The room they were in was stacked with old and new books. But, the place they needed to look for was behind a special door. On finding various books to place on a shelf, they managed to make a bookcase slide back to reveal the hidden area. Taking out her diary pages, they figured out the proper code for the runic buttons. When the door unlocked, she led him in.

In this room, it was empty save for a single book in old leather binding. The place was clearly untouched, but it was kept up. The room seemed sacred in this manner. It was the first book on the town history, after all. It was in the center of the room on a podium. She walked over to it with him and opened it to flip through the aged pages. It was here that he learned what he needed to learn.

The town of Luxxon was founded over a hundred years ago, and it was flourishing for a time. Then, when other towns started around it and began to become more successful, it fell into decline from lack of trade goods. The last descendants of the town had gotten together for a small meeting. There were only ten of them. Three women and seven men. They all came to the conclusion to simply keep from moving out. It was their home, anyways. Why leave? But, to do that meant that they would have to share the three women there. They made a pact to stick to it.

Any new strangers that happened about the town would be pulled in and trapped until they agreed to simply stay and help rebuild the population. Life wasn't all bad in the town. It was just forbidden for them to leave. Most that appeared were travelers with no home to speak of. So, most arrangements were agreed to. More stubborn ones had more drastic measures done to them. When the town was removed from global maps, the loss of new bloodlines wasn't too bad. There was enough to sustain the town. At least for the next fifty years. Then the bloodline began to decline again from inbreeding.

Marjery's family was a seventh generation. The limping gait was a common ailment in the hips of the first founder. It was purely genetic. Dupin realized that he must be someone new that the town hadn't seen for years. Maybe even a decade, other than the occasional postal mail delivery service, but the townspeople had agreed to not harm the ones that handled their trades. Dupin was a touch different from them. They would surely trap me, and use me as they saw fit. And, with Marjery having experienced new skills from being outside of the town, they could have used her to lure in fresh blood. The ghosts were right. We would become trapped, if we were found. He couldn't possibly bring this town to justice on his own with her. He needed backup.

"I've seen enough," he whispered. "I want to take this book with me as evidence of the kidnapping crimes that this town had done, but we'll leave it here to avoid suspicion for now. Ah! Let me use your pencil. The writing on the book is deep enough to make some etching on some of your diary pages that haven't been touched. And...good! We have our evidence in the form of carbon pencil copies! Now we need to leave. This town is better off left undiscovered, if nothing can be done. I'll warn many to steer clear. We need to go."

She nodded and they left the library. On returning to the hotel, he paused. The rope ladder was missing. At what he saw, she said, "They are waiting for us."

"To collect our things. Maybe to apprehend us as we do it. Well, none of it is really important to me. I can replace it," he nodded. "I brought no files with me or books."

"But...my things..." she frowned.

"How much did you bring?"

"Just a few petticoats and underthings. Nothing major."

"I'll replace those for you, too. We have overstayed our welcome. But...damn. My pocket watch. I need that. Be prepared for a confrontation," he said stiffly. She nodded with worry, and he held her close to his side. "Just stay with me. Do not leave my side for any reason."

"Yes, Dupin," she nodded. When they walked into the inn, the Mayor was waiting for them.

"It's about time you showed up," he said irritably.

"I believe you are called...Mister Belmer?" Dupin asked. "The town Mayor?"

"Yes," the man nodded. Now Dupin looked at him sternly. He knew what to say.

"Good. I have a complaint. My fiancée and I were very discouraged to have found our luggage tampered with just recently," Dupin said with a touch of annoyance. That had the other man pale. "Because of this, we were going to request another room. But, no one was here. So, we searched the town to find someone. I had her come with me, as I didn't feel safe to leave her alone. I'm sure you would do the same with someone you care for. As it is, we demand another room! Before we talk to you. Also, we want to inspect our things again to ensure that they were not tampered with. And, yes, we left the rope ladder outside the room to avoid being seen. We didn't want to give the intruder a chance to know that we were here. Or to see us leaving to find a figure of authority."

"Oh..." Mr. Belmer frowned.

"Granted, we've been through prior scrapes before. We've had our things sorted through. But, for it to happen in her hometown is simply disgraceful!" he snapped.

"I can have another room prepared for you, but it won't be until tomorrow," the Mayor started.

"Unacceptable!" Dupin grounded out. "I no longer feel safe here. Neither does she. We are going to collect our things and find another place to stay."

"Well, my question first," he said. "Do you both plan to stay? To live in the town?"

"We were thinking about it. Just remember, I am a detective. I will be searched for. If not by those that need me, then by local authorities. I am a man of the law. And I've seen things that make a simple room break-in seem like child's play," Dupin warned. "Now let us collect our things. You can get another room ready for us. We'll wait outside."

"Of course," the man nodded. He only grumbled to himself, though. No one else had cleaned another room in years. He had his work cut out for him. He also knew that there was no way he could do so much work this late at night on his own. I'll need to wake up my son. Maybe even Katrina to help. It would be a nice punishment for her lies. He also hoped that, by doing this favor, it would also try to earn their trust to let them sleep in a new room. It always worked best to wait until they slept before attempting anything. "Let me get some help. Ah, ten minutes?"

"Fine," Dupin nodded. The moment he left, Dupin glanced at Marjery. "Now is our chance. Let's get our belongings and go."

"Will you feel a need to come back?" she whispered.

"Not without more assistance. Just you and I won't be enough, I fear," he admitted. They moved quickly into their room and grabbed their luggage. As they walked out of the inn, he sighed that they would have to walk. Then he glanced at her. "A wing and prayer, you said?"

"Yes, Detective Dupin," she said with a smile. "That was all I needed."