Part 22 (1/2)

”Maggie, let me go. I'll be right back,” I said, confidently. I took her hand off me and Mac grabbed her shoulder gently.

Whoever it was, was in the back by the cellar door. I swallowed hard, and opened the door in the kitchen that led down to the cellar. I didn't turn on the light, but slowly descended the stairs. Mac and I started down, it was completely dark and we heard nothing.

Once at the bottom of the stairs, I stopped and stood completely still and listened. Mac went by me and stood close to the door. I thought I heard something outside. Then I felt something behind me on the stairs. I braced myself for another attack. No one was going to throw me through a door this time.

As before, I turned around, but this time I grabbed the intruder by the front of his s.h.i.+rt. I reared back and was about the throw whoever it was out of my way... It was Maggie.

I could see she was about to let out a blood-curdling scream so I put my hand over her mouth.

”Sshh,” I whispered. ”I think there's someone outside. Go back upstairs.”

Her eyes widened and she shook her vehemently.

”Maggie, don't argue with me,” I whispered.

She wrenched my hand away. ”I'm not leaving you two alone,” she whispered and stood firm. I wanted to strangle her, but I could see she was unwavering. I angrily pulled her down to the bottom step.

It was completely dark, but the full moon shone through the two small cellar windows. I saw a shadow pa.s.s by one window, then the other. We both stared at the steps that led up to the door. The silence was deafening. Someone or something pulled at the door then stopped, then tugged harder-almost angrily-and stopped again. Then there was one last frenzied yank and a bang. I thought for sure the bolt and latch would give way and the door would fly open. I was petrified and so was Maggie. Mac stood by the door perfectly still. There was nothing but absolute silence.

It was an eerie sight when the shadow pa.s.sed by the window and vanished as if it had never been there.

Chapter Nineteen.

I wish you would have called me, sooner,” Steve said as we sat around the kitchen table, which was getting a workout. ”I'm glad neither of you went outside. I don't need another unsolved murder in Cedar Lake.”

I could hear the defeated tone in his voice.

”So the door was unlatched from the inside when you two checked it and you locked it?” Steve asked.

I nodded. ”Someone had unlocked it, or maybe it's always been opened.”

”Nope. I checked that door myself the other night, after your lady intruder showed up. It was bolted and locked tight,” he said firmly.

”Then someone had to unlock it. Who's been in the cellar since Friday morning?” I asked and looked at Maggie.

”Well, I was down there with Allison, but we got some bottles of wine and came right back up. She wasn't down there alone,” Maggie said.

”I didn't see anyone go down there, but with all the people here, honestly, who would be watching the cellar?” I asked. ”Anyone could have gone down there at anytime and opened it.”

”Well, Doc and Sarah checked the cellar this evening when we were looking for the jewelry and glove,” Steve said. ”Tomorrow morning, I'll ask them if they noticed the door was unlocked,” he said as he stood. ”It's late, why don't you all get some sleep? I'll have my deputy patrol the house...again.”

Just as I lay down, I heard a soft knock at my door. Maggie stood there in her robe sporting a smug grin.

”Are you lost, young lady?” I asked with a wide yawn.

”Have you misplaced something?”

”You found my wayward dog I take it?”

I followed her into her bedroom. There lay Chance, on Maggie's bed, sound asleep.

”She looks comfy,” I said with a touch of envy.

”She can stay here if you like,” Maggie said and s.h.i.+vered a bit as she pulled her robe closer.

”If you like I can get a fire going for you. It is a little chilly in here,” I said and looked at her small fireplace.

”Well, it's late,” she whispered and s.h.i.+vered again.

”I can get one going in a minute and you'll be nice and toasty.”

The small fire crackled as I stood gazing at the dancing flames. I looked over at Maggie. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, looking like a lost and frightened little girl.

”Okay, into bed,” I ordered.

She smirked and crawled under the covers. ”I am not a child, you know. You keep referring to me as if I were. It's rather annoying.”

I stopped and thought about it. ”I apologize. I don't mean to be insulting. You just look so young. Perhaps I'm just too old,” I said, as I looked down at her.

She pulled the covers up her neck. ”Too old for what?” she asked, in a soft voice.

Chance stirred then crawled up next to Maggie, put her head on her stomach, and closed her eyes.

”Well, she's yours for the night,” I laughed, ignoring her question.

”You can sit by the fire for a while if you want. It's probably chilly in your room, too.”

I looked at the huge chair. It did look inviting. ”Well, maybe for a minute.”

My body ached horribly. I sat down and a feeling of comfort engulfed me. I put my feet up on the ottoman and was in heaven. I stared at the fire, trying not to think about anything, but wound up thinking about everything.

”Kate, you need to stop thinking for a while and sleep.”

”I will. Go to sleep. I'll sit here for a while,” I yawned and lay my head back.

”That was pretty unusual wasn't it? I mean the hyacinth, but I wasn't scared, though,” she said, sounding amazed at the idea.

”You weren't? Well I have to admit I was petrified. Teri is much better dealing with the supernatural than I am,” I said, and closed my eyes.

”Well, you certainly don't show it. How do you remain so calm?” she asked, sleepily.

”Years of emotional detachment,” I joked, amusing myself as usual. Sad to say, I'm my best audience.

”You know, I can't tell if you're joking or if you're being serious,” she said while yawning.

”I'm at my most serious when I joke,” I said quietly. ”Go to sleep.”