Read The Haunting at Grays Harbor (The River Book 8) for Free Online Page B

that was just the
right size for the two of them to handle. By dragging it across the path, it
made it look less navigable.
    Once they were back in the car, Steven drove the rest of the
way to the large metal doors that sealed the entrance to the old prohibition
tunnel. Roy got out of the car and opened them, allowing Steven to drive
through, then closed and locked them behind the car.
    Inside the tunnel, Steven drove slowly, but not so slow that
the car’s exhaust would become an issue. On a recent visit he and Roy had
patrolled the tunnel, sweeping rocks to the side so that the drive could be as
smooth and quick as possible.
    When they reached the end of the tunnel, Steven turned the
car off and they pulled their bags from the trunk. Then they walked up the
short set of wooden steps and opened the metal door that led to the staircase
they would use to descend to Eximere.
    It was a walk they were used to. Going to Eximere was always
more enjoyable than leaving – all the steps going back up were a real workout.
    Once they emerged into the large cave that held the grounds
and the house, Steven stopped for a moment to admire the view. The house in the
distance was always breathtaking, and the landscaping surrounding the house was
magnificent, particularly at night, when the overhead light was off and the
lights in the yard came on. It was always manicured and perfectly maintained.
Steven never got tired of the sight, and was grateful that the house and its
yards always took care of themselves.
    “What was that?” Roy asked, startled. He stopped, placing his
bag on the ground.
    “What?” Steven asked.
    “You didn’t hear that?”
    “Hear what?”
    “Shh…”
    They paused.
    “Rumbling, in the distance,” Roy whispered.
    “I don’t hear…”
    Then Steven heard it, and felt it. The ground was shaking.
    “Earthquake?” Steven asked.
    “We need to make it into that house,” Roy said. “Find a doorway
to stand under.”
    “Or back into the stairwell,” Steven suggested. “At least
we’d be on the way out if things start to collapse.”
    The rumbling began to subside and the tremors under their
feet came to a stop.
    “Whew!” Roy said. “That was a nice moment of panic!”
    Steven resumed his walk to the house, following the path that
led from the stairwell to the front porch of the house. “Hadn’t thought about
how to handle an earthquake in here,” he said. “Under all this rock, we’d
probably be squashed flat.”
    “There could be something in the design of it that might
protect it, like a bubble,” Roy said.
    As if on cue, the lights in the yard flickered, leaving them
for a moment in total darkness. It remained black for only a second, and when
it came back on, it seemed at less intensity than before.
    “What the fuck?” Roy asked Steven.
    “Should we stay?” Steven asked. “I’m not sure I like the idea
of hanging out with all of this going on.”
    Roy walked into the house and up the stairs. Steven followed,
and they went into their respective bedrooms, dropping their bags. Then they
met up at the landing. Just as they reached each other, the lights went out
again.
    “Let’s put flashlights on the list for the next time we
come,” Steven said, fumbling in the dark. “Can you see anything?”
    “Not a thing,” Roy replied. “I hate being in the dark like
this.”
    The light slowly returned, as though someone somewhere was
turning on a dimmer. The brightness increased until it exceeded normal, and
Steven found himself holding up his hand to shield his eyes.
    “Maybe sunglasses, too!” Roy said, squinting.
    The light dropped in intensity once again and settled around
normal.
    “Originally I thought I’d get here and go straight to bed,
but I’d like to make a quick inspection before I turn in,” Steven said. “This
is making me nervous.”
    “Agreed,” Roy said. They walked down the stairs together.
    “I’ll take the kitchen side, you take the library side,”
Steven