Sampson hooked a finger at me to follow him, and we headed up.
“Can I go now?” cutoffs girl called after us.
“Let’s see how good your word is first,” Sampson said.
When we got to the second floor hall, it was empty. The only light was a single electric hurricane lamp on a glossy antique table near the stairs. There were equestrian portraits on the walls and a long Oriental runner that ended in front of a closed double door at the back of the house. Even from here, I could make out more music thumping on the other side. Old-school this time. Talking Heads, “Burning Down the House.”
Watch out, you might get what you’re after.
Cool babies, strange but not a stranger.
I could hear laughing too, and two different men’s voices.
“That’s it, sweetheart. A little closer. Now pul
l down her panties.”
“Yeah, that’s what you call money in the bank right there.”
Sampson gave me a look like he wanted either to puke or to kill someone.
“Let’s do this,” he said, and we started up the hall.