Page 71 of In the Shadows
involves us.”
Charles frowned thoughtfully. “There was a man I thought
was watching us when we ran from the church. But he had a
beard. It definitely wasn’t Alden, and it certainly wasn’t the
woman you’ve described.”
Minnie was delighted, which annoyed Thom as it was entirely
the wrong reaction. “It could be a bigger conspiracy! But why did
you break into Alden’s room?” She tapped distractedly on her leg,
playing with something beneath the fabric of her dress.
“We — Arthur and I — caught him stealing the key to
your bedroom. We were trying to get it back.”
Minnie’s delighted expression turned sour and flat. “I’ll tell
my mother,” she said, standing, hand now clutching something
through her skirt. “She’ll throw him out.”
“There’s more.” Thomas’s tone drove her to sit back down.
“Arthur wouldn’t answer my questions, but this group calls
themselves the Ladon Vitae. And I think your friend knows all
about them.”
“Maybe he didn’t really know anything. Arthur never gives
straight answers.”
Thom cut her with a well-practiced look. “He said that
unless Charles and I run away right now, we’ll be killed. And
that we’ll probably be killed regardless.”
Minnie shrank back. “He might have been joking?”
“He wasn’t. Either he’s crazy, he’s involved with them, or he
has information I need to keep my brother safe.”
Minnie’s gaze darted to Charles and she softened. However
she felt about Arthur, Thom could tell she cared about his
brother, too.
“How can we get him to answer questions?” Charles asked,
