Page 49 of The Shop on Hidden Lane

“A series of experiments. If you’re developing a new technology you need to run a lot of tests. What better way to do that than keep an inn full of carefully selected test subjects on-site?”

“Oh, shit.”

“Yeah.” He urged her forward with one hand. “We can talk about it later. We need to keep moving.”

“Thanks for thewe,” she grumbled. “I feel so honored to know you consider me a member of the team.”

“I sense sarcasm.”

“Actually, I’m pissed off. I don’t like the idea of being a test subject in an experiment no one told me about. There was no informed consent here.”

“Like one of your dates?”

“That’s ridiculous. All dates are, by definition, experiments. Everyone knows a date has the potential to end badly.”

“Interesting logic. Never mind. At this point my theory is just a theory. I’m still gathering data. Connecting dots.”

They followed the illuminated path to an intersection. Two of the three branching corridors were barred with velvet ropes. Onthe other side of the ropes, the hallways were drenched in darkness. An attendant politely raised a hand to indicate the one glowing corridor.

Sophy peered down an unlit path as they went past the entrance. “Why would anyone turn an entire house into a maze? The man who built it must have been beyond eccentric.”

“Or full-on paranoid.”

“Do you think he built the maze to trap intruders?”

“You know what they say—just because he was paranoid doesn’t mean he didn’t have enemies.”

“Maybe he hid an extremely valuable painting in here somewhere and wanted to protect it.”

The trail led to another installation that was surrounded by a small group of admirers. Sophy stopped a few steps away from the piece and considered the twisted sculpture on the pedestal. It appeared to be made of transparent plastic molded into bulbous shapes and lit with cleverly arranged lights.

“It looks like a balloon animal,” she whispered to Luke.

“Yes,” he said. “It does.”

He took a few steps closer, paused a moment, as though examining the ballon animal, and then came back to join her.

“Another example of mirror tile hypnosis at work?” she asked.

“Definitely,” he said.

She went forward, curious, and stopped abruptly when she picked up the vibe of one of the men who was standing nearby. There was no mistaking the currents that charged the atmosphere. He was sexually aroused. When he noticed her he turned, his eyes glittering. Sweat beaded his brow.

“Are you alone?” he asked.

“No,” Luke said before she could respond. He came up behind her and took her arm in a way that was clearly proprietary. “She’s not alone. She’s with me.”

For a beat Sophy thought the stranger would argue the point, but when he got a close look at Luke, he evidently changed his mind. He grunted and returned his attention to the sculpture.

“That was a tad unnerving,” she murmured as Luke led her away.

“Only a tad?”

“I could have handled him,” she said quickly.

“I don’t doubt that for a moment.”

She made a face. “But thanks anyway.”