Heretics book 3 - The Apocryphile Press

THE KINGDOM :: 213
don’t know what happened to Ms. Stahl. I started yesterday.
My name is Alice Stout.”
“A beautiful house, isn’t it, Alice? So nice to meet you.”
And then he was there. Richard waved his arm, in an “after
you” motion to Nurse Alice, and stood back.
A little uncertain still, Nurse Alice opened the French
doors and waited for Richard to walk through before shutting
them again.
The room was just as Richard remembered it from two
days before. Old man Dane lay quietly, an IV drip affixed to
his arm, and a gob of spit hanging from his chin. Richard
smiled beatifically at the nurse. “Thank you so much, Alice.
I’ll call if I need you.”
“Oh, I don’t think I should leave him alone with you—”
“Oh, but you must. A confession is a private matter, my
dear.” Richard was all slimy pomposity at this point, and
part of him, he realized, was enjoying it.
“But I don’t think he’s conscious....”
Richard glided over to the hospital bed and touched the
old man on the chest. Dane’s eyes snapped open, fiery red
and moist with mucus. Not Dane’s eyes, Richard knew, but
Duunel’s. “Things can be a little odd around here,” Richard
said in a conspiratorial tone. “Perhaps you’ve noticed?”
Her eyes darkened and narrowed, a look that told Richard
much. He smiled solicitously. “You’ll adjust to it, I’m sure.
Now, please, if you will....” he waved towards the servant’s
quarters.
Warily, Nurse Alice walked to her room and shut the door
behind her. Richard lost no time making for the double
French doors leading to the garden, and undid the latch. He
held his finger to his lips as Dylan and Terry tiptoed in.
“We have to make it quick. That nurse knows more than
she’s letting on.” Richard motioned towards the doors to the
hall. “Remember, anything that will give us a clue as to what
Dane’s up to.”