Bobby parked Golda in the driveway of the Mills house. Clarie was seated in Darien's usual place and he was sitting on the jump seat in the middle and slightly behind the front seats. "Everyone keep your eyes and ears open." Hobbes instructed them. He'd borrowed a small sledge hammer and prybar from the tools at the agency, just incase. They each carried a flash light this time and Claire was carrying the instrument she'd put together. Bobby unlocked the front door and it creaked as it opened. The sun went behind a cloud then. "I don't like that." Claire commented, glancing up at the sky as a shadow was cast over the house. "It happened last time we were here." Darien told her. "All right, I want to go straight up to the third floor. See if we can find any secret entrance to the closed off room." Bobby led the way up the stairs. Clarie came second followed by Darien who had his own flashlight. The stairs creaked as Bobby walked slowly up into the darkness. "I'm not reading anything yet." Claire commetned. "Wait till we get upstairs." Darien warned. Bobby paused on the landing but continued to the third floor as planned. He felt the cold spot on the landing but Claire didn't say anything so he didn't mention it. Darien shivered too when he passed the landing. He quicksilvered his eyes, and checked all around but he didn't see the mist again. "Did you feel that?" "The cold spot, yes, the readings changed, but they aren't really in the range they would be for trapped energy." She glanced at Darien then back to the box in her hands. Bobby arrived on the third floor and took a deep breath. He shown his light down the length of the hall towards the secret room. He saw a gray shape glide down the hall then pause halfway between him and the room. "Claire do you see that?" He whispered. "I see something, Darien try quicksilvering your eyes." She insturcted. "She's not like last time." He watched as the transparent shape of a woman moved towards the. "What does the guage say about her?" Bobby asked. "I'm picking up high readings, there is diffiantly trapped energy here." Clarie looked up at the ghost, "We want to find the people that disappeared." Bobby addressed the ghost. "Can you help us?" Claire asked. The ghost hovered ten feet from them for another few seconds then glided back down the hall to the place Bobby had seen it disappear the last time. Just as she faded into the wall, there was a noise from behind them. It was a sound like a growl, almost more animal than human. Darien whirled and quicksilvered his eyes again. He saw the gray mist, but this time it had more form, it kind of looked like a large dog or a wolf. "Can you see it?" Darien positioned himself between the shape and Claire. "No, I just have readings off the chart." Clarie stepped to the side to try and see the thing making the readings jump. Bobby moved up beside Darien, gun drawn. " I don't see it either Partner, what is it?" "A wolf or something, it's blocking the stairway." "Darien if it's trapped energy, it can't hurt you." "I'll take your word for that, but those teeth look very real." Darien quicksilvered all of his body and moved towards the ghost wolf. He rushed forward, but the wolf didn't seem to notice him now that he was invisible. It turned it's attention on Claire and Bobby. "Give me a hint Fawkes what are you doing?" Bobby was still pointing his gun at the sound of the growling. "I'm getting in behind it." Darien said, as he made a grab for the wolf. But his hands passed through the shape of the growling animal and it vanished. A howl was heard a few seconds later, it sounded like the wolf was outside on the hill behind the house. Darien reappeared in front of Bobby and Claire and they both jumped. "I've asked you not to do that." Bobby reholstered his weapon and exhaled. "Oh my, that was interesting. The first set of readings when we could all see the ghost were very high. But they were off the charts when the growling was happening." Claire told them, pushing her hair back off her face. "What happened?" "I tried to grab hold of the wolf thing, and when I tried to touch it my hand just passed through it and it vanished." Darien explained. "Let's keep going. I want to look for that secret room." Bobby pointed his light back down the hall and they entered the room beside the area he expected to find a hidden room. He searched the walls and inside the small closet. He tried the door frame, feeling for hidden buttons or latches. Darien checked the wall in the corner. Clarie put her instrument down and put her ear to the wall trying to hear any calls for help. "I can't find anything." Darien was sure he'd looked everywhere on his side of the room for a way to open a secret passage or door. Bobby was about to give up also when he moved to the window and pressed on the sill his finger hit the magic spot and they all heard the sound of a latch popping. "You got it Buddy." Darien low fived his partner for the second time that day. "I'll go first." Bobby taking all precautions drew his sidearm and pointed his flash light into the small passage way at the back of the closet. It was low, but it didn't look unused. Darien had to stoop