We climb Heyworth House’s creaky staircase. The hand-carved banister signals a shift to the old-world decor of the second floor. The downstairs of the historic house has had renovations, but the upstairs is rife with relics from a time when European craftsman hand-carved intricate designs.
As we walk down the hall, every door is solid wood and elaborate. Declan opens one that has coin-like cameos of ancient Romans. The room feels small as the four of us crowd into the space where there’s a desk, a couch, and a wall-sized map.
The room opens into a large alcove where there’s a round table. Its six heavy chairs sport tapestry seat covers and hand-carved legs. The vibe is consistent. The Heyworths built the new world and have owned it ever since.
Declan gestures for Camrynn to take the seat where the sloping ceiling is lowest and for me to sit in the area where the ceiling is at its full height. On the wall behind Reynolds, there’s a framed image of a wrathful medieval knight. Clearly a nod to the Dark Knights' secret society.
“So, Cami,” Declan says. “What details did you leave out about discovering Brock’s body?”
I lean in to listen. Brock Stowe was a Dark Knight alumnus. Generations back, the Knights used underground tunnels to move around the campus, so we’re concerned Casanova could be hidden amongst the DK ranks.
Reynolds leans forward and launches into an explanation of how Arya originally discovered the crime scene area. My fists clench reflexively as Reynolds shares Arya’s description of the masked man pursuing her.
“We don't know that it was Casanova,” Reynolds says. “The police think it’s unlikely. But there’s one other thing that makes me think Arya’s right…” She pauses and presses her lips between her teeth thoughtfully.
“Tell us,” Shane says.
“It’s just a theory—or a possible tie-in, but I’m not ready to say. I want to hear what you guys know first.”
Neither Declan nor Shane says anything.
It’ll be interesting to see how they navigate around the Dark Knights’ organization with Reynolds in the room. Outsiders are not supposed to be told anything, not even that the Knights exist.
Rising, I gesture for Reynolds to join me in front of the wall-sized antique map that hangs over the couch. “Show me where the body was found.”
She kneels on the couch, facing the map, and traces a path along the river. Touching a fingertip to an area that appears wooded, she says, “About here? It’s hard to tell because all this has been developed. It doesn’t look the same.”
“Declan, come and look. Is there an opening to the tunnels in this area?”
Reynolds turns her head to look up at me. “Tunnels?’
I cock my head, staring at the map. “There are underground passages crisscrossing the campus. Entry to the shafts were sealed because of cave-ins. We suspect Casanova opened an access point to disappear underground with his victims.”
“Oh, my God,” she says.
“Here,” Declan says, unfolding a smaller map and holding it up. “A copy we can make notes on.” He points at a maze of lines highlighted in pencil. “I’ve marked where I believe some of the tunnels were located. From what I can tell, none of them run as far north as where my uncle’s body was found. The majority wind across campus horizontally with just a few off-shoots traveling vertically to connect them.”
“Hmm,” I say. “Do you know the area well enough to tell how far the closest tunnel is from the crime scene?”
“No.”
“The fastest way to connect the dots would be for us to create an overlay of a more recent map that’s to scale,” I say. “If we superimpose the two, we’ll know exactly where things line up.”
Reynolds looks at me. “We can combine them easily using the graphic design tools we use for the paper, Erik.”
“Let’s scan this,” Shane says to Declan.
“I need my laptop,” Reynolds says, darting out of the room.
Shane glances at the empty doorway and then back at Declan. “Do you want to work this out on her computer? Or should we do it on yours?”
“You can see how eager she is to do it,” Declan replies as he uses an app to scan the map. “If it was Avery, would you say no?”
“I would if I thought Avery might go exploring the area on her own. I’d keep the specs to myself so she’d have to let me take her.”
Declan texts us an image of the map. “I’d never let Camrynn go on her own.”
“Again, you mean?” I incline my head. “This morning, she and Arya were right where Casanova was spotted. He chased Arya, and theystillwent alone.” My muscles tighten. I can’t believe they didn’t call me before going. That proves Uncle Joe and Arya’s father are right. She needs a bodyguard whether she admits it or not.
