Black Oak 3 by Charles L. Grant

Author:Charles L. Grant [Grant, Charles L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: paranormal, occult
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Published: 2016-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTEEN

Daylight continued to fade while the temperature continued to drop. The wind had stopped. Nothing moved; there was no sound.

Proctor stood outside Morgan’s study, watching the clouds slowly blend into evening. He didn’t know if the English called this stone balustrade-rimmed flagstone area a patio or a veranda or something else entirely, but it was the fourth time he had been here since returning from the village.

Needing time to think, explaining himself to no one, he had followed all the brick and stone walks that wandered around the gardens, all the way to the far treeline and back. He had been to the stables, most of which had been converted into a garage for three cars, but in the two stalls left he could smell the pleasantly sharp odor that meant at least one horse still lived there.

He had drifted through the house until its size and silence had driven him back outdoors.

He had seen no one except Blaine, sitting morosely in the study. Even an accidental visit to the modernized kitchen didn’t unearth Hattie Bridges. So much, he had thought, for Bridges, the ubiquitous butler.

On one of his rounds he had even figured out how to work the study telephone and tried to call Lana, but all he got was the damn answering machine. He’d left a brief message—arrived safely, Blaine is as always—and asked that he be informed right away if anything came up.

One of the French doors opened, and Blaine, his topcoat open, came out to join him.

They stood side by side in the silence, until the old man cleared his throat, brushed at his sweater, and squinted as if the light were too bright.

“Sorry. About before.”

Proctor nodded. “I warned you we’d butt heads.”

“You did.”

“I have a headache.”

Blaine bowed his head and laughed, looked up from under his thick eyebrows. “Do you know, Proctor, that you never use both sides of your mouth when you smile? Do you have any idea how annoying that is, not knowing if you’re mocking me or laughing?”

“Yep.”

Blaine shook his head, and stared out toward the stables. “It’s driving me crazy, Proctor. It was supposed to be so simple.”

“Do you know Franklin called me yesterday?”

Blaine sighed. “No, but I can guess.”

“He and Alicia have given me to the end of February to find her. Then, he says, they’re pulling the plug.”

Blaine sat on the balustrade, hands jammed into his pockets. Staring at the Hall, still squinting.

“Don’t get me wrong, Proctor. I love my children. They work hard, not like some others who take their parents’ money and do nothing but spend it. They work hard.” He shifted his gaze to Proctor’s face. “But I’m still in charge, and don’t you forget it.”

Proctor nodded. He’d thought as much, but wanted the reassurance. And having received it, his heart hardened, just a little, against Celeste’s twin siblings.

“Goddamnit!” the old man exploded, angrily punching his thigh. “I don’t get it. Where the hell is everybody? Why the hell can’t I see that album again?” He shook his head in despair.

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