down more than the others to follow them. "Oh crap." Darien said as he saw what had Bobby stopped in his tracks. A woman was chained in a large cage at the far side of the room. She looked up as they entered the room, but appeared to be very weak. Clarie rushed forward, pushed the hair out of the woman's eyes. She blinked at the light from the flashlight. "Can you talk?" "Thank God." Was her first croak of speech. "She needs water, is the water turned on?" Claire asked the two men with her. "Cindy, is she alright?" The woman asked, she was struggling to sit up. Her dark complexion seemed ashy in the stark light of the flash light Claire held. "I'll get some water." Darien rushed back out, almost forgetting to duck his head. Bobby looked for another captive. She was chained in the far corner, her chain attached to a metal bed frame. "She's alive, but weak as a kitten." Bobby felt for a pulse. Darien returned with a two bottles of water he'd run out to the van for. They gave each woman a few sips of water. "Can you tell us what happened?" Claire asked as she held the water for the woman to drink. Bobby pulled out his cell phone and dialed for an ambulance. "We need medical help for two women at this location." He rattled off the address. Darien looked around the room, if the guy that had tied them up had provided then with food or water it must have been for only a day or two. "We were sent here to start taking inventory of the property. A man attacked us, knocked Cindy in the head with something then hit me in the face with his fist. I blacked out for a few seconds. Then he forced us up here. He said it would only be for a few days. He brought us water and some food. But it's been several days since he was here." "What's your name?" Darien asked. "Janice Winters. I heard noises earlier, but I couldn't make seem to make noise loud enough to be heard." She was crying now. "You didn't scream?" Bobby aksed already knowing the answer to that question. "No, I couldn't." Darien moved closer to Bobby and whispered. "What do you think happened to the third person they sent out her?" "I don't have a good feeling about him. The mook that jumped the ladies must not have a problem offing men." Bobby spoke softly so as no to upset the ladies. Cindy was sipping on the water Darien had brought her. " I think I can pick the lock on these cuffs." Darien knelt down next to the woman. He pulled his handy set of lock picking tools out of his pocket and went to work on the orld fashioned iron lock. It took him only a mintue to snap it open. "Thank you." Cindy whispered, her voice still raspy from lack of moisture. "You're welcome." Darien smiled at her. "I'm going down to show the ambulance guys the way up here. See if you can work the same magic on the other lock." Bobby motioned towards the other lady. Claire was assisting Janice through the wide bars of her cage. Darien moved to the door and began to pick the large lcok attached to it. Bobby trotted down two sets of stairs and waved the arriving EMTs over to the front door. "We've got two women in rough shape, they appear to have been held captive for a number of days. Follow me." Bobby showed the two EMTs the way to the secret room. Darien was helpedin Claire move Janice out from inside her cage. The two men who arrived with Bobby, exchanged glances as they saw the room and the two women hold had been held there. They had seen a lot of strange thingss on the job but this was a new one. Claire moved out of the way after telling the medics the women seemed unharmed, only dehydrated and weak from lack of food. "Did you call it in yet? Claire asked BObby once the women were being assisted by the medical personel. "No, I want to talk to the ladies before I call in. Are they in any shape to answer a few questions?" He addressed Claire. "I think a few brief questions would be fine." Bobby watched as IVs were attached to each woman. Then he asked if he could take to them for a minute. "Yeah, we have to go down and get the cot, but don't push to much." The older of the two men answered him. Bobby knelt down next to Janice again. "What did the guy look like, that jumped you?" "He was tall and thin, with very short cropped hair. He spoke with an accent, like he was from back east." Cindy was listening, she added. "Boston, he sounded like he was from Boston." "Did he hurt you besides hitting you that first time?" Bobby asked. "No, he seemed kind of sorry that he had to lock us up, but he wouldn't agree to let us go either." Janice said. "He smelled like earth the second time he came and brought us water. Like he'd been digging in the dirt before he came." Cindy whispered. "How long has it been?" Janice asked. "It's been ten days, since you went missing." Bobby told them. "We've only been on the case for one day." Darien pointed out. "Okay if you guys want to help us carry the ladies down." The EMTs returned with two stretchers but they wouldn't fit through the small passage way. Clarie moved to hold IV connected to Janice's arm while one of the EMTs and Darien lifted her between them and eased her out to the stretcher. Bobby assisted with Cindy and they lay the IV on her lap for the