In the Shadows

He waited.

Sometime after Mrs. Johnson brought them lemonade, Alden

strode out, tipping his hat with an oily smile at Cora, then walking

toward town.

The second he disappeared around the bend, Arthur was

inside, headed for the guest wing. He leaned down in front of

Alden’s door, inserting the key.

It didn’t work.

“He wouldn’t have left his own key,” Thomas said behind

him, startling Arthur so badly he nearly fell over. “It would be too

obvious that he was the one who’d taken the girls’ key.”

“Yes, thank you,” Arthur hissed. He pulled out his picks and

slid them into the keyhole.

“How long will this take?”

“I didn’t invite you.” The tools caught, and with an expert

twist, Arthur was able to open the door.

“Can you teach me to do that?”

“No. Stand watch.” Arthur crept into the room. It was sterile,

perfectly clean, the bed with its creamy linens made up. The desk

by the window was bare, chair pushed in, nothing left out. He

opened the polished wood armoire. The bottom was lined with

five identical pairs of shined shoes, and hanging were several well-

tailored suits. He recognized the jacket from this morning and

quickly searched the pockets.

The key wasn’t there.

“Can you open this?”

Arthur turned to find Thomas crouched by the bed, a low

wooden chest half-pulled out. Biting back an angry question on

just what, exactly, Thomas thought standing watch meant, Arthur

stalked over and examined the box. The lock was old, complicated