Under Lock and Key by Betty Bolté

Author:Betty Bolté
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mystic Owl publishing
Published: 2020-10-06T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

A thin column of smoke drifted from the stone chimney of the lonesome log cabin toward the low-hanging clouds. Giles grimaced at the rundown condition of Teddy’s pitiful home. Shingles missing from the roof. Warped floorboards on the front porch curving upwards like pine wood shavings. The white chinking between the logs unevenly applied, leaving slits and holes for the air and bugs to pass inside unimpeded. Not even a mangy dog to warn the inhabitants of their approach. Living so far out in the wilderness he’d have definitely kept a dog or two on the property to protect those who lived there. The curs would provide a warning let alone company for the boy while his father was away from home.

“Go on in, Teddy.” Giles motioned for the lad to go up the single step to the porch.

Without a word, the boy hunched his shoulders and stepped onto the porch to open the door. Giles followed with Zander at his side, while Flint and Matt stayed outside to guard against any surprise visitors. Zander would defend him with all force necessary, but having the others as additional backup ensured they’d come back out in one piece. He hoped.

“Where you been, boy?” A gruff voice rang out inside the dim interior before a chair scraped harshly across the wood floor. “Who the hell are you?”

As his eyes adjusted, Giles could make out the owner of the voice. The tall and lean man stood braced to repel an attack. His eyes darted between the men and his son, finally landing on Giles.

“What do you men want with my son?” He motioned to the boy with one hand. “He troubling you?”

“No, sir. You his father?” Giles waited for the man’s short nod. “I’m Giles Fairhope. What’s your name?”

“Adam Jacobs.” Adam relaxed slightly, but kept a wary eye on the men.

Giles took his time surveying the sparsely furnished room. Certainly the home hadn’t seen the benefit of a woman’s touch. A table and two chairs stood in front of the fireplace. A rumpled bed along one wall. Dirty dishes piled on a sideboard. Bare walls. No wonder Teddy didn’t want to stay in the cabin when his father was away. Then his gaze lit upon a key ring hanging on a nail on the wall.

He turned to Teddy and pointed at the set of shiny keys. “Is that the ones you told us about?”

“Yeah.” The single word reluctantly emerged from Teddy’s tense mouth.

“Where’d you get those keys?” Giles infused as much menace as possible in his voice as he slid his gaze back to Adam.

Adam narrowed his amber eyes. “They’re mine.”

“You sure about that?” No surprise the man doubled down on his claim by lifting his chin in silent challenge. “Hey, Flint. Get in here.”

Footsteps on the rickety porch preceded Flint hurrying into the cabin to stand by Giles. “What?”

Giles indicated the ring on the wall. “Are those the keys you’ve been looking for?”

Flint strode toward them as Adam started to cross the small room to prevent Flint from inspecting the set of keys.

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