few minutes it too to carry her to the other stretcher. Claire lit the way for the four men to carry out the paticents. Just as they arrived outside a second ambulance pulled up to the house. They transferred CIndy into the care of the new EMT team and loaded Janice into the first ambulance. "Thank you." Janice said again. "You're welcome, one more question. When he did come and bring you water and food was it during the day or at night?" Bobby asked. "Night, he came at night." The three watched as the ladies were loaded into the ambulances. "Now can we go back to the Agency?" Darien prodded his partner. "I think we need to get an evidence team in that room. Let me check in with the Fatman." Bobby pulled out his cell phone again. "Hobbes please tell me good news." The Official took the phone from Eberts. "Sir we found the two ladies, they were weak but should recover. There was no sign of Hanson. The ladies said they never heard sounds other than today. The man that abducted them was white, tall, thin with short dark hair. They said he had an accent like he was from Boston." "Good work, you'lll have to set up surveillance on the house and see if you can catch him." "You want us to look into a possible connection between this mook and the Mills family?" "Do you think there is a connection?" "Yeah, he doesn't seem to want the house to be turned over to the Historic Trust." "You know he's right, there probably is some sort of connection to the family that owned the house. " Claire said to Darien as they listened to Bobby's conversation with their boss. "If he is just trying to prevent the house leaving the family there has got to be a better way of going about it than killing people." Darien commented. "He didn't kill the women." "Not directly, but if he was just going to keep them tied up like they were, they would have died of neglect sooner or later." "Yes, you have a point. Have you checked the ground for any signs of recent digging?" "Yeah this morning we walked all over the property, no sign of any new bodies being buried." "New bodies?" Claire asked puzzled. "It seems this house has a long history of death, it was once used by a serial killer as the place he planted his victims." "Boss wants us to stake out the house tonight." Bobby informed his partner. "Crap he wants us here at night?" Darien souned bothered by that information. "Yeah, but first we need to see if we can dig up a connection between this guy, and the Mills family." "The new computer Alex got for me has a very interesting search program. It can probably find records on the Mills family." Claire offered. "Great let's go." Darien opened the van door for her. Hobbes nodded, he could use some help form the new computer. His network of informants might not be to helpful on this kind of case. "It says here that after Philip Mills died, or was murdered the house was inherited by his brother Mathew, who lived in the house part of the year with his family. Then during the second world war the oldest son was seriously wounded. He was shipped home and speng months recovering from his wounds in the House. Mathew died and the house was left to this oldest son, the war veteran." "What was his name?" Darien asked. "Jaob, he evently married and had children but only girls so at his death in the late 80s the house was left to all three of his daughters. Two of the daughters were already married and had families, so the middle daughter Patricia lived in the house alone." "She was living here when the serial killer used the place for..." "No, I don't think so. Let me check." Claire did some further checking and shook her head no. "That's strange Patricia seems to have vaniched. Her sisters are the ones that put the house up for sale and then donated it to the Historic Trust." "Wait, Patricia Mills is missing?" Bobby asked, "I've never heard that before." "Yes the year before the serial killer was captured , they thought for awhile that she might have been one of his victims. But all of the bodies were identified. Unless he hide her somewhere else." Claire turned to face the two men. "I don't like the sound of that. Is Jennings still on death rom?" Darien asked. "Maybe we could talk to him." "Yeah last I knew he was still waiting out his appeals." Bobby nodded. "Are the sister still in this area?" "Yes, Karen Mills Greyson lives in San Diego, she is married to a very well known surgeon Henry Greyson. The oldest sister Allison is the owner and president of Mills Art Gallery, located in old town." "Great I think we need to interivew them." Bobby peered over Claire's shoulder and wrote down the phone number for the Art Gallery. