Chapter 29

"Well, hello. Hard at work, I see," Mr. Warner greeted, striding in with a wink.

Ariel offered him a weak smile and took a step back from Jasper, realizing she had gotten a bit too close in the heat of the moment.

"Can we help you, Mr. Warner?" Jasper asked, clearly not in the mood for small talk.

Either missing or ignoring the warning signs, the playwright helped himself to a seat on the couch, squeezing in between Mandy and John. "Actually, I thought you could. I wondered if you had any opinions yet?" he asked, glancing warmly at the medium beside him.

Mandy managed a thin smile and then discreetly began inching away from Mr. Warner. Jasper's dark eyes flicked to Ariel. "As it happens, we were just discussing that."

"And...?" Mr. Warner persisted eagerly.

Crossing his arms, Jasper faced the window. "It appears we have some disagreements."

"Oh?" Mr. Warner said, looking from face to face for a more revealing answer. "You are... undecided then?" he persisted when no one chose to elaborate.

"I think there might be something here, Mr. Warner," Ariel spoke up, ignoring the look Jasper was giving her through the reflection of the glass.

"You are wrong," the medium protested, rising from her seat. "I see nothing here."

Mr. Warner looked up at the medium with raised eyebrows. "You... don't?"

"No," she answered certainly, drifting from the couch, putting much-desired space between herself and the playwright.

"Mills?" Jasper spoke, glancing at the priestess for her opinion.

Sitting back, examining her nails, the priestess looked up, surprised to be called on. "What, me?" she asked, an arch eyebrow raised.

When Jasper didn't answer but continued to stare at her coldly, she made a reluctant face and then closed her eyes. After a moment of meditation, she opened them again. "Well... I can't say I feel anything. This building, the property... it's quiet."

Mandy looked over at Ariel triumphantly. "See, if even Taylor can tell there's nothing here..." she proclaimed.

"Excuse me, what's that supposed to mean?" Taylor snapped, leering over at the medium, who merely smirked behind her convenient sleeve.

"So... only Ariel believes this theater is haunted?" a confused Mr. Warner prodded.

Ariel's eyes darted to Leroy. He caught her gaze and then looked to the playwright. "Actually, Ariel's not the only one. I've experienced things here that I wouldn't exactly call normal."

Mr. Warner nodded and then, seeming to notice him for the first time, looked to John who sat beside him. "How about you?" he asked, looking to the priest intently.

John looked up and around at all the faces suddenly focused on him. Ariel offered him a slight encouraging smile, which he returned before going on to say, "I'm not sure. I can't say I've seen anything, but then I can't say nothing has happened. I guess I'll have to see in more time."

Mr. Warner nodded again and stood up. "Well, I know what I believe, and if some of you aren't sure yet, I'm sure a bit longer here and you'll agree. Mr. Marlowe is among us," he pronounced, his gaze lingering on Jasper and Mandy.

Ariel squeezed in on the other side of Leroy, the monk giving her a nudge as the playwright made for the door.

"The room," he mouthed.

Oh, right. I almost forgot!

"Mr. Warner—"

Ariel broke off and looked sharply at Jasper. For the second time that day, they spoke at the same time. A heavy silence settled in the room, the tension palpable. Jasper's calculating eyes were upon her, as if he knew she was about to ask a question he wanted to hear.

"Yes, Ariel?" he prompted.

Narrowing her eyes at him, she smiled thinly and waved it off. "Never mind, really—"

"Ariel, if you had something to say..." he entreated, looking at her pointedly.

Mr. Warner glanced between Ariel and Jasper, his curiosity piqued. "Yes?" he echoed, appealing to both of them.

Ariel found herself staring down Jasper before she reluctantly looked away and forced a smile at Mr. Warner. "Well, I really just wanted to pass on a message. I didn't have time this morning to buy her flowers, but if you could let Shiloh know how much I enjoyed her performance last night..."

Mr. Warner's confused face broke into a wide smile. "Why, thank you, Ariel. I'll be sure to pass that on."

Ariel smiled back, her gaze sliding over to Jasper, who stood leering at her coldly.

"And you?" Mr. Warner persisted, looking from Ariel to Jasper expectantly.

Jasper's face relaxed into something of a curious nature. "There was a hall of mirrors I came across yesterday. They seemed antique. Are they original to the theater?"

The question came out casually enough, but Ariel's interest was piqued. What is Jasper thinking?

Mr. Warner blinked for a moment, then broke into another wide smile. "Brought in by Mr. Marlowe himself. The passage used to run from the dressing rooms to the stage. You know actors—always have to make sure they look their best. The hall was a way of doing that just before going on stage."

Jasper's casual interest slipped, a sharpness entering his eyes. "When were the dressing rooms moved to backstage?"

Mr. Warner's smile faltered under Jasper's heavy stare. "Well, to tell the truth, I'm not really sure. This theater has undergone more renovations than I can count, but of course, they always kept true to Mr. Marlowe's vision..." The playwright trailed off, uncertain where this was going.

Jasper nodded thoughtfully.

"Well," Mr. Warner said after a moment of silence. "If that's all, I really need to be checking up on some things."

"That's all," Jasper answered, turning from the playwright to head over to Max's desk.

Mr. Warner nodded, sent a quick smile to Mandy, and then stepped out the door. As soon as the playwright disappeared into the hall, Ariel looked to the monk beside her.

Later, he mouthed, and Ariel nodded. Jasper glanced from the computer screen to Taylor.

"Mills, I would like you to visit the dressing rooms."

Taylor frowned but stood. "Fine."

Jasper looked to John. "How do you feel about the Hall of Mirrors?"

The priest stood and nodded his consent. "I'm alright with it."

"Good," Jasper answered, his gaze moving on to the monk. "Leroy, I would like you to return to the foyer."

The monk gave Ariel's shoulder a light squeeze before standing up. "Sure thing."

Sensing Jasper was about to assign her to a day with Mandy, Ariel chose to stand then. "Jasper—" she began, glaring at him threateningly.

Her boss merely ignored her and looked to the medium standing at the other end of the room. "Makenzie, go through each room—work your way to the back. Ariel," Jasper persisted, glancing back at her with a look that left no room for argument, "you will join her."

Mandy nodded, but Ariel just stood there, her arms crossed, her displeasure plain to see. Jasper moved from the desk over to Ariel, handing her the temperature chart.

"You may go," he said, meeting her glare for glare.

Ariel snatched the chart and then turned and marched away from him, wishing with each step that she had asked to go back to the inn after all. As she crossed into the hall with Mandy close behind, she sighed inwardly. This is going to be a long day.