16
We trotted up House’s driveway, passing in between those ancient oaks all silver-painted by the moon. Upon discovering the front door sitting open at three in the morning, we entered the building at a near run.
‘House,’ I said, a bit breathless. ‘Is everything all right?’
I couldn’t see much. The door might be open but no lights illuminated the entrance hall. That air of dead-of-night stillness shrouded everything, as indeed it was supposed to at that hour, and though Jay and I stood for a couple of minutes, we heard nothing but silence.
‘House?’ I said again. I found the nearest wall and laid a hand against it. Cool, smooth brick met my fingers, and that was all. Nothing untoward.
‘Seems normal enough,’ I whispered, and that’s when the lights came on.
‘Aha,’ said Merlin, coming i
