Melody stood, her gaze scanning the slope of the roofline and the building behind it. A small outdoor space lay between. From what she could see there were five entry-points. A door and four windows. Thin slivers of light protruded from gaps between some of the curtains. One window was blacked out completely.
She pointed it out to Tara and Holly. “We’ll enter through there.”
“It’s probably locked from the inside,” Tara said. “I can go first and work the latch.”
“How?” Holly asked. She’d come up alongside, her focus on the open space between the two buildings. “It’s too far to jump.”
“Here,” Melody agreed, “but not up ahead.”
The plots of land grew increasingly narrow farther along, forcing the houses closer together. The three of them could cross there and circle back over the rooftops.
“I’ll lead the way,” Tara said and set off.
Holly followed with Melody at the rear. Although she’d had her apprehensions about being part of this mission, she was glad she was here. Danger and high stakes aside, it was without doubt the most exhilarating experience of her life.
Besides kissing Edward.
She slammed the door shut on thoughts of him and raced after Holly and Tara. The occasional roof tile slid out from under their feet and fell to the ground below. Hopefully no one would notice and think to look up.
They reached the narrowest spot and leapt across the gap, landing with gentle footfalls, and vaulting into the final stretch of their journey.
Another roof tile shattered against the ground. Melody glanced toward Tara, who leapt down toward the subsequent roof—and disappeared through it with a resounding crash.
Dear God.
Holly slowed her pace but kept moving forward with greater care. By the time Melody reached her, she was on her hands and knees, peering into a gaping hole through which they could glimpse Tara’s body, faintly visible in the darkness.
“The beams were probably rotted through,” Holly whispered.
And with the two roofs at different heights, Tara had jumped down a couple of feet, landing harder against it than she would have done otherwise.
“Tara?” Melody hissed her name and a soft groan answered. “Are you all right?”
“More or less,” came the answer after a few seconds. “Just battered. Nothing broken.”
Melody breathed a sigh of relief. “If you find something to stand on, we can—”
A series of loud thuds cut her off, and she jerked her attention sideways, to the old man who’d climbed the stairs from below. A lantern was clasped in one hand, a knife in the other.
The glow from his lantern lit his grim features, and the damage caused to what Melody guessed was his home. It also directed his gaze toward Tara, allowing Melody to see that she hadn’t just fallen through, she’d also been pinned in place by a partially broken beam.
The man started toward her and Melody spoke. “It was an accident.”
His attention shifted and he swung his gaze skyward to where Melody and Holly perched.
“Devil take ye, ye good fer nothin’ scum. I’ve a gapin’ ’ole in me roof cuz of yeez, an’ it’s rainin’,” he shouted.
“We’re terribly sorry. Amends will be made, I assure you. If you’ll help our friend up, we’ll—”
“I think not.” His expression was cut in angry lines. Dipping his gaze, he seemed to survey the damage once more before starting in Tara’s direction.
Melody’s heart thumped wildly against her breast. Tara could easily take this man if need be, provided she wasn’t trapped under bits of debris.
“I’ll leave you to choke on your own blood if you hurt her in any way,” she warned.
The man grunted, but halted his progress. Silence followed and Melody held her breath while Holly remained an anxious presence beside her.
Eventually the man told them all, “She stays ’ere, as collateral. Ye’ll get ’er back when ye bring me the funds to repair this. Plus some fer the trouble.”
