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“I’m afraid that would ruin my plan. The timing would be off. I would have to leave you behind, and you know what would happen then.”
“Rollo would find me and kill me?”
“Possibly, but I was referring to the fact that it’s beginning to rain and you would get wet.”
Riley looked up at the thick cloud cover. Yup, she thought, it was definitely beginning to rain. She pulled her sweatshirt hood over her head and narrowed her eyes at Emerson.
“You’d better know what you’re doing,” she said.
“Indeed,” Emerson said, descending into the stygian darkness of the underworld.
—
The tunnel was surprisingly large and in surprisingly good shape for a little-used secret passage. They walked rapidly along the smooth, dark surface toward an unseen end, their way lit only by Emerson’s little flashlight. Their footfalls echoed off the moist tunnel walls. The smell of damp earth clogged Riley’s throat.
Just keep going, she thought. It has to lead somewhere. She stepped on something that squeaked and scurried away. She put her hand to her heart and bit into her lower lip.
“Crap on a cracker,” she whispered.
“Such a colorful expression,” Emerson said. “Keep walking.”
“I’m going to get you for this,” Riley hissed at Emerson. “I don’t know what I’ll do, but it will be something horrible.”
“I shall look forward to it,” Emerson said. “Life is an adventure.” He paused for a beat. “Will it be sexual?”
Riley struggled to find her voice. “Why on earth would you think it would be sexual?”
“I don’t know,” Emerson said. “It just popped into my head.”
“Would you like it to be sexual?”
“I might,” Emerson said. “That would be interesting.”
“Crickey!” Riley said.
—
They reached the end of the tunnel and looked up at an overhead grate. Emerson pounded on it a few times and the grate popped free, showering bits of rust down on their upturned faces. They pulled themselves out, and Riley looked around in the dim light.
“Where are we?” she asked Emerson.
“In the basement of Mysterioso Manor. I recognize the Egyptian sarcophagus on the far wall.”
Riley’s eyes widened. “Is there a mummy in there?”
“If rumor is to be believed,” Emerson said. “I’ve been meaning to check but it will have to wait. Come along.”
Riley trailed after him up a flight of stairs, through a closed door, and along a vast hallway. They ran into Aunt Myra on the second floor.
“For goodness’ sakes,” Myra said. “This is a nice surprise. Have you had lunch? I could make sandwiches.”
“No time,” Emerson said. “We’re preparing to go off the grid. And you aren’t supposed to be here. I texted you and told you to go back to Harrisonburg and wait for word.”
“Good Lord, I don’t read those text things. They’re always Nigerian princes asking for money or some such.”
“Fascinating, but not at all relevant,” Emerson said, turning on his heel. “You’ve placed yourself in a dangerous situation. Everyone follow me.”
“He sounds just like his father when he gets that tone,” Myra said to Riley. “Authoritative. The Knight men have always been leaders. Of course, they were also philanderers and lunatics.”
