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K ate and Rory fell into step on the cement walk. Kate listened as Rory told her about the tiny compartment in his closet.

“It’s possible, I suppose,” she said. But it still didn’t explain what she had just seen on the stairs. “I’m beginning to wonder if the cat is real.”

“It slept with me last night. I could see the indent where it curled up on the bed with me.”

Kate pondered this. That confirmed the reality of the cat, but the mouse skeleton had been truly odd. What cat picked the bones clean without breaking them?

They jogged across the street to cut through the green to get to the diner, pausing at the statue of Edwin Hazard. “He’s so imposing, don’t you think?”

“The captain?”

“Yes. He must’ve been important to have a statue.”

“He was a local hero, helped establish the community and defeat the British here locally. He worked with the owner of your inn, actually, Franklin Worthy.”

“I didn’t know. I haven’t been able to learn much about local history, only bits and pieces, and, well, Hazel has a lot to say on the subject. But everything she shares about her ancestor is so glowing that I can’t think anyone was ever that perfect.”

“Not perfect, no— human , but still a hero. That’s what makes a hero, isn’t it? That someone does a great thing, even as a mere human.”

“So, not larger than life?” Kat waved at the clearly larger-than-life stone replica. “But a life that accomplished something extraordinary.”

Rory nodded. “They were extraordinary times. The future of our country hung in the balance.” They fell back into step together in the dusky dark, wind rustling the branches above their heads as they crunched through leaves scattered on the walkways winding through the square.

“What is it they say? The birth pangs of a nation? It always sounds so weighty, but it was small incidents, all combined together, that set a blueprint for freedom.” Kate knew her American history, of course.

You couldn’t not, growing up and going through school on the East Coast. She had been to many a battle site and historical monument on school field trips as a youth.

“Hazard had its own struggles. Personal struggles and serious efforts to contribute to the success of the American rebels.”

They arrived at the diner, the bright fluorescent lighting spilling out from the windows lining the building.

Rory opened the door, the bell jangling as he motioned for Kate to go in first. A tall waitress with neon-orange bouffant hair seated them at a table in the front and placed obviously new, colorful menus before them.

After perusing their options, Kate chose the chile relleno platter and Rory choses the chile verde, extra hot. “So, tell me why you think mystery cat is traveling inside the walls?”

“Well, when I realized the cat had slept on the bed with me, and the door was shut tight, I took that handy-dandy flashlight you gave me for the”—he dropped his voice low, so no one could overhear—“tunnels.”

Kate glanced around dramatically. “And?”

“ And I found a gap in the back of my closet. So careful me, using the work gloves…”

“You mean the handy-dandy work gloves.”

“Exactly right,” he grinned. “I reached in and felt around the secret crevasse in the closet and couldn’t find the back of it, so I think that’s how kitty got in to keep me company.”

“So you had a cat to warm your bed all night.” Kate didn’t know why she said it, it was so clearly flirtatious, her name being so close to cat. She started to retract but stopped at Rory’s expression.

He frowned. “Not really. Actually, I don’t remember feeling warm at all.”

She thought maybe he was joking with her, about to keep up the flirtation, when he shook his head. “In fact, it was cool last night. I hadn’t turned on the radiator, and I should have noticed the cat while I slept, but…”

“Was it warm where kitty was curled up?”

“No, not at all.”

Kate shrugged. “I heard the cat in my room, and my door, which I was certain I had locked, was ajar this morning.”

“So…”

“Kitty apparently has mystical powers.”

“Or you were mistaken about the door.”

Kate didn’t like it, the idea that she could be so forgetful.

“It was an eventful day yesterday.”

She took a big breath and agreed, “It was.” But it still unsettled her.

Just then their food arrived, and Kate almost laughed when Rory produced his own small bottle of scorpion sauce to add to his chile verde.

“Hey, what can I say? I’m a chilehead.”

“Did you grow up with hot food?”

“Nah, not really. It’s a redhead thing, I think.”

“Uhm, well,” she motioned him to share his sauce. “How does that explain me, then?” She dashed a liberal amount on her relleno.

“Be careful with that. It has a decided kick.”

“Oh, I hope so.” Kate took a cheesy bite and rolled her eyes in ecstasy at the spiciness.

“You too? I wouldn’t have guessed that.”

“I like a little spice in my life. What can I say?” She shrugged a shoulder.

“Here I thought you were looking for a ho-hum existence in Hazard.”

“Well, with a name like Hazard…”

Rory’s expression grew thoughtful. He started to say something and caught himself.

Kate waited, but when he put his focus back on the food, she wondered what he was holding back.

After a moment, she said. “You’ll never guess what I found…

mystery cat left me a gift. The remains of a mouse, I guess you could call it. ”

“So kitty is a hunter. Wait, don’t tell me you have mice.”

Kate shuddered at the thought. “No, of course not! It was outside on the porch. I’ll show you when we get back, and you can tell me what you think.”

“O…kay.”

“What did you find out from Seymour?”

“Only that he knows about the tunnels, and I think he has known for a long time.”

Kate knew she must’ve looked gobstruck.

Rory gave a one shoulder shrug. “Apparently he planned to let you in on the secret but was waiting for the right time.”

“So who else knows?”

“You’ll have to ask Seymour about that.”

“Oh, believe me I will. All that should’ve been in the disclosures.”

“I’m pretty sure your Realtor has zero clue, and the owners probably didn’t either.”

“But you did?”

“Yes, but I was trapped in your basement.”

“Didn’t you tell anyone what you found?”

“I tried, but…” He shook his head.

“I don’t understand.”

“Everyone just thought I was delusional.”

“Why?”

“I…”

Kate watched myriad expressions flow over his features. “What aren’t you telling me?” Tension collected in her shoulders, and she held her breath, waiting on his reply.

He was silent a long moment, as if weighing the impact of his words. “I had an experience in your basement, more than just being locked in.”

“You told me before that my inn was haunted, right before we went into the basement together.” She glanced around.

She didn’t want to be overheard. She already knew gossip was a major source of entertainment in Hazard.

But the waitress was across the room, and although she did act interested in what they were talking about, surely she hadn’t heard her comment from clear over there.

The other diner patrons were in the back corner, where they were unlikely to overhear her conversation, and they seemed embroiled in a heated discussion of their own.

“I know you said haunted , but you didn’t explain. ”

“Haunted is perhaps not the right word. I can’t believe I’m about to say this. Now you’ll be certain I’m crazy.”

“I won’t.”

He raised his brow.

Kate experienced a moment of doubt, an occurrence she was finding far more common than she was comfortable with. For years she had prided herself on her confidence and certainty. “Will I?”

“Your inn is connected to the past.”

“Of course it is. It’s old. It’s been here for centuries.”

“No, not like that—well, more than that. It overlaps with history. When I’m in the basement and in the tunnels, I see the past. I see the American patriots and hear their conversations.

It’s like being on stage during a play. I have to move out of the way as they go past. I’m attuned to the history of Hazard, but only when I’m in your inn. ”

“That is…”

“Weird, I know. And after I was locked in the basement as a kid, I tried to explain what I saw. No one, but no one, believed me. Or at least I thought no one did. Now…”

“I believe you.” Kate didn’t know where that admission came from, but when she stopped to analyze it, she realized it was true. Something deep within her knew there was something different about her inn. But a portal to the past?

As if reading her thoughts, Rory said, “I didn’t cross over, I just watched history unfold.

” He seemed to bite back what he’d been about to say next, so Kate didn’t push.

Instead she reached across the table and took hold of his hand, glancing nervously at the waitress inching closer who was, clearly, trying to hear their conversation.