Chapter 8
The heavy lock on the cellar door rattled violently as Leo tested it from the inside, but the iron mechanism held firm, proving Evelyn had secured them deliberately, even if she hadn't realized they were down there. The air in the cellar felt thick and claustrophobic. They needed to get out before morning, before Evelyn returned to check the space or discovered the window had been opened. Leo turned his attention back to the high window they had used to enter. It was their only viable exit, but climbing up from the inside without a ladder or a stool presented a formidable physical challenge for a nine-year-old boy in the dark.
Buster seemed to understand the problem immediately. The large dog trotted over to the base of the stone wall beneath the window, sitting down and looking back at Leo with an expectant huff. Leo stared at the dog, realizing what was being offered. Using Buster as a stepping stone was their only way up. He hesitated, reluctant to use his loyal friend in such a manner, but Buster let out another soft whine, planting his paws firmly on the concrete to provide a stable platform. Leo placed his bare foot gently on the dog's sturdy back, gripping the rough stone windowsill with his hands.
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With a powerful, coordinated heave, Buster stood up on his hind legs while Leo pushed upward with all his remaining strength, scrambling through the narrow opening. The cold night air hit his face like a splash of freezing water as his upper body cleared the frame. With one final pull, he tumbled out onto the snowy ground outside, landing with a soft thud. He immediately rolled over, reaching back down through the open window and grabbing Buster by his strong collar. The dog gave a mighty leap from the inside, and with Leo pulling from the outside, Buster cleared the frame effortlessly, landing squarely in the snow beside the boy.
They lay there in the dark for a moment, catching their breath under the cold light of the moon. The adventure had yielded dangerous knowledge, but it had also placed them directly in the crosshairs of a desperate woman. Leo clutched the small brass key still gripped tightly in his fist, realizing he now held the physical proof of Evelyn’s fraud. But possessing a key meant nothing if they had no safe place to go and no authority figure to trust. The local sheriff had known Evelyn socially for years, often stopping by for coffee on patrol. Turning to the law in this small town might prove disastrous if Evelyn had already influenced the local officials.
