The tunnel that connected the cemeteries had been searched.They’d come up with nothing. Now, they were going through every possible vaultand catacomb.
“I see you met up with your tour guide again,” Adair said,grimacing.
“He’s a good tour guide,” Andre said lightly.
“Did you want to join any of the searchers?”
“If it’s all right, we’re going to take a walk along Swain’sLane and see if we see anything that might be…I don’t know. Anything that mightsuggest another tunnel.”
“Go for it,” Adair told him.
“Thanks.” Andre studied the lane in both directions.
“We’re in the middle. Down to up, or up to down?” Cheyenneasked.
“Let’s check in with your cousin. I think I see a light thatway. Then we’ll go down, and then all the way up again. Lots of walking…you upfor it?”
She glared at him, her hands on her hips.
He put his arms up in surrender. “Right, right. You’re upfor anything.”
“I’m just afraid, Andre. I mean, we haven’t found her, andthis killer doesn’t mind his victims being found. So, we have a chance to saveher.”
He nodded. “Let’s move, then.”
There were indeed lights on at Emily and Eric’s house—thetwo were obviously still awake. And some sense must have told Emily that theywere coming because she stood at the door.
“Anything?” she asked anxiously.
“We got police help on the search,” Cheyenne told her. “Andthat’s good. We’re heading back out, but we thought we should check in herefirst.”
“That’s sweet of you. We’re doing fine. In fact, Eric is onfire. Come see what he’s done!” Emily motioned for them to follow her inside.
Eric was at his laptop, which he’d set up on the dining roomtable. He looked up at the two of them as they arrived to see his work.
“Thank you, this is magnificent! You’ve got to see what I’vegotten set up so far. This is really great. Bank ATM cameras only record so far.Business security systems are just for businesses. But, look! You bought thebest equipment, come see what I can see!”
Cheyenne and Andre leaned over Eric’s shoulders.
“You did all that with the system we bought?” Andre asked.
“Yes,” Eric said. “And I was even able to activate thesystem’s add-on night-vision capabilities without any additional equipment.”
It was amazing. Eric’s screen was split into boxes showingeight images. The video covered the front of the house, the back of the house,the sides, and two more angles—and then showed shots of Swain’s Lane, bothuphill and down.
Birmingham had gotten his superiors to call for a search,and while the street had been blocked off, just Inspector Michael Adairremained at the moment, as if he were a central point for the searchers who hadgone out in all different directions.
“Wow, good work,” Andre said. “I’m amazed you set all thatup with what we bought.”
“He is a computer whiz,” Emily said proudly.
“Indeed,” Andre agreed. He straightened and looked at the twoof them. “We’re going to head back out. I think the killer will be aware thehunt has gotten massive tonight. It could make him nervous or careless or moredetermined. So, please, keep yourselves locked in tight.”
“We will,” Emily promised, looking grim. She managedsomething of a smile, encouraging them to continue. “Eric has a nerd’s dreamhere with his new toys. We will be very, very careful.”
They left the house, but Cheyenne paused on the porch for aminute, waiting to hear the bolt sliding home from inside.
Andre’s head was lowered, and she thought he was hiding asmall smile. “Hey, you do it to me all the time—wait to see that the door islocked,” she chided him.
“And the brightest people in the world sometimes get goingin their heads and forget simple safety measures.” He followed her to thestreet. “So, down and then up, right? Of course, we will be tired later. Itmight be easier to do up and then down.”
“Nope. The house is closer to up. We’ll start with down.”
They headed down the lane and then back up. They didn’tspeak much as they watched their steps on the steep terrain.
But after they had passed Michael Adair, still standing likea sentinel, the central point for everyone out searching, Andre began to musealoud.
“Father Faith seemed like a good guy.”
“He did,” Cheyenne said, fingering the little cross he hadgiven her with the blade inside.
“But—?”
“We don’t know. Benjamin Turner, charming and popular. Andhe cared about Sheila.”
“Banker guy, Mark Bower, unlikeable,” Andre said. “Reallyunlikeable.”
“Bored with life, perhaps, and therefore looking for wilderpleasures.”
He smiled. “Strip clubs aren’t that wild.”
“The club had some beautiful women. And, for yourinformation, I have been to see the Chippendales!”
Andre laughed softly. “Okay, so, it has little to do withthe fact that these suspects have been to a strip club. It’s that they mighthave come across one another there. Or come into contact with a few of thevictims.”
“Random strangers. Mark Bower, Benjamin Turner, WilliamSmith, and Clark Brighton.”
“Yep.”
“So, we’re nowhere.”
“No, we’re somewhere. We have a great host of people outlooking for a woman who just might still be alive.”
“I haven’t seen anything as we walked. Have you?”
“The night,” he said softly. “Moon in the sky, some of thehouses adopting decorations for Halloween—unnecessary here, really. With thebrick walls, the rustle of the trees, the cemeteries on either side of us…andrumors of a vampire, along with the truths of dead bodies, they have all theyneed.”
The path became very steep. Cheyenne leaned forward slightlyto put more energy into her walking. So very much of the area was Highgate,East and West, and Waterlow Park was expansive, whileOakeshott Avenue offered homes off the path for the living. The moon afforded awhisper of light against the darkness and created shadows, as well.
To complete the tableau, Cheyenne became aware of astereotypical London fog rolling in.
“I’m not sure how anyone can find anything here,” she saidbleakly.
Andre glanced her way. “You’ve got to be very careful, youknow.”
“Of course, but—”
“You’re tough. You’re a great agent. And I know that while Ilove you, I have to give you that respect, just as I give it to Angela and allour other female agents. But,
