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Chapter 8 – Some Answers

"Great snakes," Tintin said quietly. His brain turned, and then he began asking questions. "If –"

"This isn't the place," she began quickly, moving to the right.

Blocking her path, Tintin asked, "Why now? Why didn't you go to the authorities, why does no one know he had a daughter, where are the records that Mr. Hartley was married, why did you wait to tell me?"

"We aren't safe here." Eva replied through gritted teeth. "There are more men than those two who'll be coming after us. I'll tell you everything once we get somewhere else –"

"No more games, tell me what I need to know now."

Eva's eyebrows jumped, surprised at the firmness in his voice. "You – you don't know these people." Her voice shook almost imperceptibly. "First they tried to bribe me, then they threatened me, and I've had to break in, and find somewhere to live where I hoped they wouldn't find me –"

Realizing what he had done, Tintin's tone gentled immediately. "You're right. I know somewhere safe where we can go."

Eva nodded. "Then let's go now, chances are there's already more of them looking for us."

After Snowy had found them, there was twenty more minutes of alleys, and Tintin finally reached the back entrance he was looking for. "Here it is," he said quietly, looking around and kneeling in front of the door.

"Here is what?" Eva responded.

After picking the lock, Tintin stood up and held the door open for her. "Our safe house."

Eva cautiously entered into the darkened hallway, her perfume just strong enough to be picked up by Tintin as she passed.

I still have to keep my wits about me, he thought, despite himself. I do want to trust her, but that doesn't mean I should. Especially since I do find myself . . . Tintin shook his head to get rid of that thought, then crossed the threshold himself and closed the door. Pulling the deadbolt, he turned around. "Upstairs." The journalist found himself whispering reverently, not wanting to disturb the darkened house.

"No one lives here?" Eva asked a little anxiously, but she too had begun to feel the quietness of the old house calm her. "Is there a light anywhere?"

"Better to leave them off, so no one knows they're here." Tintin replied quietly, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. After a second of silence, he finished, "follow me, we're going upstairs."

Silently, they ascended the narrow stairs past the second floor. Still moving quietly, Tintin led her to a hall closet with boxes piled on the floor, as well as on a shelf. Eva waited silently, and she noticed that Snowy did the same without order. He must come here often if even Snowy knows this place, she thought suddenly.

Suddenly, the back wall of the closet swung outwards silently. "Guard the door Snowy," Tintin directed quietly, motioning for his pet to stay. Moving his eyes upward, he offered his hand to Eva.

Without thinking, she took it and eased herself over the boxes. Coming to the other side, she realized that beyond the door was a ladder. Turning her eyes to Tintin, Eva commented, "You never did tell me if anyone lives here."

Letting go of her hand, Tintin turned to the ladder and stepped on the first rung. "A family lived here a long time ago. The parents died in an accident. No one's lived here since."

He got to the top of the ladder, and Eva followed him. Coming to the top, he was there to help her again. "And the children?"

"Just one," Tintin replied as he helped her up with both hands.

Eva felt her foot catch on the top, and she abruptly fell forward into his arms. Two breathless seconds passed, until they both stepped back.

"The house has never been officially claimed," Tintin answered. After a second, he spoke almost to himself as he turned around. "Though someday it might."