Pawn, Book 3 of The Turner Chronicles Mark Eller

Leaving Isabella, Aaron Turner arrives in Jutland expecting to find a small cottage and a small business waiting for him. He wants to leave politics and notoriety behind. He wants to be a normal person living a normal life. Unfortunately, Amanda Bivins, hil lawyer, has other plans for him because nothing Aaron finds upon arrival is what he expected.

Aaron inspects the factory he did not know he owned only to discover chaos. New equipment has been installed. A new product has been designed, but nobody knows how to build it or how to use it. Because of this, the workers all fear for their jobs. Aaron vows to make things right for them, but problems ensue when he discovers the account set up for him is empty. He can't meet payroll. Teleporting to Isabella, he confronts Amanda on why she set him up in a dilapidated mansion and a bankrupt business.

Aaron meets an old friend who appears to be rather ticked off at him. Later her reads the newspaper, learning of an international conference soon to be held to adress Helmet Klein and the Chin problem. When he goes to confer with Amanda later he learns that no good deed goes unpunished. Candy tossed into a wagon years earlier has saddled him with an unwanted bodyguard.

After digging up some money Aaron begins his physical training with his bodyguard, during which time the mystery of who broke into his apartment and spiked his wine is explained. After hearing bad news concerning Last Chance, the home of his heart, he once again drinks too much. Back in Jutland, Aaron uses one of his factory's runabouts to chase down a new bank where he can deposit the silver he dug up.

While grilling Amel Bearden of the First Nation Bank about his missing funds, Missy Bayne and Jeffries arrive, demanding to see those same racords. Aaron moves on to his factory, giving orders to help set things right. Back at the manor it becomes even more apparent Missy holds a very personal grudge. We then take a trip to Nefra where Maldane, Nefra's tyrant, has a very pointed conversation about the Aaron Turner and Helmet Klein problem. Shifting over to the Flintlow household, where Amel Bearden resides, we get to see exactly how disfunctional disfunctual can become.

With the factory running smooth, production up, and everything looking perfect, Missy confronts Aaron about his need to expand. Aaron agrees, but first he is going to throw a carnival for his employees and the town. Later, at the carnival, a forward woman named Vel dogs his heels, eventually leading to her accusing him of molesting her. This leads to Aaron being challenged to a duel by Jerry Flintlow. Aaron declines the honor, is informed he cannot, but then Jerry withdraws his challenge after a flame-haired young girl informs Jerry that Aaon once killed a Talent Master. The girl is a recent arrival to Jutland. She arrived with a Major seeking Aaron, saying his presence is needed for the Chin conference. The girl, it turns out, is a young miss named Autumn Turner. Kit shipped her to Aaron because Autumn had become too much to handle. Aaron orders Missy and Jeffries to step up their efforts against the First National Bank. It has suddenly become personal when his life is threatened.