The House of Storms

By: Geron Kees
(© 2017 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

GKees@tickiestories.us

Chapter 10

 They were late rising in the morning, and could feel the previous night's exertions in the muscles of their legs. Frank and Chip took a quick shower together, then dried and dressed before knocking on the door to Joe's and Tony's room. Tony opened the door, wrapped in a bath towel. Joe was busily drying himself and looked up as they entered. "Did you guys sleep okay?"
 
 Frank grinned. "Like a rock, and I mean that literally. I feel like one this morning - well, my legs, anyway."
 
 Joe and Tony both laughed. "I know what you mean, fella!" Joe said. "We're getting fat and out of shape, sitting around here waiting for something to break."
 
 Frank smiled at his brother's lean, fit body, but did not disagree.
 
 "Have you talked to dad yet?" Joe asked.
 
 "No. I figured he was out even later than us, and needs the shut-eye. Let's wait a little longer, okay?"
 
 Frank and chip went back to their room to let the others get dressed, and it was only ten minutes later that the other boys came to join them. They sat about, trying to figure out what to do next.
 
 "I know I'm starving," Chip said. "I feel weak, and I'm not sure, but I might just pass out or something."
 
 Everyone laughed. "You're always hungry," Frank pointed out. "But in this case I agree with you."
 
 "I hate to go eat without dad," Joe said. "That would mean he'd have to eat later by himself."
 
 Frank nodded, looking over at the door to their father's room. "I guess I could give a little knock. At least, one he can hear if he's awake."
 
 He went to the door and placed his ear against it, but heard nothing. He looked back at Joe, and shrugged, and lifted a hand to knock. Just then, the door opened inward, and there was Mr. Dane, tying his tie and grinning at him. "Gotcha."
 
 Frank laughed. "Gee, dad, I didn't hear a thing. I was just going to knock to see if you wanted some breakfast."
 
 The elder Dane glanced at his watch, and shook his head. "More like an early lunch now, boys." He turned back into his room, crossed to the chair before his desk, where is jacket hung on the back. And, his shoulder holster holding the snub-nosed .38.
 
 The detective lifted the holster and shrugged into it, and then grabbed up his jacket and came back over to Frank. "I heard you boys talking, so I knew you were up. I was out pretty late myself, but I needed to get up to get some things done."
 
 Frank nodded, and stepped back as his father came into Joe's room and shut the connecting door behind him. Joe and the others came over to stand in a semi circle about Mr. Dane as he buttoned his jacket.
 
 "Did you find anything in the house of mirrors last night?" Joe asked.
 
 "Yes. It took some doing. A careful walk-through revealed nothing. But there was an odd odor present, a pungent, metallic smell, that reminded me strongly enough of the smell of nitric acid to suspect that some had been in use there. We got one of the carnival maintenance men in, and he lifted the floor panel to get beneath the interior walkway, and the odor became even more pronounced. It was too strong then for anyone to go down beneath the floor to inspect things, although I have a feeling the odor was gone by morning when the carnival opened."
 
 "What is underneath the floor that could be affected by acid?" Frank asked.
 
 Mr. Dane shrugged. "Nothing. I mean, there is no equipment beneath the floor or anything, like the gear assembly at the Ferris wheel. My suspicion is that the the actual steel framework has been weakened, so that when the house of mirrors fills with people, either the floor or the building itself might collapse."
 
 "That's terrible!" Chip said. "People could get seriously hurt!"
 
 The detective nodded. "The house of mirrors will be closed today, until the framework can be inspected."
 
 Joe nodded. "We were just going to get something to eat dad. Care to join us?"
 
 "I can't son. I talked to Jake Kingsley a short time ago, and he and I need to get together to discuss some things. I gave him some information to follow up through police channels, and some of it came back. What I'd like for you boys to do is to go back to the bluff where our saboteur disappeared last night, and see what you can find."
 
 "What about the library?" Joe asked. "We weren't done searching the newspaper archives."
 
 "That can wait. We need to follow up at the beach before any prints that are there are washed away by rain or surf. Can you do that for me?"
 
 Frank nodded. "Sure, dad. But that won't take all day. What do we do after?"
 
 The detective frowned. "Hmm. Well, that's going to depend somewhat on the information I get from the sheriff. I don't want to have to come looking for you boys, as I may need your help later."
 
 "We could go to the beach and look around, and then just come back here," Joe suggested.
 
 Mr. Dane nodded. "Maybe that's best. I should only be a couple of hours."
 
 It was agreed, and the detective headed out while the boys went to the dining room and grabbed a bite to eat. After that, they went back to their rooms and changed into bathing suits, tee-shirts, and canvas shoes, on the theory that four boys poking around on the beach would look much more natural if attired for the purpose.
 
 Frank watched as Chip sat on the end of the bed and tied his shoelaces. The other boy finished and looked up. "What?"
 
 Frank went to sit next to him. "You really are nice looking dressed that way." He rubbed his shoulder against Chip's, and leaned his head over against the other boy's and sighed.
 
