Chapter 16: The Keys

Torsten's POV

Thaddeus Thaxton called me at six on Christmas Eve morning and asked me to come to the house.

I hadn't set foot on the estate since the day I quit.

I went anyway, because I wanted to see that study one more time with nothing left to lose.

The new guard at the gate didn't know me.

He checked a list, and my name wasn't on it, and he called up to the house.

I stood in the cold and watched the thumb scanner on the post.

It was still lit.

Kerensa's print was still in it.

Mine had been removed the morning I left.

I found that I didn't mind.

The study smelled of scotch and old leather.

Thaddeus sat behind his desk in yesterday's shirt.

The board had stripped him of the chairmanship the night after the gala.

He looked ten years older than he had a month ago.

"Sit down, Torsten."

"I'll stand."

"Suit yourself."

He slid an envelope across the blotter.

"Head of security for life," he said.

"Double your last salary. The cottage by the lake. A contract no one can break."

"What do you want for it?"

"I want a man at my gate who understands loyalty."

I didn't touch the envelope.

"And?"

"And I want you to speak to her," Thaddeus said.

"She listens to you. Ask her for time. Until spring. A month, even. She'll hear it from you."

"You want me to ask her to give you your house."

"I want you to remember who gave you this job when nobody else would."

"I remember."

"You kept her print," he said.

"I know you did. I knew the night she came back, when the scanner opened. Do you think I don't read my own logs?"

I looked at him.

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