Page 89 of Inevitable Secrets

“But how would he get—”

“Taylor, if it doesn’t work I don’t know how we are getting in,” Derrick said in annoyance, “and the longer we sit here in the driveway of an abandoned mansion the more attention we draw to ourselves, so for the love of God just try your hand on the damn thing.”

“Good point,” Taylor said, and climbed over Derrick to comply. She placed her palm on top of the black screen. Derrick had his doubts that the thing even worked but suddenly a green light scanned beneath Taylor’s hand like a photocopier light, there was a series of beeps, and the gate opened in front of them allowing them in.

“Well, I didn’t expect that,” Taylor said as she pulled her hand back in and crawled back to her seat. “Thanks for yelling at me, babe,” she said with a small smile. Something was going right, she thought.

“Anytime,” Derrick replied dryly as he edged through the now open gate. He furrowed his brow, “How do you think Cedric got your palm print?”

“You know I don’t really want to think about it, because it was probably while I was sleeping or some shit and I can’t focus on that creepiness right now,” Taylor said, giving Derrick anI’m trying to keep it together so stop asking random questionssmile.

Taylor’s smile fell to the brand-new Tesla carpet as they progressed forward. Where the outside of the Preston Manor gates had been impeccable, behind the gates was a different story altogether.

The grass was tall, the height of the car window in some places as they drove through. The shrubbery was jagged and growing haphazardly, everything in stark contrast to outside the gate. The driveway had started to crack in some areas, and grass grew up through the cracks. The shrubbery that flanked the mansion had latched itself to its exterior and was growing up its side. The facade of the Mediterranean-style mansion was discolored and in some spots the stucco was cracked or missing.

Taylor watched as Derrick looked around astounded. “This is bad,” he whispered. “I can’t believe it looks like this,” Derrick observed honestly as he gaped at the sight before him.

“Wait till you see inside,” Taylor said flatly, not shocked at the exterior appearance at all.

Derrick pulled the car around the still, moss-covered fountain, through the circular driveway, and pulled up to the huge, stone front steps.

As they made their way up the steps, Derrick saw that the windows on either side of the door were blacked out crudely with what appeared to be spray paint. Beside the front door there was a print-scanning screen identical to the one at the entry gate. Taylor placed her palm on it, the now-familiar green light scanned, and the locks clicked their release on the door in front of them.

“I was wondering what the hell that was,” Ben said, suddenly appearing behind them.

“Holy fucking shit!” Taylor shouted as she jumped at least a foot in the air at his appearance.

Derrick’s response, though, was much more dignified—he shrieked like a scared little girl.

The couple both glared at Ben who was definitely trying not to laugh at their responses.

“Why the hell would you sneak up on us like that?” Derrick demanded. Taylor was certain Ben scaring them was not making him Derrick’s favorite person any quicker.

“Sorry,” he said, shrugging.

“How did you get in here?” Taylor asked.

“I snuck in behind you guys when your car came through. I got here just as the gate opened,” he explained.

“You walked here?” Taylor asked.

“Well, I drove and parked down the road and then I walked down here so I could be less obvious,” he explained.

“Okay fine, whatever, let’s get this done,” Derrick said.

Taylor stepped forward to enter, but Ben held her back, his gun drawn. “I go first,” he announced, and his tone didn’t allow for any arguments. Taylor looked at Derrick who looked all too pleased to have Ben go first, in case something came out and maimed him in some way.

Ben pushed the door forward, and it creaked like a horror movie prop as it moved aside. He did a quick scan and motioned for them to follow behind him.

“Let’s just stay close,” Ben advised.

“Okay,” Taylor whispered, wide-eyed and nodding. “Which way should we go first?”

Derrick looked over to her, puzzled. “Why are you whispering?” he asked in a completely normal-toned voice.

“I don’t know,” Taylor glared and whisper-yelled at him. “It seems like the right thing to do, okay?!”

“Yeah, well, it’s not and it’s weird so can you just talk regular? It’s like you are in an episode of Scooby-Doo or something.”

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