In the Shadows

his peripheral vision. Charles couldn’t stop shivering,

lying on the sofa with three quilts over him. Cora and

Minnie had met them in the small library, hair still wet but clothes

changed. Arthur had disappeared somewhere — Thom wasn’t

sure where. It was getting late — soon Mrs. Johnson would chide

them for not being in bed — but none of them were anywhere

near being able to sleep. They wouldn’t be able to until Alden

was gone.

“I still say we should tell Mama,” Minnie said. She looked

small and pale, sitting on the sofa with her legs tucked up beneath

herself. She toyed with a heavy gold locket around her neck that

seemed familiar. “She’ll know what to do.”

Thom shook his head. “If we talk to your mother, Alden’ll

just tell her that we were in his room, going through his

things.” He didn’t say what he thought next, which was if

the man was willing to burn two boys to death, he certainly

would have nothing against harming Mrs. Johnson if she got in

his way.

“What about —” Cora was interrupted by the door being

shoved open with such force it dented the wall.

“What have you done with it?” Arthur shouted, as loud and as

physically here as Thom had ever seen him. Before Thom could

get away, Arthur had rushed across the room, grabbing him by the

collar and shoving him against a bookshelf. The wood dug into

Thom’s back.

“Arthur! Stop it!” Cora shouted, hurrying to pull him off

Thom. Arthur wouldn’t move.

“I know it was you. I want the case back. Now.”

Thom met the other boy’s gaze with a steady one of his own.

“It’s in my room. You can get it whenever you want. I won’t apolo-