expectant for one or the other to occur on the first and second night.  Therefore, we spent the third day and night sleeping to compensate for three nights of insufficient rest.It was decided that we would take at least a month off to regroup before forming the new business and setting up shop somewhere.  It was our fourth day of unemployment when Nora decided that she’d had enough rest and relaxation.  It was time to resume searching for that magic box.  Her sheer determination to find it put wind in my sails.Although we felt rested and rejuvenated from our few days of doing absolutely nothing, we hadn’t recov

“How many trunks are there?” I asked with dismay as I closed the lid to the oversized one containing clothes belonging to a man that I’d just finished going through.We’d already searched through five generously sized trunks and there were still a good deal more to go.“There are at least a dozen or more.  Did every generation store their clothing like it was some sort of prized commodity? You could put whole bodies into these things with room to spare.  Maybe more than one at a time.  Whatever happened to giving away to the poor?” Nora puffed as she placed her hands against the small of her back and bent backward to stretch it out. I could hear a faint popping sound as she did it. “By chance, did the woman in your dream give you any indication of what room the trunk was in?”I pursed my lips with disgust. “None whatsoever.”My friend held her hands in front of her and twisted them