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Darien and Bobby arrived at the Greyson house at four that afternoon. "Nice place." Darien whistled as they pulled up into the circular driveway. The house was very stately, white stone stairs tall columns dordering the front door. "I wouldn't want to live a house this huge." Bobby commented as they walked up the stairs. "Yeah, like you'd turn it down." "Bobby Hobbes wouldn't marry for money." "I would, or at least I would have before Kevin put the gland in my head. NOw it might be kind of hard to explain. I'm sorry honey, I can't attent the Black and White Ball with you tonight I have to go steal some space gems for the secret fovernment agency I work for." Darien complained. "Hey, now that Clarie has the gland under control your life ain't so bad." Bobby protested and pressed the button for the door chime. "I'll trade with you anytime." Darien said just as the door opened. "Agnet Fawkes adn Hobbes to see Mrs. Greyson." Bobby flipped out his badge to show the woman that answered the door. "Yes Sir she is expecting you." The tall middle aged lady nodded and held the door for them to enter. "IF you will follow me please." She led the partners through a large foyer then off to the left into another large room with a marble fireplace as the focal point. "Gentlemen, please come in. I'm Karen Mills Greyson." She stood and greeted them shaking hands with each man in turn. "Agent Robert Hobbes, my partner Darien Fawkes." "A pleasure to meet you gentlemen, please take a seat." Mrs. Greyson was a beautiful woman of perhaps forty. She was wearing a simple dark blue skirt and white blouse. She returned to her seat ont he side chair and turned her attention towards Bobby. "I'm sorry to bother you with this Mrs. Greyson but I'm afraid your family home has been involved in another mysterious event." "Oh no. No one was killed this time I pray." She sounded distressed. "No ma'am, at least not that we know of." Darien jumped in, trying to calm her. "No, but two women were being held captive in the secret room on the third floor. The suspect seemed very upset about the house being donated to the Historic Trust. We wanted to describe him to you, perhaps he worked for the family or is somehow related?" "Yes, of course." "He's tall and thin with short dark hair and talked with a Boston accent." "Oh no! That describes my cousin Robert, he grew up in Boston. He's my uncle's youngest son." "Are they from the Boston area?" Darien asked. "Yes,Uncle Richard married a woman who's family was very important in Boston. He helped keep the factory open and running after the war. I'm afraid cousin Richard was against our giving the house to the Trust." "Do you know where Richard is living?" Bobby didn't believe catching this guy was going to be that easy. "I believe he has a townhouse on Harbor Ave. I can check my address book for you." She stood and walked to the small desk at the side of the room. "Yes, here it is 49 Harbor Ave." "If your cousin is from Boston, why does he have a house here?" Darien was curious. "He's in the art business with my sister. He helps her discover new talent and he'd rather good at persuading people to purchase art works." "Does he have any history of metal illness or trouble with drugs?" Bobby asked. "No, not that I'm aware of but you should probably ask Allison. After all she is sort of partners with him." "Allison, the only number I have for her is the Gallery." "Yes her private number nis 555-7653. But I believe she is out of town. She was on a trip to purchase more items for the gallery." "Would you have a photo of your cousin we could have?" "Yes, I'm sure I can find one for you." ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "Okay Partner I'll keep watch you go see through and check out his place." Bobby parked the van on the street near Richard Mills' address. Darien nodded, this was more like the kind of thing he felt comfortable doing. He used his lock pick to quickly enter the front door. The house was a mess. It looked like it hadn't been lived in for weeks. Darien checked for and clues that might point towards Richard haveing gone off the deep end. "Nothing looks like he's abandoned this place." Darien informed Hobbes when he returned to the van. "I didn't expect him to be there. I guess we are going to have to stake out the old house." Bobby started up the van. "What makes you think he's going to go back there? Janice said they hadn't seen him in two days at least." "Maybe he has gone off his rocker, but it doesn't seem like he wanted to hurt them. He wants to keep the house. So I think he'll go back there." "So are we going to park in the woods and watch the house or are we going to wait for him on the inside?" Darien dreaded the answer he knew was coming. "I think we are going to have to wait inside the house. There wasn't anywhere to hide Golda close enough for us to keep watch." Bobby pointed out. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: It was getting dark when they arrived back on Maple St. Bobby parked the van in the middle of the block and they walked down towards the big house. Darien had his flash light from that afternoon, but he wasn't looking forward to spending more time inside the house. Bobby unlocked the front door, then relocked it behind them. "Were are going to wait for him?" "I think the second floor, better view of the approach to the house." Bobby was thinking stratifically. Darien had been hoping for the ground floor. Most of the ghost activity had all happened on the upper floors. He rolled his eyes and sighed but followed Hobbes up the stairs. He was used to the creaking step now, so he didn't jump when Bobby stepped on it.