Wind

• • N I N E • •

"You didn't bring a flashlight?" Jeremey whisper-shouted.

"I don't have one," I told him. "This will work fine."

He rolled his eyes. "All right, let's go."

I led the way, holding my phone out in front of me so we could see where our feet landed. Our shoes kicked up dried dirt and bits of grit as we walked along the side of the rural road. The wind blew dust into my eyes. They stung and watered. I blinked, trying to clear them.

It took us three minutes to reach the driveway. I paused at the end of it and turned around, shining the light from my phone back in the direction of where we'd parked. The beam faded out before reaching the car, as though the vehicle had disappeared entirely.

"What's your plan now, Nancy Drew?" Jeremey asked as he caught up.

I hadn't realized how quickly I'd been walking. I was freezing and wanted to keep moving for warmth, if nothing else. "Maybe find a window or something," I suggested.

"You want to break in?"

"No, he'd notice. I just want to take a look. See if we can see anything in there."

Jeremey followed me as we stalked around the house. A large, open porch guarded the front entrance. I crept up the five steps and took a peek through the small square window on the front door. It was too dark to see inside, so I shone my phone light through it. The reflection made it a bit difficult at first, but I quickly realized the attempt was futile. A dark shade on the inside of the door covered the window completely.

I scooted along to the window on the left side, and Jeremey took the one on the right.

Another heavy curtain hung on the inside of the window, completely obscuring my view. "Dammit," I hissed. "Any luck with yours, Jeremey?"

"No luck here," Jeremey replied.

"Let's check around the side," I suggested.

Jeremey and I headed down from the porch, taking the wooden steps slowly, one by one in the dark, and then we crept around the left side of the building. The land dropped off around the house slightly, so the windows were almost above our heads.

I peeked in the near one where the ground was slightly higher, and Jeremey took the far one.

"Curtains on this one too," I said more to myself than to Jeremey.

"Harper, bring your light over here," Jeremey called. "I think you might be able to see something through this one."

I trudged over, keeping the light out in front of me. I stood on my toes to peek into the window, grasping the wooden sill with one hand and shining the light through it with the other. "The shades are open a crack," I whispered loudly. "I think I might be able to see something."

I adjusted the light a bit better and planted my feet more firmly, straining to stand as tall as I could. I considered pulling myself up onto the sill, but it was too narrow. I wouldn't be able to get a decent grip.

"Do you see anything?" Jeremey asked.

I peered through the glass. "It's empty." My eyes shifted back and forth. The entire room was empty. Not a piece of furniture, nothing. Just a large square room with dark windows lining its walls, and cobwebs and dust coating the ceiling and floor.