If Wade found me now, he would shoot first and ask questions later.

I opened the service door and slipped into the narrow, unlit corridor.

The air here smelled of dust and old wax.

I descended the steep wooden steps, keeping my hands on both walls to balance myself.

At the bottom of the stairs, a small door led to the pantry.

I pushed it open and stepped into the kitchen.

The large stainless steel appliances gleamed in the dark.

I could hear the voices from the grand foyer, louder now.

“Check the upstairs,” Margaret ordered.

“Caleb, go with the Sheriff.”

“Dr. Vale, stay with me.”

I moved across the kitchen toward the back door.

My hand was inches from the lock when the overhead lights flashed on.

The bright fluorescent light blinded me for a second.

“Going somewhere, Daniel?”

I spun around.

Dr. Vale stood in the doorway of the pantry, his medical bag in his left hand.

He looked tired, his eyes watery behind his thin-rimmed glasses.

But he had a silver revolver in his right hand.

It was pointed directly at my chest.