 He could feel Chip smile. "This has been a wonderful few days, Frank. Just being with you is exciting for me, but this little adventure has added some extra spice to it." He turned his head and kissed Frank's cheek. "There's no place else on the earth I'd rather be."
 
 Frank turned his head and they exchanged another kiss. Feeling Chip against him filled his entire body with a warm joy that was like no other feeling he could imagine. They gently rubbed their faces together, and Frank was just starting to feel a response inside his bathing suit when he heard a noise behind him. He turned his head, and there were Joe and Tony, similarly attired, grinning at them.
 
 "Good thing I wasn't dad, huh?" Joe said, coming over. He lowered his voice, but his eyes still twinkled. "Catching you two lovebirds in the act would probably turn his hair gray."
 
 Frank frowned at that. "You shouldn't joke about it, Joe. It would be awful if dad walked in on a moment like that. For you or for me."
 
 That seemed to sober his younger brother considerably. "Right. I'm sorry." He managed a new grin. "You two sure look swell together, though."
 
 Tony came up and put an arm around Joe, and kissed his cheek. "Leave them alone, Joe," he admonished. "They look just like we do when we're together."
 
 Joe nodded, and kissed his boyfriend.
 
 "Are we ready?" Frank asked, giving Chip a last squeeze before getting to his feet. Chip stood beside him, reached over, briefly squeezed Frank's hand, and then nodded. "I am."
 
 "We are, too," Tony agreed. He smiled at Joe. "Aren't we, Joey?"
 
 Frank's eyes widened. "Joey?"
 
 The younger Dane reddened, but looked defiant. "Is that any more sappy than Chipper?"
 
 Chip laughed, and looked at Frank. "He's got you there."
 
 The older Dane nodded. "Yes, he does. Let's go."
 
 They left the hotel and headed for the beach.
 
 By day, things looked entirely different. The great promontory dominated the area to the far side of the hotel, a towering mass of rock standing above the ocean. The tower of the lighthouse was visible, just barely, from where they stood, and the roof of the mansion. Both slowly disappeared as they drew closer to the bluff.
 
 "That's quite a hunk of rock, "Tony said, his eyes roving along the bluff.
 
 The found the spot where the chase had ended the night before. Their own tracks were a jumble in the sand, obscuring anything that seemed to be useful in determining where the cloaked saboteur had gone.
 
 "He couldn't have just disappeared," Frank said. "He went somewhere. We're missing something."
 
 Joe agreed. "Let's walk along the base of the bluff to the water and look again."
 
 They did that, walking slowly down the rocky ledge, and spied nothing. They were just about to turn back when Tony dropped to one knee. "Look here!"
 
 The boys gathered around, and peered at what Tony had found. In a depression in the stone, wind-blown sand had found a home. It was a tiny spot, scarcely large enough to put a foot into. Yet, evidently, someone had.
 
 The outline of the inside edge of a shoe was clearly marked in the sand.
 
 Frank looked at the direction the shoe print was pointing and scratched his head. "Sure looks to me that he ran right into the ocean."
 
 The end of the bluff was based in the sea. Breakers rolled against it, leaving no doubt that the water there was fairly deep.
 
 Frank stood and went to where the water met the bluff, and peered into the sun-speckled surface.
 
 Just below the water, maybe a foot down, hugging the base of the promontory, a narrow ledge of stone led away around the front of the bluff. "Look at this!" Frank called, excitedly.
 
 The others came to look, and Frank pointed out the ledge. "It looks like you can walk around the bluff on that!"
 
 Chip looked out to sea. "This is high tide. Last night, when we were chasing that guy, the water here would have been even more shallow. I remember reading somewhere that the tides at Land's End were generally less than three feet. So last night, that ledge would have been high and dry!"
 
 Frank grinned at his boyfriend. "You never stop amazing me, Chipper."
 
 Chip looked slightly embarrassed. "I just like to read."
 
 "Let's see where it goes," Joe said, stepping out into the water.
 
 The others followed, walking carefully so as not to slide off into the deeper water. The ledge continued around the bluff, and soon the beach and the resort were out of site. Joe looked down as he moved, watching where he placed his feet, and so could see that the ledge seemed to be ending as they came around a small bulge in the rocks. Joe paused and looked up, and could see no way that anyone could have climbed the vertical face.
 
 It was beginning to look like the ledge was another dead end.
 
 "I think we're about done," Joe said, disappointment evident in his voice. "It looks like the ledge drops off just ahead. There's nowhere else to go."
 
 "Walk right to the end," Frank instructed. "We don't want to miss anything."
 
 Joe nodded, and kept going. They rounded the bulge, and Joe suddenly stopped. A hollow had appeared in the bulge, large enough to walk into. "Wait! There's something here!"
 
 He turned into the hollow, and could see a rocky floor just under the surface. The hollow went back beneath an overhang, and ended at a rock wall about a dozen feet back. It still looked like a dead end, but Joe kept going, and the other boys followed him into the open space.
 
 Joe was almost to the back of the hollow when the dark wall to his left suddenly retreated. He stopped, staring at a large black opening that seemed to lead away into the heart of the bluff.
 
 "What's the matter?" Frank asked. "What do you see?'
 
