“Charles?” Dorothy opened the basement door.
“Yes, dear?”
“It’s nine o’clock. Shall we go home? Everyone else is gone.”
“Did the police detective ever call? His name was Paisley.”
“Not yet.”
“Have you seen Angelo?”
“No, his door’s been closed.”
Charles looked back down at the book open before him. “In the middle of life I find myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost.”
“It isn’t lost, dear,” Dorothy said. “He found it again.”
“The path he found only lead to the door.
Through me the way is to the city dolent;
Through me the way is to eternal dole;
Through me the way among the people lost.”
“Charles…”
“All hope abandon, ye who enter in!” Charles said.
“No! Charles. If you must be reading Dante, read Paradise instead.”
He tried to smile. “Then be Beatrice and lead me.”
“I’ll take you home at least.”
He did smile. “Yes. Let’s go home.”
“I saw in the newspaper there had been some burglaries near here, Derek.”
“Yes, the neighbors. They really should get better alarm systems. Apparently you have hired your own guard. Is that why you brought that young man?”
“Not exactly, although living in a city always has its worries. And working for the government, too. When I saw you back in April, you mentioned a situation in your office. I hope that’s resolved?”
“Actually not, Charles. In fact, I’m afraid it’s gotten quite a bit more difficult.”
“I’m sorry.”
“The stakes continue to rise. I threaten your pawn, you return with an attack on my bishop, and suddenly the queens are face-to-face, and the whole game hangs in the balance.”
“But in real life, Derek, we have other choices than defeat or victory.”
“That reminds me, Charles. Which of us is winning at the moment?”
“Winning? Oh, of course! You mean your challenge from last time.”
“Our views of life.”
“I’m quite content at the moment, Derek, so I must be winning.”
“I’m in a fight that takes all my wits and cunning, so I must be winning.”
“Then let’s call it a draw.”
“But, Charles, for me, a draw is a loss.”
“For me, it’s a win.”
“Exquisite, Charles! I like this game better than any of the others.”
“It seems easy enough. Even though I don’t know what I’m playing. All I do is be who I am and-Is something wrong, Derek?”
“No. No. I just had a thought.”
“What was it?”
“Nothing exact, Charles. Just that, if somehow I lose the game playing by my rules, you might win it playing by yours.”