PART 2
Her hand suddenly stopped. “Samuel…?” Evelyn’s voice was softer this time. Nathaniel could hear the faint scrape of her fingernails against the wooden bedside table.CHFR
Outside, rain hammered the balcony railing, and wind pushed wet branches against the windows with a dry, scratching sound.chfr
The room smelled of candle wax, perfume, and damp night air. Nathaniel stood beside the open safe with the ledger still in his hand.
Three steps separated Evelyn from the bell. One pull of that cord and the entire house would wake.
He had seconds. Nathaniel let the ledger slip from his fingers. It struck the carpet with a muffled thud.
Then his shoulders collapsed. His jaw loosened. His eyes became vacant. By the time Evelyn reached for the match beside her bed, Professor Nathaniel Reed had vanished.
Samuel the Bull had returned. The match hissed. A tiny flame illuminated Evelyn’s face. She saw him crouched beside the wall, staring stupidly at the floor.
“What are you doing in here?” Nathaniel blinked slowly. “Miss… Evelyn?” His voice was thick and uncertain.
Her eyes moved toward the safe. Nathaniel felt his heartbeat slam against his ribs. The door stood open.
The wedding portrait rested against the wall. Evelyn stared at it. Then at Samuel. Then back at the safe.
“What did you touch?” Nathaniel pointed toward the balcony. “Noise.” “What noise?” “Bird.” “In the middle of a storm?”
Nathaniel nodded eagerly. “Big bird.” For one terrible second, nothing happened. Then Evelyn laughed. It began as a small sound of disbelief before growing sharp and contemptuous.
“You enormous idiot.” Nathaniel lowered his eyes. Evelyn climbed from the bed and crossed the room barefoot.
She snatched the ledger from the carpet, shoved it into the safe, then slammed the steel door shut.
Nathaniel watched from the corner of his eye. She had not counted the documents. She had not noticed that one folded letter remained hidden beneath his shirt.
“Get out.” He shuffled toward the door. “Samuel.” He stopped. The room became silent except for the rain.
Evelyn stood beside the safe, staring at him. “Come here.” Nathaniel turned. Every instinct screamed at him to run.
