Part 30 (1/2)
”Dr. Smith,” Joshua corrected her. ”He has all kinds of school degrees, that's what Mom said. But he's cool.”
”Yeah, I guess so,” Finn agreed, gritting his teeth. Why? The guy was bright and rational. It wasn't his fault that he was an old friend of Megan's-and bright and rational. Ellie stood and came over to where Finn was pouring his coffee. ”It's scary here,” she said.
He smiled, setting his cup down, and hunkering down by her. ”Ellie,” he said, though he had known the touch of fear himself, ”it's just Halloween. Dress up. You know that even in those monster museums, the monsters are either mechanical, or plain old dummies, or people in costumes, right?”
”Monsters are just people in costumes,” she repeated. ”What about when they're not in costumes?”
Finn arched a brow, looking over at Joshua.
Joshua grimaced, looking uncomfortable. ”I think Mr. Fallon is a monster, and maybe Susanna, too.”
”Oh? Why is that?” Finn winked at Ellie. ”Susanna is kind of like an old scarecrow-s.h.!.+ Never tell anyone I said that! But she's just a cranky old lady, really.”
”They were doing things.”
”Things?” Finn said, wondering at the child's revulsion. He wondered if the two old crankpots-Susanna and Fallon-had been getting it on together. The idea sure was repulsive, and he could see how it might scare a child.
h.e.l.l, the two might never want to have s.e.x as adults, were they to witness such a coupling!
”I woke up in the middle of the night,” Ellie said. ”And I thought I'd run to Mommy's and Daddy's room... but I heard a noise and I called for Joshua... and we came down. And they had a big pot hanging over the fire in the kitchen. They were throwing things into it.”
”Maybe they were making mulled wine,” Finn said.
”They were talking funny!” Ellie told him.
”Chanting,” Joshua corrected sagely.
”Oh, and what were they saying?”
Joshua looked troubled. ”I don't know. I couldn't understand them.”
”Hm. You don't think that they were maybe just talking to one another?”
Joshua firmly shook his head.
”Did you tell your parents?” Finn asked.
Ellie sighed. ”They were mad.”
”Why?”
”Because we left our room and went running around in the house. And they said the same thing-that Susanna and Mr. Fallon were just making something-wine, or food, or something-and that we should mind our own business. Just because it's almost Halloween, we shouldn't think that everyone is a monster.”
”I see. Well, hmm. I'll tell you what I'll check it out tonight myself, how's that? You two stay in your beds in your room. You're safe there, all right?”
Joshua had joined Ellie before him. Both of them looked at him with wide, solemn eyes.”You'll really wake up and go see what they're doing?” he asked.
”Solemn promise,” Finn told them.
Joshua let out a little sigh of relief. ”I will feel better.”
”Me, too. I'm scared, even in bed.”
”Halloween can be very scary,” Finn said. ”Don't worry, monsters can make me feel a little uneasy, too, but I could swear that if you just stay in your room through the night, you'll be just fine. And, of course, say your prayers before you go to bed.”
”Every night!” Ellie said.
Finn wondered what had caused him to say the last Monsters were just evil people. He had to believe that. It was all that was rational. And rationally, it didn't mean that something wasn't happening. Evil people might very well be around, thinking they had the power to do something awful, whether it was real or not.
Half the heinous murderers throughout history had been psychotics, thinking that dogs talked to them or the devil demanded that they do it.
He smiled firmly at Joshua and tousled Ellie's hair. ”You two go ahead and sleep tight tonight. I gave you my solemn vow to check it out, and I will.”
After I watch over Megan! he thought.
Ellie slipped her hand into Finn's and squeezed it ”Thanks, Mr. Douglas. I don't know why adults just never want to believe children!”
The seriousness of her voice made him smile, along with the wisdom of the words.
”Sometimes adults can believe that they really know better; they don't usually intend to be mean or dismissive,” Finn told her.
”Joshua, remember-you two stay locked snug and tight in your room. I have to work now, but I won't forget.”
Joshua nodded seriously. ”I know you won't.”
He left the children, meaning every word he said. He would take a good walk around Huntington House tonight.
After he watched over Megan. Carefully.
He couldn't... he couldn't try to talk to her tonight, give explanations-or even beg an apology for whatever it was that he supposedly did.
He would be strictly business. Distant from her.
But watching. Because he felt as if he'd been warned by someone who somehow knew something, however illogical it might be.
Don't let her walk through the dark...
Or the fog...
Alone.
As he left Huntington House, he was suddenly angry and determined, and he knew that he'd be d.a.m.ned if he'd let anyone hurt her.
Anyone, or... Anything.