Evan and Daniel slowly made their way down the concrete stairs. Daniel, in the lead, shielded the flame of a single candle, the only form of light they were allowed to use in there. He tried to hold his hands steady. This was difficult, given the state of his nerves. From the moment they had driven away from Hawthorne’s new home, Daniel had been aware of the stench of Evan’s fear, and felt sure that his own horror was equally apparent. Now, though, as they reached the bottom of the stairs, the scent of their fear was overcome by the basement’s own miasma of decay.
They stood side by side, trying to peer beyond the faint pool of candlelight.
A deep voice came from a far corner.
“Put out the candle.”
Daniel obeyed.
Surely one small flame had not warmed the room? But the complete darkness somehow felt colder.
“You’ve failed,” the voice said. “Is that not so?”
“Yes, my lord.”
There was a long silence. Daniel knew better than to offer information unless asked.
“Tell me what happened.”
“The dog was there, my lord.”
There was another silence, then the voice said, “Nonsense. He never travels without the dog.”
There wasn’t a chance in hell that Daniel was going to contradict him.
The next silence stretched on and on. Daniel began to shiver, not just from the cold.
“If the dog was in the house, it would have destroyed you as quickly as it destroyed Eduardo.”
Daniel felt sick to his stomach, remembering.
“So, Daniel, assuming you aren’t so foolish as to lie to me, how is it possible that the dog was there and yet you’re alive?”
“The dog wasn’t in the house, your lordship. I was searching the master bedroom when I happened to look out and see the animal running through the woods, toward the house.”
“And you could see a black dog in the darkness?”
“The neighbor’s lights were on. They might have had a motion sensor or something that picked up the dog’s movements. I don’t know, my lord.”
“Perhaps someone’s pet frightened you?”
“It moved-it moved very fast, my lord.”
Another silence stretched before the voice said, “Fortunately for the two of you, I still need your services. You will even have a little time to compose yourselves, to try to find your courage. Let’s test this idea of yours, that he travels now and again without the dog.”
“You want us to go back there, my lord?” Evan asked.
“Did I indicate you should ask questions?” the voice snapped.
“No, my lord,” Evan squeaked out.
“Daniel, tell me where you searched.”
Daniel managed to keep his voice fairly even as he gave his report. Together they had taken the elevator installed in Hawthorne’s house to the third floor, and he had started searching in the master bedroom while Evan climbed up through an access door and looked in the attic.
Daniel had systematically searched the built-in drawers and cupboards. He had smiled to himself when he discovered an antique desk at one end of a large study, rubbed his hands together, and set to work. He had quickly figured out the mechanisms that revealed its secret compartments.
“Ah yes,” his lordship said, almost sounding pleased with this part of his report, even though Daniel hadn’t found anything in the desk. “I believe it is this gift of yours that led Eduardo to recruit you.”
“I believe so, my lord.”
“And, Evan?”
Evan had learned his lesson. He was concise. Daniel already knew he hadn’t found more than a few boxes in the attic and discovered nothing of value in them.
“Any other details I should know, Daniel?”
Daniel took a deep breath, and admitted damaging the bedroom door.
“When I gave express orders that nothing was to seem to be disturbed? That no sign of your presence should be left there?”
“Yes, my lord.” He braced himself for the consequences, even though he knew bracing was of no use whatsoever. “I had stepped out onto the deck outside the master bedroom when I saw the dog. I turned, and realized the doors leading outside had locked behind me. In-in my panic, I jimmied one of the doors open to get back inside.”
He heard no sound coming from the other side of the room, but the smell of decay grew suddenly stronger.
“Very good, Daniel,” the voice hissed in his ear. “My dear, relax! You give me greater obedience by admitting your error to me. I know you were afraid to be truthful with me. Evan here is feeling rather smug about your admission of a mistake.”
“My lord-,” Evan began, but his next words were lost in a scream of pain.
“You will learn not to speak unless spoken to, Evan,” the voice said, from somewhere across the room now. “Take him upstairs, Daniel. I don’t believe he’ll be able to manage it on his own. He should recover before I need you again.” He paused. “You may thank me.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Daniel said.
“Evan?”
An incoherent murmur came from the figure slumped on the floor. Daniel and Evan hated touching the floor.
Evidently his lordship understood the murmur, because he said they were dismissed.
Evan had not been allowed the mercy of passing out, so Daniel had to carry him-no easy task in the darkness-up a narrow stairway, with the stink and stickiness of whatever was on the floor all over him. But Evan had done the same for him on occasion, so he did not resent Evan for the effort involved.