Free Mitch by Kathi S. Barton Page A

really sorry about
that, but you are as safe as I can make you now. Which is about the best. I’m
not bragging, just wanting you to know you can trust me with this and your
life.” Steele stood up and moved to the wall just behind her. “There’s a wall
just here, did you know that? It’s the way your father and mother were getting
in before and your mother is using now. I don’t know what they’re doing here…the
ghosts that live here haven’t said.”
    The wall moved under his touch, and behind it
was a set of stairs. She’d bet anything it led to her rooms under the basement
of the house. He reached in and turned on the light, and she could see it had
recently been cleaned and no cobwebs were present. Vinnie looked at her
grandmother.
    “Did you know this was here?” Her grandmother
shook her head, shock on her face. “Then who would have cleaned it up? Not my
mother for sure. She’s never lifted her finger to do a damned thing since I’ve
known her.”
    “We might be able to help you with that
question.” Mitch cleared his throat and nodded to the door as he continued. “There
is someone here that needs to talk to you, if you’ll allow it.” She looked at the
door and tried to think what he was indicating. Just then, Steele told her to
trust him. When he reached out his hand, a man was standing there she’d not
seen in decades.
    “Luther?” He nodded and looked around the
room. “What...? I don’t understand. What are you...? I thought you were dead.”
    “I am. My goodness, but you’ve done so much
to this room.” He started to move to the window, but Steele cautioned him that
he had to stay close to him. “Sorry. But I’ve been summoned by Constance Aster…Connie,
I guess she goes by now. But she said you might need me for a few things. You
know her?”
    “No. But my grandmother does.” Her
grandmother nodded when they turned to her. “What are you doing here? And why
would she summon you to come to me now?”
    “I know this house better than anyone, as you
know. I built it after all, but there are things about it that you should be
made aware of. Like this doorway. It does go down to your sublevels, but not to
your lair.” She nodded, still trying to understand what was going on. “Vinnie,
your mother knows about this doorway but not the others. She has been in and
out of here, I’m told. When I was contacted by Connie, she said she’s had
people keeping an eye on it. You have had a couple of visitors that I’m sure
you might not want to see.”
    “You mean my parents?” He nodded. “Can they
get into the house from the outside? Am I even safe in my own home?”
    “You are now.” Luther looked at Steele. “He
is a good man, Mr. Bennett. You should trust him above your mother. And this
man as well. Mitch Riley is...there is not a better man that you can know than
him and the rest of the men who help my kind with justice.”
    When the man moved her through the house with
Steele and Mitch, all she could think about was how her mom was somehow doing
this with her dad. Her grandmother had opted out of going to the other doorways,
saying she was going to find Connie and talk to her about locating the man who
had sold her the home she lived in. Perhaps there were ways to get in and out
of it she needed to know about.
    After Luther left them, Steele said he needed
to get home as well, and Mitch said he’d talk to him later. As they sat on the
couch, neither of them talking, Vinnie wondered aloud what she was supposed to
do now.
    “I’d like to stay here.” She nodded, telling
him she had planned to talk to him about it anyway. “I don’t mean just tonight,
but from now on. I could take you back to my place, but it’s Steele’s home.”
    “I’d like that as well.” She stretched,
thinking there could be some benefits of having him there all the time. “I won’t
need to worry about you, and if you’re here you’re safe. And we could...I want
to ride you while I drink