Page 15 of A Simple Mistake
“Yeah, kinda.Failing to see something I know is there.It’s driving me nuts.”
“Step away and let it go,” Jack advised, familiar with Skylar’s plight.“Go ice skating, or painting, or pick a fight.”
“I’m not you, Horwood.”
“You know how to use a knife.What I’m saying is… walk away and do something that needs concentration.It won’t come to you, otherwise.”
Skylar stared around his living room at the hundreds of photos.One of them showed that Margot McTavish hadn’t died of a heart attack.He just had to work out which one.
His phone pinged with the details of the ridotto, and Skylar found a smile.“You know what?”he said, heading into the hall for his shoes and coat.“I think you’re right.Only, I’m going to head over to Richmond and find out about your ridotto.That should distract my mind for a while.”
“Whatever floats your boat, man.If you need a second pair of eyes or hands for your problem, you know where to find me.”
Escape Routes
“Gareth?”
“Here.”Gareth turned from arranging his outdoor kitchen.The Bank Holiday weekend had dawned bright and blue-skied and—without discussing it—all four of them had migrated outside to enjoy the spring sunshine.
Daniel had remained on the deck after they’d cleared away the breakfast things, opting to write his history paper sitting in the sun.Jack was stringing solar twinkle lights over and through the bushes at the back of the garden.And Nico had spent the morning surrounded by wood, rope, and metal chain, measuring and scribbling without a look around.
Jack had mentioned Nico’s new project, and Gareth had had to stop himself more than once from inquiring about the progress of the escape route.Seeing Nico wave a pad at him scratched that itch without him having to do so.
“What do you need me for?”he questioned.
“A bit of help?Jack said I could ask.”
“And you’ve squeezed him dry already?It’s not even lunchtime.”
Nico flushed, but he didn’t back away from the teasing.“Jack says he only sneaks online, and you were the in-and-out-of-places guy.”
“Don’t let Jack fool you.He was our go-to man for traps.Nobody makes better ones.But it’s not really traps you need right now, is it?”
“No.I’m designing an escape route for us.”
He stopped there until Gareth raised an eyebrow and prompted.“And?”
“Could you look at my design and tell me if it works?”
“Sure.”Gareth pulled a stool from under the counter and pointed at the other one.“Sit.Show-and-tell time.”
Nico spread several mangled sheets in the space between them.“Our turret is a safe space, because we can hide there.But it’s also a vulnerable space, because there’s only one way out.”
“Right.”Gareth bent his head over the drawings and couldn’t hold back a grin.Nico had remembered the obstacle course Jack had made of his room in Rio’s house.His drawing showed trip wires and traps on the stairs, plus a bar reinforcing the door into their workroom.“You’re watching far too much Kakashi,” Gareth said, pleased with himself for remembering the name of the ninja captain with the gravity-defying hair.“Will you have poisoned needles shooting out of the walls and hot oil pouring from the ceiling?”
“Like in a medieval castle?That would be epic, but I don’t want to destroy our house.Imagine having to clean up all that oil.It must have been gross!”
“Focus, Nico.I’m sure your castle defenders wouldn’t have minded cleaning if it meant they were alive to do it.”
“Yeah.I suppose so.They wouldn’t have poured oil until the enemy was almost inside…” He stared at his notes.“I suppose I could electrify the door, so burglars get a shock when they touch it.”
“And then you knock yourself out because you’re late and you just remembered you didn’t pack your homework.Besides, this is England.If you’re electrocuting burglars, you’re not using reasonable force.I remember reading about a guy who electrified his car to stop it being stolen and got in trouble over it.”
“Oh, really?”
“Google it.Or ask Aidan next time you see him.He’s bound to know.”
“Okay… no electrics.Maybe Jack can make us a trap.”
