59 seconds.
Just a pile of ashes and glowing coals. Nothing more. No bones, hair, teeth.
What? A scrap of scorched paper fluttered out. I picked it up. Part of a diagram. Technical drawings.
Technical drawings?
I grabbed a piece of wood from a nearby pile and shoved the coals aside, stirring them, looking for the charred remains of Jolene Brittany Parker.
Nothing. Not even a shred of clothing.
When morticians cremate a body, bone fragments remain. If Grolin had tried to dispose of her body in here, there would be something left of her. But there wasn’t. He hadn’t burned Jolene’s corpse in this stove.
I was relieved but also frustrated. Where was she? What had he done with her?
The Illusionist leaned forward. He’d placed a small camera in the basement on the top of the bookshelf. Dr. Bowers was down there now, poking around the woodpile.
He’d found something by the stove.
They only had 33 seconds left, though.
It wouldn’t be enough time to get out.
No.
Not enough time.
I set the piece of wood back on the pile, and that’s when I noticed the wires.
Wires?
I directed the beam of my flashlight at them.
Oh no.
Pushed the wood to the side.
It was too easy to get in here.
Saw the metal box.
Too easy.
Read the numbers blinking on the timer.
He likes to watch.