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Authors: Marina Myles
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ninth-floor apartment. As he galloped down the stairs, he wondered what kind of man Rose desired emotionally. It was something he was looking forward to discovering.
Stepping out of the building, he joined the bustling pedestrians as they moved along the sidewalk. Then he closed his eyes for a moment, knowing that if he concentrated hard enough, he could literally compel Rose to come to tonight’s show. And this time he would urge her to bring her unknowing suitor.
CHAPTER 11
“W hat would you like to do this evening to celebrate your getting hired at the paper?” Patrick asked, his green eyes full of pride at her accomplishment.
“Maybe we should celebrate here,” she replied.
While Rose sat with Patrick in the Marconis’ parlor, the aroma of sizzling garlic reached them from the kitchen. She was about to rise and help Elena prepare dinner when a strange sensation washed over her. She put a hand to her temple.
Come to the theater district, a voice commanded. Bring Patrick with you.
“What on earth?” she said sharply.
Patrick grasped her hand. “What’s wrong?
Do as I say, Rose.
“There is it again,” she cried.
“What?” Patrick look perplexed.
Rose quickly shook her head. He wouldn’t believe she’d heard a voice, so she decided not to tell him. While Patrick sat there studying her face, an internal war pulled her in opposite directions. She wanted to see Drago’s show, but she knew it might be dangerous. Yet, in the end, the stronger force got the upper hand.
“Patrick, since you’re always saying you’d like to take me out, I’ve changed my mind,” she broached the subject as best she could.
Confusion shadowed his face.
“Tonight I’d like you to escort me to the magic show Olivia and I attended on my birthday.”
His eyes flashed with displeasure. “You mean Dragomir Starkov’s show . . . the one you lied to everyone about attending?”
“Yes,” Rose replied. “I want you to see that he’s no crackpot.”
He dropped her hand and stood. Obviously frustrated, he began pacing the length of the room in long strides. “I don’t understand. What is it about this magician you find so enthralling?”
Now it was her turn to look flustered. “I don’t find him enthralling. I simply enjoy watching his fascinating illusions.” The look on Patrick’s face, however, told her that he wasn’t buying her story. She decided to try a different approach. “You’re clever, Patrick. Perhaps you’ll be able to come up with a good explanation for the tricks.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “You’re missing the point, Rose. I have no interest in figuring out any of Starkov’s cheap tricks. I’m a skeptic when it comes to magic. I don’t believe in anything that I cannot see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. To me, nothing is real until it’s actually proven to be.”
Rose knitted her brow. Patrick was no fun at all. Besides, she must see the show tonight. If Drago was trying to contact her, she knew her attendance was of the utmost importance. “What do you have against magicians?”
He sighed as he sat next to her. “I don’t have anything against magicians. My suspicious nature is rearing its head.”
Rose folded her hands in her lap, her eyes downcast. “I suppose that’s what makes you such a good police officer.”
“Maybe.” Patrick seemed to be buying into her flattery. “Look. I did a background search on Dragomir Starkov. There is no record of him anywhere. No registration of him entering Ellis Island and no record of him residing anywhere previously.”
“He isn’t a ghost.” She laughed.
“But don’t you find his ghost-like existence disturbing?”
“Some people want to make a fresh start. Maybe Drago changed his name in the process.”
“Drago? You two are on a first-name basis, are you?”
Rose softened her expression. “You have nothing to be jealous about.”
His face flushed. “Rumor has it that this mysterious illusionist is in league
Stepping out of the building, he joined the bustling pedestrians as they moved along the sidewalk. Then he closed his eyes for a moment, knowing that if he concentrated hard enough, he could literally compel Rose to come to tonight’s show. And this time he would urge her to bring her unknowing suitor.
CHAPTER 11
“W hat would you like to do this evening to celebrate your getting hired at the paper?” Patrick asked, his green eyes full of pride at her accomplishment.
“Maybe we should celebrate here,” she replied.
While Rose sat with Patrick in the Marconis’ parlor, the aroma of sizzling garlic reached them from the kitchen. She was about to rise and help Elena prepare dinner when a strange sensation washed over her. She put a hand to her temple.
Come to the theater district, a voice commanded. Bring Patrick with you.
“What on earth?” she said sharply.
Patrick grasped her hand. “What’s wrong?
Do as I say, Rose.
“There is it again,” she cried.
“What?” Patrick look perplexed.
Rose quickly shook her head. He wouldn’t believe she’d heard a voice, so she decided not to tell him. While Patrick sat there studying her face, an internal war pulled her in opposite directions. She wanted to see Drago’s show, but she knew it might be dangerous. Yet, in the end, the stronger force got the upper hand.
“Patrick, since you’re always saying you’d like to take me out, I’ve changed my mind,” she broached the subject as best she could.
Confusion shadowed his face.
“Tonight I’d like you to escort me to the magic show Olivia and I attended on my birthday.”
His eyes flashed with displeasure. “You mean Dragomir Starkov’s show . . . the one you lied to everyone about attending?”
“Yes,” Rose replied. “I want you to see that he’s no crackpot.”
He dropped her hand and stood. Obviously frustrated, he began pacing the length of the room in long strides. “I don’t understand. What is it about this magician you find so enthralling?”
Now it was her turn to look flustered. “I don’t find him enthralling. I simply enjoy watching his fascinating illusions.” The look on Patrick’s face, however, told her that he wasn’t buying her story. She decided to try a different approach. “You’re clever, Patrick. Perhaps you’ll be able to come up with a good explanation for the tricks.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “You’re missing the point, Rose. I have no interest in figuring out any of Starkov’s cheap tricks. I’m a skeptic when it comes to magic. I don’t believe in anything that I cannot see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. To me, nothing is real until it’s actually proven to be.”
Rose knitted her brow. Patrick was no fun at all. Besides, she must see the show tonight. If Drago was trying to contact her, she knew her attendance was of the utmost importance. “What do you have against magicians?”
He sighed as he sat next to her. “I don’t have anything against magicians. My suspicious nature is rearing its head.”
Rose folded her hands in her lap, her eyes downcast. “I suppose that’s what makes you such a good police officer.”
“Maybe.” Patrick seemed to be buying into her flattery. “Look. I did a background search on Dragomir Starkov. There is no record of him anywhere. No registration of him entering Ellis Island and no record of him residing anywhere previously.”
“He isn’t a ghost.” She laughed.
“But don’t you find his ghost-like existence disturbing?”
“Some people want to make a fresh start. Maybe Drago changed his name in the process.”
“Drago? You two are on a first-name basis, are you?”
Rose softened her expression. “You have nothing to be jealous about.”
His face flushed. “Rumor has it that this mysterious illusionist is in league
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