Page 55 of When You're Safe

Elizabethstood up, smoothing out her dress. “I’ll need to get some of our personalitems. I’ll ask Lloyd and Francis to come down from their rooms as well.”

“Allow me toaccompany you,” Finn offered, concerned about leaving anyone alone in the sprawlingcastle.

Elizabeth gavehim a gentle smile, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. “Thank you, Finn, butthat won’t be necessary. Mr. Lincoln will take care of that. He knows the insand outs of this place better than anyone.”

Elizabeth’sretreating footsteps echoed in the vast hall as she left. The room, thoughpopulated, felt eerily silent against the backdrop of the storm outside.

“Frau Wolf,”Winters asked, “how many security personnel are here?”

Frau Wolf tooka deep breath, appearing tired yet defiant. “We have five security personnel onthe estate,” she informed Winters.

“Five?”Winters’s eyes widened in shock. “I assumed you’d have more given the vastnessof the property.” Taking a deep breath, she continued, “Make sure to post twoof them at each entrance to this hall for the night. We have four constablesguarding the entrance to the castle as well.”

Frau Wolfnodded, signaling her agreement. “It shall be done.”

Morgan,wringing her hands in worry, turned to the detectives. “What will you two do?”

Finn squaredhis shoulders. “We’re going to find Sam. Before he finds anyone else.”

With that, heand Winters exited, the massive doors shutting behind them with a resonatingthud. The dimly lit corridor greeted them, the haunting howl of the stormechoing through the castle’s stone walls.

Wintersexhaled, looking in both directions. “We should split up. We can cover moreground that way.”

Finnimmediately shook his head, “Too dangerous. We stick together.”

Winters methis gaze, unyielding. “I can handle myself, Finn. We go floor by floor. I’llstart one way, you the other. We double back, meet at the dining hall in twentyminutes. Keep our phone handy.”

Seeing the determinationin her eyes, Finn sighed. “Alright. I know when not to argue with you. But ifyou see anything, or anyone, you call immediately.”

Wintersnodded, giving a small smile of appreciation. “Deal.”

They set offin opposite directions. The moments after felt surreal for Finn as he trod lightly,peeking into rooms as he went. A grand library filled with countless volumesand ornate chandeliers. Spacious drawing rooms with silk curtains and exquisitefurniture.

But it was thesight of Mr. Lincoln, diligently polishing an old suit of armor in a dimcorridor, that stopped Finn in his tracks. The storm’s fury paled in comparisonto the sudden rush of anger he felt.

“Lincoln!”Finn barked. “What are you doing? You were supposed to be escorting Elizabeth!”

Mr. Lincolnlooked up, genuinely surprised. “I haven’t seen Miss Elizabeth. No oneinstructed me to accompany her.”

This was notgood. Finn wondered if she had been intercepted before she could get toLincoln. Thinking for a moment, Finn knew that he still had to push on. Therewere at least two people up there, if not a third in Elizabeth, and they allneeded his protection.

Finn’s heartraced, his voice edged with urgency. “Where are Francis’s and Lloyd’s rooms?”

The old manpointed upward. “Two floors up, in the east wing.”

Withoutanother word, Finn bolted toward the staircase. The unsettling feeling in hisgut intensified. He had to find Elizabeth and the others. The castle, with allits grandeur, had become a hunting ground, and Finn had a terrible feeling thatit was already too late.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Amelia creptalong a red velvet carpet in one of the rooms. She already felt lost.

The rain wasrelentless outside, a persistent pattering against the stone walls of CastleDeGrey. Bolts of lightning occasionally flashed across the storm-laden sky,momentarily illuminating the vast corridors of the castle, casting eerie shadowsthat danced and flickered. The rolling booms of thunder resonated throughoutthe labyrinthine passageways, each echo feeling closer than the last.

She movedhesitantly, wondering if the killer could be around each and every corner. Eachsoft step she took was a tentative dance with the shadows, her milk-white skinmaking her seem like a specter in the dim light. The sporadic lighting from thestorm outside reflected in her wide, fearful eyes, which darted around tryingto decipher the noises she could hear.

Was it thecastle settling at night?

Rats?

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