On first glance, the house where I’d brought him and Newt looked like an ordinary house just a few miles outside Baton Rouge. A nice house certainly, enough to qualify as a mansion, but an ordinary house, nonetheless.
Even upon stepping inside, nothing looked out of the ordinary. It was only once I opened a secret panel in one of the walls, revealing a staircase leading steeply downward, that Sebastian and Newt were able to see the house’s unique properties.
“There were a lot of doomsday bunkers like this built back during the height of the cold war. Most of them have fallen into disrepair, but some have been sold off to, shall we say, eccentric personalities with too much money on their hands. This one hasbeen recently renovated and should be comfortable enough to live in for a while.”
Sebastian and Newt stared down the staircase with skepticism, so I led the way. Since the bunker had originally been built to withstand nuclear bombing, it was deeper underground than the average shelter. We descended several stories before the staircase came to an end. There was an eerie feeling about it, like we were stepping down into somewhere forbidden.
Behind me, I could hear the tapping of Sebastian’s cane on each step. On flat surfaces, he was mostly okay, but stairs still gave his leg some trouble. Newt remained at his side the whole way, making sure he didn’t stumble.
Over the sound of Sebastian’s cane, I could just hear the pair whispering to each other. Although I couldn’t make out what they were saying, it was clear that they were having doubts about the place. Honestly, I was as well. On paper, this bunker sounded like a good idea, but now that I was here, it seemed more likely that we’d end up scaring the witnesses off.
I was almost ready to call it quits when we finally reached the bottom of the stairs, and all my doubts vanished. When I’d heard that the bunker had been renovated, I assumed that meant things like the piping and electricity were repaired after decades of disuse. Apparently, my imagination was sorely lacking, for I never pictured the image that stood before us now.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think we’d somehow stumbled onto a luxury vacation estate. Multiple quaint cottages surrounding a grassy courtyard and blooming garden. Cobblestone paths connected each of the buildings, all leading to a lagoon-style pool, complete with its own waterfall. The water was crystal clear, and at least a dozen lawn chairs sat around the pool, just waiting for guests to enjoy them.
Newt gaped at the scenery as he stepped off the stairs. “What the... We’re still underground, right?”
His question was valid. Even I was questioning my sense of reality. Yet, when I stepped onto the lawn, the illusion started to crumble. The grass beneath my feet was fake, and what originally looked like an open sky was actually a very tall ceiling that had been painted with a realistic mural.
Yes, we were still underground, but every effort had been made to make the place as comfortable as possible. It was perfect. No, it was more than perfect. Several dozen people could easily live here for a long time. There would be more than enough space for our witnesses, not to mention that the security on the building could equal Fort Knox.
While Newt and Sebastian were still busy looking around in wonder, I checked my watch.
“We’ve got exactly two hours before the first witnesses get here,” I announced. “That should be enough time to get everything set up. Sebastian, you start taking stock of everything here while Newt and I grab the supplies we brought out of the car.”
Not knowing what to expect when we got here, we’d brought plenty of necessities like groceries and basic toiletries. When the witnesses arrived, they would want for nothing. They were already giving up so much, going into hiding so they could stand as witnesses for our case. They shouldn’t have to also worry about something as simple as food.
With a new spring in his step, Newt headed back up the stairs, but before I could follow him, Sebastian grabbed my arm.
“Hey. How about you stay here, and I’ll go help Newt with the supplies? That’ll be... better for everyone.”
His suggestion made no sense, but there was an odd look on his face that stopped me from immediately dismissing him. To be a lawyer, one had to be good at communication. Whethera client was guilty or innocent, it didn’t matter if you couldn’t convince a jury, and often the evidence you needed to prove your case was hidden behind lines and obfuscation.
Communication wasn’t just about words but also tone and body language.
Sebastian’s tone had a hint of aggression to it, but his gaze kept flicking over toward the staircase where Newt had just disappeared.
I quickly put two and two together, and realized I’d been a fool. I’d only suggested that Sebastian stay behind to save him from traversing the long staircase more than necessary, but to an outside observer, it probably looked like I was trying to get Newt alone.
Keeping my voice calm, I removed Sebastian’s hand from my arm. “You can stop worrying. I’m not trying to steal your man.”
“Right,” Sebastian said with all the sarcasm he could muster. “And you haven’t been staring at him, either.”
Damn.
I thought I’d been subtle, but really, I’d just been fooling myself. Maybe my interest would have flown over the head of a normal person, but Sebastian was a detective. He had plenty of experience noticing details that others missed.
Well, no point denying it now.
“Newt is attractive, I’ll admit that. But that doesn’t mean I have any intentions for him.”
Sebastian still didn’t look convinced. “You wouldn’t be the first person to make a move on someone who’s taken. How can I trust you?”
“When I go to a museum, I can appreciate the artwork without trying to take it home. The same applies here. I’m no home wrecker. Besides, his clear devotion to you is part of his charm. If he actually did turn out to be unfaithful, I wouldn’t be interested.”
Now that we were on flat ground, Sebastian didn’t need to use his cane and instead, held it loosely in his hand. The stance reminded me of a samurai debating whether to unsheathe his sword.
“Fine. I still don’t trust you, but I do trust Newt. Just keep your hands to yourself and we won’t have any problems.”
