The Visitor(79)

“Yes, I’m sure that’s true. It’s strange that we should be talking about his time at the Institute. He mentioned it himself this morning and that’s so unlike him. He almost never talks about his past. There’s still so much about his life that remains a mystery to me.” I paused. “Do you know anything about his grandfather?”

“Our paths have crossed on occasion.” I waited for him to elaborate, but he merely frowned.

“And?”

“From what I’ve observed, he’s a cold and imperious man. A bit old guard for my taste.”

“Do you know anything about the Devlin family history?”

“Only that they are one of the oldest and most influential families in Charleston and Jonathan Devlin would be the last to let you forget it.” Dr. Shaw observed me from across the table. “Why the sudden interest in John’s lineage?”

“I overheard something recently. But...it’s not important. I shouldn’t bother you with so many questions when you obviously need your rest.” I stood. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can get you before I leave?”

“I’ll be fine.” He started to rise to see me out, but I waved him back down. He sank heavily onto the chair as though the feeble effort had exhausted him. “Be careful at the cemetery today. My own intuition is telling me that things are apt to get darker before this is over. Even with John at your side, I can’t help worrying about you.”

“You just rest,” I said. “John and I will take every precaution.”

*

But my trepidation only mounted as Devlin and I neared the cemetery a little while later. I gripped the steering wheel tightly as we bumped along the trail and the woods seemed to close in on us. I didn’t see or hear anything untoward, but I knew the ghosts were waiting. I knew the entity watched us from the shadows.

Devlin could feel the oppression of those woods, too. I sensed a building tension as he stared out the window. I would have liked nothing more than to slip inside his head and prowl through his past, but I’d made an important discovery during those hours when sleep had eluded me. I couldn’t call upon the ability at will. I had no control over when and where it happened. On both occasions when I’d been able to penetrate his memories, I’d been touching the medallion, which led me to wonder if the power lay within the metal or emblem rather than inside me.

I shot him a glance, but his gaze remained fixed on the passing scenery. In the instant before I turned back to the road, I thought about Dr. Shaw’s suggestion that Devlin might be going through a reawakening. A renewed sensitivity to people and places. Maybe that explained why he considered last night’s encounter nothing more than a shared delusion. Rather than seeing or sensing the entity for himself, he’d somehow experienced it through me.

Open your eyes, Jack. Use your instincts. You know what she is.

“What did you say?”

I glanced at him, startled. “I didn’t say anything.”

He gave me a silent appraisal. “How much farther?”

“It’s just ahead. Another ten minutes, maybe.”

He scanned the road in front of us. “I’d forgotten how remote this place is. How thick the woods are. The timber alone must be worth a fortune. No wonder Micah Durant is so protective of his grandmother’s property. Makes me wonder if he already has a buyer lined up. Maybe that’s why he’s so keen on chasing you off.”

“Or maybe he just likes causing trouble,” I said.

“A malcontent,” Devlin said. “I’ve run across a few of those in my time.”

My blood went suddenly cold. “I’ve never heard you use that term before.”

“It fits, doesn’t it? Dr. Shaw told me that Durant has been in and out of trouble since boyhood.”

“Yes, it fits,” I said slowly as my hand lifted to Rose’s key.

I thought about that shadow creeping up the wall last night and the footsteps outside the window. Maybe the malcontent hadn’t followed me through the maze after all. Perhaps someone had brought it to the cottage last night and released it into the bedroom to wreak havoc.

*

“Now we go the rest of the way on foot,” I said as we came to the end of the road. I killed the engine and we both climbed out of the vehicle.

“It’s hot out here,” Devlin said. “But at least there’s still a breeze.”

Yes, that breeze, I thought with a shudder as we sprayed ourselves with mosquito repellant. The wind seemed heavy and unnatural. The voices in my head had gone eerily silent, but the ghosts were still there. I could feel them. They knew I was coming and so did the entity.

“Which way?” Devlin asked.

“Follow me.” I took the lead as we walked single file along the trail through the woods. Every now and then I paused to listen as tiny claws foraged in the underbrush or a flock of birds took flight. I wanted to believe the animal activity was a good sign. If something evil skulked in the forest, the living creatures would surely have fled.

But as soon as we left the trees and entered the maze, I grew nervous and claustrophobic. I didn’t like the notion of being trapped inside those impenetrable hedges. We had gone no distance at all when I heard the snap of a twig somewhere behind us.

I drew up short and strained to listen. Was that the thud of stealthy footfalls behind us? The scrape of limbs, the rustle of fabric?