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Paige grimaced as she forced the car closer to the still-swinging lantern in the rotunda. She stopped a few feet from the front door, ducking to study the building and peer inside the windows.

Rain still fell in torrents, melting the world around them.

“No time like the present,” Dewey said.

Paige frowned at him and killed the engine. “I can’t believe this.” She dug around in the back seat. “And no umbrella. I guess werewolves don’t mind getting wet. Okay, be back soon.”

Dewey waved as she flung the door open and darted around the car toward the front door. Her feet splashed through a puddle on the drive, soaking one pant leg.

She ducked under the small porch’s roof and approached the door. She threw her shoulders back as she lifted the heavy ring in the lion’s mouth and rapped it against the strike plate. With a wrinkled nose, she recalled her experience with the lion tamer. Hopefully, this would be easier than working in the archive.

She glanced back toward the car, searching for a sign of Dewey. His teal head disappeared below the window.

She returned her attention to the door, pounding on the lion’s head knocker again. She leaned back a step and peered at the well-lit windows. Did they leave all their lights on and go out?

She tried one final time, receiving no response. With a sigh, she spun on her heel and took a step toward the car, glancing up at the sky as it continued to pour.

Her fight or flight instincts ramped up as lightning ripped across the sky again. A boom of thunder rattled her. She fought her drive to tuck tail and run back to the safety of the car. A bad feeling nestled itself in the pit of her stomach. She raised her eyes to stare at the lion’s head doorknocker and swallowed hard. What awaited her inside the gothic mansion?

CHAPTER 24

“Yes, can I help you?” a sweet older voice inquired.

Paige spun back to face the voice’s owner. A woman at least one foot shorter than her clutched the frame, squinting into the swaying light of the porch.

In her matching plaid skirt suit and sensible heels, she appeared to be the typical affluent mansion owner.

“Oh, hello, sorry to disturb you,” Paige said, taking a step forward. “I seem to have accidentally driven onto your property. When I realized it, I tried to turn around, but the gate is closed, and I can’t get out. I was wondering if you could open it for me.”

“Oh, you poor dear, how did that happen? Are you lost?”

Paige let out a nervous chuckle and pressed her glasses farther up on her nose. “Actually, yes, I am. The ramp onto the highway was closed, and I got lost trying to find an alternate route. Then the storm hit, and I just followed the lights here, hoping it would be a gas station or something.”

“Did you try your cell phone’s navigation?”

“I did. It just keeps routing me to the highway. And on top of that, it’s almost dead.”

The woman’s wrinkled face formed a frown. “Oh dear. Isn’t that always the way?” She glanced out at the falling rain. “Oh my, what terrible weather. Tell you what, dear, why don’t you come in, and I’ll make you a cup of hot tea, and we’ll take a look at the map and get you back on track.”

“Oh, umm, that’s okay,” Paige said, shooting a glance back at the car. “I don’t want to trouble you. If you could open the gate, I can just be on my way and try another direction.”

“No trouble at all, dear,” the woman said with a smile. “It’s too awful to drive in these conditions anyway. We’ll find you a route and get you there safe and dry.”

“Oh, well,” Paige said, wincing again and glancing over her shoulder, “my dog’s in the car and–“

“Well, bring him in, dear. I love animals.”

“Oh, well, umm, well, okay,” Paige said with a nod and a smile. “And thank you. Just let me get Dewey.”

“Dewey. What a darling name for a pup.”

Paige shot her a grin before she darted into the rain and hurried to the car, then she slipped behind the wheel.

“Is grandma opening the gate?”

“Not quite. I mean yes, but she’s going to get a map and help us with the directions. Come on. Get in your carrier.”

“What for?”