He has a gun, Remi thought in a panic. Part of her was relieved by the sight of it, but in Hugo’s hands, it was inherently more dangerous.
“Put that away, you fool,” Arnaud said as he nurtured his jaw. With the men distracted by each other, Remi worked faster on the rope around her wrists until it became loose enough to slip her hands through.
“I should have never agreed to this!” Hugo exclaimed, the rattle of the gun in his hands louder than Remi’s racing heart. “You should have married her off to me, not the old bastard.”
“We can make new arrangements,” Arnaud said as he started forward slowly, hands raised. “Remi is unmarried now, a widow, and my daughter is dead. With her inheritance…”
“What?” Hugo asked, his handle on the gun faltering slightly. “That wasn’t part of the plan.”
“Elise? Of course, it was part of the plan,” her uncle said. “How else was I meant to procure Remi for you? You’ll have twice the riches with her.”
Remi lifted herself carefully enough not to be noticed, her gaze transfixed on the gun. If Hugo shot her uncle, he would come for her next. His lies faded into the background as his words sunk in. Did Hugo not know about Elise? If he didn’t, that meant he’d had no hand in her death. Without thinking, Remi screamed, “He’s lying to you, Hugo! There is no money.”
Arnaud’s expression grew crazed. He lunged at Hugo while the other man was left dumbfounded, knocking the revolver from his hands. It hit the ground near Sylvie’s discarded corpse and lay in the dirt while the two men threw fists and curses at one another.
Remi crawled toward it, and once her fingers had a hold on its grip, she jumped to her feet and ran.
THE CEMETERY
BEN
Ben’s legs and feet burned by the time he made it up the hill to the manor. His breath came to him in ragged puffs, and the air stung when it hit his lungs. Night was closing in and a storm followed him the entire way home; he was drenched in rain before sweat had even touched his brow. Dripping wet, he flew into the foyer of the manor and called out for Remi.
Silence.
Ben called for her again as thunder drowned out his shouting.
“She’s not here.” He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes and breathed in deeply.
The study, he thought. Check the study. Maybe she’s left a clue.
The chances were slim, but he hurried down the hall regardless. Outside, the rain picked up and pounded against the glass. Ben could hardly see at first, but a flash of lightning lit the room long enough for him to notice that the rug in the center of the room had been pulled back. In the spot where his father’s prized moth had been displayed, a trap door had been revealed.
He dropped to his knees and looked into the darkness.
“How many more secrets are you keeping?” He asked aloud, thinking of his father. Thunder rumbled in reply.
It was too dark to see where it went, or how deep it was. He scrambled to his feet and ran to the kitchen, turning out every cabinet until he found an old lamp. There were stores of oil and he managed to replace enough for a flame to hold.
Ben ran back through the kitchen, colliding with Jacques and nearly dropping the lantern.
“Hells,” Jacques swore.
Ben must have looked awful, judging by Jacques’s reaction, but he thought Jacques looked worse. Bruises ran along his jaw and dry blood crusted on his brow.
“Make haste, Jacques.” Ben pushed past him to the study, clearing the darkness with his golden light. “I assume Marceau told you where to find me?”
“He did.”
“Did he also tell you that Remi is missing? That her uncle is behind it all?” Ben set the lamp down beside the hole in the floor and gestured to it. “And this...well, I’ve just found this, but I suspect Remi had something to do with its discovery.”
“Do you intend to go in?” Jacques asked.
“Yes.”
“Are you certain she’s down there?”
Ben breathed out slowly. “No, I’m not. But I don’t know where else to look, and she’s in danger.”
“Then I’ll come with you.” Jacques appeared skeptical, but he did not argue.
“No, my friend.” Ben placed both hands on Jacques' shoulders and lightly squeezed them. “The inspector will be here soon with the gens d’armes. Wait here for me.”
“Is this wise?”
But Ben was already dangling his feet in the hole, finding a foothold on a ladder against its side. He pressed his heel against it, and it held his weight without breaking. “My gut is telling me I’ll find her on the other side of this tunnel.”
Jacques nodded. “I trust your instincts.”
Ben nodded, turning his body as he pressed into the side and climbed down. He held out his hand for the lamp and Jacques passed it over. The hole was not as deep as he’d thought, and once his feet touched the earth, a long stretch of darkness waited beyond. The hair on the back of his neck stood up straight and gooseflesh pimpled his arms. He shivered.
Ben.
A cool breeze brushed against his cheek, and in it, he swore he heard Remi’s voice calling his name.
“Whatever is leading me,” he lifted the lantern high, illuminating what he could of the tunnel, “I hope it brings me to you.”
Without another moment’s hesitation, Ben chased down the shadows, swallowing them whole with the light swinging in his hand. With any luck, Remi would be waiting at the end—alive.