 Joe's voice was filled with excitement as he turned to look at them. "I think it's a cave!"

 * * * * * * *

 Frank had to restrain his brother from charging into the darkness. "We don't have a light, Joe. We can't feel our way in there. It might be dangerous."
 
 "I guess," Joe admitted, squinting into the dark hole. All the boys had pushed up so that they could see the opening.
 
 "Where do you think it goes?" Tony asked.
 
 "I don't know," Frank replied. "But I'd be willing to bet this is where our boy went last night."
 
 "We need to tell dad," Joe said suddenly. "He should know about this."
 
 "Come on," Frank said, turning about. "Let's go back to the hotel and see if he's returned."
 
 They retraced their steps, and were soon back at the beach. They headed for the hotel to see if Mr. Dane had returned.
 
 As they arrived at the corner of the hotel building, Frank paused and looked back at the bluff.
 
 "What's the matter?" Joe asked.
 
 "I was just thinking. If that cave goes under the bluff, there's probably only one place it can lead."
 
 Chip shielded his eyes and stared up at the barely visible house atop the promontory. "Either the lighthouse, or the old mansion."
 
 Frank nodded. "I'd hate to think that Mr. Dark is involved."
 
 "There's Joseph and Sophie," Tony reminded. "And Mr. Dark is keeping the carnival going, remember? If he wanted to shut it down, all he would have to do is leave."
 
 Frank brightened at that idea. "That's true. Okay, let's see if dad is back."
 
 They went to their rooms, and it was soon evident that the detective had not returned.
 
 Hours passed, and the boys began to wonder.
 
 "I didn't think he'd be this long," Frank said, pacing back and forth. "I know how he gets when he's involved...but maybe we should call Sheriff Kingsley just to get an idea of how long he'll be. He needs to know about the cave we found."
 
 "I'll do it," Joe said, getting to his feet. "Why should you get all the dirty jobs?"
 
 Frank laughed. "I'm older."
 
 Joe grinned. "But I'm smarter."
 
 Chip and Tony both laughed. "You're both Danes!" Chip said.
 
 Tony nodded. "And you're both nuts!"
 
 The boys laughed.
 
 Joe went to the desk and lifted the phone, and asked to be put through to Sheriff Kingsley's office.
 
 "Weird, about that cave being there, and people not knowing about it," Chip mused.
 
 "Not really." Frank shook his head. "It's really a stretch to just imagine it might be there. We found it by accident. Anyone daring enough to walk around that little ledge would have to go all the way to the end and go inside the hollow to find it." He frowned. "Plus, that area is well away from the beach everyone uses. It's rocky, which means it's no good for beach towels or walking barefoot. I can see how it has been missed."
 
 "Yes," Tony agreed. "We were looking for something there, and so we found it. Anybody not purposely exploring there would have no reason to try to walk around that ledge. And, it's not even visible at high tide."
 
 "Point," Chip agreed.
 
 Over at the phone, Joe suddenly straightened and replaced the receiver in its cradle. He turned to them, looking grim. "Sheriff Kingsley said that dad left hours ago, and that he said he was coming back here."
 
 For a moment no one spoke.
 
 Then Frank strode forward. "That doesn't mean anything. You know how dad is. He probably ran across something interesting."
 
 Joe bit at his lip. "Maybe. And maybe not!"
 
 Frank looked at Chip. "What do you think?"
 
 "I think that if he wasn't coming back for some time he would have called and left a message at the desk for us."
 
 Joe brightened, and turned back to the phone. "I knew we kept you around for a reason, Chip."
 
 Frank smiled at his boyfriend, thinking there were a lot of other reasons, too.
 
 Tony just grinned, watching as his boyfriend lifted the receiver and was connected with the desk.
 
 But in only a moment Joe hung up the phone and turned back, looking even more troubled than before. "No dice, fellas. No message."
 
 Frank rubbed at his jaw, feeling nervous now. It was unlike their father to not communicate a change in plan. The elder Dane believed in an orderly existence, and that trait transferred readily to the way he handled investigations. For him to plan to go to town and then come right back, but not do it - and leave no message about the change - that had Frank worried.
 
 "All we can do it wait," he decided.
 
 Dinner came and went. The boys had little appetite, and quickly made their way back to their rooms from the dining room.
 
 Mr. Dane still had not come back.
 
 "I don't feel good about this, Frank," Joe said. "We need to do something."
 
 "I'm open to suggestions," Frank admitted.
 
 His brother sighed, and looked resolute. "I think we should go an investigate that cave. I think we should write this all out on a pice of paper and leave it on dad's desk, so that he will know where we've gone if he does come back. And then we should go."
 
 "I can probably borrow flashlights from Mr. Crandon again," Frank mused. "We'll need them to see where we're going."
 
 Joe reached out a hand and squeezed Frank's arm. "So we're going?"
 
 "Yes." Frank pressed his lips together. He waved a hand at the desk. "Get some paper and write all this down, and I'll go and see Mr. Crandon."
 
 "Sounds like a plan," Joe said, chancing a smile.

To be continued...

Posted: 03/29/19